Missouri State upsets No. 19 Creighton in the Valley opener

You want an idea of why the Missouri Valley is always going to be one of the most entertaining conferences to follow?

Just take a look at what happened last night.

Missouri State, a team that lost literally everyone from the program outside of Kyle Weems last season -- six of their seven rotational player were seniors, head coach Cuonzo Martin took over at Tennessee -- and had fairly low expectations coming into the year, went into Omaha, NE, and knocked off league favorite Creighton 77-65. Throw in the fact that Drake beat Indiana State, who was expected to finish in the top four of that conference race, by 15 points and the Valley doors have swung wide open.
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Conference Catch-ups: The Missouri Valley

Over the course of this week, we will spend a few minutes catching you up on how some of the best conferences in the country currently look. With conference play starting up, its time to get into the basketball spirit.

You can find the rest of the Conference Catch-ups here.

Favorite: Creighton

How can anyone vote against the Bluejays right now? Creighton is 10-1 heading into the start of league play, with the '1' coming on the road against a better-than-you-think St. Joe's team. The Bluejays have size up front and shooting on the perimeter, but more than anything they have the guy that is one of the current front runners for Player of the Year -- National, not Missouri Valley -- Doug McDermott. Creighton is going to be able to score this season, the question mark with this group lies on the defensive end of the floor: are they going to be able to get enough stops to win the bare-knuckle brawls that make up MVC conference games?
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: Missouri Valley

Over the next month and a half, we will be rolling out all of our 2011-2012 Season Preview posts. You can find a full schedule of all the preview posts here. If you want to browse through the rest of the conference previews, click here.

AWARDS

Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, So., Creighton

Picking between McDermott and Missouri State's Kyle Weems for the Valley's preseason player of the year award is, more or less, a coin flip, but I'm going with McDermott here. He's coming off a freshman season where he led the Bluejays in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg), earned first-team all-league honors and made the USA's U-19 team. While his stint as an international competitor didn't quite go as planned -- the States lost to Russia in the quarterfinals -- McDermott did have quite a bit of individual success, averaging 11.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Don't be surprised to see McDermott's name pop-up on a few preseason all-american teams. The Valley is going to be strong this season, but in league's like this the Player of the Year usually ends up being the best player on one of the best teams.


And a close second goes to...: Kyle Weems, Sr., Missouri State

Like I said, the preseason Player of the Year award is a toss-up between Weems and McDermott, and the fact that I have Weems behind McDermott should not be taken as an insult. The Missouri State star is primed for a big season. He averaged 16.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg on a team with one of the shortest benches in the country a year ago. Weems is the only starter that returns, meaning that he will be asked to carry an even bigger load next season. At 6'6", Weems is big and strong enough to score around the basket against smaller opponents, but he is at his best when he plays the four spot. He can rebound on the defensive end of the floor and is a matchup nightmare for opposing power forwards with his ability to shoot the ball and score from the perimeter. Its difficult to envision a scenario where his efficiency doesn't decline next year -- he'll be the focal point of every defensive gameplan -- but he'll also be shouldering a heavier burden. If he can carry the Bears into contention for the Valley title, there is no reason that he can't win Player of the Year when things are all said and done.

Breakout Star: Dyricus Simms-Edwards, Jr., Bradley

Simms-Edwards averaged modest numbers as a sophomore, putting up 10.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, and 3.3 rpg. As the lone returnee among the Braves top five scorers, however, Simms-Edwards is going to be counted on to have a big year in 2011-2012. And based on the way that he finished last season, there is no reason to believe that he can't capitalize on the increased number of shots he will get. The 6'2" guard averaged 16.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, and 5.5 rpg over his last five games, and that was with Andrew Warren -- the MVC's scoring champ -- still on the roster. If he can improve on the 28.2% he shot from beyond the arc, Simms-Edwards could end up being one of the best guards in the conference. His late-season improvement combined with the potential return of Taylor Brown to the lineup is a reason for Bradley fans to be optimistic heading into the fall.

All-Conference First-Team:

- POY: Doug McDermott, So., Creighton
- G: Antoine Young, Sr., Creighton
- G: Colt Ryan, Jr., Evansville
- F: Toure' Murry, Sr., Wichita State
- F: Kyle Weems, Sr., Missouri State
- C: Gregory Echinique, Sr., Creighton

All-Conference Second-Team:

- G: Jake Odum, So., Indiana State
- G: Anthony James, Jr., Northern Iowa
- F: Mamadou Seck, Sr., Southern Illinois
- F: Jackie Carmichael, Jr., Illinois State
- C: Garrett Stutz, Sr., Wichita State

Four summer storylines

- Talent transferring out?: The Missouri Valley is the epitome of a mid-major league. Its a balanced conference that features quality teams built around the program. The league champs aren't the teams that can bring in the most one-and-done recruits, its the generally the program that developed their players the best over a three or four year period. But that doesn't mean that there aren't high-major players in the league, which is something that a lot of bigger schools are figuring out. The by-product of that -- and the roster attrition of bigger programs -- is bigger schools go fishing for players looking to get a second shot at the bright lights.

Three Valley players were involved in the transfer tango this off-season. The biggest name was probably Kyle Weems. The reigning Valley Player of the Year, Weems was not only the lone returning starter on a team that also lost their head coach, he had already finished his undergraduate work at Missouri State, meaning that he was free to transfer without having to sit out a season. Luckily for the Bears, Weems made the decision to remain with the program. The same cannot be said for Bradley's Sam Maniscalco, who decided to leave the Braves program this offseason. He'll suit up for Bruce Weber at Illinois next year. Perhaps the most interesting transfer decision was made by Drake's Rayvonte Rice. After a dominant freshman campaign, the 6'4" wing had a number of high-major suitors. But Rice stayed loyal to the Bulldogs and will remain with the program for at least another season.


- Coaching changes, buyouts and lawsuits: There were a couple of coaching changes in the Valley this offseason. The most notable was Paul Lusk taking over the Valley champs after Cuonzo Martin left Missouri State to replace Bruce Pearl at Tennessee, but the most interesting involved Bradley. The Braves fired Jim Les, replacing him with Geno Ford and, in the process, found themselves in the middle of two different lawsuits. The first was filed by Kent State, who named Bradley in their suit against Ford. Kent State is trying to get Ford to pay the $1.2 million buyout that he owes -- $300,000 for each of the four years left on his contract. Les, on the other hand, is suing Bradley, who he says owes him money after firing him with three-years left on his seven-year contract.

- Creighton overseas: The Bluejays made a splash in international hoops this summer. First, it was Doug McDermott, who was a standout on the USA's U-19 team. While the team underperformed, finshing in fifth-place following a quarterfinal loss to Russia, McDermott was terrific. He averaged 11.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg on the trip. Then there is Gregory Echenique, who played with Venezuela as his home country tried to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. Finally, Creighton took a trip to the Bahamas, winning all four of their exhibitions handily.

- Northern Iowa's program getting cut?: The Iowa state budget cuts have hit all of the universities hard, but due to UNI's reliance on state funding -- thanks to a high percentage of in-state students -- the Panthers have been hit the hardest. They already had their baseball program get the axe and are now in danger of losing their athletics programs, as well as a number of academic programs. Here's to hoping that the school can figure out a solution that doesn't involve eliminating the possibility of reliving the Ali Farokhmanesh-sparked Sweet 16 run.

Four storylines heading into the season

- Will Taylor Brown play?: As a sophomore in 2009-2010, Brown was one of the best players on the Braves roster, averaging 13.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg as a 6'6" forward. But he was forced to sit out last season after to undergo cardiac testing. Whether or not he will play this season is still up in the air -- remember, when dealing with cardiac issues, the answers are never definite. As of September 21st, Brown was cleared for all basketball related activities.

"We welcome Taylor back to the court" said first-year Bradley head coach Geno Ford. "He has been through a difficult experience and we are happy that he is able to rejoin his teammates on the floor and compete for Bradley."

The next question is just how good he can be. His cardiac testing had to occur after a three month rest period, which means that not only was he sitting out games, but he was sitting out practice as well. How long will it take him to work his way back into game shape? If he returns to his sophomore year form, Brown will form a nice 1-2 punch with junior guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards.

- The Interlude dance: Please, let this tradition continue:



- Rebuilding programs: Southern Illinois was a Valley powerhouse in the mid-00's. They made the NCAA Tournament every year from 2002-2007, winning five MVC regular season titles and one MVC Tournament title during that stretch. Since then, SIU has gone 57-66 overall and 30-42 in the Valley. Northern Iowa is on the verge of a similar collapse. After reaching the 2010 Sweet 16, the Panthers struggled after Lucas O'Rear's career ended when he broke his ankle, finished in the middle the MVC and then lost one of the best point guards in the history of their program in Kwadzo Ahelegbe. It will be a task for Ben Jacobson to replace the leadership those two provided. Illinois State suffered a similar drop-off in 2010-2011. After finishing in the top three and making the NIT in each of Tim Jankovich's first three seasons, the Redbirds struggled with injuries and offensive execution as they finished last in the conference. Can any of these programs turn it around in 2011-2012?

- How good is Creighton?: With all due respect to Wichita State, Missouri State and Indiana State, I'm of the opinion this conference is Creighton's to lose. They have the best player, the best point guard and the quite possibly the best big man as well. They also have a deep bench with a number of quality role players and shooters. The question, in my mind, is just how good this team can be. Are they top 25 good? Quite possibly, particularly if Doug McDermott has the kind of season that some are predicting. Are they good enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament? Well, they don't have much margin for error. Their non-conference schedule isn't overly impressive -- a home game against Northwestern and roadies at UAB and SDSU are the highlights -- which means that they probably will want to win the Valley to feel safe on Selection Sunday. Can they make it past the first weekend? Should they get to the tournament, I don't think Creighton is a team that I would want to play. They have not only had a year together to gel under Greg McDermott, but they experienced some postseason success last season, making the finals of the CBI.

Power Rankings

1. Creighton: The Bluejays kicked off a new era in 2010-2011, one that will likely be dominated by McDermott's. Greg, the father, left Iowa State to return to the MVC where he cut his teeth with Northern Iowa and made three straight NCAA Tournaments in the middle of the decade. He brought along with him Doug, his son, who was originally signed to play at ... Northern Iowa. The younger McDermott turned out to be a star, averaging 14.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg and shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc while making both the MVC's first team and the USA U-19 team.

The Bluejays had a decent 2010-2011 campaign as they tried to blend together a number of new pieces. McDermott wasn't the lone newcomer in the front, as Creighton also added Rutgers transfer Gregory Echenique. The 6'9", 275 lb Venezuelan came on strong during Creighton's run to the title series of the CBI. With McDermott a potential all-american, the Bluejays will have the best frontline in the conference especially if Ethan Wragge, who started by the end of his freshman season, can comeback from the foot injury that sidelined him for all but nine games as a sophomore. The back court should be a strength as well. Antoine Young will be one of the best point guards in the conference -- on both sides of the ball, as he did as good of a job de-Jimmering BYU as anyone in the country last season. Junior Josh Jones and sophomore Jahenns Manigat both showed flashes of being quality scorers in the MVC as well. Throw in redshirt freshman center Will Artino, Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs in the back court and a quartet of incoming freshmen, and McDermott has as deep of a roster as anyone in the conference. He'll be looking to increase Creighton's aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, so don't be surprised to see the Bluejays return to the top of the Valley this season.


2. Wichita State: Its tough to know whether to call Wichita State's 2010-2011 season a success. Winning the NIT after finishing a game out of first place in the Valley is far from what you would consider a disappointment. That said, the Shockers have to be kicking themselves over how close they came to doing so much more. After blowing their Maui opener against UConn, the Shockers proceeded to lose four games at home in February and March. One of those games was a one point loss to VCU. Another came against Southern Illinois. And despite all of that, Wichita State was still in the conversation for an at-large berth come tournament time. What could have been ...

Wichita State should be able to compete for an MVC title next season based on their back court alone. Its headlined by a trio of talented and unselfish seniors that buy into what Gregg Marshall is selling. Joe Ragland is the point guard, David Kyles is the shooter, and Toure' Murry is the play-maker and the slasher. All three are capable of producing big games, but they also all understand their role within the team. Junior Demetric Williams showed flashes of promise last season, but he will be battling for bench minutes with freshmen Evan Wessel and Tekele Cotton. Where the Shockers have question marks is along their front line. Garrett Stutz, their seven-foot senior center, returns. He is going to need to increase his productivity to make up for JT Durley's scoring and Gabe Blair's rebounding and physicality inside. The undersized Ben Smith will be back, although he tends to spend more on his time on the perimeter. Beyond that, Marshall is going to have a lot of fresh faces manning the paint, but the most interesting may actually be a freshman. Jake White is a face-up four that had some legitimate high-major interest.


3. Indiana State: After nearly a decade of mediocrity, the Sycamores became the surprise champs of the Missouri Valley last season. Despite a couple of significant hiccups during the season -- a brutal non-conference stretch and a five-game losing streak during conference play -- Larry Bird's alma mater ran through Arch Madness as the three-seed before losing to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With quite a bit of talent returning, Indiana State will have a real shot at making a second consecutive tournament appearance.

The Sycamores will be an interesting team to keep an eye on next season. While they do lose two key back court pieces - starter Aaron Carter and senior leader Jake Kelly -- they bring back everyone else, including a fairly deep back court. Dwayne Lathan is the name that most will recognize. An extremely athletic, 6'3" guard, Lathan -- who averaged 12.9 ppg as a sophomore and 10.6 ppg as a junior -- struggled a bit after returning from an injury that sidelined him for a week in the middle of the season. Part of the reason for those struggles, however, was the emergence of Jake Odum. A redshirt freshman that grew up in ISU's backyard, Odum became a leader for the Sycamores, carrying them to a five game winning streak to close out MVC play before their tournament run. Once Odum and Lathan get on the same page, Indiana State will have a dangerous back court. Expect Jordan Printy and Steve McWhorter to provide minutes off the bench. The key for the Sycamores will be up front, where they are a bit undersized. Carl Richard is a tough combo-forward, but he's only 6'5" and can get overmatched in the paint. Center Myles Walker, a senior JuCo transfer, improved throughout the season and should be a key contributor this year. RJ Mahurin and Jake Kitchell both have had an offseason to get stronger, but the x-factor could end up being freshman Justin Gant. Gant, another Terre Haute native, is a face-up four that had some strong Big Ten interest.


4. Evansville: After a disastrous 2009-2010 campaign that saw the Purple Aces win just nine games and go 3-15 in the Valley, Evansville put together a solid season a year ago. Led by star guard Colt Ryan, the Aces finished 15-14 overall, 9-9 in the league and had wins at Butler and again UT-San Antonio, the SWAC champion. The biggest issue for Marty Simmons' club? The road. The Purple Aces went just 3-12 away from home last season, including a couple of embarrassing losses late in the season.

This season, however, Evansville will be interesting to keep an eye on. They return three starters and their top four scorers, including Ryan, who averaged 15.7 ppg as a sophomore and scored more than 20 points nine times, including two 30 point outbursts. After spending the past two seasons as a young team, that youth has finally matured -- Evansville has three seniors and five juniors on the roster. Simmons will have plenty of pieces in his perimeter rotation. Seniors Kenneth Harris and Denver Holmes, juniors Ned Cox and Lewis Jones, and sophomore Jordan Jahr will all see time this season. Keep an eye on Troy Taylor as well, as he averaged 2.3 apg in just 14.4 mpg as a sophomore. The issue Evansville is going to have is in the front court. The only returnee taller than 6'6" is 6'8" senior Matt Peeler, who played a whopping 70 minutes last year. Simmons does bring in three front court players as freshmen, but regardless of level, relying on freshmen in your frontcourt is not necessarily a recipe for success. Harris, and to a lesser extent Holmes, both play bigger than their size, but at under 6'6", it will be tough for them to deal with front courts like Creighton's.


5. Missouri State: Depending on how you look at it, Missouri State's 2010-2011 campaign was both an overwhelming success and a tremendous disappointment. On the one hand, Cuonzo Martin completed the rebuilding process, taking what was a 3-15 in his first season and turning them into league champions in just three years while returning league Player of the Year Kyle Weems for the 2011-2012 season. The bad news? Not only did Martin depart for the greener pastures of Tennessee, but the four other players that started around Weems all graduated. Weems will have a big season, but new head coach Paul Lusk is going to have to build a completely new team around him -- the Bears had one of the shortest benches in the country last season.

As we said, this team will be built around Kyle Weems. Weems in the quintessential Valley combo-forward -- big enough to score over a smaller defender, perimeter savvy to bury a three or dribble by a slower power forward. He'll have a big year as a senior, even when defenses key in on him. The question is going to be Weems' supporting cast. Lusk will more or less have four players at his disposal that can be considers "returners", or players that were in Martin's rotation. The guy to keep an eye on is Caleb Patterson. A seven-footer that is pretty skilled offensively, Patterson is going to need to get tougher and more physical in the paint -- he averaged just 2.2 rpg as a junior and it cost him some playing time. Isaiah Rhines should also contribute up front, but keep an eye on freshmen Christian Kirk and Andrew Wilson. Kirk should be able to contribute significant minutes immediately. The back court is more of a question mark. Sophomore Nathan Scheer should start. He's a heady player that defends, doesn't commit turnovers, and showed an improved scoring touch late in the season. Keith Pickens, who started 17 games as a freshman in 2009-2010, will be back as well, but he's battled knee injuries throughout his career, missing the entire 2010-2011 season. Beyond that, there are minutes to be earned here. Corey Copeland played about five minutes a game as a freshman, but he could be pushed by freshman Dorrian Williams and JuCo transfers Anthony Downing and Jarmar Gulley. Depending on how the new members of the rotation develop, the Bears should finish in the top half of the conference.


6. Northern Iowa: After the initial growing pains of integrating players into new roles, Northern Iowa appeared to have found their stride midway through conference play. Sitting at 9-3 after reeling off eight straight wins, the Panthers season essentially ended when Lucas O'Rear broke his ankle in early February. A team known for their defensive toughness lost their leader. Throw in the graduation of Kwadzo Ahelegbe, a four-year starter and defensive hawk at the point, and Ben Jacobson is looking at a bit of a rebuilding year in 2011-2012.

There are some pieces left on the roster, however. Forward Jake Koch, the younger brother of former MVC Player of the Year Adam Koch, had a couple of big games for the Panthers, including a 34 point outburst against Bradley, but he was too inconsistent as a sophomore and had a habit of disappearing in big games. If the Panthers are going to compete atop the league, Koch is going to have to become a more reliable scoring presence. The rest of the front court rotation is still to be determined. Austin Pehl is their biggest body at 6'10", 245 lb, but the redshirt junior has yet to show the physicality inside that O'Rear and Jordan Egleseder had the last few years. Sophomore Chip Rank, redshirt freshman Nate Buss and true freshman Seth Tuttle will have a chance to earn their way into the rotation as well. In the back court, the key is going to be replacing Ahelegbe, which won't be easy. Junior Anthony James was the breakout star of this Panther team last season. He averaged 12.4 ppg as a sophomore, but at 6'0", he created just 25 assists all year. Senior Johnny Moran has been a consistent role player throughout his career, and I'm sure Jacobson would like to see him become more assertive this season. The same can be said for junior Marc Sonnen. Don't be surprised if freshmen point guards Deon Mitchell and JeVon Lyle compete for minutes at the lead guard spot as well. The Panthers will compete, but expect the team -- usually known as a defensive juggernaut -- to struggle until they find players willing to fill the roles Ahelegbe and O'Rear played defensively.


7. Drake: The Bulldogs struggled to rebuild last season, winning just 13 regular season games and finishing 7-11 in league play. After an ugly start, that included 40-plus point losses to Iowa State and St. John's in November and a 3-8 start to MVC play, the Bulldogs erased all the momentum gained from a 5-2 stretch in February by getting drubbed by Bradley in both of their last two games. It was a young roster for head coach Mark Phelps, led by star freshman Rayvonte Rice. Rice navigated through the recruiting pitches he received throughout the offseason to return to Drake for his sophomore season, but an arrest for shoplifting in early September with teammate Kurt Alexander put a damper that enthusiasm. Both are currently suspended indefinitely.

The good news is that the Bulldogs return essentially their entire team. Seven of their top eight scorers return, and that doesn't include senior Frank Wiseler (Ed. Note: Wiseler has recently decided to leave the team and end his basketball career) and redshirt freshman Karl Madison, Drake's two best point guards that both suffered season-ending injuries. Having a true point guard to run the team should be an immediate boost to an offensive that finished eighth in the conference in terms of efficiency. Kurt Alexander, an off-guard that helped handle point guard duties last year, will be back as well. Its easy to say that the development of Rice, who averaged 13.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg as a freshman, is the key for the Bulldogs this season. As a powerful shooting guard (or undersized small forward), he has the kind of the ability that you can build a Valley program around so long as he develops better shot selection. But where Drake will have their season made is in the front court. Can juniors Seth VanDeest (Ed. Note: It appears VanDeest is out for the season with a torn labrum), Aaron Hawley and Jordan Clarke and senior Kraidon Woods battle with some of the better front lines in the league? Will junior Ben Simons continue to develop as a dangerous inside-outside threat?


8. Bradley: Bradley heads into this season with a much different look and set of expectations than last season. Last year, they were expected to compete for a spot near the top of the league. But that was before Sam Maniscalco ended his season after six games, applying for a medical red-shirt and eventually transferring to Illinois for his senior season. That was also before Taylor Brown was diagnosed with a heart condition. He sat out last year and may not be ready to play this year. And while Andrew Warren had a career year as a senior -- averaging 18.8 ppg to lead the league -- it wasn't enough to get Bradley out of last place. Ultimately, head coach Jim Les was fired (and sued the school), leading to Bradley bringing in Geno Ford from Kent State.

Ford will have his work cut out for him early on in his tenure. In addition to losing Maniscalco and Warren, Dodie Dunson graduated and Will Egolf, a fifth-year senior center, tore his acl in early June -- the second time he suffered that injury in his right knee. There are some pieces for the Braves. Junior guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards really came on at the end of the season, averaging 16.1 ppg over the last ten games. Sophomores Walt Lemon, a 6'3" guard, and Jordan Prosser, a 6'9" forward, both showed flashes of impressive potential. Throw in the addition of some talented freshmen -- forwards Shayok Shayok and Devon Hodges, guards Jalen Crawford and Donivine Stewart, and slender seven-footer Nate Wells (who has already put on 20 pounds of muscle) -- and Ford does have some talent to work with. But the key is Brown, who averaged 13.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 2009-2010. If he is cleared, Bradley has a shot to finish in the top half of the league. If not, Braves fans will have to wait a season. Whatever the case, the future is bright.


9. Illinois State: Tim Jankovich had his worst season as the head man of Illinois State in 2010-2011. After finishing in the top three of the MVC and earning a trip to the NIT in each of his first three seasons, Jankovich lost his top three scorers heading into last season. Simply put, the Redbirds could not score. Only one player on the roster -- Austin Hill -- averaged double figures (10.6 ppg), and he graduated. ISU also had major issues at the point guard position. Kenyon Smith was in and out of the lineup with injuries and Anthony Cousin had 67 assists to 56 turnovers. Not exactly what you look for out of your primary ball-handler.

The good news for Jankovich is that he still has Jackie Carmichael and John Wilkins. Carmichael, a 6'9" rising junior, is a talented-if-inconsistent post threat. While he averaged 9.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a sophomore, he had a couple of big games -- 22 points vs. South Dakota, 22 points and eight boards at Missouri State, and 43 points and 30 rebounds in his last two games against Bradley. Wilkins, who is also 6'9", is more of a perimeter player that, along with Carmichael, could form a nice inside-outside attack along the front line. With redshirt sophomore Jon Ekey and redshirt freshman Threloff also in the mix, Illinois State has some potential up front. The issue will be the back court. Who is going to create? Will Justin Clark, who is second in Missouri high school history in made threes, ever find the stroke that people predicting he would be an all-conference player one day? (Ed. Note: Not when he transferred out of the program. Whoops.) Will Hill be more effective off the ball? Just how good are freshmen Nic Moore (PG) and Johnny Hill (SG)? Those are a lot of questions to be answered in one back court.


10. Southern Illinois: Chris Lowery is probably regretting his decision not to cash in on the Saluki's success early in his tenure. Since taking SIU to three straight NCAA Tournaments and the 2007 Sweet 16 -- which earned him a multi-million dollar, seven-year contract -- Lowery has lost 15 or more games four straight years, suffering through losing seasons the last three. The problem? Lowery's teams have gotten away from the grind-it-out defensive mindset that netted them tournament trips and he's brought in too many players that have opted to leave the program. The latest example was Gene Teague, Lowery's starting center who didn't finished the season with the team and is now at Seton Hall.

Things don't look to be getting much better next season for Lowery. In addition to losing Teague, Carlton Fay -- the MVC's third-leading scorer -- graduated while Mykel Cleveland and Troy Long were both run off the team following a mid-season suspension. Diamond Taylor was also suspended indefinitely at the start of the month. That said, Lowery does have a couple of solid pieces to build around. Mamadou Seck is a live-bodied, 6'7" forward that averaged 10.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg as a junior. Another senior, Justin Bocot, battled injuries all year but really came on strong late in the season. Throw in Kendal Brown-Surles, a junior guard that proved to be a threat from the perimeter as a sophomore, and Lowery certainly does not have a bare cupboard. Sophomore big man Davante Drinkard will also be counted on to produce inside this season. He was overmatched as a rookie. The rest of the roster will be made up of freshmen and JuCo transfers. Expect another finish in the bottom half of the league.
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Previewing the Madness: The Missouri Valley Tournament

The Valley didn't end up being quite as good as we expected it to be this season. If the league does end up getting two bids to the NCAA Tournament -- which is a longshot -- it won't be the result of either Missouri State or Wichita State playing their way in, it will be the two mid-majors reaping the benefits of some of the bigger schools losing too many meaningful games down the stretch.

While the quality of the teams in the league may be down from what we are used too, that doesn't mean it is any less balanced or exciting. While early surges by Northern Iowa and Indiana State faded down the stretch, MSU and WSU remained, battling it out on the last day of the regular season for the conference's regular season title. The Bears won, sweeping the Shockers and winning the championship just two years after finishing in last place.

Where: Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO

When: March 3rd-6th

Final: March 6th, 1:05 pm CBS


Favorites: Missouri State Bears

The Bears are an interesting team. They aren't deep, playing just a seven man rotation, but they are balanced and have weapons at every spot on the floor. MVC player of the year Kyle Weems leads the way. He's a versatile, 6'7" forward with three point range as well as the ability to score inside. He's joined up front by bruiser Will Creekmore and slashing small forward Jermaine Mallett. Adam Leonard is the sharp shooter on this team, while Nafis Ricks is the playmaker at the point. Cuonzo Martin has himself a balanced team with a lot of weapons.

• Other Contenders: The only other team you can really consider a contender is Wichita State, who I actually think is the best team in the Valley. The Shockers are your prototypical Valley team. They go 10 deep. They have a very balanced attack. They have some size, they have some shooters, and they defend. They aren't going to force you into many turnovers, but you aren't going to get many good looks or second shots. JT Durley heads up a quality front court, and while Toure' Murry has been a bit disappointing this season, David Kyles has developed into a solid weapon on the offensive end.
  

Sleeper: Indiana State Sycamores

Its not really a sleeper when you are the third team in the league, but given that the MVC is all of ten team deep, we'll allow it. The Sycamores come into Arch Madness on a five game winning streak in MVC play after starting out the year 7-1 with wins over Northern Iowa, Creighton, and Missouri State. They stumbled a bit in the middle of the season, but with starting forward Carl Richard scheduled to return, ISU has a shot at this. No Larry Bird.

• Deeper Sleeper: Creighton hasn't quite put it together this season, but they have an awesome front line. Doug McDermott, Harrison Barnes' high school teammate, has turned in a freshman campaign averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Gregory Echenique, a Rutgers transfers, and Kenny Lawson round out the front line. The issue will be on the perimeter. Will Antoine Young get any help?
  

Players to Watch:

• Doug McDermott, Creighton: Interesting note about McDermott. He was supposed to go to UNI to play for Ben Jacobson, but when Gregg McDermott, Doug's father, went from Iowa State to Creighton, Doug followed him there.
  
• Colt Ryan, Evansville: Ryan has been awesome in relative anonymity for two seasons, but now that the Purple Aces have a shot to make some noise, Ryan deserves credit. He's third in the league in scoring and playing the best basketball of his life as he is coming off of a career-high 32 points on Saturday.
  

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Indiana State downs Missouri State at the buzzer

For the second consecutive game, Indiana won at the buzzer at home to knock off a fellow Valley contender.

Down 69-67 with just 4.9 seconds left on the clock, Jake Kelly took the inbounds pass and drove through the Missouri State defense, scoring and drawing a foul:



The officials went back and looked at the clock, determining that 0.6 seconds should be put back on. Kelly stepped to the line and knocked down the game-winning free throw as the Bears ensuing inbounds pass was stolen away.

With the win, Indiana State moves into a tie with Missouri State atop the Valley standing at 7-1. Wichita State, who lose at home to Northern Iowa tonight, is alone in second at 6-2 while UNI and Creighton are both 5-3.

If you remember, the Sycamores won on Saturday when Carl Richard tipped in a miss as time expired to beat Creighton.

There is still some concern about Indiana State. Four of their seven wins have come against the bottom three teams in the conference, they lost on the road to Evansville, and their other three wins -- UNI, Creighton, and Missouri State -- were all at home. Keep in mind, this team has also lost to Loyola IL, Eastern Kentucky, Ball State, and Wyoming. Its not exactly the kind of non-conference resume you expect out of a MVC contender.

The bad news is that Indiana State is just two games into a brutal seven game stretch in which they have to face Creighton, Missouri State, and Wichita State twice, with all three road trips still to come.

The good news?

They are 2-0 in those two games and in first place.

You can't really ask for much more than that.
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: The MVC

Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.

To browse through the other conferences, click here.


Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Toure' Murry, Wichita State, Jr.

The Shockers are going to be a very good team this season, especially considering the size they have in the front court in a league where bigs are at a premium. But WSU loses point guard Clevin Hannah, a kid that, for the last two seasons, has been so important to the Shockers. Murry isn't a point guard per se, but he is the most talented back court player on this roster. He showed flashes of serious potential last season, but was too inconsistent with his perimeter shooting (just 33% from deep) and couldn't put up big numbers on a nightly basis. Some of that blame should be credited to the defenses in the MVC, but Murry was up and down throughout the year. With Hannah gone, Murry's role will expand this season and he will be counted on for crunch time baskets and more consistent play. If that happens, Murry could end up being the best player on the league's best team.

Ed. Note: For those asking, leaving the Player of the Year off of the all-conference first-team was intentional. Maybe its because I grew up following the Big East (they always put six on the first team), but its the way I've always done it. Its not an oversight.


And a close second goes to: Kenny Lawson, Creighton, Sr.

You'll notice this is a common theme throughout this preview, but big men are at a premium in the Missouri Valley. Athletic 6'9" centers that can score in the paint, knock down a jumper, and block a shot are unheard of. That's why I am expecting big things out of Lawson as a senior. He's already a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches thanks to his size and strength on the block, but if he can expand on the perimeter game that he started to show flashes of late in the season, Lawson would be unstoppable at this level. The only reason I'm not picking hm a conference player of the year is that I think the addition of Gregory Echenique could cut into his touches.

Breakout Star: Jake Koch, Northern Iowa, So.

Picking a "breakout" star in this league is tough. Generally speaking, players never seem to break out in the Valley as much as they continue to develop throughout their careers. That said, there may be a perfect set of circumstances for Koch to have a big year. For starters, UNI loses quite a bit of talent this offseason, including the two guys starting in front of Jake -- Adam Koch (his big brother and last season's conference player of the year) and Jordan Egleseder. This will be Jake's third year in the program -- he redshirted as a freshman, meaning that he knows what to expect in league play and will understand Ben Jacobson's system. Most importantly, he seems to have the talent to be potentially become an all-conference player, evidenced by some impressive performances down the stretch of the season.


All-Conference First Team

• G - Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa, Sr.
  
• G - Sam Maniscalco, Bradley, Sr.
  
• G - Colt Ryan, Evansville, So.
  
• F - Kyle Weems, Missouri State, Jr.
  
• C - Kenny Lawson, Creighton, Sr.

All-Conference Second Team

• G - Adam Leonard, Missouri State, Sr.
  
• G - Dwayne Lathan, Indiana State, Jr.
  
• F - Taylor Brown, Bradley, Jr.
  
• F - JT Durley, Wichita State, Sr.
  
• F - Jake Koch, Northern Iowa, So.

Newcomer of the Year: Gregory Echenique, Creighton, So.

Echenique was supposed to join forces with Mike Rosario to turn Rutgers into a legitimate basketball program again, but the 6'9", 260 lb Venezuelan never was able to get on the same page as Fred Hill. So after suffering a detached retina that cost him last season -- a season in which he was averaging 12.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg -- Echenique is headed to Creighton where he will become eligible after the first semester. The combination of Echenique and Lawson will be tough for Valley opponents to handle.


What Happened?:

• Northern Iowa kept making news: Just because the season ended and Ali Farokhmanesh graduated didn't mean that Northern Iowa was going to stop showing up in my reader. It started with head coach Ben Jacobson, who signed a ten-year contract extension with the school. Jacobson also saw a significant bump in his salary, as he will be getting paid in the $500,000 range for the bulk of the contract.
  
  The problem with that? Northern Iowa is broke. They already had to cut their baseball program, and even though their basketball team brought a bunch of new interest to the school with the impressive tournament run, they may be on the chopping block as well.
  
  Perhaps the most shocking turn of events during the off-season happened to Lucas O'Rear. O'Rear, who resembles a surly Irish bouncer more than he does an athlete, was also a member of the UNI baseball team that was cut prior to the 2010 season. Despite not playing baseball for the year, he still managed to get scooped up in the 13th round of this year's MLB draft.
  
  O'Rear isn't the only Panther with a potential professional career. The Sultan of Swish is headed to Switzerland.


• Creighton had their own issues: UNI wasn't the only team to make headlines this offseason. Creighton did as well, although they weren't all for good reasons. Dana Altman finally pulled the trigger, leaving Creighton for the opening at Oregon. It didn't take long for Creighton to find a replacement, however. In one of the more unique moves you'll come across, Gregg McDermott decided to leave a Big XII job for an opening in the MVC. To be fair, many would argue that Creighton is at least as good, if not better, than the Iowa State job. They have a very big and passionate fan base, it is a school with basketball tradition, and they actually have a chance to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
  
  Gregg wasn't the only McDermott making a move. His son, Doug, who originally had signed with (you guessed it) UNI was released from his LOI by Ben Jacobson. The elder McDermott was Jacobson's predecessor at Northern Iowa, and the two remain close.


• Altman steals a Sycamore: Kevin McKenna finally looked like he was building a program at Indiana State heading into his fourth season. But after coaching for nine years under Altman, McKenna couldn't pass up on the opportunity to join Altman's staff in Oregon. ISU replaced him with associate head coach Greg Lansing.


• Talented players leaving school: P'Allen Stinnett had a ton of talent, but his attitude and off-the-court problems never allowed him to fulfill his potential. He was suspended for the end of last season by Dana Altman for a myriad of reasons, and McDermott would not allow him back on the team. Stinnett will play out his final season at Missouri Western, a D-II school.
  
  Southern Illinois had it worse. Kevin Dillard left for Dayton while Anthony Booker headed to Iowa State. Those two were supposed to be members of the 2008 recruiting class that put Chris Lowery's program over the top.

What's Next?:

• Who becomes this season's darling?: Early last season, it was Missouri State. Then Wichita State got hot before Northern Iowa steamrolled to the Sweet 16. Can Creighton get back into the mix this season?


• Balance: The Valley plays tough, competitive, defensive basketball, but one of the biggest problems with the league is actually its strength and its balance. The bottom of the league is not that far from the top of the league -- Southern Illinois had as much talent as anyone last season, while Evansville beat the top two teams in the league -- and every road game is a potential loss regardless of your opponent. While that competitiveness can prepare Valley teams for the rigors of the NCAA Tournament, it also takes a toll on them. Missouri State and Wichita State were good teams last season, but their inability to win close games and/or road games cost them dearly.


• Multiple bids?: The way I see it, four, possibly five, teams in this league have a puncher's chance at making the dance. Like I said, there is some good basketball played in the Valley. If there is going to be two or three (or more) bids that come out of this league, however, the Valley is going to have to play very well and spring some upsets in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Like I said, league play is brutal -- they are one of the leagues that play a true, 18 game round robin schedule -- and you can count on the top teams beating each other up all year long.


• A good way to start?: By winning the MVC-MWC Challenge Series next season. The two best games? BYU heads to Creighton while San Diego State hosts Wichita State.
  

Power Rankings

1. Wichita State: The Shockers look like they will be the early favorite to win the Missouri Valley. They only lose one senior and bring back a roster loaded with talent, size, and experience. In the Missouri Valley, it tends to be the front court that determines who wins the league, and Wichita State has one of, if not the best. Senior JT Durley is probably the Shockers most dangerous scorer in the front court, and if seven-footer Garrett Stutz can regain the form he had late in the season, he'll be force inside as a junior. Aaron Ellis and Gabe Blair are athletic live-bodies that will provide defense and rebounding, while redshirt freshman Jerome Hamilton and seven-foot sophomore Ehimen Orukpe could also see minutes. The biggest question for the Shockers is going to be how they replace point guard Clevin Hannah, their best scorer and the leader of this club the past two seasons. Sophomore Demetric Williams got better as the season progressed, and JuCo transfer Joe Ragland should also be able to fight for minutes at the point. The guy that Gregg Marshall will be looking for more consistency out of will be two-guard Toure' Murry. A tough defender, Murry is a bit streaky on the offensive end, although he is capable of going for 20. Senior Graham Hatch is a glue guy through and through that can also knock down a three, while junior David Kyles will see a bigger role this year as well. The Shockers will, once again, be a tough defensive team with a lot of size on the inside. The Valley is always tough and full of close, competitive, physical basketball games. If Wichita State can figure out how to win some of those on the road, this looks like a team that could win the league.


2. Creighton: It will be awkward seeing the Bluejays play for someone other than Dana Altman, but Gregg McDermott could have walked into a much worse situation than this. Creighton will add Rutgers transfer Gregory Echinique after the first semester, and once he is on the floor with Kenny Lawson, Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder last season, the Bluejays will have the best front court in the conference. Playing behind those two will be senior Wayne Runnels, who never quite lived up to his 16 point, 9 rebound performance against Dayton in his first game in a Creighton jersey, and 6'11" freshman Will Artino. Junior Antoine Young, who showed a bit of a scoring punch for Creighton down the stretch, will likely be running the point again this season. How good the Bluejays end up being is going to be determined by who shows up on the wings this year. Ethan Wragge, a 6'7" sharpshooting small forward, looks like he will be an excellent weapon to help the Bluejays spread the floor. Kaleb Korver lost his confidence this season, shooting under 32% from three (unheard of for a Korver), as did Darryl Ashford, a JuCo transfer that never regained his rhythm after missing a January game against Drake. Sophomore Josh Jones looked impressive moving into the starting lineup late in the season, and the late addition of Doug McDermott should also help with depth. There is a lot of talent on this roster, and there may not be a team that can compete with Creighton inside. The Bluejays should be in the thick of the race in the MVC in February.


3. Northern Iowa: The Panthers had a magical season in 2009-2010, making the Sweet 16 with two memorable wins, including one over Kansas, and two memorable shots by Ali Farokhmanesh. But they also lose quite a bit from that team. Jordan Egleseder and Adam Koch, the MVC player of the year, formed the best front line in the conference, while Farokhmanesh spread the floor with his shooting ability. The good news is that the Panthers run a system where the emphasis is team success, starting with their defense. Jake Koch showed flashes late in the season of being able to fill his brother's shoes. Lucas O'Rear has won back-to-back sixth man awards for his scrappy, defensive-minded play. Jonny Moran, who struggled to find a rhythm shooting the ball last year, and Marc Sonnen should be able to fill the void left by Farokhmanesh, while Kerwin Dunham is a 6'6" senior guard that defends well and doesn't make mistakes. But the key to this team is going to be Kwadzo Ahelegbe. Ahelegbe is a strong, possession point guard that can score when he needs to. He will need to this season, as he will be the only player on this roster that has proven the ability to create his own shot. There are still some pieces on this team, and while UNI has never been a team that needed to score a lot to win, points will really be at a premium this season.


4. Missouri State: The Bears got out to a great start last season, winning their first ten games, but the turnover on their roster did them in as they couldn't win close games and struggled away from home. That said, this team returns basically everyone from last season, which should make them an early favorite to finish near the top of the league. The guy to watch on this team will be 6'6" junior Kyle Weems, a talented forward that proved to be dangerous on the perimeter. Sharp shooter Adam Leonard also returns for the Bears, as does Jermaine Mallett, a feisty, 6'3" senior that will contribute on both ends of the floor. JuCo transfer Nafis Ricks really came on strong down the stretch, starting at the point by the end of the season. With sophomore Keith Pickens back, and four freshmen back court players joining the team, the Bears perimeter attack will be one of the best in the league. The question will be up front, where Cuonzo Martin only has four players taller than 6'4", including Weems. Caleb Patterson, a 6'11" transfer from Colorado, has had moments but struggled with consistency. The same can be said for Will Creekmore, a 6'8" transfer from Boston University. Isaiah Rhine also returns up front. Missouri State will be good, but how good will depend on the big men. Right now, this is a team that will rely too much on perimeter shooting.


5. Bradley: Bradley was maddeningly inconsistent last season. They started out the year well, including a win over Illinois, but proceeded to lose seven of their next ten games and finish the year just 9-9 in the Missouri Valley. The Braves do, however, return a good amount of talent and experience, especially on the perimeter where they will be starting three seniors. Sam Maniscalco has developed into an all-conference caliber point guard, Andrew Warren returned from an injury to become Bradley's leading scorer, and Dodie Dunson, who broke his arm after just two games last season, is also back. Junior forward Taylor Brown is back. Brown, who averaged 13.3 ppg and 6.9 rpg, has a ton of talent, but he cannot stay out of the doghouse, getting suspended for four games over the course of last season. Sophomores Jake Eastman and Dyricus Simms-Edwards, along with freshman Walter Lemon, will provide perimeter depth for the Braves. The question mark for the Braves is going to be on the inside. Will Egolf is really the only semblance of a proven post presence on the roster, but outside of a nine game stretch last season that saw the 6'9" Alaskan score in double figures seven times, Egolf has had a thoroughly mediocre career. Beyond Egolf, it will be a battle for playing time. Junior Anthony Thompson, sophomore Minos Knezevic, and freshmen Jordan Prosser and Andrew Davis will likely battle for minutes. This is the year for the Braves if they are going to make a run at the Valley title.


6. Indiana State: The Sycamores had their best season in recent memory in 2009-2010 as they finished .500 in the league and advanced to a post season tournament, neither of which they had accomplished since 2001. The bad news, however, is that Indiana State will be losing point guard Harry Marshall, their emotional leader and the conference's leading scorer in MVC play last season. Indiana State also loses Rashad Reed, another back court scorer, but with the athletic Dwayne Lathan, a 6'3" junior transfer from Louisiana Tech, returning along with a healthy Jake Kelly (he only played 12 games last season), who should be able to pick up the slack left by Reed and Marshall. Aaron Carter, Jordan Printy, and redshirt freshman Jake Odum should also compete for playing time in the back court. The Sycamores should have a solid back court, but the question mark will be up front. Junior Carl Richard in undersized, but is tough and led the Sycamores in rebounding last season. Isiah Martin and Koang Doluony are both back as well, but it may end up being three newcomers that win most of the minutes up front. Jake Kitchell was a fairly highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, and should be able to contribute immediately. Redshirt freshmen RJ Mahurin and JuCo transfer Myles Carter will both also be counted on to provide quality minutes inside.


7. Illinois State: The Redbirds seemingly lose a couple of key seniors every season, finding a way to fight through it and remain competitive. It may be tougher than ever this year, as Osiris Eldridge, Dinma Odiakosa, and Lloyd Phillips all graduate. There are plenty of reasons to be hopeful, however. Jackie McMichael has the look of a potential MVC all-conference player. A 6'9", 240 lb athletic sophomore, McMichael needs some polish but he had a couple of big games. Seniors Tony Lewis, a 6'7" forward, and Austin Hill, a tough, defensive-minded 6'1" guard, should be counted on for expanded roles as well. A big season should also be expected from Justin Clark, a 6'4" sophomore scorer that never found his rhythm last season. The biggest question mark for this team may be at the point. With Phillips gone, it looks like two sophomore JuCo transfers, Kenyon Smith and Anthony Cousin, are going to be battling it out for the starting spot. The rest of the Redbirds rotation will be newcomers. Jordan Threloff, a freshman, and John Wilkins, a sophomore JuCo transfer, are bigs that had some high-major interest. Redshirt freshmen John Ekey and Zeke Upshaw could find their way into the rotation as well. A guy to watch may be Fordham transfer Trey Blue, who averaged 8.2 ppg with the Rams before transferring due to the death of a friend.


8. Drake: The Bulldogs were inexperienced last season, with 11 new players on the roster, and it showed, as they lost eight games by four points or less, including three league games in the final two seconds. And while this season will be the first where head coach Mark Phelps won't feel like he is coaching an entirely new team, the Bulldogs do lose three of their top five players, including starters Adam Templeton and Josh Young, Drake's career leader in points. Its not all bad news, however. 6'11" center Seth VanDeest had some big games as a freshman and should be ready, and capable, of becoming the focal point of the Drake attack. Ben Simons, a 6'8" sophomore, will join VanDeest along the front line, with Vermont transfer Jordan Clarke and sophomores Aaron Hawley and Reece Uhlenhopp providing depth. The back court will be more of a question mark, as the Bulldogs lost Young and Craig Stanley. Freshman Karl Madison and junior Frank Wiseler will likely be competing for the starting point guard spot, while Ryan Wedel seems a safe bet to be Drake's shooting guard again this season. After that, there are a lot of question marks, as the back court will once again be newcomers. Rayvonte Rice and David Smith and both freshmen that should see minutes, as should JuCo transfer Kurt Alexander and freshman Jeremy Jeffers. Drake is fairly unproven, but there are enough pieces here that a .500 finish in the league isn't out of the question.


9. Southern Illinois: Things are not looking good in Carbondale these days. Gone are Kevin Dillard, who transferred to Dayton, and Anthony Booker, who transferred to Iowa State. Nick Evans left the team midway through the season, transferring to Southern Indiana. Tony Freeman graduated, leaving Chris Lowery without four of his top seven players. There are some players on this team. Sophomore Gene Teague really came on down the stretch, developing into a solid option in the post. Carlton Fay, who is a more perimeter oriented 6'8" forward, should complement him nicely. Justin Bocot has developed into a solid weapon on the wing, while John Freeman really played well down the stretch of the season, even getting a couple of starts in the back court. Kendal Brown-Surles was a solid replacement for Dillard late in the season. Lowery also brings in five newcomers, four of which went the JuCo route while Davante Drinkard is a 6'8" freshman from Georgia. Last year, the issue never seemed to be talent for the Salukis, it was attitude and chemistry. That may be improved with Dillard, Booker, and Evans gone, but there is certainly no longer enough talent on this roster to compete for a league title.
   


10. Evansville: Evansville had a tough 2009-2010 season. Finding a positive is tough when you finish the year at 9-21 with a 14 games losing streak sandwiched in. The good news, however, is that the Aces finished the year with a 3-4 stretch, which included wins over Northern Iowa and Wichita State, the two best teams in the league. They also return two of their top three scorers. The MVC freshman of the year Colt Ryan, a 6'5" shooting guard that has a bright future, became the go-to player early on in the season. Denver Holmes, a junior guard, also showed flashes of becoming a weapon for the Aces. Kavon Lacey, Ned Cox, and Troy Taylor are all back as well, giving Evansville a solid back court. James Haarsma and Bryan Bouchie, arguably the team's two best big men, have both left the program, which is very bad news for a club that already was thin up front. Clint Hopf should be back after injuring his knee last season. Hopf had reached double figures in scoring in five of the six games before getting hurt. Pieter von Tongeron will likely be counted on for a bigger role, and the addition of Matt Peeler should help provide some depth. Don't be surprised if Jordan Jahr and Kenny Harris have to play out of position on the front line as well. There are some players on this team, but not enough size or talent to expect much of an improvement from last season.

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Monday's Madness

Seeing as championship week has officially started, we are going to be doing a new daily madness segment. Here, you can find the daily scores and schedules for every conference tournament game that day as Trizzle will once again be taking over BIAH. For a full schedule of the conference tournaments and a listing of the automatic bids, click here.

GAME OF THE DAY: #1 Northern Iowa 60, #3 Illinois St. 57 OT

The Missouri Valley Conference finals was a tale of two halves. Northern Iowa dominated the first half, getting up by as many as 12, but the half time break was a blessing for the Redbirds of Illinois State. Osiris Eldridge had all of his 21 points in the second half, including a streak of four straight possesions with a made three pointer. The Redbirds eliminated the 12 point difference, and the game went back and forth for the majority of the second half. But the Panthers dominated the extra period, and key free throws down the stretch solidified Northern Iowa's bid to the big dance.

(ED. NOTE: Just saw this clip, and had to get it up here: Niagara beat Rider in 2 OT's yesterday, but would not have made it that far without this buzzer beater at the end of regulation by Novar Gadson):



PLAYER OF THE DAY: Jay Greene, UMBC

He was the only man to play all 40 minutes of action, and just happened to log 29 points on 12 for 21 shooting in the Retriever's six point semifinal win over Albany. Greene hasn't had a 20-point game in nearly a month, and picked a great date to do so, as only one other Retriever scored in double digits. He also added six assists. Greene's team takes on Binghampton in the America East Finals, the third meeting between the two squads. The teams split meetings during the regular season, neither one being able to win on the opponent's court. Lucky for Bingamton, the final takes place at the site of the higher seed.



They were good too: Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State - 21 pts, 3 asts; Eric Maynor, VCU - 23 pts, 4 asts; Josh White, North Texas - 27 pts, 6 asts; Shane Edwards, Arkansas Little-Rock - 21 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts; DJ Rivera, Bingamton - 26 pts, 8 rebs; Austin Daye, Gonzaga - 28 pts; Stephen McDowell, Chattanooga - 32 pts, 5 asts;

TEAM OF THE DAY: College of Charleston

For the second time this season, the Charleston Cougars ended Davidson's three-year reign over the Southern Conference by knocking off the Wildcats 59-52 on Sunday. Davidson took a 12 point lead in the first half, and went into the break up 29-20, but the Cougars used a 20-4 run to open the second half, building a seven point lead that Davidson could never really cut into. Tony White Jr. led the Cougars with 17 points, but credit for the win was being given to 6'7" Antwaine Wiggins, who has been dubbed "the Curry stopper".

Sunday's Results:

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Missouri Valley Finals (St. Louis, MO):
- #1 Northern Iowa 60, #3 Illinois St. 57 OT

America East Semis (Albany, NY):
- #6 UMBC 64, #7 Albany 58
- #1 Binghampton 72, #4 New Hampshire 67

Colonial Athletic Semis (Richmond, VA):
- #1 VCU 61, #4 Old Dominion 53
- #2 George Mason 56, #11 Towson 48

MAAC Semis (Albany, NY):
- #1 Siena 80, #5 Fairfield 65
- #2 Niagra 93, #3 Rider 89

Northeast Semis (Campus Sites):
- #1 Robert Morris 75, #5 Quinnipiac 48
- #2 Mt. St. Marys 68, #3 Sacred Heart 63

Patriot Semis (Campus Sites):
- #1 American 61, #4 Army, 60
- #2 Holy Cross 61, #6 Colgate 44

Southern Semis (Chattanooga, TN):
- #3 Charleston 59, #1 Davidson 52
- #1 Chattanooga 81, #3 Samford 70

Summit Semis (Sioux Falls, SD):
- #3 Oakland 75, #6 IPFW 62
- #5 Southern Utah 53, #4 IUPUI 48

Sun Belt Quarters (Hot Springs, AR):
- #1 Western Kentucky 66, #9 Florida International 58
- #4 North Texas 88, #5 Middle Tennessee St. 79
- #2 AR-Litte Rock 58, #7 Denver 55
- #6 South Alabama 78, #3 Trizzle Troy 75

West Coast Semis (Las Vegas, NV):
- #1 Gonzaga 94, #4 Santa Clara 59
- #2 St. Mary's 71, #3 Portland 61


Monday's Games

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Colonial Athletic Final (Richmond, VA):
- 7:00PM: #1 VCU vs. #2 George Mason

MAAC Final (Albany, NY):
- 9:00PM: #1 Siena vs. #2 Niagra

Southern Final (Chattanooga, TN):
- 7:00PM: #1 Chattanooga vs. #3 Charleston

West Coast Final (Las Vegas, NV):
- 9:00PM: #1 Gonzaga vs. #2 St. Mary's

Summit Semis (Sioux Falls, SD):
- 7:00PM: #1 North Dakota State vs. #5 Southern Utah
- 9:35PM: #7 South Dakota State vs. #3 Oakland

Sun Belt Semis (Hot Springs, AR):
- 7:30PM: #1 Western Kentucky vs. #4 North Texas
- 10:00PM: #2 AR-Little Rock vs. #6 South Alabama

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Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Preview

Schedule (all games played in Missouri):

Thursday, March 5th / First Round
- Game #1: #8 Drake vs. #9 Northern Iowa
- Game #2: #7 Wichita State vs. #10 Missouri State

Friday, March 6th / Quarters
- Game #3: #1 Northern Iowa vs. Game #1 Winner
- Game #4: #4 Bradley vs. #5 Southern Illinois
- Game #5: #2 Creighton vs. Game #2 Winner
- Game #6: #3 Illinois State vs. #6 Evansville

Saturday, March 7th / Semis
- Game #7: Game #3 Winner vs. Game #4 Winner
- Game #8: Game #5 Winner vs. Game #6 Winner

Sunday, March 8th / Finals
- Game #9: Game #7 Winner vs. Game #8 winner

Favorite: It isn't a secret that the MVC tourney, commonly known as Arch Madness, is one of the best conference tourneys around. This year should, once again, be exciting. While Northern Iowa earned the #1 seed, the favorite has to be Creighton. The Bluejays have the best back court in the conference (and maybe in the midwest) with conference POY Booker Woodfox (who doubles as the nation's best three-point shooter) and last year's rookie of the year P'Allen Stinnett. They won their last 10 games, including a win at Northern Iowa and a home victory over George Mason. They also won non-conference games against New Mexico and Dayton. In fact, they were a grand total of ten seconds away (in last second losses to Arkansas-Little Rock and Nebraska) from going undefeated out of conference.

P'Allen Stinnett (top), Cavel Witter, and company look to carry their momentum into Arch Madness
(photo credit: Nati Harnik/AP)

Contenders: You have got to think that Northern Iowa, Bradley and Illinois State all have a shot at winning this thing. Bradley probably has the either path, as they avoid Creighton until the Finals. Northern Iowa won both against Illinois State during the regular season, although it was by a combined six points with one win coming in overtime. Of the three, Bradley is the only team coming in playing well. NIU has lost four of seven, ISU has lost three in a row, but Bradley has won four of their last five.

Sleeper: As much as I want to say defending champion Drake, who returns both Josh Young and Jonathon Cox, I just don't see a team that has won four games since January 11th winning four in a row in March. I am going to go with Indiana State. The Sycamores started out the season 4-19, but they have won six of their last seven to finish at 7-11 in the conference.

BIAH Prediction: Creighton. Continue reading...