Belmont, Evansville and UIC Get Started
(St. Louis, MO) – Two Missouri Valley Conference teams finish their multi-team events and three begin the Valley’s MTE second wave. Indiana State looks to become the MVC’s third MTE champion and Belmont, Evansville and Illinois Chicago are just getting started.
Northern Iowa hopes to salvage one win from its appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis and Indiana State is hoping to sweep the Gulf Coast Classic.
Closing Out Their Events
High-scoring Indiana State faces Toledo in its final contest in Las Vegas. The Sycamores (4-1) have reached at least 90 points in all four of their wins and are seeking to join Missouri State and Bradley as MTE champions. Toledo (3-2) lost its first two games of the Ball Dawgs Classic and the Rockets face Indiana State at 1:00 pm.
Northern Iowa has played two outstanding first halves in the Battle 4 Atlantis and two disastrous second stanzas. UNI outscored North Carolina and Texas Tech 80-66 during their opening periods and have been overwhelmed 97 to 58 after intermission.
The Panthers face another ‘money conference’ team in tonight’s 7:30 contest. Ben Jacobson’s team takes on Stanford on ESPN+.
MTE Second Wave
Illinois Chicago begins play in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. A formidable Middle Tennessee Blue Raider team awaits. UIC (3-1) has won three straight after a opening night respectable loss to Cincinnati. Middle Tennessee (3-2) is ranked 133 in the latest Kenpom computer rankings. Game time in Nassau is set for 3:30 pm.
Belmont begins play in the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic at 1 pm. The Bruins play three games in three days. After today’s game with Monmouth the 2-2 Bruins play Penn and then Lafayette. Belmont’s game with Monmouth (2-2) can be seen on ESPN+.
Undefeated Evansville is participating in the Coke Zero Sugar Classic. The Chattanooga-based tournament includes the hometown Mocs and Southeast Missouri. UE faces Chattanooga today and has a rematch with SEMO Saturday. The Redhawks then play the Mocs on Sunday. Both games begin at 1:00 pm and can be seen on ESPN+.
Valley teams are 14 and nine in these mid-season tournaments. The MTE second wave will determine if MVC teams improve on last year’s 17 and 17 record.
Do Good
Twitter Feed
Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
