More Fun in the Valley

While most of college basketball is waiting a few days to get rolling in 2010, the Missouri Valley continues steaming ahead. The conference is not quite at the level of the glory year 0f 2006, but does have a great chance to improve on the 1-bid performance of last season.

Here's a quick rundown of tonight's games, and the first week of games past.

What's going on in Omaha? Creighton fell to 0-2 today in conference after losing to lightly-regarded Indiana State. All the big conference guys who got a "quality win" early over the Jays might be disappointed to find that it no longer qualifies as "quality." The Jays have played themselves into auto-bid only territory after their terrible start.

Southern Illinois squares off tonight with Bradley. The Salukis rose to national prominence several years ago reaching the Sweet 16 and being ranked most of the season, but they have fallen off a bit in past years. This season the Salukis are 8-2 and looking to rise into contention in the Valley. Meanwhile Bradley sits at 6-5, but does own a win over Illinois and several "good losses" to BYU and Oklahoma State. The Braves are not legit contenders in the Valley, but tonight might give a nice glimpse as to whether or not the Salukis might be.

Northern Iowa and Wichita State both figure to be factors in the MVC race all season; both have should-win home games tonight against Evansville and Drake respectively. Both teams have good records (11-1, 10-2) but neither has gaudy enough non-conference resumes to think they are dancing without 12-13 MVC wins. In short, every game counts for them both.

The game of the night is at 8:05 EST when 10-2 Illinois State travels to 11-1 Missouri State. Illinois State is fresh of a 15 point win over Wichita, while MoSU easily handled Evansville on the road. Illinois State raced off to an undefeated start last year, only to cool off quickly in conference play, just as national attention began to find them. The Redbirds finished with a disappointing first round NIT loss. This season, the Redbirds and MVC P.O.Y. candidate Osiris Eldridge know they have to win games like tonight if they want to get to the real dance this March.

Missouri State, with wins over Auburn and Tulsa was flirting with Top 25 status before a 66-62 loss to Arkansas cooled that notion. Still the Bears have a solid ballclub and have to be considered a Top 3 team in the underrated Valley. Tonight's game will give a nice look at two potentially tourney-bound teams.


SEASON OUTLOOK: Look for Wichita, No. Iowa and Mo State to battle for the league crown with some pressure from Illinois State and Southern Illinois, and I am always reluctant to bury Creighton, no matter how much it looks like we need to. Ultimately, it might once again be parity that costs the Valley multiple tourney bids, but I like the league to snag two spots in the NCAA and another two in the NIT.

Want More? Have something to Say?
Read, Rant, Agree, Disagree...Curse at Us (nicely please)
Do it all @ MarchManiacs.com