MVC Opening Night – Mixed Results

Two Bad Losses & Two Strong Wins

(St. Louis, MO) – Day one of the college basketball season gave the Missouri Valley Conference some mixed results. Disastrous losses by Missouri State and Bradley might have been offset by significant wins by Valparaiso and Northern Iowa.

Heading into these first weeks of the season the Valley plays a significant number of games against teams in leagues they must outshine. Based on last year’s numbers, the MVC is the thirteenth best conference (kenpom.com) or fourteenth (realtimerpi.com). Contests with the Atlantic Ten, Conference USA and Mid-American Conference teams are league’s competition for postseason births.

During the first two weeks of the season the league has five clashes with A-Ten squads, three against the MAC and two with C-USA teams.

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Missouri State’s struggles with a lower tier Sun Belt Conference team will be a black mark all season. The team widely believed to be the Valley’s most talented stubbed its toe, losing 67-66 to Little Rock. The Trojans won ten games last season and are picked by some to finish last in their league.

The Bears were out rebounded on their home floor and handed out just ten assists, while committing ten turnovers. Dana Ford’s collection of stars still needs to become a team.

It’s early, but this loss will sting.

For Bradley to lose, on the road at an A-Ten school isn’t shocking, even if it is St. Joe’s. The startling part of this defeat is the lack of defense. Bradley lost 86-81 to a team picked to finish in the bottom third of their league. This loss injures those late season comparisons between Valley and A-Ten teams.

Road games are tough to win. The Hawks made 28 free throws, while the Braves attempted just 15. Elijah Childs had a tough shooting night (5 of 14) and didn’t grab one defensive rebound.

Significant Wins

Northern Iowa’s home win over Old Dominion was important. The Monarchs are the defending C-USA champs and won 26 games last year.  The Panthers split two games with ODU last season. C-USA was ranked just in front (Kenpom.com) and just behind (realtimerpi.com) the Valley last year.

Austin Phyfe is back. The 6’9 junior racked up a double-double (10 points & 11 rebounds).

Toledo is the reigning MAC West Division Champion and is favored to repeat. Valparaiso opened the season with an important home victory (79-77) on Javon Freeman-Liberty’s buzzer-beating game-winning shot. Ryan Fazekas scored 23 points and Freeman-Liberty added 19. Last season the MAC’s national metrics were superior to the Valley’s.

This win truly mattered.

Other Contests

Loyola had an easy time of it. The Ramblers trailed 7-0 and defeated UC Davis 82-48. Cameron Krutwig earned his first double-double of the season (15 points & 11 assists). Three other Ramblers reached double figures.

Bryan Mullins won his coaching debut. Southern Illinois hosted Division III Illinois Wesleyan, defeating them 76-48. Eric McGill (19 points) led five Salukis into double figure scoring performances.

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