Scanning the Nation Notebook Dec. 19 – On the Big 12, Stephen F. Austin, New Mexico State, LSU and more--
Hoopville
More notes…
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Among Midwestern conferences, there was talk this summer that the Horizon League might be a better league than the Missouri Valley this year. Not only is it not close to the case, but the Horizon is a miserable (29th) in the conference RPI as we’re now past mid-December, ahead of only the Big South, SWAC and MEAC. Goodness. The league has certainly been hurt badly by injuries and eligibility issues (Oakland, Illinois-Chicago) in the short term, and the effects of the transfer epidemic plus severe coaching turnover have clearly taken their toll as well.
SEMO rebuild similar to Bradley, but teams’ strengths not so much--
Peoria Journal Star
Braves Meet Redhawks in Wednesday Matinee Game--
bradleybraves.com
Rally Falls Short In 67-65 Loss To Cleveland State--
bradleybraves.com
S Dakota St downs Drake 87-74 behind Daum's 35 points--
CBS Sports
Men's Basketball Falls To A Strong SDSU Squad, 87-74--
godrakebulldogs.com
Duke faces Evansville in final non-league test--
CBS Sports
Duke vs. Evansville: College basketball game preview, TV schedule--
Busting Brackets
Duke's Grayson Allen on Evansville: 'They're so precise in everything they do'--
Evansville Courier & Press
Aces visit 4th-ranked Duke on Wednesday--
gopurpleaces.com
Aces All-Access - December 19, 2017--
gopurpleaces.com
Evansville drops final non-conference game at SEMO--
gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSTANT REPLAY - UE Women close out non-conference sked with loss at SEMO--
gopurpleaces.com
Illinois State holds off Illinois-Chicago 71-70--
CBS Sports
Illinois State’s ‘Big 3’--
Valley Hoops Insider
Yarbrough delivers in clutch as Redbirds slip past UIC--
The Pantagraph
Illinois State puts out Flames, 71-70--
Vidette Online
Illinois State Holds Off Feisty UIC on Tuesday Evening Battle--
goredbirds.com
Goods, ISU women face Long Beach State--
The Pantagraph
Yarbrough earns pair of MVC weekly awards--
Vidette Online
Redbirds to Play in Beach Classic at Long Beach--
goredbirds.com
Sycamore women go cold in fourth quarter--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Succumb to Miami Rally Tuesday--
gosycamores.com
Missouri State holds off Wright State 66-50--
CBS Sports
Five Ozarks sports questions we want answered in 2018--
Springfield News-Leader
Will Missouri State men's hoops make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999?
The Bears were selected to win the Missouri Valley, but will they actually do it?
That will be the question Bears fans will be asking themselves all the way to the conference tournament in St. Louis.
An at-large bid for the MVC appears unlikely, and the season will come down to Arch Madness, starting March 1.
Missouri State has shown glimpses of being the top team they're supposed to be, while also flashing signs that would cause fans to worry.
If the Bears can consistently be the team they were predicted to be, 2018 could be a special year for MSU basketball.
How high will Alize Johnson go in the NBA Draft?
Missouri State hasn't had a men's basketball player drafted since Winston Garland in 1987, but Alize Johnson appears to be destined to break that drought.
Johnson's name has appeared high on multiple draft boards, including one that slated him as Missouri State's first ever first-round pick.
NBA scouts have been frequent visitors to Bears games to watch the team's star forward play.
Fans enjoy seeing the success Dylan Cole and Jake Burger have had at the next level. Johnson should be the next fan favorite to join them.
Preview: Missouri State back in action as the Bears host Wright State--
The Standard
Solid defense helps Missouri State survive scare from Wright State--
The Standard
Bears Rough Up Raiders for Tenth Victory--
missouristatebears.com
MSU Closes Non-Conference Play With Narrow Loss at Alabama--
missouristatebears.com
UNI basketball: MVC hopes to end impressive non-conference slate on a high note--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
UNI notes: Shots still aren't falling for Panther women--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Southern Illinois beats North Carolina A&T 102-64--
CBS Sports
Red-hot Men's Basketball shreds North Carolina A&T, 102-64--
siusalukis.com
Saluki women fall to University of Albany in Puerto Rico Classic--
Daily Egyptian
Women’s Basketball drops Puerto Rico Classic opener to Albany--
siusalukis.com
Non-Conference Opponents Update: December 19--
Hammer and Rails
Valparaiso Crusaders (9-3, 0-0 MVC) RPI: 112, KenPom: 104 – Given a shot at playing another Big Ten team Valparaiso was blown out by Northwestern 84-50 last Thursday. They recovered to win at Santa Clara 76-68 last night. Tomorrow night they are at UC-Riverside. They have not done well in their real tests, but they will open MVC play at Indiana State on December 28th.
Valparaiso snaps skid with 76-68 win over Santa Clara--
CBS Sports
Derrik Smits helps Valparaiso top Santa Clara to end three-game skid--
Post-Tribune
Crusaders snap three-game losing streak with road win--
NWI Times
Men's Basketball Looks For Second Straight Win Wednesday--
valpoathletics.com
Women's Basketball Looks to Continue Winning Ways in Nonconference Finale--
valpoathletics.com
MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Dec. 19)--
The Missouri Valley
2021 forward Mike Foster commits to Arizona State--
247 Sports
Although it’s still early, Foster has built quite the reputation in Milwaukee, playing at Washington High School. To go with the interest from Arizona State, Purdue, Georgia Tech, UNLV, Bradley, UW-Milwaukee and San Diego State were also involved in his recruitment.
Women’s Basketball Hosts Cleveland State For Field Trip Day--
bradleybraves.com
Men’s Basketball Travels To Final Non-Conference Road Game--
godrakebulldogs.com
South Dakota State Defeats Women’s Basketball, 85-78--
godrakebulldogs.com
UE extends nonconference home streak to 29 with rout over Midway--
Evansville Courier & Press
4 memorable UE games against 4 college basketball blue bloods--
Evansville Courier & Press
Second-half surge leads UE to 79-52 win over Midway--
gopurpleaces.com
Registration open for Jersey Retirement Reception--
gopurpleaces.com
UE's Kalya Casteel earns weekly MVC honor--
Evansville Courier & Press
UE women's basketball team delivers presents to the Child Life Center--
Evansville Courier & Press
Kayla Casteel named MVC Newcomer of the Week--
gopurpleaces.com
Women's basketball wraps-up pre-holiday slate at SEMO--
gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - UE Women's basketball makes special delivery before Christmas--
gopurpleaces.com
Illinois State’s Dan Muller pleaded for a tougher schedule on Twitter and got it--
College Basketball Talk
12/18 Men's Basketball Players of the Week--
College Basketball Talk
Missouri Valley Milik Yarbrough F Illinois State
Muller on the Mississippi Win--
Valley Hoops Insider
Explosive MVC & OVC Performances--
Valley Hoops Insider
Missouri Valley Conference
In Illinois State’s only game of the week, the Redbirds edged Mississippi 101-97. Though he fouled out and played less than 30 minutes in the overtime thriller, Milik Yarbrough was a dominant force in the upset win. His 25-point, ten-rebound, eight assist performance underscored what coach Dan Muller has been saying all year about the Saint Louis U transfer. ‘He’s unstoppable!’
Yarbrough is the Valley’s ‘Player of the Week‘ AND the ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. He’s the first MVC performer to sweep the weekly awards since Landry Shamet turned the trick last February.
Redbirds try to keep momentum going against UIC; Yarbrough honored by MVC--
The Pantagraph
Redbird women can't hold off Vikings, fall at home Sunday--
Vidette Online
Milik Yarbrough Sweeps Weekly Missouri Valley Conference Awards--
goredbirds.com
Redbirds Look to Keep Momentum Moving Against UIC--
goredbirds.com
ISU women struggle late, fall to Cleveland State--
The Pantagraph
Redibrds Fall in Back-and-Forth Battle to Cleveland State--
goredbirds.com
Sycamores looking to build off momentum in last two nonconference games--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Return to Hardwood to Host Redhawks--
gosycamores
Milton Doyle to Sign Two-Way Contract with Brooklyn Nets--
Loyola Phoenix
Doyle Signs Two-Way Contract With Brooklyn Nets--
loyolaramblers.com
Butler Holds Off Loyola, 64-52--
loyolaramblers.com
12/18 Women's Basketball Players of the Week--
College Basketball Talk
Missouri Valley Alexa Willard G Missouri State
Bears Wrap Non-Conference Slate Tuesday at Home--
missouristatebears.com
Willard Named MVC Player of the Week--
missouristatebears.com
No. 25 Iowa makes it 11 straight vs. UNI, 71-47--
The Gazette
College women's basketball: Gustafson guides No. 25 Iowa past UNI, 71-47--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Second-Half Surge Pushes No. 25 Iowa Past UNI--
unipanthers.com
Southern Illinois hands Lamar 2nd loss, 71-61--
CBS Sports
Salukis' McGill injures left hand, out indefinitely--
The Southern Illinoisan
Saluki basketball shoots down Lamar Cardinals--
Daily Egyptian
Defense keys Men's Basketball's 71-61 win over Lamar--
siusalukis.com
Saluki men's basketball hosting Youth Sports Night on Jan. 13--
siusalukis.com
Men's Basketball hosts North Carolina A&T in Military Appreciation game on Tuesday--
siusalukis.com
Salukis' work in progress meets Albany's experience in Puerto Rico--
The Southern Illinoisan
Man in the mask: Broken nose doesn't slow Valparaiso's John Kiser--
Post-Tribune
Men’s Basketball Back on Winning Track With Victory Over Santa Clara--
valpoathletics.com
Valpo Extends Winning Streak to Three with Road Victory--
valpoathletics.com
MVC Men's Basketball Notes (D18)--
The Missouri Valley
Women's Basketball Player/Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 18)--
The Missouri Valley
The Morning Dish – Sunday, December 17, 2017--
Hoopville
Side Dishes:
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You’d be hard-pressed to find a more resilient win all season than Illinois State’s overtime triumph at Ole MIss. A team already curtailed heavily by injuries, the Redbirds lost three starters to fouls and played the overtime with five guards on the court. Milik Yarbrough just missed a triple-double (25 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists).
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The season’s renaissance award goes to Indiana, or maybe Iowa State, which continued to play well by taking over in the final 10 minutes to top Northern Iowa 76-65. Or maybe it’s BYU, which late in the evening handled rival Utah 77-65 and is now 9-2.
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Today’s Menu:
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Quietly a good game, Southland contender Lamar is at Southern Illinois, a decent team in the Missouri Valley that is one of many in the league hammered by injuries.
ISU men's hoops shocks Ole Miss in overtime, 101-97--
Vidette Online
Rally in the Valley: Conference play right around the corner--
Vidette Online
Quick Takes: Sooners shock Wichita State--
Bracketville
Here are a few other Quick Takes worth mentioning …
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And then there was Loyola-Chicago (which won at Florida) dropping a 17-point decision at Milwaukee.
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Sunday, Dec 17th--
Hoops HD
NEWS AND NOTES
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-Northern Iowa, who had been having a fantastic season, played a back and forth game with Iowa State for about 30 minutes, and then were blown out in the final 10 minutes. The loss doesn’t sink them, but a win would have REALLY helped them and opened up their margin for error a bit more.
Local, area sports briefs--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Basketball
The University of Northern Iowa is offering several ticket specials for its upcoming home basketball games.
The Mobile Pass option offers men’s basketball tickets for all nine Missouri Valley Conference home games for a one-time cost of $50. More information can be found at unipanthers.com/mobilepass. Passes must be purchased by Dec. 28.
UNI is also offering $5 tickets for men’s and women’s games being played over winter break. Tickets for the men’s games against Southern Illinois (Dec. 28) and Loyola (Jan. 7) and women’s games vs. Loyola (Dec. 29) and Valparaiso (Dec. 31) can be purchased at unipanthers.com/stocking.
For more information, contact the UNI Ticket Office at (319) 273-4849.
Women's Basketball tips off in Puerto Rico on Tuesday--
siusalukis.com
Valpo Men Look To Start California Trip With Win Monday--
valpoathletics.com
The Morning Dish – Friday, December 15, 2017--
Hoopville
Side Dishes:
Northwestern embarrassed Valparaiso 84-50. The Wildcats in their last two games have easily looked the best they have all year, and in this one they hit 12 of 22 three-pointers, including 7 of 8 in the first 10 minutes. The Crusaders played without leading scorer Tevonn Walker, who is out indefinitely with mononucleosis. Turnovers have been a major issue all season for Valpo, and six more TOs than field goals (21 to 15) and a 30-4 deficit in points off turnovers are no way to beat any team, much less an experienced Big Ten squad.
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Good as the Missouri Valley Conference’s start has been this year, the league also has been absolutely plundered by injuries. The latest is at Evansville, where second-leading scorer and up-and-coming sophomore Dru Smith is now out for four weeks with a stress fracture. This comes just over two weeks after leading scorer Ryan Taylor was sidelined with a fractured foot. Smith also is the MVC leader in assists and had picked up some scoring load after Taylor’s injury. The Purple Aces are a surprising 8-2 to start the season but have a trip to Duke coming next week.
The Morning Dish – Saturday, December 16, 2017--
Hoopville
Tonight’s Menu
It’s a busy day, and the big games start right away as well.
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The Hy-Vee Big Four Classic in Des Moines has Drake taking on Iowa (2 p.m.), then Northern Iowa taking on Iowa State (4:30 p.m.)
...
A good matchup that has lots a bit of its luster is Illinois State visiting Ole Miss (3:30 p.m.)
Drake, UNI look to upstage Hawkeyes and Cyclones--
USA Today
Drake & Northern Iowa with a Hy-Vee Opportunity--
Mid-Major Madness
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 16th--
Hoops HD
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
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-INDIANA STATE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY. Western Kentucky is coming off disappointing (and in the case of their last game controversial) losses and are looking to get things turned around. Their margin for error is small, and they pretty much need to blow through the rest of the season if they want the committee to look at them.
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-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT MILWAUKEE. I like this Loyola team and they can improve to 11-1 on the season if they pick up this win today. If they keep it up they won’t need the automatic bid to make the NCAA Tournament.
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-NORTHERN IOWA VS IOWA STATE (Des Moines). Northern Iowa is having the kind of year that could not just land them in the NCAA Tournament, but land them in the top half of it. This is a chance to add yet another notable win to an already impressive resume.
Michigan State Basketball: Previewing the Hitachi College Basketball Showcase--
College Court Report
Final Push for Ratings--
Valley Hoops Insider
Hlas: Iowa, Iowa State get feel-good wins--
The Gazette
Bradley hands Chicago State 8th straight loss 84-58--
CBS Sports
Braves go to 9-2 with rout of Chicago State--
Peoria Journal Star
Bradley Cruises by Chicago State, 84-58--
bradleybraves.com
Braves Fall At #21 Green Bay--
bradleybraves.com
Rivalry Weekend: Big Ten Basketball Previews, Open Thread--
Off Tackle Empire
Iowa Hawkeyes (5-6, KP 81) vs. Drake Bulldogs (5-5, KP 181)
1pm | BTN | Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines) | Iowa -6.5
Contrived Event Name: Hy-Vee Big Four Classic
Is it actually a rivalry?: No, because Iowa can actually win it.
What trophy should they play for?: A third-place ribbon.
Stewmonkey13: I've attempted let go of almost all expectations, at this point. Drake isn't that good, as evidenced by their game against Minnesota. Neither is Iowa. Even is Drake isn't very good at forcing turnovers, Iowa is still going to turn it over too much.
Connor McCaffery (yes, relation) is still coming back from mono, and is hardly ready for competitive minutes. If Iowa can take care of the ball, this should be a route, as they'll likely control the boards (the height advantage is fairly absurd). Still, it's essentially a road game against Drake.
Cook, Hawkeyes cruise past Drake 90-64--
CBS Sports
Reed Timmer, Drake’s offense ready for Iowa at Hy-Vee Classic--
Des Moines Register
Iowa 90, Drake 64: What we learned from Iowa's win over Drake--
Des Moines Register
Turnover bug bites Drake hard in Hy-Vee Classic loss to Iowa--
Des Moines Register
Iowa basketball finally has some fun in beating Drake--
The Gazette
Iowa 90, Drake 64: 3 Takeaways, Highlights from the Hy-Vee Classic--
The Gazette
Men’s Basketball Falls To Iowa, 90-64, In Hy-Vee Classic--
godrakebulldogs.com
Evansville downs Austin Peay 78-74 in OT behind Riley's 22--
CBS Sports
Saturday will be a homecoming (away from home) for UE's Boo Gibson--
Evansville Courier & Press
Dru Smith on recent injury: 'I have to stay positive'--
Evansville Courier & Press
UE survives Austin Peay in overtime behind 22 points from K.J. Riley--
Evansville Courier & Press
K.J. Riley leads UE men to overtime win--
gopurpleaces.com
Aces downed by hot-shooting Flames--
gopurpleaces.com
Illinois State edges Mississippi in overtime 101-97--
CBS Sports
Ole Miss vs. Illinois State basketball 2017: Time, TV schedule, and online streaming--
Red Cup Rebellion
Memories of Ward to be in air as Redbirds visit Ole Miss--
The Pantagraph
ISU pulls off overtime stunner against Ole Miss--
The Pantagraph
Redbirds Get Production Across the Lineup in Overtime Win over Ole Miss--
goredbirds.com
ISU women look to jump over .500 mark--
The Pantagraph
Hollingsworth leads balanced Hilltoppers past Indiana State--
CBS Sports
Key hopes to give his home folks a good showing at WKU--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Western Kentucky makes it look easy against ISU--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
TODD AARON GOLDEN: ISU can’t impose its will because it doesn’t have an identity to do so--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Drop Road Contest At Western Kentucky--
gosycamores.com
ISU SPECIAL SECTION: Sycamore freshmen embrace taking on bigger roles--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Stull, Milwaukee hand Loyola-Chicago 2nd loss, 73-56--
CBS Sports
Cold Shooting Plagues Loyola In 73-56 Loss at Milwaukee--
loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Prepares For Monday Night Clash At Butler--
loyolaramblers.com
36 MSU student-athletes complete degrees--
Springfield News-Leader
Bears basketball recruit decommits from MSU, seeks football scholarship--
Springfield News-Leader
Days after leaving Missouri State basketball, recruit grabs Michigan football offer--
Springfield News-Leader
Kansas State vs Southeast Missouri State: Open Game Thread--
Bring On The Cats
Lady Bears Hit 15 Treys, Topple Northwestern 90-59--
missouristatebears.com
Wigginton, Iowa State storm past UNI 76-65--
CBS Sports
2 Iowa State big men starting to get a feel for the game are key against UNI--
The Gazette
Lindell Wigginton's second-half burst lifts Iowa State over UNI--
The Gazette
UPDATE: UNI basketball: Cyclones outrace Panthers in the second half--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Cyclones Storm Past Panthers, 76-65--
unipanthers.com
Iowa women's basketball expects a 'mad' opponent at UNI--
The Gazette
SIU Men's Basketball | Bartley's vision ahead of his offense 3 games in--
The Southern Illinoisan
Meredith Breaks Program Record, Women’s Basketball Cruises to Victory--
valpoathletics.com
Women's Basketball to Play for Best 10-Game Start Since 2001--
valpoathletics.com
