Pivotal Day for the Valley

(St. Louis, MO) – If the Missouri Valley Conference is going to be more than a one-bid league when March Madness comes calling, they need to have a successful Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge on Saturday.

This is practically the Alamo, Iwo Jima, Normandy or any other battle you want to name. The Valley has struggled during the non-conference schedule and conference teams have dropped numerous close games to formidable opponents.

Saturday, they must break through. According to RealTimeRPI.com the Mountain West is the tenth best conference in America. The Valley is rated as the 13th best league. MVC members have scheduled well, owning the sixth best strength of schedule rating in college basketball. However, Valley teams have lost 17 games by six or fewer points, missing vital opportunities to impress the selection committee next Spring.

None have been so maddening as the three nail-biters Indiana State lost during the Advocare Invitational. The Sycamores had Iowa State and Stanford on the ropes only to lose late to those so called ‘power 5’ conference teams.

Saturday is a brand new opportunity for the Valley. Nine games against Mountain West teams (one will be played in mid December) gives the league the chance at a fresh start.

The matchups are a bit odd, but there are several intriguing games.

Wichita State (6-2) @ Colorado State (6-1) – 4 pm (CT) – CBS Sports Network

This game has the most sizzle of the nine. The Shockers are still struggling to find the right rotation and chemistry. Despite their 6-2 record, the two losses last weekend to Louisville and Michigan State were concerning. The team lacked a bit of identity and definition of roles.

Gregg Marshall joked during his post game interview that if he wants someone to play well, he has to have them come off the bench. His leading scorer is preseason all conference player Markis McDuffie and his leading rebounder is transfer Darral Willis. Neither of whom start.

Colorado State (6-1) is off to a great start and are the owners of a 66 RPI compared to the Shockers’ 121 rating. A true road win at CSU would be a huge shot in the arm for this transitioning team.

Three other match-ups stand out.

New Mexico (5-2) @ Illinois State (3-2) @ 7 pm (CT) ESPN3

We keep waiting for Illinois State to explode as a dominant team and this is a great opportunity to show their best abilities. The Lobos own a 126 RPI and the could be a bubble type team that the Redbirds would be compared to once March comes along.

The Redbirds have played just five games, but in those of contests, the ‘Big Three’ have performed well, but the balance of the team is impressive. Five players are averaging double figures in scoring. Deontae Hawkins leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 per game). MiKyle McIntosh is second in both categories (14.2 ppg & 7.2 rpg). When those two are motivated and free of foul trouble, they can take over games.

Newcomers D.J. Clayton and Phil Fayne have been solid contributors, but point guard Paris Lee is the player that sets the pace for Dan Muller’s squad. His dilemma is who can contribute off the bench? Beyond senior Tony Wills, there doesn’t seem to be a player that Muller trusts during crunch time.

Northern Iowa (3-3) @ Wyoming (4-2) @ 2 pm (CT) – Mountain West Network

The Panthers come into this game carrying an out-of-character 3-game losing streak. UNI won their first three games, including wins over two ‘power 5’ teams (Arizona State and Oklahoma) and then lost two straight to Number 7 Xavier. Those two games were more forgivable losses than their home loss to George Mason.

Valley Preseason Player of the Year Jeremy Morgan has not disappointed and Klint Carlson has had his moments, but this is a team still finding out who plays which role. That seems to be a common theme in the Valley this year. ‘Captain Morgan’ leads the Panthers in scoring (14.7 ppg) and leads the entire nation in steals per game (3.8).

Most of these teams will be better in January than they are now. Unfortunately, they will be beating each other up by then.

The Panthers have the nation’s top rated non-conference schedule, and their patented defense is still in tact. Freshman Spencer Haldeman has had some great moments and done a nice job filling in for the injured Wyatt Lohaus who has missed some time with an injured ankle.

Ken Pom’s website predicts a UNI victory.

Indiana State (3-4) @ Utah State (3-3) @ 8 pm (CT) – Mountain West Network

Can the Sycamores rebound from so many close losses? Greg Lansing’s team has dropped four games by a total of 10 points. Other than their 41 point win over a Division 2 team, ISU has not played in a game where the final point differential was more than nine points.

During their recent slide Matt Van Scyoc has disappeared on the offensive end. After opening the season with three straight 14 point performances, the 6’6 senior has totaled 19 points in the next four. Over the past four games he has connected three times from long distance (in 18 attempts) after making 11 from three-point distance in 18 attempts in the first three games.

If ISU is to rebound Van Scyoc must find his stroke.

The other five games

Boise State (4-3) @ Evansville (3-4)– @ 3 pm (CT) – ESPN3

RPI – Boise State 193 – Purple Aces 207

Fresno State (4-2) @ Drake (1-6) @ 2 pm (CT) – ESPN3

RPI – Fresno State 239 – Sycamores 291

San Diego State (4-1) @ Loyola (6-2) @ 3 pm (CT) – ESPN3

RPI – San Diego State 30 – Ramblers 202

    Loyola’s Injury Update

Nevada (6-2) @ Bradley (4-3) @ 7 pm (CT) – ESPN3

RPI – Nevada 29 – Braves 305

Missouri State (4-1) @ Air Force (5-3) @ 8 pm (CT) – Mountain West Network

RPI – Air Force 217 – Bears 86

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