UNI won for the third straigh time in Springfield last night to move to within a half game of first place behind Creighton. Drake managed to win their second conference game of the season, but are still tied for last with Illinois State (which beat Wichita State last night).

The Valley may be beating itself up out of a 4 bid league. Evansville swept SIU and Missouri St. last week. SIU redeemed themselves by going into Omaha and winning in Creighton. Wichita completely killed any momentum by getting swept last week.

For this week, UNI has a chance to sweep SIU and grab a foothold atop the league, but even if they do, good luck keeping it.

No such luck for UNI to run and hide in conference play. SIU is now leading the Valley after the Panthers 3 point shot to win missed it's mark. UNI had a tip-in, but after the buzzer.

Ugh. UNI had their chances, just like last year when they lost by a point. The tip-in would have tied it this year and forced overtime. Stout took literally a fraction of a second too long to get the ball back up there and in. Personally, they should have had Adam Viet in the game at the end to get a 3 off. Ok, ok... I just wanted to see more of Adam. <sigh>

Umm, yeah. Anyway - am still debating on going to the Drake/UNI game in person or watching it on tv Saturday. There aren't many tickets left, so my mind might be made up for me. Either way, will post my thoughts on the game here afterwards.

A few weeks ago, Indiana St. was ascending and Creighton looked like it could've been in free fall after the two met in Terre Haute. But today, Creighton avenged that loss, staying tied with SIU atop the Valley. The Sycamores, on the other hand, have lost 5 in a row after their 4-1 start.

Saw the Drake/UNI game last night. Drake won 74-61 in Des Moines. Just like the Iowa game earlier in the season, Drake was ready for this game and UNI I think may have come into it expecting to win. Not quite sure what happpened, but UNI never really got into their groove. The first half was very close, with UNI leading most of the way, but Drake stayed right there. In the second half, Drake caught fire with the 3 ball and UNI couldn't hit a damned thing. Drake hit 10 3s for the game, with Klayton Korver (Kyle's little bro) had 6 on his own coming off the bench for 23 points. I expected Grant Stout for UNI to show up more than he did - he had only nine points in the game. Normally, when he and Eric Coleman do well in the same game, the Panthers win. They only got seven total points from the bench, tho - including a single 3 from Adam Viet (VEET). Not what they needed to do to win, for sure. But it was a great atmosphere and a sell-out crowd, so kudos to the Bulldogs for their win. But UNI seriously needs to get back on track or it's NIT city for them.

Valley Standings

Southern Ill. 8-3 17-5
Creighton 8-3 14-7
Northern Iowa 6-4 15-6
Missouri St. 6-5 15-7
Bradley 6-5 15-8
Wichita St. 5-6 14-8
Evansville 5-6 12-10
Indiana St. 4-6 11-9
Drake 3-8 12-10
Illinois St. 3-8 11-11

BracketBusters matchups (to be televised on ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN360)

Winthrop at Missouri St.
Southern Illinois at Butler
Northern Iowa at Nevada
Bradley at VCU
Appilachian St. at Wichita St.
Drexel at Creighton

Filed under the something new I learned column: It's actually a home-and-home as each road team gets a return game the following season.

Wichita's back at .500 in the Valley, paying back UNI with a win in Cedar Falls. If the Shockers can get to 11-7 in conference and win their Buster game against App St., the NCAA's could be back in their sights.

I'm gonna pay particular attention to that one. It's between the one team (so far) that beat Wisconsin this season (Missouri State) versus another that took them into OT at the Kohl Center (Winthrop). Should be a great match-up. Don't particularly care which team wins -- don't think if affects the rpi much.

With what Witchita State has done in non-conference (win as much as it did on the road), as long as they keep an above .500 league record, they'll be in the tournament.

I saw that UNI/WSU last night. Grant Stout is HOT!

A Winthrop win would help their RPI and give them a slightly better shot if they need an at-large spot.

If UNI keeps slipping, winning at Nevada could become necessary.

SIU-Butler could be a huge game for seeding. The winner has a good shot at being a 4-5 seed, if they take care of business.


Tonights games:

SIU keeps their hold atop the league. Right now, Creighton is keeping pace with a big lead against Bradley.

Missouri St. escapes from Des Moines with a OT win over Drake. The Bears scored the last 10 points in regulation to tie the game.

All 5 road Valley Teams win today (the 5 best teams via conference record) so not a huge surprise.

Creighton and SIU are inching closer to the lock category and Missouri St I think has a good chance cause of their win over Wisconsin.

Should be an interesting final 5 games.

Creighton and Missouri St. could become locks with wins over SIU in the upcoming days. A Saluki sweep on the other hand, and the Valley would be signed, sealed, and delivered. If the streak gets to 9 wins by beating Butler, SIU can start talking a top 4 seed.

Agree with that. I think UNI has just about totally played themselves out of the NCAAs, barring an amazing run to end the season - or winning the MVC tourney. They absolutely have fallen apart, which is disappointing. They started out so strong.

I don't doubt that the teams which DO make it will be able to compete and do some damage again this year.

Drake has got to be one of the most puzzling teams in the MVC. They played pretty well before conference play started, they beat Iowa, Northern Iowa (twice) and beat the Cyclones IN AMES!! Yet they are 4-10 (soon to be 4-11) in conference play!

In the end, it was Creighton who flinched among the co-leaders.

SIU win 72-68.

SIU is now one win or a Creighton loss from wrapping up the title after winning in Springfield tonight.

With the race all but over, 4th place is the main target as Bradley and Wichita stand at 8-7. If one of them can get to 11-7 as well as win their BB game this Saturday, they will be in great position for the 4th bid ... or if both of them win out the Valley could be in great position for 5.

UNI's loss to Creighton was the killer for their at-large dreams.

Go Dawgs!!

BracketBusters was kind only to SIU (a likely top 4 seed) and Bradley, both road winners, while Creighton, Wichita, and Missouri St. all lost.

So did UNI (again, this time at #10 Nevada) making them losers of 8 of their last 9. I'd say the NIT might not even be calling at this point. Still cannot even imagine what has happened that they fell apart so badly the last three weeks. At least SIU did well and is really making their late-season charge. Hope they keep it up thru the tourney.

I don't get to see too many Valley games, but it was a lot of fun watching the Bradley/Virginia Commonwealth game Saturday, esp with the amount of style of three pointers.

Even with SIU just outside the Top 10, I think that Jim Les is the MVC coach of the year. With the graduation losses and O'Bryant's NBA defection, a lot of people slept on the Braves. I expect his star to rise this offseason.

Les is a good coach. I say that being a Pitt fan (with our loss to them in 2nd round last year). I think it was my dad that said he looks like Tom Cruise with gray hair.

Since the "Power 6" conferences wouldn't consider it, I think it would be fun to have a MWC / MVC challenge like the Big Ten / ACC challenge. A tourney between the two leagues could take the place of bracket busters and perhaps help both leagues' RPI. Kind of the best of the rest battle.

Next season could have:
Southern Illinois @ BYU
Air Force @ Creighton
Northern Iowa @ UNLV
New Mexico @ Missouri State
Bradley @ Utah
Colorado State @ Evansville
Illinois State @ San Diego State
Wyoming @ Wichita State
Drake @ TCU

Perhaps not the ratings getter - but would be some fun matchups to watch.

With all due respect to this fine conference, how the hell is Wichita State still receiving votes in the coaches' poll?!?

That's Horizon leader WRIGHT St. getting votes, not Wichita.

As for the Valley West challenge, I'm surprised that some of the conferences just below the "BCS" conferences don't try that. An A-10/Colonial challenge would be a good one as well. But unless there is some major network exposure, I wouldn't see it replacing BracketBusters. As commissioner, Doug Elgin has done a lot to heighten the Valley play, something like this could be a next step.

And in the "How high can they go?" catergory .... SIU now stands at 5th in the RPI, .0001 behind Pitt for 4th.

Wow I guess I was really tired or they changed it ... I swear I read Wichita. SIU has a great shot at a 2 or 3 seed, especially if they win the MVC tourney.

Winning the Valley tourney would put them at 14 wins in a row. I don't see them as anything less than a 4, unless they lose the next 2 (last reg season game and valley qtrs).

USA Today already has them as a three seed and with the slew of Top 25 losses this week, SIU has nowhere to go but up

They look like a very strong, consistent team. I think it helps their cause that there's a big dropoff of solid teams somewhere between that 2&3 line and the 4&5.

Curious if you any of you know the highest seed a Missouri Valley team has received?

Wichita got a 6 in 1981, that's the highest I could think of.

The conference tourney is set

Quarters
SIU-Drake/Evansville
Bradley-UNI
Creighton-Illinois St./Indiana St.
Missouri St.-Wichita

Congratulations Creighton!! See you in the dance!

Creighton and SIU are in, Missouri St. will be sweating it out (currently Lunardi's last in).

As for those out, Illinois St., Indiana St., and Evansville will all be looking for new coaches.