Surviving Covid Chaos – Updated!

How Missouri Valley Coaches are Coping 

UNI cancels Thursday game with Cornell.

(St. Louis, MO) – College basketball has been ravaged by the Coronavirus, so how are Missouri Valley Conference coaches surviving covid chaos? Every MVC team has been affected by covid-19 and Valley coaches are working hard at protecting their players and staff members.

Valley administrators have dealt with at least 30 game alterations since Christmas. While Drake and Southern Illinois seem to be on the verge of returning to action, Evansville has announced the pausing of its program.

Northern Iowa’s Antwan Kimmons and Illinois State’s Keith Fisher have taken time away from their teams due to family related covid issues. Coronavirus has effected everyone and everything, including the Missouri Valley Conference.

While guarding their players privacy, coaches have been clear that numerous players have been infected. Loyola’s Porter Moser says only one of his players has stayed covid-free. Missouri State’s Dana Ford suggests that roughly twelve Bears have been infected.

Hardest Hit Programs

Drake and Southern Illinois have been hit the hardest. The Bulldogs (13-0) and Salukis (7-3, 1-3) haven’t played since January 4th. SIU didn’t start the season on time due to covid complications.

Both programs are scheduled to begin play next week.

While admitting the difficulties surrounding the virus and quarantine standards, Drake coach Darian DeVries is staying positive. The return to conditioning and practice includes check ups, EKGs monitored and slow return to stressful exercise. DeVries says his players have kept a positive attitude.

 

 

SIU coach Bryan Mullins echos those sentiments and stresses that the health and well-being of the players is his highest priority.

 

 

Both programs hope to resume semi-normal practices by the end of this week. Mullins says his young Salukis have handled the disruptions well and they are eager to practice and play once again.

 

 

The Expectations and Hopes

The national mantras of washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks are all in place. Valley programs limited travel during the non-conference schedule. Coaches are limiting players’ time together and even practice regiments. The hope of a relatively full season hangs in the balance of both known and unknown factors.

Missouri State added a Division 2 game Sunday to get more ‘game action’. They were scheduled to play Drake. Northern Iowa added two non-conference games this week (now one of those is canceled) because their game with Drake was delayed. Even playing inferior opponents help coaches acquire ‘game time’ for their players.

UNI coach Ben Jacobson says there are still losses. Things that bind teams and players together are diminished while taking wise precautions for the physical health of the student-athletes.

 

 

Missouri State’s Dana Ford says in some ways, road games are easier than home contests. Ford says he will be making some major adjustments in practice habits. He has two different segments of his roster that were impacted by Covid-19 at different times. Like every other team in America, Ford says precautions are helpful and they are hoping for the best.

 

 

Loyola’s team was hit hard during the preseason and virtually every player had the virus. Coach Porter Moser says his team is working hard to follow all the protocols. They attempt consistency concerning who players room with, disinfecting practices, social distancing and masks.

 

 

Bradley’s Brian Wardle is glad the Valley schedule is very full. His players are eager for competition.

 

 

The Braves (9-4, 3-1) play at Illinois State Wednesday and host Loyola this weekend.

Fresh Challenges

There are no guarantees. Each coach talked about ‘the unknown’. Mullins is hopeful, but not assured that he will even have eight or nine players for next week’s games.

Indiana State has fresh challenges. While the Sycamore players have been extremely careful and the coaching staff has helped them be vigilant, now other students are returning to campus. Coach Greg Lansing says his players have sincere concerns about going to class with other students.

Players and coaches are testing constantly and watching closely their practices. The unknowns related to going to class with other students cause concern.

Lansing emphasizes that the mental health is just as important as physical health.

 

 

These are challenging times. Valley coaches are navigating and surviving Covid Chaos everyday. Evansville has just begun its deepest challenge of the pandemic season. Drake and SIU will play games next Monday after two or three practices with a limited number of players.

Bradley plays four games in the next eight days. Loyola plays its next five games on the road. Adjustments made because of covid.

We maintain a hope for Arch Madness and an NCAA Tournament. National headlines each day challenge those hopes. The college basketball world is surviving covid chaos.

Do Good