Why are the Bears So Much Better?

Missouri State – A Dangerous Team Coming to St. Louis

(St. Louis, MO) – Missouri State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference title. However, the Bears struggled for the first four months of the season.  Now, they are a dangerous team coming to St. Louis.

On February 1 the Bears were 10-13 and 4-6 in Valley play. Then things began to change. Coach Dana Ford had been calling for greater effort, intensity and leadership from his talented players and after the February 1 home loss to Indiana State, they seemed to get the message.

A dominant performance against Illinois State seemed to kick-start another MSU late season surge. The Bears have won four of their last six games. Both losses came on the road. Ford’s team dropped a two-pointer at Southern Illinois and an overtime game at Bradley.

While the Bears (14-15, 8-8) are in a three-way tie for sixth in the Valley race, they are a dangerous team coming to St. Louis for Arch Madness.

Bears’ beat writer, Wyatt Wheeler (@WyattWheeler_NL) follows MSU sports for the Springfield News Leader. He was our guest on this week’s Valley Hoops Insider Podcast – Beat Writers’ Edition. Wheeler tells what has changed, who is playing better and which Bear has to perform at a high level for the Bears to centend in St. Louis.

His insights are both informative and entertaining. Click here to hear our conversation. While there, feel free to subscribe to our podcast!

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Editor: Cover photo courtesy of missouristatebears.com.