What To Expect
(St. Louis, MO) – All ten Missouri Valley Conference teams are in action today. After an opening round of games there were a couple of surprise results, as a result there are already intriguing matchups today.
Tournament Rematch
Defending Arch Madness champion Bradley (10-4, 1-0) visits Northern Iowa (11-2, 0-1) in a rematch between the Braves and the team they defeated to earn their NCAA Tournament bid. UNI roared into Valley play at 11-1 only to fall at Illinois State. The Panthers are in need of a bounce back win and Bradley is still playing without leading scorer and rebounder Elijah Childs. UNI guard A.J. Green scored 23 points in their conference opening loss. An 0-2 start for UNI could be too much to overcome for a conference crown. Game time: 7:00 pm – ESPNU
Heavyweights Collide
Preseason favorite Missouri State (7-7, 1-0) travels to Chicago to battle two-time champion Loyola (9-5, 1-0) in the only game between 1-0 squads. Loyola was the only Valley team to win a road game. An intriguing subplot will be the matchup between outstanding centers Gaige Prim (MSU) and preseason ‘Player of the Year’, Cameron Krutwig. Game time: 7:00 pm – MVC TV
Avoiding 0-2
Valparaiso (7-7) and Evansville both dropped their league openers and square off in Indiana in a game to avoid dropping to 0-2. Superb sophomores DeAndre Williams (UE) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valpo) are two of the MVC’s most exciting players. Freeman-Liberty leads the Valley with a scoring average of 20.9 points per game and Williams is the fourth at 16.1. Drake was the first team since 1992-93 to drop its first two games and earn regular season title. Game time: 6:00 pm – ESPN+
Road Teams Looking for 2-0
Illinois State’s upset of Northern Iowa reminded Valley watchers that anything can happen. Freshmen guards DJ Horne and Antonio Reeves high-lighted the Redbirds (6-7, 1-0) come-from-behind win. Southern Illinois (6-8, 0-1) has been without the services leading scorer Aaron Cook. He has begun to practice and could return soon. Game time: 3:00 pm – ESPN3
The Valley’s hottest team is Indiana State (8-4, 1-0). Greg Lansing’s team has won eight straight and visits defending co-champion Drake (10-4, 0-1). The Bulldogs lost at Bradley despite 21 points by the blossoming sophomore center Liam Robbins. Indiana State’s Tyreke Key is the league’s second leading scorer (18.2 ppg). Game time: 5:00 pm – ESPN+
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
