MVC Week 9 Discussion Thread

by **VUGrad1314** » February 24th, 2020, 10:39 pm

Here we go... The Final Week of Valley Play... Fortunes will rise and fall for many on the outcome of a single game. Let's get to it!

Games to Watch Tuesday:

Drake @ Loyola

Both games provide a lot of intrigue and are important as the Ramblers try to stay within one game in the conference title race and Drake continues to fight to avoid Thursday. A single loss by the Bulldogs locks them into Thursday while a loss by the Ramblers (and a win for the Panthers) locks up the title for UNI. Both teams will come out and give it all they have. Playing in Gentile is no easy task.

Missouri State @ Valparaiso

This game is a must for both teams and will go a long way toward determining each teams Thursday fortunes. Following a tough loss to Drake Valpo responded with a huge second half shooting performance to lift them past Bradley while Missouri State has continued their stretch of improved play beating Loyola by double digits at home. The Crusaders hope that home court advantage holds here while the Bears are looking to be one of the few teams that successfully win on the road.

Games to watch Wednesday:

Bradley @ Illinois State

Not much in the way of seeding\Arch Madness implications here but it is a rivalry game and that gives it importance.

Evansville @ UNI

The Panthers look to take a big step toward locking up the MVC Regular Season title while the Aces continue to search for their first conference win. UNI is undefeated at home however.

Indiana State @ SIU

Indiana State took care of business with a huge victory over UNI last week to make their path to avoiding Thursday very easy. A win--any win--makes them a near lock for the top six. Unfortunately for them, getting victories has not been easy in the Banterra Center where the Salukis are undefeated in conference play.

Valpo @ Indiana State

A lot rides on the outcomes of the previous games but this could be the biggest game of the night in terms of determining the bottom of the bracket. This will be a battle and the Sycamores have been really good at home.

UNI @ Drake\ Loyola @ Bradley

Depending upon the outcomes this game could mean everything for the chase for the Valley crown or nothing. Drake could still be fighting to avoid relegation to the PIG as well. They need to win out to have any chance.

SIU @ Missouri State

The Bears have been very good overall of late especially at home. Depending on how things go in Valpo and Carbondale for the Crusaders and Sycamores, they could still be fighting for a position in the top six even with inside position on one of those spots. Regardless, they will likely be watching the Valpo-ISUb game which starts at 1PM with keen interest.

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by **TreeFan** » February 25th, 2020, 11:47 am

Sycamores clinched their first winning season since 2013/2014. Thank goodness.

Gonna be very tough to win in Carbondale tomorrow night. Good luck to the Salukis and Sycamores!

by **VUGrad1314** » February 25th, 2020, 9:22 pm

Wow! We are playing great basketball the past 5-6 games! Setting up a win and in for the top six at the Hulman Center on Saturday! I am proud of my team and how they have fought and overcome so much this year! I hope we can finish the job!

by **Bulldog2323** » February 25th, 2020, 9:32 pm

Glad to see Drake play until the final whistle. Saturday's game against UNI should be a good one. With our core players all being sophomores, we can only go up from here.

by **VUGrad1314** » February 25th, 2020, 9:33 pm

Word out of Valpo is that Javon Freeman-Liberty (who was out tonight) has mono and hopes to be back for Arch Madness but will likely miss the game against Indiana State.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1232506702697771008

by **VUGrad1314** » February 25th, 2020, 9:35 pm

Bulldog2323 wrote:Glad to see Drake play until the final whistle. Saturday's game against UNI should be a good one. With our core players all being sophomores, we can only go up from here.

You guys have a really good team and have put together a really strong season. Both of the games we played against you were wars. Robbins is special Penn is excellent and all the region talent you have on the roster makes the games all the more interesting and significant. Good luck going forward!

by **Saluki 4 Life** » February 26th, 2020, 8:18 am

VUGrad1314 wrote:Word out of Valpo is that Javon Freeman-Liberty (who was out tonight) has mono and hopes to be back for Arch Madness but will likely miss the game against Indiana State.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1232506702697771008

Man that is really rough... Even if he plays at arch madness he won't be feeling well. I have had mono, its not a 2 week and you are better sickness. Remember it kept Sam Darnold out of NFL games for a month. That sucks. Hard to see them winning at Indiana State with him out and Indiana State having a game plan for that.

by **uniguy** » February 26th, 2020, 11:12 am

The Valley is full of very good to great teams 1-8. I wasn't sold on Valpo until last night's performance without JFL (coupled with the 18 three-pointer game over the weekend) but they have proven that they have another gear and they are finally accessing it.

I think the top two seeds are in more jeopardy than we have seen in some time in the quarterfinals. No matter who falls into that 7/8 line (looks like its going to be Drake and either MSU or Valpo) it looks like pick your poison. All are capable of winning against UNI/Loyola/Bradley/SIU. And the top teams are not so far ahead of the pack like they have been in the Wichita years.

Arch Madness is going to be a goddam battle.

by **Saluki 4 Life** » February 26th, 2020, 11:23 am

uniguy wrote:The Valley is full of very good to great teams 1-8. I wasn't sold on Valpo until last night's performance without JFL (coupled with the 18 three-pointer game over the weekend) but they have proven that they have another gear and they are finally accessing it.

I think the top two seeds are in more jeopardy than we have seen in some time in the quarterfinals. No matter who falls into that 7/8 line (looks like its going to be Drake and either MSU or Valpo) it looks like pick your poison. All are capable of winning against UNI/Loyola/Bradley/SIU. And the top teams are not so far ahead of the pack like they have been in the Wichita years.

Arch Madness is going to be a goddam battle.

Yes. it is going to be so good. It always is, but as you said the 1/2 seeds won't feel comfortable going into Friday. I have said it before but something like Valpo/Loyola and UNI/Drake are semifinal worthy not quarterfinal. If I was betting I would say those top 3 have the best chance Bradley, UNI, Loyola... But I think 4-8 have a real shot to play Sunday as well.

by **VUGrad1314** » February 26th, 2020, 11:27 pm

This is going to be so much fun! I wasn't terribly excited about this tournament the first two years because I didn't feel like i had any hope that Valpo would do much of anything, but this year feels different. I'd like to say I'm looking forward to it but Valpo has a piece of business beforehand that is just too important for me to just ignore and brush aside thinking about St Louis. We need to show up and play well and win in Terre Haute to give ourselves the best chance and yes it will be very tough to win that game without Javon, but if we can get a few of Clay Krikke McMillan Gordon Sackey Fazekas Kiser and Morgan to step up, we might still have a chance yet. Even with a loss, we might still avoid Thursday if SIU defeats Missouri State although I don't want to leave that in other teams' hands.