UNI Picked Number One – Green Top Player

Pandemic and Scheduling Cloud MVC Media Day

(St. Louis, MO) – Defending Missouri Valley Conference champion, Northern Iowa has been tabbed to repeat as league champions. Reigning ‘Player of the Year’, UNI’s A.J. Green is also the preseason, player of the year.

The biggest messages out of Thursday’s virtual media day were issues surrounding the covid-19 pandemic and the struggles each coach has encountered in scheduling games. No Valley coach could produce a full non conference schedule. Several coaches felt more confident than others about their current schedule status.

Who Is Playing in MTEs?

It appears that both Northern Iowa and Illinois State are playing in the bubbled event in Lincoln, Nebraska. Southern Illinois is headed to the one in Louisville, Kentucky. Bradley is headed to Xavier’s MTE and Drake is scheduled to play in Kansas State’s event.

While Indiana State’s involvement in the Gulf Coast Classic seems solid, Loyola, Valparaiso, Missouri State and Evansville seem to be MTE-less. Sycamore coach Greg Lansing says his team’s schedule is virtually complete.

 

 

Editor: Since writing this article ISU has published a full schedule.

Covid Concerns

While coach after coach expressed the desire to protect their players’ health, they also worry about long shutdowns of their teams over one positive Coronavirus test. As guide-lines from the CDC and NCAA will no doubt continue to morph, coaches are aware that their entire teams could be shut down for 14 days if there is one player or coach with a positive test.

Travel concerns into states with varying regulations complicates the safety issues. Chicago, the home of the Loyola Ramblers has arguably the most stringent restrictions. From State to state, and county to county, the rules vary. Several schools are planning on playing games with no fans while others are looking at hosting between 25 and 50% of their building capacities.

Evansville made such an announcement earlier this week.

As we watch NFL games being postponed and NCAA football teams canceling practices and games, we wonder about college basketball viability. These bubbled events can work, but how often can players traverse the country safely?

I maintain, the leagues should create conference-only bubbles to play large portions of their league schedules. I asked Commissioner Elgin why the NCAA hasn’t legislated more narrow travel mandates. While I understand the negatives of playing nearly no non conference games, playing the bulk of conference games seems more important.

Preseason Poll

The Valley’s press release notes that Northern Iowa’s preseason selection is its first in eleven seasons.

 

 

Preseason All Conference Team

Joining Green in the league’s preseason first team are his UNI teammate Austin Phyfe, Loyola’s Cameron Krutwig, Indiana State’s Tyreke Key and Bradley’s Elijah Childs. ValleyHoopsInsider.com selected four of those players, but chose Missouri State’s Gaige Prim over Phyfe.

College basketball begins its season on November 25 and the conference season tips on December 30.

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