Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
First Quarter Report Card
The conference season is four to five games deep now. Some of your typical straight-A teams will still make Mom and Dad proud. Others may want to forge signatures.
Southern Illinois (11-3, 4-0)
The Salukis definitely didn’t hit the panic button after a mediocre 2-3 start. SIU has reeled off nine consecutive victories, which should heavily be credited to defense. With 55 points on Sunday, Bradley scored the most points against Southern Illinois’ defense since Saint Louis upset the Salukis on Nov. 30, 56-42.
After a home date with Evansville on Wednesday, the Saluki defense will have several challenges at Drake, at UNI and at Missouri State.
Tony Young has kept the offense on pace during the last week. The junior guard has averaged 20.6 points the last three contests, including 30 versus Bradley on Sunday.
Grade: A (Reason: Nine straight wins)
Northern Iowa (14-2, 4-1)
The first three MVC games were a little bit of a struggle for the preseason favorite Panthers. Bradley put UNI in an 0-1 hole, and Evansville nearly made it 0-2 until the Panthers rallied from a 16-point deficit at home in the second half.
Since then, the offense has sparkled – and in tough environments. It was Grant Stout saving UNI during the first half at Wichita State last Thursday, and Ben Jacobson joined him in the second period. The two hit 22 and 21 points, respectively, and Stout added 12 boards. Jacobson sunk another 21 during a 72-62 win at Missouri State and was joined in double figures by Erik Crawford, Eric Coleman and Brooks McKowen.
The offense has found its touch again, and that may be bad news for this week’s opponents: Creighton, Illinois State and Southern Illinois.
Grade: A (Reason: A 2-0 run through Wichita State and Missouri State)
Missouri State (10-3, 3-2)
With an offense capable of putting up an 80-spot every night, nobody wants to play this Bears squad. Missouri State leads the league with 84 points per game and has still managed 76 per contest in the defensive Valley. There just doesn’t seem to be a way to stop this explosive offense. Nine players average at least 16 minutes per game, and seven of those nine are sinking at least eight points per night. They keep coming and coming. Junior guard Blake Ahearn still has a grasp of the MVC scoreboard with 18.7 points per contest.
During the next week and a half, we’ll get an idea of whether this show will continue all winter. MSU’s four upcoming games are against Illinois State, Wichita State (twice) and Southern Illinois, Nos. 1, 2 and 4 in the MVC for points allowed.
Grade: B+ (Reason: Road wins are tough in the MVC, and MSU has two early.)
Wichita State (12-4, 3-2)
Points haven’t come so easy in the Valley season so far for the Shockers. Give it to them though. Three of their first five games have come against the MVC’s top three defenses (Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Illinois State). Only WSU’s strong defense itself has kept it near the top of the standings. Worries enter the mind though when you think about the Shockers’ upcoming games with Missouri State. Let’s just say Paul Miller, Kyle Wilson, Sean Ogirri and P.J. Couisnard are all averaging at least 10 points per game. All four will have to hit their averages against MSU, or the Shockers could be in the middle of the pack come mid January.
Grade: B (Reason: Offense is struggling early.)
Creighton (9-4, 3-2)
Depth has saved the Bluejays’ season after Creighton learned senior guard Nate Funk would be lost for the season. Freshman guard Josh Dotzler appears as if he will fill in nicely as a starter. He already nailed 15 points against a stingy Illinois State defense. If his point average continues to rise, Anthony Tolliver, Nick Porter and Dane Watts will add enough to keep the wheels rolling to an NCAA Tourney berth.
Grade: A- (Reason: Offense is rolling – with its scoring leader sidelined.)
Bradley (8-5, 2-3)
Good news: the next two games for the Braves are at home, where Bradley is 6-0. BU’s bench hasn’t pitched in too much, and that could be a factor in close losses to Southern Illinois, Drake and Wichita State. The Braves aren’t far away from being 4-1 or 5-0 in the league right now. With four of its next five games at home, BU could give itself a confidence booster heading into February.
Grade: B- (Reason: Invincible at home, 2-5 on the road)
Drake (9-7, 2-3)
Drake lost close game after close game during the non-conference season to several strong opponents, and that has been the same story during the early MVC slate. The Bulldogs led Missouri State and Southern Illinois at the half, but fell to both after rough second periods. And Creighton also put the ‘Dogs through one miserable half, which was just enough. Sooner or later, Drake will put two good halves together. Hopefully, it won’t be too late.
Grade: C+ (Reason: Two bad halves knocked the ‘Dogs off the road at Southern Illinois and Creighton.)
Evansville (5-7, 1-3)
Four players are scoring at least 10 points per contest for the Aces, but the defense of old is countering that by allowing 72 points per league game (eighth in the Valley). Other than a combined 51.2 points per contest from four starters (Matt Webster, Jason Holsinger, Kyle Anslinger and Bradley Strickland), Evansville doesn’t have enough offensive threats off the bench to allow opponents to score that much.
Fun fact of the day: When the Aces keep opponents to less than 70 points, UE is 3-0. Seventy points and above sends Evansville to 2-7. Luckily for the Aces, their opponent on Wednesday (Southern Illinois) has scored more than 70 points just once. Then again, SIU hasn’t allowed 70 points in six weeks.
Grade: C (Reason: Wins will be scarce if this defensive play continues.)
Indiana State (8-4, 1-4)
Oh, the Sycamores had to go and get this writer excited with their explosive offense in non-conference action. For shame! Since beating Illinois State, 69-59 in the MVC opener, INS’ highest point total is 78 (unfortunately, a shootout loss to Missouri State). In four other losses (one a non-conference contest), the Sycamores have managed a mere 53.8 points per game.
Two of the Sycamores’ next four games are against Drake (allowing 74 PPG), so there will be plenty of opportunities to improve on this low first quarter mark.
Grade: C- (Reason: What happened to the offense?)
Illinois State (6-7, 1-4)
The Redbirds have yet to fly high in the MVC season, with their highest point total at 59. Only one player, junior forward Greg Dilligard, is sinking more than 10 points per contest. ILS has a knack for keeping opposing offenses in check, but that has only been enough for one 53-50 upset of Creighton so far this conference season. There may be more problems after the next two contests at Missouri State and versus Northern Iowa.
Grade: D+ (Reason: Have yet to score at least 60 points in league play)
Don’t miss!! Games of the Week
- Wednesday: Creighton at UNI – Preseason No. 1 vs. preseason No. 2. Nate Funk or not, the Bluejays are still dangerous.
- Saturday: Missouri State at Wichita State – The outcome is always a classic between these two schools.
- Monday: Southern Illinois at UNI – If all holds this weekend, SIU and UNI will be fighting for the temporary MVC lead.
