Five MVC Games Today
(St. Louis, MO) – Loyola finally plays a Division 1 team and Northern Iowa plays nationally ranked Richmond. Half of the Missouri Valley Conference teams are in action. While Indiana State (a win over D2 Truman State) was able to launch their season yesterday it feels like the Valley season is truly getting rolling.
Nine of the ten conference schools have now played games, we’re still waiting for Missouri State! Four teams, Drake, Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Loyola are undefeated and only Evansville is winless. Records are less important than simply playing games and today there are good ones.
UNI’s Nationally Ranked Opponent
Give Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson, he has put together a demanding schedule. Nineteenth ranked Richmond is on the docket tonight after already playing Western Kentucky, St. Mary’s and Utah State. Wisconsin and others are still on the horizon.
Unfortunately, UNI (1-3) is playing without reigning ‘Player of the Year’ A.J. Green. A hip injury is keeping the star guard on the shelf.
Game Time – 5:00 pm – ESPN+
MVC/OVC Competition
Two games feature our valley conferences. MVC teams Valparaiso and Evansville host OVC foes. The Crusaders (1-3) entertain Southern Illinois Edwardsville (2-3) and Eastern Illinois (2-3) visits the Ford Center for a game with the Purple Aces (0-3).
Both games tip at 6:00 pm. The game from Valpo is on ESPN+ and the SIUE/UE tilt is on ESPN3.
OVC teams are 2-1 against the Valley this season.
Loyola Plays a D1
Missouri Valley teams have played nine games against non-D1 foes and unlike Kansas State they have won all nine of those contests. Numerous D1 programs are simply getting games in by playing these teams. It replaces ‘closed scrimmages’ and exhibition games. The Ramblers opened with a win over D2 Lewis University and they entertain Chicago State today at 2 pm. That game is on ESPN+.
Drake Looks for Fifth Win
Darian DeVries’ team is looking to go 5-0 as they host McKendree for their second straight non-D1 opponent. If the Bulldogs prevail they will start the season with five straight wins for the first time since the 1979-80 season.
Game time – 7:00 pm – ESPN3
Southern Illinois (Carbondale) hosts the OVC’s Murray State on Friday and six teams play on Saturday. The Valley season is truly getting rolling.
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Twitter Feed
Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
