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.

2. Wichita State Shockers (2-0)

Different players have stepped up, as the Shockers looked strong through their first two contests. It was David Kyles and Demetric Williams leading the way with 19 and 12 points when WSU breezed by Charleston Southern in the season-opener, 85-57. Ben Smith sank 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Garrett Stutz added 14 points and 11 rebounds, as the Shockers impressed with a 67-58 win over Colorado on Thursday. We’ll know how strong WSU really is on Friday night when they face No. 15 Alabama in the second round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

3. Evansville Aces (1-1)

An overtime win over national runner-up Butler to begin the season dazzled fans last Saturday, but the Aces followed that with a 94-73 defeat at the hands of Indiana. However, the bright spot is a consistently strong trio that includes Kenny Harris, Denver Holmes and Colt Ryan. The three have combined for 47.5 points in the first two contests. UE has two winnable games on the slate this week before its Thanksgiving break.

4. Indiana State Sycamores (2-0)

The Sycamores haven’t exactly impressed in their first two victories, but they are doing exactly what they did last season – winning. Jake Odum has given two strong efforts, combining for 27 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 steals. Carl Richard has added a pair of 15-point efforts and is averaging 8 rebounds a game. Indiana State has a busy week ahead, beginning with a contest Friday night against Ball State and ending with a tilt against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving Day.

5. Drake Bulldogs (2-0)

Rayvonte Rice returned to the lineup on Tuesday, and he was needed to help the Bulldogs upset Iowa State 74-65. Five different players have chipped in during strong offensive efforts for the Bulldogs that also included a season-opening 83-58 win over Upper Iowa. Several of their upcoming contests will test the young group though, beginning with Mississippi on Friday. The next two weeks will certainly tell whether Drake will be a factor in the MVC this season.

6. Northern Iowa Panthers (1-1)

The Panthers’ two toughest non-conference matchups are finished, and we are still left a little confused after an impressive win and a forgettable loss. Is UNI’s offense really as terrible as we witnessed during the 1 a.m. tip-off on Tuesday? Or was it just the time difference factoring in? One thing is for sure: the defense will be as strong as it has always been in head coach Ben Jacobson’s tenure. Northern Iowa allowed just 46 points in a season-opening win at Old Dominion and still managed to keep Saint Mary’s at 57 points in the 57-41 loss on Tuesday morning. A week that includes four games begins when the Panthers welcome Northern Colorado to Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon.

7. Missouri State Bears (2-0)

The Bears have responded very well to the amount of talent lost from last season. Led by senior center Caleb Patterson’s 15.5 points per game, MSU has cruised in two blowout wins – a 68-46 triumph at Nevada and a 77-46 victory at Arkansas State. Emporia State travels to MSU on Saturday.

8. Bradley Braves (2-0)

After missing last season, the return of senior forward Taylor Brown has helped the Braves begin with two victories, a 68-58 win against UMKC and a 66-65 survival over Southeast Missouri State. Brown has averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds in the efforts and has combined with Jordan Prosser and Dyricus Simms-Edwards for a fearsome trio. Prosser is averaging 13.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game, and Simms-Edwards is sinking 17 points a contest.

9. Illinois State Redbirds (1-1)

The Redbirds have fielded a defense so far that can compete in the Missouri Valley, allowing just 46.5 points in two games. Junior forward Jackie Carmichael has been the lone bright spot on offense though, sinking 14 points a game. Lipscomb visits Normal, Ill., on Saturday, while Rutgers is on the horizon for a Tuesday night contest.

10. Southern Illinois Salukis (0-2)

More than half of SIU’s points and rebounds during the first two games have come from two players: Mamadou Seck and Justin Bocot. The duo combined for 36 points and 20 rebounds, but it meant little in the end with a 64-63 home defeat to Ohio Dominican. Saint Louis had little trouble taking care of the Salukis 61-42 on Tuesday. SIU’s first road test will be at Northeastern on Saturday, as the Salukis search for their first victory.

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.

However, Wichita State made use of its NIT berth, steamrolling through the tournament and upsetting top-seeded Alabama for the title. Although the team’s leading scorer is gone this season along with another starter, WSU still returns five of its six top scorers and should yet again be one of the squads competing for the conference crown. Another team expected and picked by many to win the MVC title also played in a postseason championship game last March. The Creighton Bluejays found themselves going against Oregon and former coach Dana Altman in the CBI championship game but fell just a basket short of giving the Valley two postseason tourney champions. With all three of its players who averaged double figures in scoring returning and also its two leading rebounders, the Bluejays will be dangerous in the MVC and are also gaining national recognition.

The other three squads expected to finish in the upper half include Indiana State, Evansville and Northern Iowa. Indiana State captured the Valley’s only NCAA bid last March, falling in the first round to Syracuse. Evansville grabbed a postseason berth just one season after finishing last in the conference. And Northern Iowa was in competition for the Valley crown last year until injuries hampered it down the stretch and sent the Panthers to a CIT bid. All three of those teams also return a solid amount of points, rebounds and starters from last season to give the MVC enough depth that should grab multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament in 2012.

Predicted order of finish

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

Preseason All-MVC Team

Sr. F Kyle Weems, Missouri State
Jr. G/F Colt Ryan, Evansville
So. F Doug McDermott, Creighton
Sr. G Dwayne Lathan, Indiana State
Sr. G/F Carl Richard, Indiana State

Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton

Other players to watch:

Sr. F Mamadou Seck, Southern Illinois
So. G Rayvonte Rice, Drake
Jr. G Anthony James, Northern Iowa
Sr. G Antoine Young, Creighton
Sr. G Toure’ Murry, Wichita State

Possessions:

Wichita State 65

Alabama 65

Offensive efficiency:

Wichita State 102

Alabama 88

A few stats of note of the tempo-free variety:

• Wichita State had a 29 percent turnover rate, which is extremely high as twenty percent is considered the cutoff. The Shockers were fortunate that Alabama did not take advantage scoring-wise (Alabama had only a 17-14 advantage in points off turnovers) of these miscues. Still, having almost one third of your possessions expire due to a TO can be detrimental in a close game.

• The defense of Wichita State came up big. Alabama shot a 39 percent eFG percentage. A 2 of 14 mark from three-point range was a major contributing factor.

Notes

• The three-point shooting of Graham Hatch proved a difference in the stretch. Hatch buried two treys late to give the Shockers some breathing room. The senior guard scored 12 points. Taking only 4 shots, Hatch was a perfect four of four beyond the arc. His effort, notably at crunch time earned him the Most Outstanding Player award.

• Garrett Stutz, a teammate of Hatch, was also in consideration for the award. The 7-foot junior had the outstanding game in the rout of Washington State in the semifinal, then played a respectable game (eight points and two blocks in 22 minutes) in the final. Hatch got the nod for MOP, with his crucial threes down the stretch. Both Stutz and Hatch were on the All-Tournament team.

• A major factor for Alabama was JaMychal Green. The junior forward turned in a fine 12-point, four-rebound effort, but logged only 25 minutes due to another night of foul trouble. Green faced a similar situation in the Crimson Tide semifinal win over Colorado.

• Tony Mitchell led all scorers with 13 points. The 6-6 forward added a game-high 12 rebounds, but did commit five turnovers and like Green, ran into foul trouble. The problem was with Mitchell and/or Green out, Coach Anthony Grant did not have a great deal of options.

• Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall noted how important depth was. The Shockers had it, and Alabama could have used it. Wichita state enjoyed a 27-7 advantage in bench scoring. The play of the reserves was critical in just getting the Shockers to New York.

• “In the Virginia tech game (a second round NIT game won on the road by Wichita State) we had J. T. Durley foul out,” Marshall said. “Garrett Stutz came in and scored seven points in overtime to get us the win.”

• Both teams faced a few bumps in the road on their journey to the Big Apple. Alabama lost three early in the year at the Paradise Jam. Included were setbacks at the hands of Seton Hall, Iowa and St. Peter’s in close winnable games. By mid-January the Tide was upsetting the likes of then-12^th-ranked Kentucky. Ironically, Kentucky eliminated Alabama in the SEC tournament prior to the Tide’s NIT run.

• Wichita State suffered an upset loss at the hands of Indiana State in the MVC tournament. With no NCAA bid coning their way the Shockers decided to make the most of the NIT.

  “We had a team meeting before the NIT,” Hatch said. “We decided to put in extra time shooting, practice and play hard and make the most of the opportunity.” They did in a big way.

• Marshall was not a bit surprised by the meeting, with Hatch being a big part of it. “In my 26 years of coaching,” he said, “I do not think I coached a kid who from his freshman year worked as hard as Graham Hatch to make himself a better ballplayer.”

• Wichita State finished 29-8, a school record for wins while Alabama wrapped up at 25-12.

• The final drew only 4,873. Wichita State, though, had a vocal, enthusiastic contingent that turned the post-game awards celebration into a Shocker Party.

• Marshall, throughout the week in New York made very little mention of a disappointment about not getting in the Big Dance. The Wichita mentor showed a very keen sense of basketball history and appreciation for the tradition and history of the NIT. Naturally, he was thrilled the Shockers are now an even bigger part of it.

The All-Tournament team:

Graham Hatch, Wichita State – Those late game threes in the final were daggers.

Garrett Stutz, Wichita State – A breakout 24-point, 11-rebound game in the semis.

JaMychal Green, Alabama

Trevor Releford, Alabama – Freshman point guard hit the game-winner versus Colorado.

Alec Burks, Colorado – Missed the shot at the buzzer but scored 20 in the semifinal loss to Alabama.

A look at the postseason hopefuls:

Wichita State (22-6, 13-3)
BracketBusters: lost to VCU, 68-67
This week: vs. Creighton (Wed.), at Missouri State (Sat., ESPN2)

The Shockers lost in heartbreaking fashion in front of their home crowd to Virginia Commonwealth. After taking advantage of a missed free throw to grab a 67-66 lead with four seconds left, VCU senior Joey Rodriguez was fouled with less than one second left and easily sank two charity shots to lead the Rams to victory. WSU missed an opportunity to mark a big win against a team that had previously lost three of its last five games.

All but one of Wichita State’s six defeats have been by four points or less. Only one should be considered a bad loss – the 56-53 home flop to Southern Illinois two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the Shockers don’t really have any big wins to boast, but head coach Gregg Marshall may want to lobby around the team’s 11-2 record away from home. Losing at all this week will put any hopes of an at-large berth in great jeopardy heading into St. Louis.

The game this Saturday against Missouri State looms large now. It could very well be for the MVC title, should both teams avoid hiccups on Wednesday.

Missouri State (21-7, 13-3)
BracketBusters: Lost at Valparaiso, 80-67
This week: at Southern Illinois (Wed.), vs. Wichita State (Sat., ESPN2)

Missouri State never really established a challenge against a team fairly low on the bubble. After falling down by as many as 17 early in the second half, MSU could only climb as close as nine.

If the Bears suffer another setback at Southern Illinois on Wednesday, it’s almost guaranteed that they will not only need to win against Wichita State on Saturday, but possibly need to win the MVC Tournament as well.

Much like Wichita State, Missouri State doesn’t exactly have any great wins to brag about. And its near-win against Tennessee in mid-November has lost some of its luster, given the Vols struggles since then. Any more defeats could have the Bears sitting dangerously low on the bubble, after a promising 7-0 start in conference play.

Northern Iowa (19-10, 10-6)
BracketBusters: Lost to George Mason, 77-71
This week: vs. Indiana State (Tues.), at Creighton (Sat.)

After an inbounds pass from George Mason sailed out of bounds with time ticking away late in the game, memories of Northern Iowa’s victory over the Patriots five years ago surfaced – when the same thing happened that allowed Northern Iowa to escape with a big BracketBusters win. That would not be the case this time though, as the Panthers returned the favor with an inbounds turnover seconds after.

With the home defeat to George Mason, it’s safe to assume that Northern Iowa will not be dancing unless it hoists the conference tourney trophy. After fighting back to get into at-large status talk, the Panthers have dropped four of five games since the loss of senior big man Lucas O’ Rear. This is still a big week for the Panthers though, as a win against Indiana State on Tuesday can almost guarantee the third seed in the MVC Tourney.

Indiana State (15-13, 10-6)
BracketBusters: Lost to Morehead State, 71-65
This week: at Northern Iowa (Tues.), vs. Southern Illinois (Sat.)

The Sycamores fell behind Morehead State by as many as 12 in the first half, but rallied to tie the score at 46 midway through the second half after Dwayne Lathan hit a layup. Indiana State couldn’t regain the lead though, as Morehead State won its ninth straight contest. The Sycamores were playing for their fourth straight win after dropping five in a row from January to early February.

At least one win is needed this week to assure the Sycamores postseason eligibility for the second consecutive season. And a win at Northern Iowa on Tuesday would guarantee no lower than a fourth seed for the conference tournament. Indiana State walloped Northern Iowa in their first meeting on Jan. 7, 70-45.

Creighton (17-12, 9-7)
BracketBusters: Lost at Akron, 76-67
This week: at Wichita State (Wed.), vs. Northern Iowa (Sat.)

Doug McDermott cashed in another amazing performance for the Bluejays, as the freshman sank 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. But Creighton was unable to knock down Mid-American Conference opponent Akron on the road.

With the possibility of a three seed for the MVC Tourney still in view, the schedule couldn’t be any tougher for the Bluejays, with a trip to Wichita State and the season finale against Northern Iowa. The good news about traveling to Wichita State? The Shockers have lost four games at home, compared to just one on the road.

Evansville (14-13, 8-8)
BracketBusters: Lost at Murray State, 72-47
This week: at Drake (Wed.), vs. Illinois State (Sat.)

The Aces drew Ohio Valley leader Murray State for their BracketBusters and struggled to a 72-47 defeat. Evansville trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, but cut the deficit to as little as two by the beginning of the second half. From, there Murray State pulled away again, ending with a 16-2 run. Colt Ryan grabbed 13 points for the Aces.

Evansville can also position itself for a postseason possibility with a win this week – a tremendous accomplishment after only winning three MVC games and nine overall last season. The schedule works in UE’s favor, with two contests against teams the Aces defeated once already.

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.

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.

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.

Three teams who don’t have to worry about replacing several starters include preseason favorite Wichita State, Bradley and the 2010 CollegeInsider.com champion, Missouri State. Each of those squads will return four starters and are favored by many to finish first through third in the MVC.

Since Wichita State and Bradley busted brackets in 2006, the Missouri Valley hasn’t sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. That could easily change in 2010 – possibly with those same two teams.

Hoopville’s Preseason All-MVC Team

Player of the year: Kyle Weems, Junior forward, Missouri State

Kenny Lawson Jr., Senior center, Creighton

Toure’ Murry, Junior guard, Wichita State

Taylor Brown, Junior forward, Bradley

J.T. Durley, Senior center/forward, Wichita State

Wichita State Shockers (Last season: 25-10, 12-6 MVC, NIT)

2010-11 prediction: NCAA Tournament, 15-3 MVC (1st)

Glad to have you back: Everyone? WSU returns four starters, including All-conference candidates Toure’ Murry and J.T. Durley. In all, 35.8 points come back with the starters, and another 23 points return from the bench. The Shockers will have the most experienced and talented lineup in the Valley this season.

We’ll miss you: Celvin Hannah. At 90 percent from the charity stripe, who wouldn’t miss him? Hannah also led the team with 12 points a game in 2009-10.

Welcome to the program: WSU brings in several new players, including six freshmen and sophomores. Five seniors on this season’s roster will provide them plenty to learn.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): Connecticut looms on the schedule during the EA Sports Maui Invitational, beginning Nov. 22. Other possible opponents during that tournament include Michigan State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Virginia or Washington. This will either put a stamp on or doom Wichita State’s NCAA at-large chances, should it come down to that. LSU will also visit on Dec. 18.

Keep up the good work: Good rebounding and defense will win ballgames, and WSU did both well last season. The Shockers ranked second in points allowed per game in the MVC, and out-rebounded opponents by almost five per game.

Room for improvement: Keep playing after January. After carrying a 16-4 record into February, the Shockers stumbled down the stretch, going 6-5 and sending them to a one-and-done in the NIT.

Don’t be surprised if: Wichita State goes deep into the NCAA Tournament this March. It may not be as dramatic as knocking off a top seed, but they’ll create some interesting headlines.

2010-11 outlook: Wichita State returns a large nucleus of players from a team that ranked in the MVC top four for points per game, points allowed per game, free-throw percentage, field goal percentage, rebounding margin and turnover margin. Anything short of an NCAA Tourney appearance will be a disappointment. As long as the defense remains as strong as last winter, WSU should be able to count all of its losses on one hand.

Bradley Braves (Last season: 16-15, 9-9 MVC)

2010-11 prediction: NCAA Tournament, 12-6 MVC (2nd)

Glad to have you back: Bradley brings back four starters, three who tallied at least 13 points per contest (Andrew Warren, Taylor Brown and Sam Maniscalco). Dodie Dunson and Will Egolf bring another combined 15 points per game. Six of the Braves’ top seven scorers are back in the lineup this winter.

We’ll miss you: Chris Robert and his 9 points per game, to go along with 47 steals. His 63 percent effort from the free-throw line, however, will be hard to miss.

Welcome to the program: 6’10” center Andrew Davis, who joins Bradley from Pendleton School (Brandenton, Fla.) He should give BU a boost on the boards.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): A visit to Duke will give the Braves a good opportunity to make an impression for the NCAA Tourney. Bradley will also play USC in Massachusetts.

Keep up the good work: Brown, Maniscalco and Warren give the Braves three players who shoot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Room for improvement: Although Taylor Brown was in the MVC top five, Bradley sat near the bottom of the Missouri Valley in rebounding margin last season. He needs help if the Braves are to compete for the Valley title.

Don’t be surprised if: Bradley joins Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament. To begin the season, it looks like the MVC is strong enough for two bids, and the battle for the second bid should be a dogfight between Bradley and Missouri State.

2010-11 Outlook: A very deep team returns for Bradley this season. If this potent offense can grab more rebounds to get more opportunities, there’s no reason the Braves can’t shock Wichita State for the conference title.

Missouri State Bears (Last season: 24-12, 8-10 MVC, CollegeInsider.com Tournament champions)

2010-11 prediction: Postseason, 11-7 MVC (3rd)

Glad to have you back: The Valley’s best offense returns its top six scorers, including Kyle Weems, Adam Leonard and Jermaine Mallett. Weems and Mallett also led the way in rebounds.

We’ll miss you: Justin Fuehrmyer, who split time with Keith Pickens as the fifth starter. Fuehrmyer led the Bears in free-throw percentage. Cardel McFarland’s quality contributions from the bench (5 points per game, 82 percent from the charity stripe) will also be missed.

Welcome to the program: Out of five total newcomers, MSU brings in four true freshmen, including 6’4” forward Nathan Scheer and 6’4” guard Corey Copeland.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): The Bears will face off against Tennessee or Belmont in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-off in Knoxville, Tenn. A trip to Oklahoma State on Dec. 11 will also test MSU.

Keep up the good work: Keep on target. Missouri State led the MVC in scoring last season with 71.4 points per game. The magic number was 70, as the Bears were 18-5 when scoring 70-plus.

Room for improvement: Two out of the three players who shot better than 80 percent from the line are gone. Overall, MSU hit just 73 percent as a team. Finishing at the top of the conference will require the Bears to take advantage of freebies. Winning more than one conference game on the road will be necessary as well.

Don’t be surprised if: They’ve been one game away several times and once owned one of the highest RPIs not to get into the NCAA Tournament. The Bears haven’t danced since 1999, but the pieces are in place for the drought to end this season.

2010-11 outlook: Hopefully, Missouri State has spent the better part of practice just shooting free throws. The Bears were involved in nine games last season that were decided by five points or less, struggling to a 2-7 record. Three of those defeats were to Wichita State and Northern Iowa. Taking advantage of the freebies will boost MSU ahead of Bradley. But until they can prove themselves, the Bears’ offense will be good enough to grab third in the MVC.

Northern Iowa Panthers (30-5, 15-3 MVC, NCAA Tournament Sweet 16)

2010-11 prediction: Postseason, 11-7 MVC (4th)

Glad to have you back: Senior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe is the lone Northern Iowa player returning who averaged more than 10 points per game.

We’ll miss you: Sharpshooters Ali Farokhmanesh and Adam Koch will be missed. The absence of 7-footer Jordan Eglseder will also be noticeable.

Welcome to the program: The Panthers welcome five newcomers, including freshman guard James Humpal (Waterloo Columbus, IA).

Schedule highlights (non-conference): Northern Iowa will be tested immediately with a trip to Syracuse on Nov. 12 – its first of five possible games against BCS conference schools. The first week of December brings contests against Iowa and Iowa State. Indiana will face off against the Panthers in the Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 22, with their second game against either New Mexico or Colorado.

Keep up the good work: Defense. It doesn’t matter how many starters a team loses if they can keep limiting opponents to 55 points per game (second in the nation last season).

Room for improvement: Three of Northern Iowa’s top four scorers are gone from a team that sat last in the MVC for scoring last season. Getting more accurate from the field will be crucial if the Panthers even want to have a chance at defending their conference title.

Don’t be surprised if: Northern Iowa somehow finds its way to the NCAA Tournament. It has made it to five of the last seven, finally notching its first tourney win since 1990 last March.

2010-11 outlook: Although Northern Iowa lost three starters, six of the eight returning players averaged greater than 10 minutes of playing time last season. (Three averaged more than 20.) That’s still a lot of experience coming back from one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. It might not take a lot of scoring to pile up the victories anyway, as the Panthers were 21-0 when scoring 60 points or more. Don’t look for too much of a tumble from this squad.

Creighton Bluejays (Last season: 18-16, 10-8 MVC, CollegeInsider.com Tournament)

2010-11 prediction: Postseason, 10-8 MVC (5th)

Glad to have you back: Senior center Kenny Lawson Jr., pegged by many as the top player in the conference. Lawson Jr. sank 13.1 points per game, with almost 7 rebounds a game and 50 blocks in 2009-10.

We’ll miss you: The lone full-time starter not returning for the Bluejays is Justin Carter. He was the team’s second-leading scorer, though.

Welcome to the program: Creighton was happy to welcome in the McDermott family this off-season. Greg McDermott comes in for his first season as head coach and brings with him son Doug McDermott, a freshman from Ames High School (Iowa). Greg McDermott led fellow MVC school Northern Iowa to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments before heading to Iowa State in 2006-07.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): Greg McDermott gets to face his former team almost immediately when the season begins. Creighton will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Iowa State on Nov. 21. The weeks following that contest will include a trip to Northwestern on Nov. 28, a visit from BYU on Dec. 1 and a contest at Nebraska on Dec. 5.

Keep up the good work: Only one team in the MVC hit as many 3-pointers per game (7.4) as the Bluejays last winter.

Room for improvement: Though the offense was strong in 2009-10, Creighton’s defense sat near the bottom of the Missouri Valley. Coupled with a mere 72 percent from the free-throw line, it’s easy to see how the Bluejays hovered just above .500 last winter.

Don’t be surprised if: Greg McDermott tries to avoid the trip to Des Moines against Iowa State on Nov. 21. Cyclone fans will likely be quick to voice their displeasure at McDermott with his abrupt exit last spring.

2010-11 outlook: After going to the NCAA Tournament seven times in nine years, Creighton is searching for its first appearance since 2007. This season looks promising for the Bluejays to end the drought, as eight players return who averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season.

Illinois State Redbirds (Last Season: 22-11, 11-7 MVC, NIT)

2010-11 prediction: 8-10 MVC (6th)

Glad to have you back: Illinois State basically returns two starters, including senior Alex Rubin. Senior Tony Lewis, who split starting time with Jackie Carmichael last season, also returns. Carmichael earned a spot on the MVC All-Freshman team.

We’ll miss you: The Redbirds lost more than 38 points per game from last year’s NIT squad. Osiris Eldridge, Dinma Odiakosa and Lloyd Phillips were the only Illinois State players to score in double figures. The 137 combined steals from the three will also be extremely missed.

Welcome to the program: Sophomore guard Trey Blue will be one of eight newcomers trying to help the Redbirds prove naysayers wrong this winter. Blue sat out last season to meet NCAA residency rules, but averaged 8.2 points per game at Fordham in 2008-09.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): UNLV will visit Normal, Ill. on Dec. 1.

Keep up the good work: Carmichael and Lewis will attempt to keep Illinois State near the top of the conference in rebounding. They combined for 9.5 rebounds per game last season, as Illinois State worked to the second-best rebounding margin in the conference.

Room for improvement: Only five players shot 75 percent or better from the free-throw line, and four of them are gone this season. The Redbirds hit just 70 percent as a team last winter, surprising for a 22-win team.

Don’t be surprised if: the Redbirds struggle to six or seven conference wins. With a very competitive top half and improvement in the second tier, Illinois State just lost too much to repeat last season’s performance.

2010-11 outlook: This appears to be a rebuilding year for Illinois State. Including the three departing starters, the Redbirds lost more than 44 points per game. How quickly the newcomers can make an impact will determine if Illinois State can surprise everyone in the Missouri Valley.

Indiana State Sycamores (Last Season: 17-15, 9-9 MVC, College Basketball Invitational)

2010-11 prediction: 6-12 MVC (7th)

Glad to have you back: With senior Jake Kelly and juniors Dwayne Lathan and Carl Richard returning, the Sycamores have three of their top five scorers back and their top two rebounders (Richard and Lathan).

We’ll miss you: Team scoring leader Harry Marshall and steals leader Rashad Reed won’t be on the court this go-around.

Welcome to the program: Head coach Greg Lansing will begin his first season with the Sycamores after spending the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): Trips to Notre Dame and Purdue are on the slate for Nov. 30 and Dec. 18. DePaul visits on Dec. 8.

Keep up the good work: One MVC team that did take advantage of freebies last season was Indiana State. Four players hit 80 percent or better from the charity stripe.

Room for improvement: The Sycamores were pushed around on the boards last winter and also sat near the bottom of the league in turnover margin.

Don’t be surprised if: New head coach Greg Lansing can get the Sycamores an upper-half league finish this winter.

2010-11 outlook: Last season’s run to the College Basketball Invitational was Indiana State’s first postseason appearance since the 2001 NCAA Tournament. The Sycamores still have the experience left to gain a repeat performance of last season’s run, but it won’t happen unless the rebounding and turnover problems are fixed.

Evansville Purple Aces (Last season: 9-21, 3-15 MVC)

2010-11 prediction: 6-12 MVC (8th)

Glad to have you back: Four starters returning and two others who averaged more than 20 minutes of playing time should get the Purple Aces out of the cellar.

We’ll miss you: James Haarsma, Evansville’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder, is the lone starter not returning.

Welcome to the program: Junior transfers Kenny Harris (forward) and Matt Peeler (forward/center) each pulled in 7 boards a game last season and averaged more than 14 points per game.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): You certainly can’t accuse the Aces of scheduling easy non-conference matchups. UE will travel to Indiana on Nov. 21, Butler on Nov. 27 and host North Carolina on Dec. 8.

Keep up the good work: Continue on the strong finish from last season, where Evansville went 3-3 in its final six regular season contests. Those included victories over Wichita State and Northern Iowa and an overtime loss at Wichita State.

Room for improvement: Defense and turnovers. Evansville sat last in the conference for points allowed per game and turnover margin.

Don’t be surprised if: The eighth place prediction for the Aces is way off. It’s tough to peg this team for only six conference wins, but that just speaks for the competitiveness in the top half.

2010-11 outlook: Evansville was the only Missouri Valley Conference squad not to win at least 10 overall games in 2009-10. They’ll at least double last season’s conference win total and possibly finish above .500 overall if they play as well as last February.

Drake Bulldogs (Last season: 14-19, 7-11 MVC)

2010-11 prediction: 6-12 MVC (9th)

Glad to have you back: Senior Ryan Wedel, his 11 points per game, 51 steals and 84 percent accuracy from the free-throw line.

We’ll miss you: The rest of the MVC was glad to finally see Josh Young go. A lead was never big enough against Drake with him on the floor.

Welcome to the program: 2009-10 Gatorade Illinois Boy’s Basketball Player of the Year, Rayvonte Rice strolls into Drake. As a high school senior, Rice sank almost 24 points a game and grabbed more than 6 boards per contest.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): The Bulldogs will face state rivals Iowa State (Nov. 17) and Iowa (Dec. 18).

Keep up the good work: Keep forcing the turnovers and sinking the treys. That won’t be so easy with Josh Young gone, though.

Room for improvement: Drake needs to get more physical inside, as opponents out-rebounded the Bulldogs by more than six a game last winter.

Don’t be surprised if: Drake is able to reverse its fortune from last season and sweep its contests against Iowa and Iowa State.

2010-11 outlook: Drake certainly won’t be a doormat, but the 2010-11 season looks to be a growing pain, with just one senior on the roster.

Southern Illinois Salukis (Last season: 15-15, 6-12 MVC)

2010-11 prediction: 5-13 MVC (10th)

Glad to have you back: Southern Illinois returns five seniors, including starters Carlton Fay and Justin Bocot.

We’ll miss you: Kevin Dillard and Tony Freeman won’t be back. The two led Southern Illinois in steals and averaged double figures in scoring.

Welcome to the program: The Salukis will try and get help on the boards by adding transfer Mamadou Seck and freshman Davonte Drinkard. Seck grabbed 10 rebounds a game at Southeastern Illinois College, and Drinkard averaged almost 14 boards a contest as a high school senior.

Schedule highlights (non-conference): As always, SIU will have plenty of tough non-conference contests, beginning with the season opener at Illinois on Nov. 13. Following that, Austin Peay will visit on Nov. 21. Then the Salukis will take part in the Chicago Invitational Nov. 26-27, opening against Purdue and then playing either Wright State or Richmond. Before the MVC slate starts, New Mexico looms on the schedule Dec. 1.

Keep up the good work: SIU was second in the league with 70 points per game last winter and led the league in field goal percentage.

Room for improvement: As a team, the Salukis shot less than 70 percent from the free-throw line and were uncharacteristically near the bottom of the conference in defense. It’s time to get back to the basics.

2010-11 outlook: Southern Illinois hasn’t tasted the postseason for two years now, after making seven consecutive appearances (including six straight NCAA Tournament runs). Head Coach Chris Lowery has said it’s time to start focusing on defense again – how the Salukis were when they dominated the Missouri Valley for so many years. If SIU can successfully get back to the defense of old, they certainly won’t sit in the cellar.

Racers’ fans went into a frenzy. Many people who had never even heard of the school before celebrated the feel-good upset just because of its own strange nature. Even more people, however, kicked at the ground and muttered curse words because the unexpected result shook up their brackets.

That was just the beginning. Perhaps inspired by the Racers’ Day 1 shocker, a No. 12 seed, Cornell, decided it would ride hot-shooting all the way into the Sweet 16, a similar case to that of No. 10 St. Mary’s, which unleashed its beast of a center, 6-11 Omar Samhan, in the South Region and knocked out second-seeded Villanova to also join the field of 16.

And after No. 9 Northern Iowa’s Ali Farokhmanesh made the most cold-blooded crunch-time 3-pointer in recent tournament memory to cement his team’s Sweet 16 ticket while taking down overall-top-seeded Kansas on Saturday, it was official that at least 90 percent of the country’s brackets had gone more busted than a piñata on Cinco de Mayo.

Putting aside the almighty custom of wagering on tournament predictions, however, March Madness has been splendid so far. Down-to-the-wire games have been numerous, as have been upsets. High seeds Kansas, Villanova, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and Temple all got axed, but their executioners gave the competition parity and diversity. Entering the Sweet 16, 11 conferences will be represented.

Out of all surprise teams, Cornell has been the most pleasant one. The Big Red’s wins made it the first Ivy League team to make it this far in more than 30 years, and it did so with authority. Cornell smacked around No. 5 Temple in the first round and then did the same to No. 4 Wisconsin in the second while shooting a combined 58.6 percent in the games.

Even better than that, though, has been the performance of St. Mary’s Samhan, who has totaled 61 points through two games while making 24 of 32 field goal attempts. His supremacy has been the reason the Gaels are enjoying the best season in their history while Villanova is already home, lamenting its collapse.

Speaking of failure, that’s been the theme of the postseason for Nova’s conference. The Big East, widely regarded as the best league in college basketball, had a tournament-best eight entrants, but half were done by the end of the first round, and two more followed soon after in the second. Only No. 1-seed Syracuse in the West Region and No. 2-seed West Virginia in the East remain.

First-round meat: No. 6 Marquette, which blew a 15-point lead in the second half and lost to an out-to-prove-the-Pac-10-is-not-that-weak No. 11-seed Washington; No. 3-seed Georgetown, which was blasted by Ohio, a team that had a losing record in the MAC and got into the Dance only after winning its conference’s tournament; Notre Dame, which was zoned out of the tournament by No. 11-seed Old Dominion; and No. 9-seed Louisville, which also got embarrassed by the Pac-10, by Cal.

No. 3-seed Pittsburgh made the second round, but the Panthers couldn’t hang with No. 6-seed Xavier on Sunday and were ousted.

With so many high seeds gone so early, thanks in big part to the Big East, it’d clearly be silly to count any team out. In the East, No. 1-seed Kentucky will have the challenge to cool down the Big Red’s red-hot shooting, and West Virginia will have to remain impressive to get past an also-remarkable Washington. In the South, No. 1-seed Duke, which has made quick work of its rivals so far, will face a Purdue team missing Robbie Hummel, and No. 3-seed Baylor will deal with Samhan, St. Mary’s scary big man.

In the Midwest, Cinderella Northern Iowa will face No. 5-seed Michigan State, ecstatic after its buzzer-beating win over Maryland Sunday, and No. 2-seed Ohio State, the favorite to win the section now that Kansas is gone, will take on No. 6-seed Tennessee. In the West, No. 5-seed Butler, which got a scare from Murray State before advancing via a 54-52 win Saturday, will meet with Syracuse. The winner will play the winner of the Kansas State-Xavier game.

Predictions? We’re not too big on them these days, but the solid candidates to advance are Kentucky, Syracuse, Duke, West Virginia and Ohio State. These teams have been imposing through their first two games. They’re as dependable picks as Kansas was before Saturday.

But for Creighton and Loyola (Ill.), there was no TV for their Bracketbusters game tonight, so they were both trying to get back on track after suffering losses in last games in conference play.

As it worked out, Creighton broke their two-game losing streak with a convincing 78-58 win over their Horizon League foe, but it took a second half spurt to put away the Ramblers after they pulled to within one at 34-33 on a jumper by Andy Polka with four seconds left in the first half.

In the first half Loyola got their largest lead of the game at the 17:31 mark on a jumper by Ben Averkamp to make it 10-5. Then Creighton (14-14) went on a 27-10 run to take a 12-point lead at 32-20 with 4:45 left in the first half.

But just when it looked like the Bluejays were going to put this game away, the Ramblers got back into the game on two free throws and a layup by Walt Gibler, four free throws by Geoff McCammon, a three-pointer by Terrance Hill and the aforementioned jumper by Polka.

Loyola (14-13) seemed to be in good shape coming out in the second half and then in just over four minutes the Bluejays had another 12-point lead at 47-35.

Creighton’s second half lead stayed at around 10 points until just under five minutes remained. A couple free throws by Antoine Young got the Bluejays to finish out on a 15-6 run with six different players scoring multiple points close out the game.

“In the first seven or eight minutes Creighton got up in us and we just didn’t take care of the ball. We didn’t get any in and out. We just didn’t have many quality processions when they went on their run to start the second half,” said Loyola coach Jim Whitesell. “It is execution where we need to improve, but give Creighton credit, they had only 10 turnovers and six more possessions than we had and we need every possession possible.”

Creighton’s coach Dana Altman thought their second half run was triggered by good defense.

“Defensively, I think we were better. We got a lot of points on turnovers. Then Casey (Harriman) hit a big three and Kaleb (Korver) hit a big three and they had been struggling. So that helped us open up a lead,” explained Altman.

Creighton’s Kenny Lawson had a double-double with 19 points to lead all scorers and 10 rebounds. Cavel Witter also scored 12 points for the Bluejays.

For Loyola, Walt Gibbler had 15 points, Terrance Hill had 12 points and McCammon had 11 points. Polka had 10 rebounds.

Whenever a team interrupts conference play to play a non-conference game there is always the possibility in some players’ minds that this type of game can be a distraction or maybe break up the rhythm they are in playing conference games. That line of thought was not shared by the Creighton’s Justin Carter, who thought it was an opportunity to get on the winning track.

“It was great stepping out of conference play when we could see someone new and try to get something going,” Carter said.

Notes

• This series dates back to 1926 and Loyola leads the series 11-6.
• Dana Altman is the dean of Missouri Valley coaches in his 16^th year with a 322-174 (.649) record.
• This is just the second time in eight years that Creighton’s Bracketbusters game did not air on national television.
• Loyola’s trainer Dr. Ton Hitcho has worked 952 consecutive Loyola basketball games. Since joining the staff in 1977-78 he has witnessed 445 Rambler victories.
• Creighton draws 14,093 during the last six years, but during the four Bracketbusters games held here at the Qwest Center the Bluejays have averaged a little over 17,300 per game.
• During the National Anthem every Creighton player and coach put their hands on their heart. Not many teams do that anymore. In fact, the vast majority of the crowd did that too.
• Tonight’s match-up is part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education. They highlight games between the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities.
• Creighton’s next game is Tuesday at Southern Illinois at 8:05 EST.
• Loyola’s next game is at home against Milwaukee Thursday at 8:00 EST.

If anything, they’re putting the finishing touches on an NCAA Tournament-worthy résumé.

Missing seven feet of production after their second-leading scorer and top rebounder, center Jordan Eglseder, was suspended for three games following a DUI arrest, Northern Iowa has encouraged selection committee members to consider the Panthers’ loss to Bradley (13-13) Saturday to be a fluke. The Panthers blew away the Blue Jays, the team they tied for the regular-season championship last season, and improved their home record to 12-0.

This all without Eglseder’s 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Northern Iowa will have to face the same circumstances twice more, starting with Old Dominion (21-7) in a Friday BracketBusters game on ESPN2.

Old Dominion, tied for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, is an RPI top 50 team, a slight improvement in the challenge department compared to 13-14 Creighton.

An Eglseder-less win over the Monarchs would only help cement Northern Iowa’s already-solid case for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. According to ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi, should the tourney start today, the Panthers would be a No. 7 seed.

Old Dominion, according to the same guy, would be a No. 9 seed.

The BracketBusters match will be a break from what turns out to be meaningless-in-regards-to-conference-tournament-seeding games for the MVC champions. But neither the Panthers nor the Monarchs will want to lose any NCAA ground in the at-large bid discussions.

Once done with Old Dominion, the Panthers will only have to survive one more game without their 7-footer, on Tuesday at Evansville, which has lost 16 of its last 17 games and is dead last in the conference.

A home date with Illinois State, whom the Panthers beat last year in overtime to win the conference tournament, will be last on the regular-season schedule. A four-game winning streak to finish the year — without counting the three wins they could rack up in the MVC tourney — will be just what the Panthers need to strengthen their case for a better seed in the NCAA Tournament.