Gigantic Second Day

(St. Louis, MO) – Saturday’s Missouri Valley Conference games are a part of a gigantic second day in the Valley. It has been 25 years since an MVC team has opened the season with two losses and still won the regular season title.

Only two teams since 1993 have even tied for the title after losing their opener, while no team has ever gone 0-and-3 and won a championship.

It is a gigantic second day of conference play.

Five MVC Questions

How Does Drake React Without Nick Norton?

The Bulldogs’ most valuable player sustained a season-ending knee injury Wednesday night. Norton led them in scoring, assists and was their undeniable on-court leader. How the Bulldogs (11-3, 0-1) react while hosting defending champion Loyola (8-6, 1-0) will be critical. Drake doesn’t have to  win this game, but they have to be competitive or huge doubt will slip into the minds of Darian DeVries’ team.

Who Stays Undefeated?

The only matchup of undefeated Valley teams is in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Northern Iowa (6-8) comes off a road win at Bradley to host Southern Illinois (8-6) who won at home against Missouri State. UNI has continued to play without Austin Phyfe and SIU won without suspended Armon Fletcher and injured Thik Bol. An early season, short-handed victory by either team is like putting money in the bank when times are hard.

Can Missouri State Stay Undefeated at Home?

The Bears are 0-and-8 away from JQH Arena, but are a perfect 6-and-0 at home. Saturday they host a Valparaiso (8-6, 1-0) team that is riding high after Wednesday night’s improbable, buzzer-beating, half-court winner my Markus Golder.

Will Bradley Stop the Bleeding?

Bradley started the season 6-and-1 and have lost five of their last 7 games including Wednesday’s loss to UNI. Bradley’s starting backcourt was dreadful in the home loss. Antoine Pittman, Darrell Brown and Dwayne Lautiere-Ogunleye combined to score a total of three points. How those veterans respond at Indiana State (8-5, 0-1) could determine the trajectory of the rest of the Bradley season.

Which Is the Ascending Program?

Evansville and Illinois State are both 7-and-7. The Purple Aces won their opener in double-overtime and the Redbirds lost on that Golder half-court answered prayer. Which team is improving and which team has hit a rut? UE has split their last six games with wins over Ball State, Green Bay and Indiana State and narrow losses to Jacksonville State, Murray State and Miami of Ohio. The Birds have lost five of their last six games with their only win coming in overtime. Illinois State hasn’t won a game in regulation since beating Division 2 Lindenwood on November 24.

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