What's Up In The Missouri Valley

Sunday, November 11, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/11/2018

Picking up the pieces: Everything that flew under the radar in college basketball’s opening night--Mid-Major Madness

First, the highlights. If you don’t know this stuff, go back and catch up, then come back:
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Illinois State started building its resume with a home win over Florida Gulf Coast.
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Holy hell, Valpo

@TheReal_MG3 out here trying to kill anyone in the lane pic.twitter.com/hyYRimv554
— Sam Back (@sback15) November 7, 2018

Opening Night Hits & Flops!--Valley Hoops Insider

Twenty teams to keep an eye on in 2018-19--Hoopville

Bradley: The Braves have been on a steady, step-by-step climb ever since Brian Wardle took over in 2014-15. This is his fourth year, and the rebuild of a proud program is right on schedule. Bradley brings back four starters, and experience often wins in the Missouri Valley Conference. Few teams are more intense defensively, the only question is if the Braves can score enough to graduate from very good to NCAA/NIT level. Darrell Brown is the top candidate to carry the offense, but he needs growth from those around him.

Bar with 19 leads Bradley past Wisconsin-Parkside 74-58--CBS Sports
Bradley basketball’s season opener finally here--Peoria Journal Star
Braves cruise to 74-58 win over UW-Parkside in ‘typical’ season opener--Peoria Journal Star
Setting the Bar: Braves win opener over UW-Parkside--Bradley Scout
Braves Win Opener over Rangers, 74-58--bradleybraves.com
Braves Continue Homestand on Saturday with Redhawks--bradleybraves.com

Women overpower Quincy in exhibition--Bradley Scout
Bradley Podcast Episode 13--bradleybraves.com
Women’s Basketball Hosts SEMO Saturday In Season Opener--bradleybraves.com

Norton has 17 points to lead Drake to a 98-52 victory--CBS Sports
What we learned from Drake's season-opening win over Buena Vista--Des Moines Register
Men’s Basketball Defeats Buena Vista In Season Opener, 98-52--godrakebulldogs.com

Drake to sell alcohol at all men's, women's home basketball games this season--Des Moines Register
Drake Athletics Announces Enhancements To The Fan Experience At The Knapp Center Including Beer Sales--godrakebulldogs.com

Drake women overcome slow start, defeat Nebraska in season opener--Des Moines Register
Women’s Basketball Rallies for Season-Opening Win at Nebraska, 83-77--godrakebulldogs.com

The Morning Dish – Thursday, November 8, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

The pickings are a bit slim tonight, especially with 12 games involving a Division I school and a non-Division I opponent. A few games stand out among those with two Division I schools.
...
A game that looks to be worth watching is Evansville traveling to Illinois (8 p.m.)

Under The Radar Game of the Day: Maine-Fort Kent at Liberty (and other news)--Hoops HD

OTHER NEWS, NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
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-EVANSVILLE AT ILLINOIS. We aren’t all that excited about either of these teams, but who knows? It’s the season opener for both, and it’s probably the most notetworthy game of the night

Ayo Dosunmu lives up to billing in Illinois debut with 18 points in 99-60 rout of Evansville--Chicago Tribune
Jordan scores 19 as Illinois rolls over Evansville 99-60--CBS Sports
11/8 Big Ten Preview: Three Big Ten Teams Tip Off Their Seasons--BT Powerhouse

Game of the Day
-Evansville Purple Aces at Illinois Fighting Illini

Time/TV: 8:00PM ET (BTN+)
KenPom Spread: Illinois (-12)

This might not seem like a great selection for the Game of the Day, but this matchup is probably a bit better than it looks on first glance. After all, the Purple Aces had a better record than Illinois last season and only finished 32 spots lower on KenPom. Projections might not be as close for the two teams this time around, but that should give fans perspective on this one. Evansville is a step up from many “filler” opponents.

For Illinois, this is an opportunity to get off on the right track. The Illini had a rough 2017-’18 season and are hoping to turn the corner this time around. All eyes will be on Ayo Dosunmu, who will make his regular season debut for Illinois on Thursday night. Hopes are high for the highly regarded freshman.

Evansville suffered a lot of attrition from last season, but were a pretty good defensive group last year. As such, this should be a good test for the Illini offense.

Pick Against the Spread: Evansville

The Morning Dish – Tuesday, November 6, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

Since it is election day, the most important thing to do to day is vote. Once you have done that, you can enjoy college basketball’s opening night.
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A solid mid-major matchup to watch is Florida Gulf Coast traveling to Illinois State (7 p.m.), and another is East Tennessee State heading south to visit Sun Belt favorite Georgia State (7 p.m.)

The Morning Dish – Wednesday, November 7, 2018--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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Illinois State fought off Florida Gulf Coast 74-66 in another solid opening matchup, getting 17 from juco transfer Josh Jefferson. Not a Picasso by the Redbirds, but it gets the job done.

Fayne double-double sparks Illinois State past FGCU 74-66--CBS Sports
MVC & OVC Favorites Collide--Valley Hooops Insider
Kindred: Redbirds learn in 'typical' opening win--The Pantagrahp
ISU wins season opener, leaves room for improvement--The Pantagrahp
Jefferson, Redbirds hit the road to face Belmont--The Pantagrahp
'Birds soar past Eagles in season opener 74-66--Vidette Online
Redbird Trio Leads ISU to Season-Opening Win--goredbirds.com
Redbirds Take to Road for First Time in 2018-19--goredbirds.com

Redbirds Travel to SIUE for Season Opener--goredbirds.com

Teague scores 21 as Ball State opens with 86-69 win--CBS Sports
Areas of ISU improvement are obvious as Sycamores trek to Green Bay--Terre Haute Tribune Star
ISU toughs out 78-74 win at Green Bay--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Fall In Season Opener At Ball State--gosycamores.com
Jordan Barnes and Tyreke Key Set Career Highs In Road Victory At Green Bay--gosycamores.com

Wentland, Delgado lead Sycamore women to season-opening win--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Second Half Propels Sycamores to 62-53 Win--gosycamores.com

Loyola-Chicago Is Keeping Its March Magic at a Safe Distance as New Season Begins--Sports Illustrated
Loyola opens its season with a Final Four-worthy banner and a victory--Chicago Tribune
Freshman Kaifes hits 5 3s, scores 19 as Loyola--CBS Sports
Loyola Chicago to get stiffer test than many may think in Furman--Mid-Major Madness
Custer on Naismith Trophy Watch List--Valley Hoops Insider
Clay Mounce’s game-winning dunk against Loyola signaled another step forward for the Furman program--Mid-Major Madness
Loyola Opens Regular Season with 76-45 Win over UMKC--Loyola Phoenix
Meet Porter Moser’s Talented First-Year Trio--Loyola Phoenix
New Case in Gentile Hallway Highlights Final Four Run--Loyola Phoenix
Postgame — Week of November 7th--Loyola Phoenix
Last-Second Shot Sends Furman Past Loyola 60-58--Loyola Phoenix
The Iron 5 To Premiere On WGN-TV Wednesday Night--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola’s Clayton Custer Named To Wooden Award Watch List--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Bounces UMKC, 76-45, In Season Opener--loyolaramblers.com
Furman’s Second-Half Rally Stuns Loyola, 60-58--loyolaramblers.com

Loyola’s Second-Half Comeback Falls Short At Youngstown State, 74-63--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Hosts Detroit Mercy In Home Opener Monday--loyolaramblers.com

Dixon has career-best 26, Missouri State thrashes ORU 84-50--CBS Sports
Welcome to Springfield: Missouri State dominates Oral Roberts in Dana Ford's debut--Springfield News-Leader
After reaching Elite 8 at Texas Tech, Josh Webster transferred to MSU to win championships--Springfield News-Leader
Missouri State holds on to beat Robert Morris in turnover-filled battle--Springfield News-Leader
A year of growth--The Standard
Dana Ford brings back one coach from Paul Lusk’s staff--The Standard
Bears add eight transfers to roster--The Standard
Bears dismantle Evangel in only exhibition game--The Standard
Bears claw their way to second win--The Standard
Bears win scrappy battle over Hatters--The Standard
Bears Basketball Legend Gene Ruble Passes--missouristatebears.com
Dixon, Bears Clip Golden Eagles in Season Opener--missouristatebears.com
Cook Has Recipe in Bears Win over RMU--missouristatebears.com
Bears' Balanced Scoring Stops Stetson--missouristatebears.com

Lady Bears: A new team with a tough schedule--The Standard
Danielle Gitzen to lead as only senior--The Standard
Women’s team splits exhibition games--The Standard
Lady Bears Drop Season Opener at Wichita State in Overtime--missouristatebears.com

Lohaus scores 19, N Iowa beats Bemidji State 97-51--CBS Sports
3 UNI basketball takeaways as the regular season tips off--The Gazette
UNI basketball steamrolls Bemidji State in season-opener--The Gazette
College basketball: UNI handles Bemidji State in opener--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
College men's basketball: Shots don't fall, UNI does at Texas-Arlington--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
High-Powered Offense Leads to Panther Victory--unipanthers.com
UNI Men's Basketball Fall to UT-Arlington--unipanthers.com

The Golden Eagles look to advance to the semifinals and move to 3-0 on the season.--Anonymous Eagle
Demolition Derby: #19 Marquette Women’s Basketball Smashes Northern Iowa For Third Straight Monster Win--Anonymous Eagle
College women's basketball: UNI turns back Delaware for opening night win--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
College women's basketball: Marquette rocks UNI--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Women’s hoops beats Upper Iowa in exhibition--Northern Iowan
UNI Women's Basketball Tops Delaware 79-67--unipanthers.com
UNI Falls to Marquette in Second Round of Preseason WNIT--unipanthers.com

No. 2 Kentucky expected to bounce back against Southern Illinois--CBS Sports
John Calipari talks Duke, Southern Illinois and the PG situation--A Sea Of Blue

Despite being a Missouri Valley Conference team, Calipari had a lot of praise for the Salukis.

“Southern Illinois brings back their four leading scorers. They’ve got inside players that can really play and shoot the ball well. A team that beats us if we don’t play harder than we play.”

Freeman guides Valparaiso past Concordia ILL 121-65--CBS Sports
Freeman on fire: Javon Freeman scores 22 points as Valparaiso routs Concordia Chicago in opener--Post-Tribune
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso big men work toward less foul trouble, more impact--NWI Times
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso blows by Concordia in regular-season opener--NWI Times
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso freshman Freeman-Liberty brings instant impact--NWI Times
Valpo Rolls to Win Over Concordia University Chicago to Open 2018-19 Campaign--valpoathletics.com
Men’s Basketball Part of 2019 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam--valpoathletics.com

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso comeback falls short in coach Evans' debut at the ARC--NWI Times
UIC Tops Valpo in Dual Coaching Debut on Wednesday--valpoathletics.com
Women’s Basketball Edged by North Dakota in Home Opener--valpoathletics.com

Monday, November 5, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/5/2018

Twitter Mailbag: The season is finally here!--Mid-Major Madness

Who are some sleeper teams that could surprise people by making the tournament?
— Z😴 (@The_Real_Zolman) October 31, 2018

Just gonna rattle off a few that might not be considered the favorites in their league that I think have a chance to get a bid: Southern Illinois, North Texas, UIC, Ball State, UC Santa Barbara, George Mason, North Texas, South Alabama.

Could the MVC get multiple teams in? If so, who?
— Max (@mgoring10) October 31, 2018

They can, but it’s tough. Not to sound like a broken record, but the margin for error for some of these leagues is so incredibly small. Nearly everything has to go right in their favor. Multiple teams need to have great showings in non-conference play, and a lot of the time the “best” team in the league needs to lose in the conference championship game. I think the top of the Valley is really strong this year, particularly in Illinois. Loyola and Illinois State are obviously the two that come to mind, but don’t sleep on Southern Illinois and Bradley.

MVC’s Preseason Basketball Special Airs This Week--Valley Hoops Insider

Bradley Basketball Announces 2018-19 Promotional Calendar--bradleybraves.com

ACES INSIDER - Aces One-on-One with Devan Straub--gopurpleaces.com

Loyola not eager to give up top spot in Valley--The Pantagraph
Breaking Down the Valley 2018-19--The Pantagraph
ISU Hoops: Vintage photos and clippings of Illinois State University men's basketball--The Pantagraph
Evans to face old friend as Redbirds set for season opener--The Pantagraph
Redbird hoops ready for season-opener rematch with FGCU--Vidette Online
Redbirds Ready for Season Opener--goredbirds.com

Newcomers Maggett, Crompton propel ISU women to exhibition win--The Pantagraph
Women's hoops make quick work of Quincy in first exhibition game--Vidette Online
Women’s Basketball to Hold fansgiving Night at Home Opener--goredbirds.com

ISU MBB PREVIEW: Sycamores can't let 'B.C.' portion of season lower expectations--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores face known quantities in Ball State--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamore Basketball Looks For Winning Returns In Season Opener At Ball State--gosycamores.com

ISU WBB PREVIEW: Sycamores looking to mix up batch of success in Hall's first year--Terre Haute Tribune Star

The 68: Everything you need to get you fired up for the return of college hoops--College Basketball Talk

35. NEVADA’S REMATCH WITH LOYOLA-CHICAGO

The Wolf Pack reached the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA tournament, where they were dropped by Loyola-Chicago as the Ramblers made it all the way to the Final Four. They’ll face off again on Nov. 27th, as Porter Moser looks to prove to the doubters that his team should remain in the mix for the top 25 despite the fact that he lost three key pieces from last year’s team.

Mid-Major Madness Preseason All-Americans: Caleb Martin, Mike Daum and Jon Elmore are all unanimous--Mid-Major Madness

Third Team

Clayton Custer, Sr., Guard, Loyola Chicago

His counting numbers aren’t all that exciting, but there’s a reason Custer is the reining Player of the Year in the Valley. He’s the Ramblers’ steady leader, and it showed last year on their run to the Final Four. This year, Custer returns to lead a team that is going from being the hunter to the hunted. He’s a great facilitator. He’s a knockdown shooter. He defends. What more could you want in a point guard?

The 5 most interesting unranked college basketball teams of 2018-19--SB Nation

Loyola-Chicago

America’s reigning March Madness sweethearts are the first team on the outside looking in at the preseason AP poll, coming just four points shy of usurping Washington for the 25th-spot. The Ramblers return three of their four double figure scorers from last year’s Final Four squad, including 2018 Missouri Valley Player of the Year Clayton Custer.

Recent history shows that if a mid-major program that catches lightning in a bottle wants to turn that magical run into sustained success, the succeeding season is of paramount importance.

VCU followed up its 2011 Final Four run with another trip to the NCAA tournament in 2012, where they pulled off a 12-5 upset before a narrow loss to fourth-seeded Indiana. The Rams were able to parlay that success into a move to the Atlantic 10. The team that beat VCU in the 2011 semifinals was Butler, which was following up its stunning run to the 2010 national title game with another runner-up finish a year later. The Bulldogs are now one of the top programs in the Big East. Wichita State outdid everyone by following up its surprise 2013 Final Four appearance with a 35-0 start in 2013-14. The Shockers haven’t slowed down since and are now preparing to enter their second year in the AAC.

The one exception here is George Mason, which stunned the sports world with its miraculous run to the Final Four in 2006. Despite returning a handful of key contributors from that squad, the Patriots fell off significantly in 2006-07. They lost 15 games, finished just 9-9 in the Colonial Athletic Association, and missed out both the NCAA tournament and the NIT. They’ve been to the Big Dance just twice since, and haven’t finished a season with a conference record above .500 since moving to the Atlantic 10 in 2014.

If Loyola wants to become the next big player in the world of mid-major basketball, history says it has to continue climbing during this current uptick. The Ramblers have all the pieces necessary to capture the nation’s attention for the second time in as many years.

Also, Sister Jean is back ...

Sister Jean in game form. Ready for the season. Giving pregame prayer at Loyola exhibition per tradition. pic.twitter.com/WWbRHZ8jwq
— Shannon Ryan (@sryantribune) October 23, 2018

Now the season can officially start.

Loyola Raises Curtain On 2018-19 Season, Hosts UMKC Tuesday--loyolaramblers.com
Clayton Custer Named To Citizen Naismith Trophy Award Watch List--loyolaramblers.com

4 questions we have about Missouri State basketball heading into Dana Ford's first season--Springfield News-Leader

UNI men roll to consecutive exhibition wins--Northern Iowan
Men's Basketball Ready For Regular Season--unipanthers.com

UNI women's basketball: Panthers showcase depth during exhibition win--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

A Family Affair: Meet Saluki Basketball’s Martin Sisters--Daily Egyptian

Peak 'Zeke': Marquette grad Ryan Fazekas improved, healthy for official Valparaiso debut--Post-Tribune
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso's big men brimming with potential--NWI Times
Men's Basketball Set to Tip Off Regular Season Tuesday Night--valpoathletics.com

Sunday, November 4, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/4/2018

The Morning Dish – Saturday, November 3, 2018--Hoopville

The beat goes on in the Missouri Valley Conference, where the names and faces may change but the conference is well-run and the basketball product is solid. Last season’s big story in the NCAA Tournament, Loyola-Chicago, won’t sneak up on anyone this year, as the Ramblers are a clear favorite to win the conference, be a ranked team and win a game or two in the Big Dance. Illinois State and Southern Illinois, the latter of whom is the only team in the conference to return all five starters, look like the best bets to push them, and don’t sleep on Bradley, who returns four starters from a team that made a big leap to 20 wins and a semifinal appearance in the conference tournament.

Braves Cruise To 91-62 Exhibition Win Over Quincy--bradleybraves.com

Men's Basketball Cruises Past Coe In Exhibition--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Cruises in Final Exhibition Contest--godrakebulldogs.com

What we learned from our first look at a Walter McCarty coached Evansville basketball team--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball earns 83-61 exhibition win--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - UE Men impressive in Walter McCarty's debut on bench--gopurpleaces.com

The Morning Dish – Sunday, November 4, 2018--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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A number of other results were much closer. Colorado squeezed past Colorado School of Mines 66-57, while MAAC favorite Rider also got a challenge from NCAA Division II West Chester (Pa.) 87-81, and Rider coach Kevin Baggett was not happy about it after. Also, Illinois State got a good push from Augustana (Ill.) in an 82-74 win over the No. 3-ranked team in NCAA Division III, and Detroit Mercy needed a buzzer-beater from Josh McFolley to defeat Wayne State (Mich.) 79-76.

ISU near full strength for final exhibition against Augustana--The Pantagraph
Redbirds survive Augustana rally to earn exhibition win--The Pantagraph
Redbirds Use Big Run in Victory over Augustana--goredbirds.com

Beck, ISU women 'excited' for exhibition against Quincy--The Pantagraph
Redbirds Soar Past Hawks--goredbirds.com

Where 2018-19 Happens: Reason #4 We Love College Basketball--Rush The Court
Here are 68 thoughts and predictions to get you excited for the 2018-19 college basketball season--CBS Sports

38. The MVC race

Loyola-Chicago
Illinois State
Southern Illinois

I'm not as high on the Ramblers as those who are ranking them in the Top 25 because they lost a lot from that team that made the Final Four. But I still think they'll be back in the NCAA Tournament via the MVC's auto-bid. Long live Sister Jean!

38. Loyola-Chicago

One thing I don't think most realize about the Ramblers is that even though they advanced to the Final Four, they still only finished 31st at KenPom and never, at any point in the season, cracked the top 25. Now three of the top six scorers from that team are gone -- among them also the leading rebounder and the player who made the most 3-pointers. So when I say I'm not as high on the Ramblers as some, that's why. Simply put, that run to the Final Four skewed the perception of them a little too much.

Loyola Defeats North Central 73-49 in Exhibition--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Shakes Off Slow Start, Cruises Past North Central, 73-49--loyolaramblers.com

Basketball Bears Open New Season Tuesday at The Q--missouristatebears.com

Lady Bears Rout Lincoln in Exhibition Finale--missouristatebears.com

Women's basketball: UNI showcases depth during exhibition win over Upper Iowa, 89-41--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Panther Women's Basketball Tops Upper Iowa 89-41--unipanthers.com

SIU Men's Basketball | Salukis' Cook nearly had exhibition triple-double--The Southern Illinoisan

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso wings bring shooting, toughness--NWI Times

Women's Basketball Season Tips Off on Wednesday at UIC--valpoathletics.com

Saturday, November 3, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/3/2018

Here are 37 preposterously plausible (and crazy) predictions for the 2018-19 college basketball season--CBS Sports

2. Loyola-Chicago will not return to the NCAA Tournament. (But maybe Sister Jean will. She can do anything.) The Ramblers wrote one of the sweetest scripts in Big Dance history last March and April, but Porter Moser's team will take second in the Missouri Valley to Illinois State and come up just short of earning an at-large bid to the chagrin of many. Other coaches at power programs refusing to schedule Loyola will wind up factoring into this.
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14. Longest NCAA Tournament droughts that will end: Rider (24), Illinois State (20), Mississippi State (9), Washington (7).
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22. Seven sexy Cinderella stories set for March's splendid stage: Illinois State, Jacksonville State, Montana, Northeastern, South Dakota State, UNC Greensboro, Vermont. All should make the NCAA Tournament. At least three will get to the second round. At least three of the coaches at these schools will be hired to bigger jobs by early April.

Bradley Basketball: Offense key for the Braves in 2018-19--Busting Brackets

Redbirds finish exhibition slate with 82-74 win over Augustana--Vidette Online

Loyola Shakes Off Slow Start, Cruises Past North Central, 73-49--loyolaramblers.com

New MSU coach Dana Ford, wife to open transitional home to fight domestic violence in Springfield--Springfield News-Leader

UNI Women's Hoops Opens With Exhibition Against Upper Iowa--unipanthers.com

SIU Women's Basketball | Martin not surprised by freshmen success in exhibition win--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU Women's Basketball | Salukis roll to win over Westminster College--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU women’s basketball tops Westminster in final exhibition game--Daily Egyptian

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valparaiso's backcourt full of new faces--NWI Times

Friday, November 2, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/2/2018

The Morning Dish – Friday, November 2, 2018--Hoopville

Side Dishes

Exhibition season continued with a host of games Thursday night. Take whatever you want from friendlies (but we’d probably advise one should take at least something from them), but non-Division I teams knocked off several D-I programs, while others threw good scares into them. Winners included Western Colorado rolling Air Force 84-64 and Indianapolis winning at Valparaiso 60-57. Ugly results for both losing teams. Also, NCAA Division III Salisbury (Md.) topped Maryland-Eastern Shore 67-60.
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An intriguing story this week has come from Missouri, which through unnamed sources was accusing Evansville of essentially blocking former Purple Aces guard Dru Smith from getting a waiver to play this year for the Tigers. Mizzou, like any other program that hasn’t been asleep for six months, has seen the NCAA handing out transfer waivers like Halloween candy and figured it would try on the basis that Smith supposedly left Evansville solely because coach Marty Simmons was fired in March, and thus should get a waiver. And according to the unnamed source this week, he would have if not for the Aces’ supposed pettiness.
After several days of silence, Evansville responded yesterday-strongly. Aces athletic director Mark Spencer detailed UE’s involvement throughout the transfer process for Smith, including Smith’s participation (with other Aces teammates) in the hiring process of current coach Walter McCarty and Missouri trying to get Evansville to say it had essentially pulled Smith’s scholarship and he was not welcome back to the program. Anyone with an ounce of common sense could’ve figured that wouldn’t have been the case with one of the better players in the Missouri Valley Conference, and Evansville rightfully refused to go along with Mizzou’s prodding. Schools like Missouri already have about every imaginable advantage in recruiting the Dru Smiths out of high school or poaching them away after they’ve played well collegiately. Evansville was under zero obligation to bow down, tell what some might consider just a little white lie and give them still yet one more advantage, even in the name of the supposedly sacred cow now of “student-athlete well-being.”

Bradley dominates as a freshman leads the way--Peoria Journal Star
Go Time: Men’s Basketball Preview--Bradley Scout
Hometown Hanley earns scholarship--Bradley Scout
Book of Eli--Bradley Scout
#TheArrival--Bradley Scout
Mapping the Valley: Men’s MVC Rankings--Bradley Scout

Voice of the Braves Coaches Show Dates Set for 2018-19--bradleybraves.com

Women’s Basketball Preview--Bradley Scout
Shun-sational: Kent prepares for final season--Bradley Scout
Mapping the Valley: Women’s MVC Rankings--Bradley Scout
Women’s Basketball Hosts Quincy In Saturday Exhibition--bradleybraves.com

'I just want to expand my game': Brady Ellingson eyes more impactful role with Drake--Des Moines Register
Men’s Basketball Hosts Coe In Exhibition Action Sunday--godrakebulldogs.com

How long can Drake hold onto superstar coach Baranczyk? Why we might learn this season--Des Moines Register

Former Evansville basketball standout Craig Snow set to coach against alma mater--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball faces New Mexico Highlands in Saturday exhibition--gopurpleaces.com

Newcomers need to produce for Redbirds to take next step--The Pantagraph
ISU basketball depth chart 2018-19--The Pantagraph
Redbirds look to score more with 3-ball--The Pantagraph
ISU near full strength for final exhibition against Augustana--The Pantagraph
Marketing to Hold Auditioning for National Anthem Singer--goredbirds.com
Illinois State to host Hardly Normal night against Florida Gulf Coast--goredbirds.com
Men's Basketball Hosts Final Exhibition on Saturday--goredbirds.com

Redbirds Host Quincy for an Exhibition--goredbirds.com

Sycamore Basketball: Fast Break 2018--gosycamores.com

Loyola Set For Exhibition Tune-Up Against North Central On Saturday--loyolaramblers.com

3 takeaways from Saluki Basketball Media Day--The Southern Illinoisan
More from where that came from: Bol scores 10, blocks 1 in exhibition win--The Southern Illinoisan

Women’s Basketball posts 80-point exhibition win over Westminster--siusalukis.com

MVC Men's Basketball Notebook - N2--The Missouri Valley

FEATURE: Valparaiso Basketball--The Missouri Valley

MVC Women's Basketball Notebook - Nov. 2--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/1/2018

Missouri Valley preseason rankings: Will Loyola’s teamwork overcome Illinois State’s talent?--Mid-Major Madness
Ranking the MVC’s Non-Conference Schedules for 2018-19--Blogging The Bracket
College basketball rankings 2018-19: Where every team ranks in each state, from top to bottom--CBS Sports

Iowa
Iowa State

After an unavoidable step-back season, Cyclone fans are no doubt giddy and pumped to see their logo -- not an Iowa Hawkeye -- painted within state borders. Steve Prohm was able to keep sophomores Lindell Wigginton and Cam Lard on the program's path. There won't be many sophomore combos better than those two. Throw in senior wing Nick Weiler-Babb, a stat-stuffer extraordinaire, and this team's got NCAA tourney ambitions once again. Virginia transfer Marial Shayok's the X factor.

Iowa State
Iowa
Northern Iowa
Drake
...
Illinois
Illinois State

Last year Illinois fans got into a tizzy when I picked Illinois State to be better than the Illini. Guess what: It's going to be the case again. The Redbirds, in fact, are expecting to be better than Loyola-Chicago, too. They're picked as such here at CBS Sports. Dan Muller hopes to break through to the Big Dance after coming close multiple times in recent years.

Illinois State
Loyola-Chicago
Illinois
Southern Illinois
Bradley
DePaul
Northwestern
Illinois-Chicago
Northern Illinois
Eastern Illinois
Western Illinois
SIU-Edwardsville
Chicago State

Indiana
Indiana

The Hoosiers are no sure thing to be the best in Indiana, but the way things set up, Notre Dame, Purdue and Butler are reasonably clustered right behind IU. Romeo Langford steps in to play for Archie Miller in Bloomington. Indiana fans are praying this kid can bring a certain magic to this season, the kind of game-changing presence he had the past four years in high school.

Indiana
Notre Dame
Purdue
Butler
Ball State
Indiana State
Valparaiso
Purdue Fort Wayne
Evansville
IUPUI
...
Missouri
Saint Louis

Takes over the top spot in Missouri after Mizzou lost Jontay Porter for the season due to ACL and MCL tears. At SLU, Travis Ford brings in a touted freshman class, but it's the senior combo of Javon Bess and Drexel transfer Tramaine Isabell who will be the bell cows for a program seeking its first NCAA Tournament since 2014.

Saint Louis
Missouri
Missouri State
Southeast Missouri State
UMKC

Raising the Bar higher this year at Bradley--Peoria Journal Star
Defense keys Bradley to easy exhibition victory--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Earn 50-Point Exhibition Win over Carroll--bradleybraves.com

Missouri, Evansville engage in public battle over Dru Smith transfer waiver--College Basketball Talk
Evansville freshman Will Becker retires from college basketball--Evansville Courier & Press
Evansville athletics director Mark Spencer responds to Missouri's Dru Smith situation--Evansville Courier & Press
Evansville basketball coach Walter McCarty fires back after Post-Dispatch column--Evansville Courier & Press
William Becker to discontinue basketball career--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - Aces One-on-One with Noah Frederking--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - A Dual Homecoming at Ford Center--gopurpleaces.com
FanFest to take place on Saturday outside Ford Center--gopurpleaces.com

Fayne, Redbirds frazzle Lewis in exhibition--The Pantagraph

ISU had better be ready for a loaded Rose-Hulman team--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Good start, good finish propel Sycamores past Engineers--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Notch Balanced Performance In Exhibition Victory--gosycamores.com

Loyola basketball sells out games vs. Nevada and Illinois State--Chicago Tribune
Loyola season opener the first of 9 Ramblers games set for NBC Sports Chicago this season--Chicago Tribune
Finally Healthy, Negron Ready for Upcoming Season--Loyola Phoenix
Post-Final Four, Men’s Basketball Focusing on Nutrition--Loyola Phoenix
Men’s Basketball Fights to Keep Magic Alive--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Announces Sellouts For Games Versus Nevada, Illinois State--loyolaramblers.com

UNI basketball works through struggles on offense against Upper Iowa--The Gazette
Men's basketball: UNI locks down Upper Iowa early in exhibition finale, 82-63--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Panthers Finish Exhibition Schedule with Win--unipanthers.com

McGill's injury could make Beane's Saluki premiere longer than first expected--The Southern Illinoisan
Salukis ranked 10th in CollegeInsider.com mid-major top 25--The Southern Illinoisan
Saluki basketball opens season with an exhibition win against East Central--Daily Egyptian
SIU cruises past East Central in exhibition--siusalukis.com

Women's Basketball hosts Westminster (Mo.) Friday for final exhibition tune-up--siusalukis.com

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Crusaders fall in lone exhibition contest--NWI Times
Valpo Falls to UIndy in Exhibition Action Thursday--valpoathletics.com

Valpo Women's Basketball Weekly: Season Preview--valpoathletics.com

FEATURE: Southern Illinois Men's Basketball--The Missouri Valley