Missouri Valley Conference Notebook – November 18, 2011

Ranking the MVC through Week 1 (Games through Nov. 17)

1. Creighton Bluejays (3-0)

On the surface, the Bluejays are cruising, nearly hitting the century mark in scoring the first two games and winning easily on the road in game three. Sophomore Doug McDermott is also just warming up, increasing his point totals from 13 to 21 to 27. The Bluejays will experience some close, heartbreaking losses this season though if they continue to shoot poorly at the free-throw line – a total of 44-for-66 through three games. Creighton will face a stronger test when traveling to play Iowa on Sunday afternoon.

… Continue Reading

2011-12 Missouri Valley Conference Preview

Although the Missouri Valley Conference fielded just one team in the NCAA Tournament last season, there are plenty of reasons to look forward to the 2011-12 campaign.

Missouri State became the first regular-season MVC champion in more than a decade to miss the NCAA Tourney after its unexpected loss to Indiana State in the conference tournament. As has been the case several times during the past 10 seasons, the Bears found themselves on the wrong side of the bubble, even with a 15-3 conference mark. Preseason favorite and regular-season runner-up Wichita State also found itself settling for an NIT bid after Selection Sunday, as the Valley received no at-large bids in what was considered a down year for the league. … Continue Reading

Bradley Braves 2011-12 Preview

Bradley Braves (12-20, 4-14)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Dyricus Simms-Edwards
Sr. F/C Will Egolf
So. F Jordan Prosser
Sr. F Taylor Brown
So. G Walt Lemon Jr.

Important departures:

Andrew Warren: 18.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Dodie Dunson: 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Sam Maniscalco: 9.7 ppg, 3 rpg

Percent returning:

Starts: 56.9 percent
Minutes: 56.0 percent
Scoring: 48.1 percent
Rebounding: 63.6 percent

Additions:

Bradley will bring in 6’6” forward Shayok Shayok from Pendleton School at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., where he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Donivine Stewart, a four-time Illinois all-state selection, also joins the Braves. Stewart racked up almost 2,300 points in four years at Limestone Community High School.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 22 vs. Wofford
Nov. 25 vs. No. 14 Wisconsin
Dec. 17 at Drexel
Dec. 22 at No. 18 Michigan

Outlook:

“Disappointment” was the word to describe last season for Bradley, although injuries did have a great deal to do with the last-place finish. Considered a contender for the conference title before the season began, BU’s 4-14 struggle ended up costing head coach Jim Les his job. The obstacle for the Braves and new head coach Geno Ford in 2011-12 will be filling in the void from the departures of Andrew Warren, Dodie Dunson and Sam Maniscalco. Almost 40 points a game departed with those seniors. A bright spot in the lineup will be the return of senior forward Taylor Brown. Brown was forced to sit out last season to undergo a series of cardiac tests, but he has been cleared to play this winter. He was the captain of the MVC Most Improved Team in 2009-10 after increasing his points and rebounds from 3.4/3.0 per game the previous season to 13.5/6.9. Bradley does have the talent left for an upper-half finish if they can find a way to fill in for the large losses of last season’s seniors.

Prediction: Sixth

Next: Creighton Bluejays

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Drake Bulldogs 2011-12 Preview

Drake Bulldogs (13-18, 7-11)

Projected starting five:

So. G Rayvonte Rice
Jr. F Ben Simons
Sr. G Kurt Alexander
Jr. F Jordan Clarke
Sr. F Kraidon Woods

* Jr. C Seth Vandeest should start after returning from shoulder surgery, and he is expected to be out at least one month.

Important departures:

Ryan Wedel: 10.9 ppg

Percent returning:

Starts: 73.5 percent
Minutes: 80.7 percent
Scoring: 80.6 percent
Rebounding: 88.3 percent

Additions:

Judd Welfringer joins the roster after being named first team all-state for Waukee High School, Iowa.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 18 vs. Mississippi
Nov. 30 at Boise State

Outlook:

Drake returns the most experience, points and rebounds of any team in the MVC. However, how quickly Seth Vandeest returns from his injury will determine how far the Bulldogs climb the ladder in 2011-12. The expectation is that the junior center will miss the first month. This squad will definitely be dangerous as February rolls around. And even better news: only two seniors occupy the roster this season.

Prediction: Ninth

Next: Evansville Aces

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Evansville Aces 2011-12 Preview

Evansville Aces (16-16, 9-9)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G/F Colt Ryan
Sr. G/F Kenneth
Sr. G/F Denver Holmes
Jr. G Ned Cox
Jr. G/F Lewis Jones

Important departures:

Clint Hopf: 6 ppg
Pieter Van Tongeren: 6 ppg
Kavon Lacey: 5.1 ppg

Percent returning:

Starts: 60.0 percent
Minutes: 70.3 percent
Scoring: 74.6 percent
Rebounding: 71.4 percent

Additions:

Freshman forward Ryan Sawvell joins the Aces from Mundelein High School, Ill., where he averaged 20 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game as a senior.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 12 vs. Butler
Dec. 6 at No. 1 North Carolina

Outlook:

Evansville will definitely enter the conference season tested, as the Aces play last year’s national runner-up and the top-ranked team in the country. Although UE lost two starters from last season, Jordan Jahr, Lewis Jones and Troy Taylor saw a lot of playing time last season to return enough depth and experience to make the Aces a postseason lock. To be considered a serious threat for the conference crown, Evansville will need to improve on last season’s 4-7 record against the MVC’s upper division. UE looks good enough at first glance to get consideration for the NIT.

Prediction: Fourth

Next: Illinois State Redbirds

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Illinois State Redbirds 2011-12 Preview

Illinois State Redbirds (12-19, 4-14)

Projected starting five:

Jr. F Jackie Carmichael
Jr. G John Wilkins
Jr. G Anthony Cousin
So. F Jon Ekey
Jr. G Justin Clark

Important departures:

Austin Hill: 10.5 ppg
Tony Lewis: 7.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg

Percent returning:

Starts: 63.2 percent
Minutes: 61.3 percent
Scoring: 60.2 percent
Rebounding: 59.4 percent

Additions:

The 2011 Indiana Mr. Basketball runner-up joins the Redbirds in guard Nic Moore. Moore averaged 27.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Warsaw High School and also dished out almost five assists per contest. Illinois State also welcomes two-time Illinois all-stater, Johnny Hill, a guard from Glenbard East High School.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 22 vs. Rutgers
Dec. 7 at Morehead State

Outlook:

After a rebuilding project last season, Illinois State could be this year’s surprise team in the Valley. Though the Redbirds lost a good deal of experience with Austin Hill, Tony Lewis and Alex Rubin gone, ISU returns three of its top five scorers from last winter, who accounted for 24 points a game. The Redbirds should take the next step this season and could be good enough to snag a couple surprise wins to finish near the upper half of the MVC in 2011-12.

Prediction: Seventh

Next: Indiana State Sycamores

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Indiana State Sycamores 2011-12 Preview

Indiana State Sycamores (20-14, 12-6)

Projected starting five:

Sr. G Dwayne Lathan
Sr. G/F Carl Richard
So. G Jake Odum
Sr. C Myles Walker
So. G Steve McWhorter

Important departures:

Jake Kelly: 8.8 ppg
Aaron Carter: 8.6 ppg

Percent returning:

Starts: 78.2 percent
Minutes: 77.3 percent
Scoring: 72.6 percent
Rebounding: 77.9 percent

Additions:

The Sycamores’ two top incoming freshmen include guard Brandon Burnett from Cinega High School, Ariz., and Justin Grant, a center from Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Ind. Burnett was a McDonald’s All-American nominee as a senior.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 24 vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 3 at Boise State
Dec. 17 at No. 7 Vanderbilt

Outlook:

The Sycamores should be tabbed to win the MVC, as only one team in the league returns more points and rebounds per game this season (Drake). Out of all the teams that finished first through sixth last season, only Evansville comes close to returning as much experience as Indiana State. Dwayne Lathan, Carl Richard, Jake Odum and Myles Walker form a dangerous quartet that seems to be overlooked by many, something that could work in the Sycamores’ favor. The starting five, along with a deep bench, make Indiana State the conference favorite and a threat to capture a win or two in the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: First

Next: Missouri State Bears

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Missouri State Bears 2011-12 Preview

Missouri State Bears (26-9, 15-3)

Projected starting five:

Sr. F Kyle Weems
Sr. C Caleb Patterson
So. F Nathan Scheer
So. G Corey Copeland
So. G Keith Pickens

Important departures:

Jermaine Mallet: 11.7 ppg, 6 rpg
Will Creekmore:11.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Adam Leonard: 10.1 ppg
Nafis Ricks: 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Percent returning:

Starts: 20.0 percent
Minutes: 37.2 percent
Scoring: 39.2 percent
Rebounding: 39.5 percent

Additions:

Missouri State brings in several transfers to help replace the four seniors from last season. Junior guard Anthony Downing, guard/forward Jamar Gulley and forward Drew Wilson enter to try to help the Bears defend their conference crown. Freshman guard and serious 3-point threat Dorrian Williams will also join the lineup this winter, as will freshman forward Christian Kirk, who was regarded as one of the state of Missouri’s top high school seniors.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Dec. 3 at New Mexico
Dec. 7 vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 22 vs. West Virginia
Dec. 23 vs. St. Mary’s

Outlook:

The defending MVC champions could be in rebuilding mode this winter with the departure of four starters and its head coach. Head coach Cuonzo Martin bolted for the opportunity to take Tennessee’s head coaching position, leaving new MSU head coach Paul Lusk to replace four players who started all 35 of the Bears’ games in 2010-11, as well as two other players who transferred. Missouri State has one of the conference’s most dangerous players on its roster, but the departures of so many might be too much to overcome in 2011-12.

Prediction: Eighth

Next: Northern Iowa Panthers

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Northern Iowa Panthers 2011-12 Preview

Northern Iowa Panthers (20-14, 10-8)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Anthony James
Jr. F Jake Koch
Sr. G Johnny Moran
Jr. G Marc Sonnen
Jr. C Austin Pehl

Important departures:

Kwadzo Ahelegbe: 14.1 ppg
Lucas O’ Rear: 6.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg

Percent returning:

Starts: 64.7 percent
Minutes: 68.7 percent
Scoring: 64.7 percent
Rebounding: 66.1 percent

Additions:

Northern Iowa is bringing in a freshman class that looks like it will have a bright future. Matt Bohannon, a 6’4” guard, led his high school to a perfect record and the Iowa class 4-A title as a senior. Forward Seth Tuttle was a three-time all-state selection at West Fork High School, Iowa, and basically rewrote the season and all-time record book at his school for points, rebounds, blocks and assists. From Hopkins High School in Minnesota, 6’6” forward Marvin Singleton was named the State Tournament MVP two years in a row, as Hopkins won three consecutive state titles. He averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 12 at Old Dominion
Nov. 14 at St. Mary’s

Outlook:

On paper, the Panthers return three starters and a lot of depth. However, one of those players not returning is Lucas O’ Rear, and it was clear how much of an impact he had on the team. Before O’ Rear went down with a season-ending injury in the beginning of February last season, UNI was in the hunt for the conference title. After the injury, the Panthers dropped six of their final seven regular season contests. The Panthers also must account for the loss of Kwadzo Ahelegbe, the team’s top scorer and fifth-best in the MVC. The talent and experience are there to compete for a conference crown. How Northern Iowa responds to the loss of those two players will make the difference between an MVC title or a second middle-of-the-pack finish in as many seasons.

Prediction: Fifth

Next: Southern Illinois Salukis

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Southern Illinois Salukis 2011-12 Preview

Southern Illinois Salukis (13-19, 5-13)

Projected starting five:

Sr. F Mamadou Seck
Jr. G Kendal Brown-Surles
Sr. G Justin Bocot
So. G Diamond Taylor
So. F Davante Drinkard

Important departures:

Carlton Fay: 12.7 ppg, 4 rpg
Gene Teague: 8.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg
John Freeman: 5.6 ppg
Mykel Cleveland: 3.2 ppg

Percent returning:

Starts: 43.8 percent
Minutes: 45.2 percent
Scoring: 42.0 percent
Rebounding: 46.6 percent

Additions:

Along with several junior transfers, SIU will welcome a strong incoming freshman class. Forward Antonio Bryer and center Harry Whitt join the Salukis from Fishburne Military Academy. Bryer was averaging a double-double before going down with a season-ending injury last season. Treg Setty also comes after being named an all-state selection and to the Kentucky All-Star team as a senior at Mason County High School.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Dec. 22 vs. Kansas State

Outlook:

Although the future looks bright for Southern Illinois, this season appears as it will be another struggle. The Salukis lost a lot of experience and depth from a squad that was already sitting near the MVC’s cellar in 2010-11. Only two seniors are on this year’s roster, including Mamadou Seck, a preseason All-MVC candidate.

Prediction: 10th

Next: Wichita State Shockers

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Wichita State Shockers 2011-12 Preview

Wichita State Shockers (29-8, 14-4)

Projected starting five:

Sr. G Toure’ Murry
Sr. G David Kyles
Sr. C Garrett Stutz
Sr. G Joe Ragland
Sr. F Ben Smith

Important departures:

Jake J.T. Durley: 11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Gabe Blair: 6.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Graham Hatch: 6.1 ppg

Percent returning:

Starts: 44.3 percent
Minutes: 57.0 percent
Scoring: 58.9 percent
Rebounding: 47.8 percent

Additions:

Freshman guard Evan Wessel was a first-team all-state for class 6-A at Heights High School in Kansas.

Toughest nonconference match ups:

Nov. 17 vs. Colorado
Dec. 4 vs. UNLV
Dec. 10 vs. Utah State

Outlook:

Wichita State has seen other teams capture the MVC crown the past two seasons even though it was predicted to win. The target is off the Shockers’ backs this season, but they still return a potent lineup capable of making a run for this season’s title again. Five of WSU’s top six scorers return this season, all of whom averaged 6.7 to 9.4 points per contest in 2010-11. Problems might occur on the boards though, with the losses of J.T. Durley and Gabe Blair. A very inexperienced bench might also force the Shockers to watch another team celebrate this season again. As of now, it appears WSU will have the opportunity to defend its NIT title.

Prediction: Third

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Missouri Valley Notebook – February 23, 2011

Valley struggles in BracketBusters weekend
In an attempt to make a statement and avoid being a one-bid league for the NCAA Tournament, the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) did not fare well this weekend in the BracketBusters challenge. The league combined for a 3-7 record in the competition, with all six postseason hopefuls falling. Wichita State, Northern Iowa and Indiana State all had opportunities at home, but failed to capitalize in defeats to VCU, George Mason and Morehead State. This weekend’s struggles magnify the importance of the final week before the conference tournament in St. Louis, March 3-6.

A look at the postseason hopefuls:

… Continue Reading

Missouri Valley Notebook – February 4, 2011

Three teams fighting for the crown

Heading into the final month of the regular season, one game separates three teams in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), led by preseason favorite Wichita State. Northern Iowa and Missouri State – the only two conference losses for Wichita State – are on the Shockers’ heels. A look at the work left to do for each squad during their final six MVC contests:

Wichita State (19-4, 10-2 MVC)

MVC home games left: 3

The tough ones: Creighton (Feb. 23)

MVC road games left: 3

The tough ones: All of them – Northern Iowa (Feb. 12), Evansville (Feb. 15), Missouri State (Feb. 26)

Outlook: A brutal stretch to end the season begins on Feb. 12 at Northern Iowa. The Shockers will have three road games to end the season and a home date against Creighton. Already a game up in the race, though, the Shockers should still be the favorite. Add in the fact that Northern Iowa will be missing a significant role from its roster (Lucas O’Rear is out for the season), and Missouri State has finally shown signs of losing the close games it had been victorious in several times earlier this season. A possible slip-up out of the three road tests may come at Evansville, where the Shockers escaped with an overtime win last season. Evansville is currently riding a four-game winning streak that includes victories over Missouri State and Indiana State.

Prediction: First place, 15-3 in the MVC.

Missouri State (17-6, 9-3 MVC)

MVC home games left: 4

The tough ones: Indiana State (Feb. 5), Wichita State (Feb. 26)

MVC road games left: 2

The tough ones: Illinois State (Feb. 12), Southern Illinois (Feb. 23)

Outlook: The schedule is smiling at Missouri State during its time of need. Having lost three of five games after a 7-0 start in conference play, the Bears will finish with four home contests and two very winnable road games. MSU’s only two games against teams from the upper half of the standings are at home – against a reeling Indiana State team that has lost four straight and against Wichita State on the regular season’s final day. Saturday’s date with Indiana State is pivotal. A win will keep pace in the title race, but a loss will likely knock the Bears out of contention and fighting to stay above the middle of the pack.

Prediction: Second place, 13-5 in the MVC.

Northern Iowa (18-6, 9-3 MVC)

MVC home games left: 2

The tough ones: Wichita State (Feb. 12), Indiana State (Feb. 22)

MVC road games left: 4

The tough ones: Evansville (Feb. 8), Bradley (Feb. 15), Creighton (Feb. 26)

Outlook: Since a 25-point loss at Indiana State on Jan. 7, Northern Iowa has been the hottest team in the MVC with eight consecutive wins. Two ingredients go against the Panthers down the stretch though. First, senior Lucas O’Rear will miss the rest of the season with a fractured ankle. The forward led the team with almost six rebounds per game, and he was a large part of the stingy Panther defense. O’Rear’s absence comes at the worst time for Northern Iowa, which still has road tests at Evansville, Creighton and Bradley and home dates against Indiana State and league-leader Wichita State. Four of those teams are .500 or better in conference competition.

Prediction: Third place, 12-6 in the MVC.

Valley team on the rise this week: Evansville

The Aces have won four in a row, including victories over then-second place Indiana State and an impressive performance over Missouri State on Wednesday. At 7-5 in MVC play so far, Evansville has already more than doubled last season’s conference win total, and looks poised to reach double-digit wins by the end of the season.

Valley teams in trouble this week: Indiana State and Creighton (tie)

After a surprising 7-1 start to conference play, Indiana State had almost everyone on the bandwagon – especially after taking Wichita State to three overtimes during an eventual road loss. However, that defeat was followed by another heart-breaker – a 66-63 home defeat to Evansville. And since then, the Sycamores haven’t been able to get back on track and head into a crucial game at Missouri State this Saturday having dropped four consecutive games.

Creighton not only gave Bradley its first MVC win in 12 tries on Wednesday, but the Bluejays fell into sixth place during the process. With two defeats in its last three games and a 4-6 mark during the past 10 contests, Creighton isn’t quite guaranteed a first-round bye yet in the conference tournament next month.

Game of the week: Indiana State at Missouri State (Saturday, Feb. 5)

Between the two teams, they are 2-6 during the past two weeks, but this is a desperation game. Although Indiana State has likely played itself out of the MVC title race with a four-game skid, the Sycamores are still very much alive to capture the second seed for the conference tournament. Missouri State can keep pace in the Valley race with a win, but a loss could drop it into the jumbled mess with Indiana State, Evansville and Creighton.

Ranking the MVC (through Feb. 2)

1. Wichita State (19-4, 10-2 MVC)
2. Northern Iowa (18-6, 9-3 MVC)
3. Missouri State (17-6, 9-3 MVC)
4. Evansville (13-9, 7-5 MVC)
5. Creighton (14-10, 6-6 MVC)
6. Indiana State (12-11, 7-5 MVC)
7. Illinois State (11-12, 3-9 MVC)
8. Drake (9-14, 4-8 MVC)
9. Southern Illinois (10-13, 4-8 MVC)
10. Bradley (7-16, 1-11 MVC)

Missouri Valley Notebook – January 17, 2011

A surprising new team can crash the party this week in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The Indiana State Sycamores – off to their best conference start in 11 seasons – are riding a five-game winning streak as Missouri State visits Terre Haute, Ind., on Wednesday. It would be an understatement to call this the biggest week of the season for the Sycamores, but victories over Missouri State and Wichita State would put Indiana State in the driver’s seat to chase the conference title.

After losing three starters from last season’s postseason squad – Indiana State’s first postseason since 2001 – the majority had the Sycamores slotted in the conference’s lower half during the preseason. Now the Sycamores are off to the same start the last time they won the Missouri Valley. Skeptics will point to a soft schedule at the beginning of the conference slate, as Indiana State’s opponents have racked up a combined 13-36 MVC record so far this winter.

It is true the final 11 Valley contests will be a tougher test (six games left against Wichita State, Missouri State, Creighton and Northern Iowa). However, the Sycamores will go into that brutal stretch having already achieved some impressive feats this month. On Jan. 7 they breezed past Northern Iowa by 25 points. If that wasn’t enough of a statement, it was the first time the Northern Iowa defense surrendered 70 points since Jan. 3, 2010 – a span of 37 games. During that stretch, not even the potent UNLV, Kansas or Syracuse offenses were able to have as much success against Northern Iowa.

Indiana State has been able to rack up five straight wins without team scoring leader Dwayne Lathan for three of them. The junior guard returned with limited playing time against Creighton on Sunday – a 61-59 comeback win for the Sycamores.

The contests this week will create some interesting matchups, as Wichita State and Missouri State are first and third in the MVC for three-pointers per game. Meanwhile, Indiana State is first in the Valley for offensive and defensive three-point percentage. Victors will probably go to the team that can gain control of the perimeter that night.

Team that helped itself the most last week: Northern Iowa

The Panthers started the week struggling to get a 46-44 home win over Valley cellar dweller Illinois State, but it was an important start to a 2-0 week for Northern Iowa. The close victory was followed by a 72-52 triumph over Southern Illinois, as the Panthers avenged a loss to SIU on New Year’s Day. Senior Lucas O’Rear pitched in one of his top performances of the season with a double-double, contributing to a 21-point effort from Kwadzo Ahelegbe. Northern Iowa will ride its three-game winning streak to Wichita State on Wednesday, where the Panthers lost 60-51 last season.

Team that has trouble brewing after last week: Creighton

A buzzer-beating loss at Indiana State on Sunday spoiled an opportunity for the Bluejays to keep pace in the conference race. Instead, Creighton sits three games back from the lead as Bradley (6-12, 0-7 MVC) visits on Wednesday. It’s a must-win game, as the Bluejays travel to Missouri State on Saturday.

Hoopville Player of the Week: Aaron Carter, Indiana State

The senior guard helped propel the Sycamores into Wednesday’s showdown by sinking 20 points, including six treys, against Creighton. Carter’s 14 points last Wednesday also helped Indiana State squeeze out a victory at Bradley.

Valley games to watch this week: A lot of the teams in the upper half of the standings will face off this week. Here are a few to keep an eye on:

Wednesday, Jan. 19: Missouri State (15-3, 7-0 MVC) at Indiana State (11-7, 6-1 MVC)

The league’s two longest winning streaks will go against each other in a battle for first. Missouri State brings in a nine-game win streak to Terre Haute and has already notched road wins at Northern Iowa, Creighton and Wichita State.

Wednesday, Jan. 19: Northern Iowa (13-6, 4-3 MVC) at Wichita State (15-3, 6-1 MVC)

The margin of error is slim to none for Northern Iowa, as it already sits three games back from the conference lead. Whether the game is a barn burner or a blowout will depend which Panther offense steps on the floor. In its past four games, Northern Iowa has been sporadic with 45, 83, 46 and 72 points.

Saturday, Jan. 22: Creighton (12-7, 4-3 MVC) at Missouri State (15-3, 7-0 MVC)

After a rough week, another team that can’t afford many more losses also has a tough road contest. The Bluejays will aim for revenge after Missouri State snatched a road victory against them two weeks ago.

Saturday, Jan. 22: Indiana State (11-6, 6-1 MVC) at Wichita State (15-3, 6-1 MVC)

Wichita State has won the past four meetings in this series, but there wouldn’t be any better time for the Sycamores to snap that. Indiana State faces its first big road test of the season, after recent solid home victories against Northern Iowa and Creighton.

Missouri Valley Notebook – January 6, 2011

Two surprises near bottom after Week 1

As anticipated, Wichita State leads the pack after the first week of play in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The Shockers have used their experience and very deep bench to cruise to a 3-0 mark. They’re joined by Missouri State (11-3, 3-0 MVC), who mounted second-half comebacks to win at Northern Iowa and Creighton.

On the opposite end, a pair of buzzer-beating losses has Northern Iowa scrambling. After their first 0-2 conference start in 10 seasons, the Panthers avoided catastrophe and finally closed out a win against Evansville on Tuesday. Another team predicted for an upper-half finish has struggled, as Bradley dropped its first three MVC games.

Hoopville MVC Player of the Week: Doug McDermott, Creighton

The freshman forward shined during his first week of play in the MVC, with 17 points and 7 rebounds per game. His highlight of the week included a 28-point effort in a win against Drake.

Other top performers: Bradley’s Andrew Warren, who leads the league with 19.3 points during conference play and snatched 6.3 rebounds per game. Creighton junior guard, Antoine Young, was also instrumental in two victories, piling up 16.7 points per contest.

Games to watch this weekend

Friday, Jan. 7: Creighton (10-5, 2-1 MVC) at Southern Illinois (8-6, 2-1 MVC): Just like the old days, the Bluejays and Salukis will play for position at the top. With a couple of down years from both teams, it has been awhile since this once fierce rivalry has had a meaningful game in the conference race.

Sunday, Jan. 9: Missouri State (11-3, 3-0 MVC) at Wichita State (12-2, 3-0 MVC): Take a couple hours and step away from the NFL playoffs. This game will be worth it. Both teams have been playing their best basketball in the second half, and in the six conference victories between the two squads, five have been by double figures. Something has to give. An MSU win will give the Bears three road wins in the first four conference games at arguably three of the toughest places to play in the Valley (Northern Iowa, Creighton and Wichita State).

Reasons to worry

There are still 15 chances to turn it around, but here are some teams who need to find answers quickly (in order of who should be sweating the most):

Bradley (6-8, 0-3 MVC): Once expected to compete for the title, the Braves now find themselves three games back after three MVC games. And the tiebreaker still goes to Wichita State at the moment, as they knocked down Bradley in Peoria, Ill., 79-63. Getting the first win on the board won’t be easy this weekend, as Bradley will be on the road at Drake and Northern Iowa.

Illinois State (8-6, 0-3 MVC): After losing their first three by an average of 12, the Redbirds also face an unfavorable schedule as they search for conference victory No. 1. Wichita State comes into town on Friday, and then a road trip to Southern Illinois looms on Sunday.

Evansville (7-6, 1-2 MVC): The Aces didn’t fare as well against Wichita State and Northern Iowa as they did late last season, losing by double digits in both this week. One of the most brutal early conference schedules of any team in the Valley continues with a trip to Missouri State on Friday and a contest against Creighton (10-5, 2-1 MVC) on Sunday.

Northern Iowa (10-5, 1-2 MVC): If games were about 30 seconds shorter, Northern Iowa would be sitting at the top of the conference with little to worry about at the moment. Instead, last-second losses against Missouri State and at Southern Illinois sank the Panthers to their first 0-2 league start since the 2000-01 campaign. Although their season average of 62 points per game is last in the MVC, the Panthers may be fine if they can hit that magic number each game. Their defense is allowing just 55.9 points per game as of Wednesday – sixth in the nation.

Don’t get too comfortable

Both teams at the top of the standings had a trend of pulling away in the second half after a close game in the first 20 minutes. Although Wichita State’s smallest margin of victory so far is 16 points, the Shockers had two games head into the break with one- and four-point leads. The only comfortable lead was a 13-point advantage against Evansville (which ended as a 34-point win).

Missouri State made its contests a little more interesting when it trailed by six at Northern Iowa, led Illinois State by just two and trailed at Creighton by nine at the break. Two of those games ended as double-digit wins for MSU, with the lone thriller happening when Kyle Weems sank a 3-pointer to propel the Bears over Northern Iowa, 58-57.

Experience only goes so far

Wichita State returned four starters from last season’s 25-win team, but they’re not the ones causing the most trouble so far in the MVC race. The WSU bench is annihilating opponents, as the Shockers backups have outscored their competition by a total of 137-50 in three games.

Missouri Valley Notebook – December 5, 2010

Missouri Valley dominated in MWC-MVC Challenge Series

Any bubble teams from the Missouri Valley Conference on Selection Sunday better hope no team from the Mountain West is also on the bubble. The bids will likely go out west based on head-to-head play, as the Mountain West Conference breezed to an 8-1 record in this year’s Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge Series. Six of the eight losses were by double digits for the Valley, and only Northern Iowa’s 64-60 win at TCU was the MVC’s taste of victory. There will be little time to lick the wounds, as games against powers such as Duke, North Carolina and Oklahoma State loom this week.

A look at some of the Challenge Series highlights:

Wichita State barely blinked and saw a three-point lead turn into an 11-point deficit during an 83-69 loss at No. 17 San Diego State on Saturday night. It was a match that pitted who most consider the top teams of each conference, and the score can be a little misleading. Had it not been for a fierce two-minute stretch, the contest probably could have been a last-possession thriller. The Shockers led 47-44 in the second half and only let roughly two minutes pass before hitting their next basket. But San Diego State caught fire and reeled off 14 straight points during that span. The closest WSU could pull within the Aztecs after that was six. Wichita State (5-2) now sits at 0-2 against teams currently in the top 25.

Two other top 25 teams from the Mountain West had little trouble with their competition. No. 23 UNLV cruised past Illinois State, 82-51, and 25th-ranked BYU held off Creighton at the Qwest Center, 77-65. Coupled with another loss to Nebraska on Sunday, Creighton’s record against above-.500 teams fell to 1-4. The Bluejays nearly came back to pull off the upset against BYU after erasing a double-digit deficit midway in the second half, but the Cougars tallied 10 straight after Creighton tied the game and made that lead stick.

Bad news for the rest of the MVC: Northern Iowa’s defense is still improving and forcing opponents to play its style. The Panthers held TCU to 60 points on the road, which actually raised their points allowed per game to around 58. The Missouri Valley’s sole win in this series was also the Horned Frogs’ first home defeat of the season.

Evansville was one basket away from giving the MVC a second win in the series – also on the road. Kenny Harris missed a trey as time expired, and Air Force held on, 57-56. Even in the defeat, the Aces continue to look like they may compete for an upper-half finish in the MVC. The real measuring stick will come when North Carolina visits on Wednesday.

Other outcomes of the series: Utah held off Bradley, 68-60, sending the Braves to their fourth consecutive loss after a 4-0 start. Wyoming had little trouble taking care of Indiana State, 81-51. New Mexico used a second-half spurt to pull away at Southern Illinois, 74-59. And Drake shot almost 60 percent from the field in the first half at Colorado State, but couldn’t keep up in the second half during a 78-67 defeat.

Top performers in the MWC-MVC Challenge

Doug McDermott, Creighton: The freshman forward grabbed another double-double with 20 points and 12 boards. He also hauled in more than half of the Bluejays’ offensive rebounds.

Andrew Warren, Bradley: The loss to Utah spoiled a stellar output from the guard. Warren sank 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, was 10-for-10 at the charity stripe, nailed 3 treys and snatched 4 steals.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa: The senior guard scored almost half of the Panthers total points. Without a doubt, the Northern Iowa defensive effort would have been a loss without his contribution.

Ranking the MVC (through Dec. 6)

1. Wichita State (5-2)
2. Missouri State (6-2)
3. Northern Iowa (4-2)
4. Creighton (4-4)
5. Evansville (3-3)
6. Bradley (4-4)
7. Illinois State (6-2)
8. Indiana State (3-5)
9. Southern Illinois (4-4)
10. Drake (2-4)

Top games to watch this week

Wednesday, Dec. 8

Bradley at No. 1 Duke: A four-game skid is not how the Braves envisioned going into Durham, N.C., but a road win at No. 1 would be quite the way to snap a losing streak. The MVC will try to make it two wins in a row over No. 1, after Northern Iowa’s triumph over Kansas last March. Valley teams haven’t beat the top-ranked team outside of the NCAA Tournament in almost 59 years.

North Carolina at Evansville: Evansville also gets to take on an ACC power Wednesday when the Tar Heels visit. UNC sits just outside the top 25 going into this contest. The matchup will be a perfect opportunity for the Aces to prove their win over Butler wasn’t a fluke.

Saturday, Dec. 11

Missouri State at Oklahoma State: After missing its opportunity at Tennessee last month, Missouri State has one last shot to take down a BCS team before conference play.

Missouri Valley Notebook – November 30, 2010

The young season is two weeks old already, and the Missouri Valley Conference is off to a slow start – although against some strong competition. All teams have combined for a 33-21 non-conference record – not quite on pace to match last winter’s 90-39 mark.

What we’ve learned heading into December:

Wichita State is the only team helping its at-large opportunity so far. Yes, there is a long time to go after November, but the selection committee nevertheless will look at some of these good wins and losses – and in some cases, very bad losses. Wichita State (3-1) has steamrolled through the competition early, with the only defeat at the hands of Connecticut, 83-79. UConn, now ranked No. 7, shot its way to the Maui Tournament title, also knocking down the likes of No. 2 Michigan State and No. 9 Kentucky.

Other teams who may depend on at-large bids in March aren’t faring as well as the Shockers. After rushing out to a 4-0 start, Bradley has dropped two straight, including a head-scratching home loss to Eastern Illinois. Missouri State (4-2) sits in a slightly better position, with a 4-point loss to then-No. 23 Tennessee, but another loss to Conference USA foe, Tulsa. What may work in Missouri State’s favor this March is its 60-49 victory over fellow mid-major, Pacific. Northern Iowa’s (2-2) best chance to prove it hasn’t fallen far from last season’s success flopped during the second half of the season-opener at Syracuse, a 68-46 defeat. That was followed with another loss at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Creighton (4-2) has a lot to prove in the Mountain West-Valley Challenge Series this week. A date with BYU on Wednesday will give the Bluejays an opportunity to raise some eyebrows. It will also give Creighton another chance to beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season.

Through the questions though, Creighton has a fearsome trio forming for MVC opponents. Antoine Young, Kenny Lawson Jr. and newcomer Doug McDermott have combined for 44 points and almost 20 rebounds per game. If they’re unable to grab the needed non-conference wins, the Bluejays are certainly solidifying themselves as a scary team by the time the conference slate begins.

The Northern Iowa defense looks like it will have to be stellar for another postseason appearance. They allowed just 55 points per game last season and might need to duplicate that to stay competitive in the MVC during 2010-11 to aid a struggling offense. Not counting the victory over Division III Coe College, the Panther offense is managing a mere 58.7 points. The good news so far: The defense is still solid, allowing just 57.5 points in four games. Syracuse managed the best output so far against them during its 68-46 thumping.

Evansville (3-2) is continuing where it left off last season. A 71-68 overtime win at No. 23 Butler Saturday is the proof. As the only MVC team not to win at least 10 games last season, Evansville still finished the ’09-10 campaign 3-3. That included wins over league leaders Northern Iowa and Wichita State and another near-miss against Wichita State. With its current play, the Aces may be pushing 10 wins by the time they play Wichita State on Dec. 29. Even if they don’t have 10 by then, the Aces have clearly pulled themselves out of the Valley cellar.

Ranking the Missouri Valley (through Nov. 28)

1. Wichita State (4-1)
2. Missouri State (4-2)
3. Bradley (4-2)
4. Northern Iowa (2-2)
5. Creighton (4-2)
6. Evansville (3-2)
7. Indiana State (3-3)
8. Illinois State (5-1)
9. Southern Illinois (3-3)
10. Drake (2-3)

Games to watch this week

Tuesday, Nov. 30

Indiana State at No. 25 Notre Dame: After a rough start, the Sycamores have an opportunity to run their win streak to three and make a statement against the newly-ranked Irish.

Wednesday, Dec. 1

Iowa State at Northern Iowa: The unbeaten Cyclones (6-0) will try to continue their early season dominance over the MVC, having dropped 91 points on both Creighton and Drake. With the style Northern Iowa plays though, you can almost expect Iowa State and UNI to combine for 91 points Wednesday.

No. 21 BYU at Creighton: The Bluejays have yet to beat an opponent with a winning record. Wednesday is the perfect opportunity, as the No. 21 Cougars visit the Qwest Center unbeaten.

Saturday, Dec. 4

Wichita State at No. 17 San Diego State: This contest will be like a Bracket Buster in February, and could catapult the Shockers into the Top 25 with a win.

2010-11 Missouri Valley Conference Preview

A win over the NCAA tourney’s top seed, a CollegeInsider.com Tournament title and six overall postseason teams will be tough to top from last season, but the 2010-11 campaign should be even more competitive in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

Ali Farokhmanesh sunk the biggest shot in the history of Northern Iowa basketball last March to help the MVC champion Panthers stun No. 1 Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It ended a two-year drought from the Sweet 16 for the Missouri Valley. Unfortunately for Northern Iowa though, Farokhmanesh won’t slip on the purple and gold uniform this winter. He and the absence of two other starters from last season could drop the 30-win Panthers back to reality. … Continue Reading

Missouri Valley Preview

Missouri Valley Conference 2007-08 Preview

by Neal Heston

The glass is half full
After unprecedented success the last few seasons, the Missouri Valley Conference will rely on a lot of new faces – both on the bench and the court – to continue its nice run. Twenty six players will occupy starting lineups for the first time in the Valley this winter, and five new coaches will pace the sidelines. Only four teams (Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Indiana State) return the majority of their starting roster. But don’t worry faithful Valley followers; every squad will return a great amount of experience, as they welcome back at least half of their top minute-eaters from last season.

Bottoms Up
Every team that finished in the Valley’s bottom division in 2006-07 replaced their head coach last spring, but thanks to these smart hires, they shouldn’t remain low too much longer. Keno Davis stepped in at Drake to take over the helm for his father, Dr. Tom Davis; Marty Simmons will lead the troops in Evansville; longtime successful assistant Tim Jankovich will take his second opportunity as a head coach as he takes over Illinois State; Kevin McKenna will attempt to bring his success as a Creighton assistant to Indiana State; and Wichita State welcomes an already established head coach in Gregg Marshall.

Keno Davis: Davis joined his father’s staff as an assistant at Drake in 2003 and has been poised to take over the helm since then. Prior to that, he served as an assistant to former Drake coach Gary Carner at Southeast Missouri State and an assistant to Bruce Pearl at Southern Indiana. Davis inherits a Drake squad coming off its most successful season in 20 years, but he will have his work cut out for him in 2007-08.

Marty Simmons: Though this winter will likely be a rough transition year for the Aces, success shouldn’t be too far off. Marty Simmons knows how it feels to make the postseason, as he was an assistant on the last Evansville team to qualify for the postseason (1999). His most recent stint as a head coach was extremely successful as he led Division II SIU-Edwardsville to 48 wins in two seasons.

Tim Jankovich: Don’t be too surprised if Jankovich, who was one of the most sought-after assistants in the nation, leads Illinois State to a postseason appearance this winter. In his last stint as a head coach at the University of North Texas, Jankovich took a team that finished 5-22 the previous season to within one game of the NCAA Tournament.

Kevin McKenna: Enemy has become friend as McKenna takes over the ranks at Indiana State. This former Creighton assistant has the privilege of taking over one of the more experienced teams in the MVC, but also the task of moving the Sycamores out of their longtime spot in the cellar. Good news for Indiana State: McKenna managed a 15-game improvement in his first season as head coach at Division II Nebraska-Omaha.

Gregg Marshall: Out of all MVC hires, Wichita State found the most experienced and established head coach in Gregg Marshall. Marshall spent the past nine seasons at Winthrop, guiding the team to its first NCAA Tournament in 1998 and then six more dances after that. He became the winningest coach in Winthrop history (194-83), averaging about 21.5 victories per season.

Five fearless predictions for 2007-08
1. Southern Illinois will win the regular season title. (It’s just a given the last several years.)
2. Missouri State will finally dance after so many heartbreaking misses.
3. Indiana State will climb out of its comfortable seat in the cellar – and possibly factor in the postseason race.
4. The eighth-place team will finish with an overall winning record. Ninth place won’t be too far under, either.
5. Despite returning just one starter, Creighton will still make the postseason.

How they’ll finish
1. Southern Illinois – Whether they return most of the lineup or bring in an entirely new cast, there is one given for the Salukis each season: they finish at the top. The fact that three starters come back make SIU a lock for the Valley title.
2. Missouri State – This will finally be the season that the Bears qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
3. Bradley – Only two starters return, but that’s OK when they’re named Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin. The Braves are a lock for the postseason again and will make a nice charge for the NCAA Tourney.
4. Northern Iowa – The Panthers return seven of their top nine players from last season, but two departures were two of the top three scorers (Brooks McKowen and Grant Stout) and one of the best rebounders (Stout). UNI should have itself set for an NIT appearance.
5. Creighton – The top three scorers are gone from last season, and just one starter returns, but the Bluejays should remain good enough to continue their postseason streak.
6. Illinois State – Four starters return for what could be this season’s surprise team.
7. Indiana State – No longer a cellar dweller, the Sycamores should actually be shooting for a winning record this winter.
8. Wichita State – Perhaps taking the biggest hit from departures is the Shockers, who will feel the hit in the standings this season.
9. Drake – The Bulldogs may have a tough time building on their most successful campaign since the 1986-87 season.
10. Evansville – Three of the top four scorers are gone from last winter, as well as the Aces’ top rebounder.

Preseason All-MVC Team
Randall Falker, Southern Illinois
Jeremy Crouch, Bradley
Daniel Ruffin, Bradley
Eric Coleman, Northern Iowa
Deven Mitchell, Missouri State
Player of the Year – Randall Falker, Southern Illinois

Touring the Valley

Southern Illinois Salukis
2006-07: 29-7 (15-3 MVC), No. 4 seed Sweet 16
2007-08 Prediction: First, MVC and NCAA Tournament
Notable games: Dec. 8 at Charlotte, Dec. 11 vs. Saint Mary’s, Dec. 18 at Western Michigan, Dec. 22 vs. Western Kentucky, Dec. 28 vs. Butler

There usually is some preseason debate as to who is going to hoist the Valley crown, but the Salukis make that so difficult right now. SIU returns three starters and seven of its top nine from a ridiculously good defense (56.2 points allowed per game). Scoring leader Jamaal Tatum will be missed, but the Salukis are poised to continue their run from last spring. They are locks for the Valley title and an NCAA berth. Shall the unthinkable collapse happen late in the season, though (look up last season’s Wichita State), SIU has the early opportunity to separate itself from other possible bubble teams with its non-conference slate.

Missouri State Bears
2006-07: 22-11 (12-6 MVC), NIT First Round
2007-08 Prediction: Second, MVC and NCAA Tournament
Notable games: Nov. 25 at Winthrop, Dec. 3 at Arkansas, Dec. 5 vs. UNC-Wilmington, Dec. 15 at Utah, Dec. 23 vs. Purdue and Iowa State (at Las Vegas, Nev.)

The look was evident on head coach Barry Hinson’s face last season as he was interviewed on CBS during the selection show. With only one region left to be unveiled, the disappointing look showed he knew that his MSU squad was once again going to get shorted out of an NCAA berth. MSU has basically been within one more win of the NCAA Tourney the last four seasons, but just hasn’t crossed that threshold.

Though sharpshooter Blake Ahearn, Tyler Chaney and Nathan Bilyeu departed from last season (a total of 35 PPG – or 47 percent of the scoring), the Bears do return a wealth of experience from their NIT squad last season. With seniors Deven Mitchell, Drew Richards, Dale Lamberth and Shane Laurie returning from a defense that lives on forcing turnovers, MSU is set for its first NCAA appearance since 1999.

Bradley Braves
2006-07: 22-13 (10-8 MVC), NIT Second Round
2007-08 Prediction: Third, MVC and NIT
Notable games: Nov. 14 vs. Iowa State, Nov. 23 vs. Iowa (at South Padre Island, Texas), Nov. 24 vs. Vanderbilt or Utah State (South Padre Island, Texas), Dec. 4 vs. Michigan State, Dec. 19 at Butler, Dec. 22 vs. VCU

Bradley arguably has the toughest non-conference schedule out of any MVC squad, but there is no reason to believe the Braves won’t be able to handle it successfully. Senior guards Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin will be vital parts determining how far Bradley goes in ’07-’08. They alone return nearly 27 points per game and will be looked at to lead a bench that includes sophomores Matt Salley, Andrew Warren and a freshman class that is top rated in the Valley.

Success will also depend on whether or not the Braves can have any big men step up on the boards. BU was dead last in rebounding margin (-6.8) last season. That, along with scoring defense (70.7 points allowed per game) was the Achilles heel that made the small difference in an NIT appearance and a possible NCAA berth.

University of Northern Iowa Panthers
2006-07: 18-13 (9-9 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Fourth, MVC and NIT
Notable games: Nov. 18 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Nov. 27 at Iowa State, Dec. 5 vs. Iowa, Dec. 22 vs. Nevada

UNI enters the season as one of the mysterious teams in the conference. With Grant Stout and Brooks McKowen taking more than one-third of the team’s scoring away with them (as well as a great deal of rebounds), the Panthers will need some key bench assets from last year to step up. Senior guard Jared Josten and junior Travis Brown will need to contribute slightly more than the eight points per game they racked up last season, and sophomore giant Jordan Eglseder will have tough shoes to fill in the rebounding department.

Senior center Eric Coleman should have some pressure taken off of him with Stout gone, as teams won’t have to prepare as much to face that fearsome duo, but victories for UNI will depend on holding onto the ball. The Panthers were by far the worst in the MVC for turnover margin, and you can’t just give the ball away when there are the Missouri States and Southern Illinois taking it from you already.

Creighton Bluejays
2006-07: 22-11 (13-5 MVC), No. 10 Seed, lost in NCAA first round to Nevada
2007-08 Prediction: Fifth, MVC and NIT
Notable games: Nov. 9 vs. DePaul, Nov. 24 vs. Nebraska, Dec. 1 at Drexel

Korver is back – Kaleb Korver that is. Creighton welcomes the latest of the Korver brothers along with five other freshman. The Bluejays are young this year and lost four starters (only forward Dane Watts returns), which usually sets the stage for disaster. But Dana Altman knows how to work with that handicap. He led a Creighton team facing a similar situation to the NCAA Tourney three years ago.

Don’t expect an NCAA berth, because nearly three-fourths of the scoring offense left with Nate Funk, Anthony Tolliver, Nick Porter and Isacc Miles. However, the Bluejays still have the talent and certainly the coaching to keep their postseason boat floating.

Illinois State Redbirds
2006-07: 15-16 (6-12 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Sixth, MVC
Notable games: Nov. 23 vs. Indiana, Dec. 8 vs. Cincinnati

Tim Jankovich has consistently been surrounded by success. He spent the past four seasons as an assistant at Kansas (enough said) and served the same role for one year at Illinois under Bill Self. Eighteen current or former NBA players have also received his guidance. With that told, don’t be surprised to see the Redbirds, who already return the most starters of any MVC team, reach as high as fourth place after last year’s disappointing finish.

All four returning starters averaged at least nine points per game (seniors Levi Dyer, Boo Richardson, Anthony Slack and sophomore Osiris Eldridge), and senior guard Dominitrix Johnson chipped in another 8.3 per contest. A top or bottom half finish in the conference will be determined by depth and free throw shooting (last in the Valley at 64.5 percent). Assuming Johnson moves into the starting role, no key bench contributors return from last winter.

Indiana State Sycamores
2006-07: 13-18 (5-13 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Seventh, MVC
Notable games: Nov. 14 at Butler, Dec. 1 at Purdue, Dec. 4 at Miami (Ohio)

Kevin McKenna inherits a team that returns four starters and four key bench players, but the question is how much experience will play a factor for a team that managed just five conference wins last season while treading the bottom of the league in points per game (10th at 61.5), rebounding margin (9th) and turnover margin (9th).

The starting lineup included three underclassmen last year and is still young this season, but the cellar days should be finished. Gabriel Moore led the team with 11.5 points per game last season, and Marico Stinson, Cole Holmstrom and Jay Tunnell all tacked on at least another nine points per game each. If the Sycamores can control the ball better and find a way to get Tunnell and junior forward Adam Arnold to establish more of a presence on the boards, then the Sycamores will be a force in the MVC race.

Wichita State Shockers
2006-07: 17-14 (8-10 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Eighth, MVC
Notable games: Nov. 29 at Appalachian State, Dec. 19 vs. LSU, Dec. 22 vs. UAB

Last season could be divided into four even quarters for Wichita State. And as any team will say, winning doesn’t come easy when only half of the game is played well. The Shockers stormed out to a 9-0 start last winter, which included road wins against several highly ranked teams. The college basketball world had a feeling the Sweet 16 appearance from the previous season would be duplicated. Then the tailspin began that saw WSU drop six of its next seven. Just as everyone jumped off the bandwagon, the Shockers reeled off a 7-3 stretch to get back into postseason conversations, but again stumbled to end the season on a five-game losing streak. End result: No postseason; disappointing campaign.

The good news is that the bulk of the team – and coaching staff – who experienced last year’s disappointment won’t return. Unfortunately, that’s also the bad news. Every team except Drake and Evansville will bring back more of their starters or top performers from last year than Wichita State. Former Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall will have WSU back to prominence very soon, but with the top scorer gone and senior guard P.J. Couisnard being the only returning starter, this may be another long season in Kansas.

Drake Bulldogs
2006-07: 17-15 (6-12 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Ninth, MVC
Notable games: Dec. 5 vs. Iowa State, Dec. 14 at Iowa, Jan. 26 vs. Northern Iowa, Feb. 16 at Northern Iowa

With the top two scorers lost from last season (Ajay Calvin and Nick Grant), Drake may have a difficult time building off of last season’s success. The Bulldogs enjoyed their most successful campaign since 1986-87, racking up 17 wins, earning a winning season and the mythical state of Iowa championship (by defeating Iowa for the first time in 27 attempts, Iowa State and Northern Iowa twice).

Senior forward Klayton Korver and sophomore guard Josh Young both return and will try to keep the ‘Dogs moving up, but it will be tough. With Calvin, Grant, Al Stewart and Chris Bryant all gone, Drake lost 42 of its MVC-best 75 points per game, and its only rebounder who managed more than 4 RPG. Senior Leonard Houston and junior Jonathan Cox will need to contribute more if Drake is to maintain last year’s pace.

Evansville Aces
2006-07: 14-17 (6-12 MVC)
2007-08 Prediction: Tenth, MVC
Notable games: Nov. 17 vs. Butler, Dec. 8 vs. Austin Peay

Evansville hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999, but its new head coach was a part of that experience. Marty Simmons was an assistant at UE from 1990 to 2002 and was a component of the Aces’ three NCAA runs through the 1990s. Seven consecutive losing seasons have occurred since the last dance, and last year was enough to force former coach Steve Merfield to resign. Simmons will have his work cut out for him in Year 1 of the tenure.

Last year’s top scorer (Matt Webster, 16.9 PPG) and top two rebounders (Webster and Bradley Strickland) are both gone, and junior guard Jason Holsinger is the only player to bring back considerable experience. Junior forward Shy Ely, sophomore guard Darin Granger and sophomore forward Jay Couisnard will all need to step up in the starting lineup.

Missouri Valley Notebook

Missouri Valley Conference Notebook

by Neal Heston

Competitive weekend ahead
Advancing to the semifinals is a must to even have a view of an NCAA berth. For most teams, reaching the title game would make hearts beat a lot slower come March 11.

Two statements can be made with high confidence about the league going into Thursday: Three Valley schools will make the dance on Selection Sunday, and Southern Illinois will not win the MVC Tournament, with all due respect to the Salukis. The top seed hasn’t won the tourney title in almost 10 seasons, and too many other Valley squads need that automatic bid more than SIU.

Hoopville’s Predicted Tourney Champion: Missouri State
The Bears have been so close the past three seasons, but this will be the year they finally punch the ticket. Doing so won’t be easy, going through Wichita State, Creighton and Southern Illinois, but MSU has the talent to take down the first two and the defense to hang with Southern Illinois.

Where will they be after Arch Madness subsides?
Southern Illinois: NCAA Tournament. This is a no-brainer, even if the Salukis go down in the quarters.

Creighton: NCAA Tournament. Make the quarterfinals, and the Bluejays are in. Creighton might even be able to survive a one-and-out with its 13 league wins.

Missouri State: NCAA Tournament. We saw last year that 12 MVC wins and a top-30 RPI wasn’t enough, but the Bears have the tools and the right path to take the tourney title and breathe easy on Selection Sunday.

Northern Iowa: NIT. Reaching the title game would put UNI back in NCAA conversations, but the Panthers are likely headed to the NIT unless they hoist the trophy on Sunday.

Bradley: NIT. This is a tough pick. If the Braves take down UNI in the quarterfinals, and Missouri State or Wichita State fail to make it past the semis, put the Braves in the dance – or at least in the mix.

Wichita State: NIT. WSU has faltered since climbing back into the race two weeks ago and anything short of a tourney title dooms the Shockers to the NIT.

Drake, Illinois State, Evansville and Indiana State: No postseason, One team out of this group – the Drake Bulldogs – can climb out and reach the postseason. Drake is capable of pulling the upsets and making a strong case for the NIT, or dare we say the auto bid to the NCAA.

(8) Evansville vs. (9) Drake
Don’t pit Drake into the quarters against Southern Illinois so quickly. Evansville crushed the Bulldogs by 19 in late December and almost earned the series sweep last week during an 82-79 defeat. The key for Drake will be reaching the 80-point mark, which has happened three times in the past five games. Winner: Drake

(7) Illinois State vs. (10) Indiana State
This first round matchup pits two squads heading in opposite directions. Indiana State has dropped 13-of-14, while Illinois State has won three-of-four that includes a 10-point victory over Creighton and a near-miss at Northern Iowa. The Redbirds should get another shot against Creighton. Winner: Illinois State

Quarterfinals

(1) Southern Illinois vs. (9) Drake
If a No. 1 seed is to finally win the MVC Tournament again, it is this Southern Illinois team. But Drake is not the first opponent any team would want to see. SIU gets the nod based on the series sweep, but the Salukis have had close calls during their recent winning streak, averaging wins of just more than five points during the past five games. Winner: Southern Illinois

(4) Bradley vs. (5) Northern Iowa
It’s the typical situation for a 4 vs. 5 match in the MVC Tournament: Winner keeps slim hopes for an NCAA berth, while the defeated begins preparing for the NIT. Northern Iowa needs this victory more after going 3-7 since its battle for first place against Southern Illinois on Jan. 23. Two of those three victories came last week though, including a 79-70 win at Bradley. UNI also owns the season series this winter. Winner: Northern Iowa

(2) Creighton vs. (7) Illinois State
Expect a different Bluejay team to appear than the one that lost by 10 at Illinois State last week. Creighton made a nice rebound against Wichita State last Saturday, and the Bluejays just don’t lose very much in the MVC Tourney. CU advances to the semis and clinches its NCAA bid. Winner: Creighton

(3) Missouri State vs. (6) Wichita State
What a familiar situation for Missouri State: twelve league wins in the nation’s sixth-best conference and 21 overall still does not make you a lock in most experts’ brackets. Recall last season, when the Bears reached the 20-win plateau, had a 12-6 conference mark and a top-25 RPI but still missed out on the NCAA after a quarterfinal exit in the MVC Tourney. Expect different results this season from an MSU team that swept Wichita State and has won seven of its last nine. The Shockers, who have been up-and-down all year after a 9-0 start, have dropped four consecutive contests. Winner: Missouri State

Semifinals

(1) Southern Illinois vs. (5) Northern Iowa
Round three. Northern Iowa took the initial match for first place when these two teams met in Cedar Falls, but Southern Illinois took round two in Carbondale during mid-January. Since then, both teams have headed in opposite directions, but we always know that a contest between these two will come down to the final basket. SIU is the pick, but be careful with UNI’s rebound this past week. The top seed could go down in the semis for a fourth consecutive season. Winner: Southern Illinois

(2) Creighton vs. (3) Missouri State
Creighton swept the series with three- and four-point wins, but this is where the Bears finally catch the prey. Both teams have fared well during the last 10 games (going 7-3), but MSU finished the season on a higher note and is aware a victory here would punch a ticket to the NCAA. Winner: Missouri State

Championship

(1) Southern Illinois vs. (3) Missouri State
Sixty is the magic number for Missouri State. The Bears have been limited to less than 60 points three times this season in MVC play (0-3), and Southern Illinois is responsible for two of those. If MSU can fend off that feisty Salukis defense for one game and get close to its 75 PPG, the Bears will finally hoist the tournament trophy. Hoopville believes that happens, as the curse of seed No. 1 continues. Winner: Missouri State