(St. Louis, MO) – Followers of the three ‘Valley’ conferences like to say the Great Lakes Valley Conference is one of the best Division 2 leagues in the country. But is it true? If national rankings are a good measurement, then yes it is.
According to NCAA.com, Bellarmine (5), Indianapolis (9) and Wisconsin-Parkside (14) are three of the best teams in the USA. According to the Bennett Rankings, those three teams and three more GLVC teams are ranked in the top 90.
Bennett says Bellarmine is the best Division 2 team, with Parkside coming in fourth. UIndy is seventh. Lewis (15), Drury (26) and UM-St. Louis (90) are all a part of the top 100 schools in D2.
Do you want more? Talismanred.com’s computer ranking adds Truman State (59) to the list, giving the GLVC seven teams in the top 60 in their calculations. Bellarmine (3), Parkside (6) and UIndy (8) are all in the top ten!
On an individual level, Bellarmine’s Jake Thelen is tenth nationally in rebounds and Lucas Barker of Indianapolis is second in assists. GLVC leader, Seth Jackson (CBC High School) of Truman is 13th in scoring at 21.9. UM-St. Louis’ Aareon Smith (Lafayette High) is tied for sixth nationally in double-doubles with 12.
Aareon Smith – umsltritons.com
Trae Pemberton of Maryville’s .911 free throw percentage is seventh nationally, while Jackson (5), Smith (7) and Drury’s Cameron Adams (9) are in the top 10 in free throws made.
If championships are your measuring stick, the GLVC has won two of the last four D2 titles with Drury winning in 2K13 and Bellarmine 2K11. While we’re talking about championships, how about winning games? McKendree’s Harry Statham has 1,095 career victories. He is number one, all-time in collegiate coaching wins. Larry Holley at William Jewell, is 13th on that list with 865.
Bring me your rebuttals! The Great Lakes Valley Conference is one of, if not the best men’s college basketball conference in the land!
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