(St. Louis, MO) – College basketball’s opening weekend is here. Eight Missouri Valley Conference teams will play on Friday, and by Monday morning all ten teams will have opened their seasons and two teams will have already played two games.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell
Six of Fridays games will be on MVC courts. Bradley’s Brian Wardle will be coaching his first game on the Hilltop as the Braves host Ball State. Tenth ranked Wichita State entertains Charleston Southern. Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend will be at San Diego State when Illinois State comes calling.
Southern Illinois and Loyola both play twice this weekend. What do we hope to know by Monday morning?
How Gimpy is Fred VanVleet?
Wichita State’s all-American guard has been nursing a tweaked hamstring. He may not play at all for Gregg Marshall’s team this weekend, but if we see VanVleet at all, we’ll know his hamstring is on the mend.
What Will Wardle’s Braves Look Like?
Brian Wardle begins his career at Bradley and the completely re-booted Braves begin their season at home against Ball State. In addition to hoping to see an early season win, Braves’ fans want to see what style Bradley play.
Are the New-Look Bulldogs Ready to Ascend?
With 2 Big Ten transfers and an emerging star in Reed Timmer, Drake looks like a team that could leap in the upper echelon of the MVC leader-board.
Can Illinois State Compete Nationally?
The Redbirds loaded up with a difficult schedule and then lost their center, Reggie Lynch when he transferred. ISU has a talented team headed by pre-season all-conference guard Devaughn Akoon-Purcell. Their first ‘national exposure’ game is this weekend.
Can Milton Doyle Stay Healthy?
Loyola’s Milton Doyle has been spectacular when healthy, but has missed games and had to ‘play hurt’ through his first two seasons in northern Chicago.
Northern Iowa and Wichita State both played in the NCAA tournament. Loyola and Evansville won national tournaments. It was a solid season for the MVC and 2015-16 could prove to be equally successful.
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