Growing Crowds & Growing Programs
(St. Louis, MO) – Is a Missouri Valley Conference revival on the way? Attendance numbers are growing, several programs are on stronger footing and there is a surging popularity for America’s second oldest conference.
Northern Iowa (21-3, 10-2) is having its best season in the last four. Indiana State (14-9, 7-5) is enjoying its most success in the past five. Loyola and Northern Iowa are selling out their final games of the regular season. Southern Illinois just entertained its largest crowd in six seasons. Growing crowds are everywhere.
Nine of ten Valley teams are drawing more fans during conference games than in the non-conference. Bradley leads the league in home attendance, drawing 5,484 fans per game and almost 6,000 per conference game.
When we look at the NCAA’s NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool), eight Valley programs are ranked in the top 160, as compared to three teams being rated that highly last season. UNI is 37th in the NET and now in the top 30 in the two national polls.
In what we might call a ‘down year’ for Loyola, the Ramblers (16-9, 8-4) have a solid shot at 20-win season. The Rambler Revolution is in full bloom when a down season equals 20 victories and a top 100 ranking in the NET.
Facility upgrades are in full swing at Loyola and Indiana State, while Illinois State is playing its first season in the renovated Redbird Arena.
Valparaiso (12-13, 5-7) is firmly established. While their record doesn’t blow you away, they are one the three Valley teams with increased attendance over last season, and drawing significantly better crowds during Valley play. With the return of Ryan Fazekas to the line-up and a favorable stretch run schedule, the Crusaders will finish higher in the league standings than in either of their first two seasons.
Drake spent eight straight seasons without reaching 16 wins. This year’s team (16-9, 6-6) has accomplished that feat for the third straight season.
On Court Success
After a down season against the ‘money conferences’, league members have rebounded. Sparked by Evansville’s win over then # 1 Kentucky, Valley schools collected four other victories over power conference teams.
Loyola University Chicago coach Porter Moser says growing crowds and improved play has the league surging popularity. Moser says the league is better than last season.
Bradley’s Darrell Brown and Indiana State’s Jordan Barnes are climbing program and league all-time achievement charts. Brown’s 1,705 career points place him in the Braves top ten and in the league’s top 50.
Barnes’ 262 three-pointers place him third in Sycamore history and tied for 11th in the conference’s record books.
SIU’s Marcus Domask ranks 13th nationally among all freshmen scoring and will soon become one of only 23 Valley rookies to ever top the 400 point mark.
Sophomore sensations A.J. Green and Javon Freeman-Liberty are re-writing record books. UNI’s Green is third nationally with a 92.1 % success rate from the free throw line. The league’s leading scorer is poised to join an elite group of Valley players to top the 1,000 point mark during his first two seasons. The last to do so was Evansville’s D.J. Balentine (1,034 during 2012-13 & 13-14). Only three players have topped the 1,100 point mark.
Freeman-Liberty could become the first player since Bradley great Hersey Hawkins to lead the league in steals in back-to-back seasons and is closing in on the Valparaiso single-season steals record.
Crowds Surging For Finishing Kick
With six games remaining, you can expect large crowds at Loyola, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Bradley. Growing crowds will take place at Indiana State, Valparaiso and Drake. Two teams are destined to finish in the bottom two of the league race (Evansville and Illinois State), but the other eight teams are fighting for Arch Madness’ vital seeding spots.
Large crowds are helping their teams. Home Valley teams (other than winless Evansville) are winning 81% of the time (44-10).
Tonight’s game between Indiana State and Bradley is huge. Both teams are 7-5 and fighting for a top four finish (or better). Drake (6-6) visits Missouri State (5-7) and both are battling to stay out of the bottom four and avoid the Arch Madness play-in round.
First place UNI entertains Illinois State and second place SIU travels to Valpo, while third place Loyola travels to Evansville.
Do Good
Twitter Feed
.@SEMOMBB wins at home and is 2-0, tied with @MSUEaglesMBB atop the @OVCSports. Our prayers are with the @LRTrojans after the death of one of their managers Josh Claxton. Their game with EIU was postponed today.
Good officiating in the @SEMOMBB/@SIUEMBB in a little late game dust up.
BTW, @LindenwoodWBB is 2-0. @CoachAmyEagan has that program headed the right direction.
With @SkyhawkHoops winning on the road and @LUMensBball winning at home, right now, 5 @OVCSports teams are 1-1.
