Ten Reasons to Be Thankful – URGENT UPDATE

(St. Louis, MO) – This Thanksgiving week has caused me to think about what I’m thankful for. There are too many to list, but I thought I’d share some basketball related ones with you the great readers of Valley Hoops Insider.

# 1 – Wichita State and Northern Iowa Keep Spanking ‘Power 5’ Schools

The Shockers and the Panthers handle the ‘money conference’ teams with such regularity, that it’s no longer a shock. Oh, we understand this is no easy task and we celebrate every time, but we’ve come to expect these two Missouri Valley Conference standard bearers to poke the giants in the eye all the time.

# 2 – Rhyan Loos is Kicking Cancer’s Butt

Rhyan Loos, the granddaughter of Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos was diagnosed with stage four pediatric cancer last year and through brilliant medical help and the prayers of thousands of people across the nation, Rhyan (I think she may be 6 by now) is winning the battle, inspiring others and along with her heroic parents, Missouri assistant coach Brad Loos and wife Jen, are raising mountains of money to help other kids in the same predicament.

(This afternoon we received distressful and discouraging news about a change in Rhyan’s condition. Please read this Fox 2 News story and PRAY. The Loos family needs our support!)

# 3 – St. Louis Area Kids Are Playing At High Levels

The Valley, the Ohio Valley Conference, Missouri Baptist University and the headlining college programs have all begun to realize the St. Louis area has some great basketball talent. From the big time players like Jayson Tatum at Duke to little Jahmouri Robinson at MBU, players are letting people know that ‘we can hoop in the Lou!’ At the recent showdown of SIU schools there were so many Southwest Conference players on the floor they had to guard each other.

# 4 – Relationships With Members of the Media

The writers and broadcasters in these great league’s are second to none. When you go to ‘Arch Madness’ you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a hall-of-famer from one of the member institution’s city. As I’ve grown to know more of the OVC guys, the story is the same. In both of these leagues they’ve accepted this ‘voice crying in the wilderness’ as one of their own. I’m grateful guys.

# 5 – The Precision of Belmont Bruin Basketball

I am new to the Belmont bandwagon, since I am relatively new to the OVC, but my friend Drew Hanlen (former Bruin and now trainer of NBA players) so convinced me of the quality of Rick Byrd’s coaching and the play at Belmont that I had to take a serious look. The Bruins run an offense as crisp as any in the nation. Their cuts, their intentionality about what they do and the fundamentally sound things they do are works of art.

# 6 – The Support of Kern, Schwartz, Cygan & Kunderman

The PR guys that I get to work with in the OVC, MVC, at SLU and at Missouri Baptist are incredible. They love the teams they represent and actually believe in serving the members of the media. Writers and broadcasters just want to be able to do their jobs and these four guys understand that like almost no one else in America. Mike Kern with the Valley, seems to be sitting at his computer waiting for my e-mail. The OVC’s Kyle Schwartz seems to know what I need before I ask. Brian Kunderman at SLU opens every door I could need, and MBU’s Brad Cygan is a wealth of NAIA knowledge and support. You four are amazing.

# 7 – The Transformative Abilities of These Coaches

I watch player after player arrive in these leagues and teams and see them leave as significantly different players and many receive the opportunity to play professionally. When Adam Emmenecker walked on at Drake did anyone think he’d make money playing basketball? How about Jordan Eglseder? Because of the nature of recruiting to a mid-major program, these coaches take chances, and we have the privilege of watching a lot of these ‘long shots’ pay off.

# 8 – The Chance To Root For These Great Coaches

Over the 17 years I’ve been privileged to watch the MVC and the last couple covering the OVC I’ve grown in respect and affection for the men that patrol the sidelines of these conferences. Joking with Jay Spoonhour at a media day, watching Greg Lansing just shake his head in admiration for what Ben Jacobson has just achieved in some other city, and watching Dave Loos tear up on national television. Special moments I won’t soon forget.

# 9 – Superstar Performances

Watching Wes Washpun relentlessly run the pick and roll against some nationally rated team and then watching him hit that jumper to win Arch Madness last year that bounced on the rim, and bounced on the rim and fell through. Doug McDermott, Kyle Korver, Blake Ahearn, VanVleet & Baker, Cleanthony Early, Colt Ryan and D.J. Balentine. Rodney Buford, Jake Odum. I could go on and on. Players that much of the nation never noticed, but are cherished by we in the Valley.

# 10 – The Grace of God

We have watched some come and go from our consciousness and also from this life. We are grateful for God’s provision in our own lives and for His grace that allowed us to know John Sanders, Kate Watkins, Torrey Ward and many others.

There is much to be grateful for during this Thanksgiving season, and I am grateful for my very small role in what I call these two great conferences ‘Deux Vallees’.

Do Good