OVC & MVC Climb in National Attention

(St. Louis, MO) – Members of Deaux Vallees are climbing the national polls and measuring sticks. If these teams stay hot, they could work their way into the upper echelon of the national conversation.

Mid-Major Top 25

Collegeinsider.com produces a Mid-Major Top 25 each week, and this week, three teams from our two conferences are ranked in the top 10 of that respected poll. Despite trailing Illinois State in the Missouri Valley race, Wichita State is third in the poll behind Gonzaga and New Mexico State. Illinois State (18-4), winners of 11-straight, has jumped from sixth to fourth in the national poll.

The two titans of the Valley square this coming Saturday.

Belmont, also the winners of 11-straight have climbed to tenth in the MMT25. The Bruins (15-4) take on conference foe and chief rival Murray State on Thursday.

National Polls

Wichita State is among the teams ‘receiving votes’ in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll. The Redbirds are also receiving votes in the AP balloting.

RealTime RPI

Illinois State leads our two conferences with an RPI of 34, followed by the Shockers with a 70 rating. Close behind the MVC power is the OVC’s best team. According to RealTimeRPI.com, Belmont is number  74. No other team from the Valley or OVC remain in the top 100.

Ken Pomeroy

In the most respected of the metrics that are touted across the USA is Ken Pomeroy’s ‘Adjusted Efficiency Rating’. The Valley has three teams in the top 100 as Wichita State is the 20th best team in that metric with Illinois State ranking 37th. Loyola, who received votes in the MMT25 is 87th in the Adjusted Efficiency scale.

Belmont also finds itself in the top 100 with an efficiency rating of 76.

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