(St. Louis, MO) – Winning eight of your first games is good way to start and that’s what Missouri Valley teams did in the opening weekend of the college basketball season. Bradley is the only team to play more than one game and the Braves are perfect in their first two.
Southern Illinois is the one team that hasn’t played yet.
The Ray Giacoletti era began well for Drake. The former Gonzaga assistant and Utah head coach guided the Bulldogs to an opening win at Illinois Chicago. Richard Carter scored a career high 38 points in the two point win.
Indiana State won their home opener and dedicated a statue to Larry Bird outside Hulman Center. Four Sycamores reached double figures in scoring with Jake Odum scoring 17 and handing out seven assists. The Bird statue is 17 feet tall. “Larry Legend” averaged over 30 points and 13 rebounds in his three seasons in Terre Haute.
D.J. Balentine did his very best Colt Ryan imitation Friday night. The sophomore guard scored 29 points in the first game Evansville has had to play without their all-time leading scorer and Balentine set a career high in points and in assists with nine.
Other winners were Wichita State, Missouri State (in overtime) and newcomer Loyola. Northern Iowa and Illinois State lost their openers.
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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
