I woke up this morning at 3:47am
Got my MVC gear on.
Then I got in my car and drove around the block 12 times playing each schools fight song for every lap.
The neighbors were mad and asked “why are you up so early making this noise?”
I said “This is Arch.”
Brad Underwood on the
#CollegeHoopsToday
Podcast:
“I am terrified of the Missouri Valley, especially the instate teams like Illinois State, UIC, Bradley, and Southern (Illinois). Ever since we got our ass kicked by Loyola I’ve been seeing the MVC in my nightmares.”
NEWS: Iowa and Iowa State have decided to rejoin the Big Four and and will play neutral site games vs Northern Iowa and Drake in Des Moines on November 11th.
MATCHUPS:
Drake/Iowa
Northern Iowa/Iowa State
Who should get in?
28-6 Indiana State
Or FAU with TWO Q4 losses, a Q3 loss, THREE Q2 losses, and only 1 more Q1 win than Indiana State.
We hope the selection committee makes the right decision.
Sincerely,
America!
Ecstatic for Drake!
Feel for Indiana State.
The selection committee had a generationally bad day today.
Clearly the metrics don’t matter and they don’t watch the games.
A travesty!
Bradley SHOULD get a real shot at an NCAA Tournament at large.
13-2 since mid January.
A team that could make a run with their depth and defense.
A much for deserving team than a team like Wisconsin.
Bradley when healthy is a field of 68 team.
I was walking around St Louis and decided to go to the river to look at my favorite city in the Union East St Louis, IL.
I noticed that St Louis built this Arch for Arch Madness this weekend.
St Louis really goes all out for Arch Madness.
The Missouri Valley goes 8-2 on opening night. One of the better opening nights for the MVC in a while.
Get ready America. We’re just getting started.
Anarchy?
Nope. Just College Basketball.
This week's ROTHSTEIN 12 is LIVE.
TOP 12:
1. Bradley
2. Indiana State
3. Missouri State
4. Evansville
5. UIC
6. SIU
7. Drake
8. UNI
9. Belmont
10. Illinois State
11. Murray State
12. VALPO
Bradley is putting themselves to be in the position for an at large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
And they have the capabilities to win games in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Bradley get yet another quality win this time at home vs Vermont 79-70.
Darius Hannah leads the Braves with 17. Malevy Leons scores 16. Connor Hickman scores 14.
The first NET rankings of the 2023-24 college basketball season have been released.
22. Indiana State
52. UIC
54. Drake
80. Southern Illinois
90. Bradley
92. Evansville
97. Missouri State
151. Belmont
161. Illinois State
212. Northern Iowa
215. Murray State
291. VALPO
2 seasons ago, Loyola Chicago won the Missouri Valley conference tournament.
Now, they lost to the program that replaced them in the MVC at home.
Anarchy?
Nope. Just College Basketball.
UIC defeats Loyola Chicago 72-67.
Isaiah Rivera leads the Flames in scoring with 23. Toby Okani scores 20. And Loyola Chicago transfer Marquise Kennedy scores 10 and puts the game away from the Flames.
Indiana State defeats Minnesota 76-64 in the second round of the NIT.
Ryan Conwell leads the Trees in scoring with 23. Julian Larry and Jayson Kent score 16.
Indiana State will host Cincinnati on Tuesday.
I was walking around St Louis in between the session one and session two break in Arch Madness.
Someone sees my Valley gear and asks “who are you rooting for”
I respond with “Anarchy”
They laugh and say “me too”
I tell them “It Spreads.”
Early Preseason Edition of the ROTHSTEIN 12 for the 2023-24 season.
1. Northern Iowa
2. Indiana State
3. Drake
4. Bradley
5. Missouri State
6. Murray State
7. Illinois State
8. Belmont
9. Evansville
10. Southern Illinois
11. UIC
12. VALPO
Bradley defeats Loyola Chicago in the first round of the NIT 74-62.
Duke Deen leads the Braves in scoring with 18. Darius Hannah adds 17.
Braves advance to the second round
Loyola Chicago goes 0-2 vs their former conference this season.
Walking around Ball Park Village before today’s games.
A friend of mine points at a stadium and tells me “that’s where the Cardinals play.”
I tell him “the Louisville Cardinals have never played an Arch Madness game as they left the MVC in 1975.”
Really wish the Postseason NIT Final Four was still at MSG.
Wish this Indiana State team got a chance to experience "The Mecca".
A beautiful, beautiful basketball team.
UIC defeats Loyola Chicago 72-67.
Isaiah Rivera leads the Flames in scoring with 23. Toby Okani scores 20. And Loyola Chicago transfer Marquise Kennedy scores 10 and puts the game away from the Flames.
This week's ROTHSTEIN 12 is now LIVE.
TOP 12:
1. Indiana State
2. Drake
3. Bradley
4. Missouri State
5. Evansville
6. Belmont
7. Illinois State
8. Murray State
9. UIC
10. Southern Illinois
11. Northern Iowa
12. VALPO
UIC came into Arch Madness as the 11 seed and was swept by Southern Illinois in the regular season.
Today, they defeat the Salukis in a double overtime thriller.
Anarchy?
Nope just college basketball.
Indiana State has become appointment TV. You don't always say that in April about a team that isn't playing in the NCAA Tournament. Josh Schertz built one of the sport's most aesthetically pleasing squads in 2023-24.
Indiana State drafts Utah to advance to the NIT final 100-90.
Ryan Conwell leads the Sycamores with 27. Robbie Avila scores 26.
The Trees look to bring a championship back home to Terre Haute.
Last year, Dalton Banks averaged just under 4ppg with Southern Illinois.
This season, he is averaging 13ppg so far with Illinois State.
Banks has found a home in Bloomington-Normal.
This week's ROTHSTEIN 12 is now LIVE.
TOP 12:
1. Indiana State
2. Drake
3. Belmont
4. Missouri State
5. Evansville
6. UIC
7. Bradley
8. Southern Illinois
9. Illinois State
10. Northern Iowa
11. Murray State
12. VALPO
Evansville comes back down 20 to defeat Chattanooga on the road in overtime 85-77.
Ben Humrichous scores 28. Antionio Thomas scores 11 and Tanner Cuff scores 10.
This week's ROTHSTEIN 12 is now LIVE.
TOP 12:
1. Bradley
2. Indiana State
3. Missouri State
4. Evansville
5. Drake
6. Southern Illinois
7. Illinois State
8. UIC
9. Northern Iowa
10. Murray State
11. Belmont
12. VALPO
UIC upsets Southern Illinois in the first round of Arch Madness 84-82.
Isaiah Rivera scores 28 for the Flames.
Xavier Johnson scores 27 for the Salukis.
First Arch Madness win in school history for the Flames.
They will face 3 seeded Bradley tomorrow at 8:30pm.
Indiana State has been going under the radar slightly. Can dominate anyone in the Missouri Valley if they get hot.
Bradley vs Indiana State in the 309 on Saturday afternoon. This could end up an instant classic.
Indiana State defeats Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference opener 77-48.
Indiana State’s Isaiah Swope leads all scorers with 22. Xavier Bledson scores. 17. For the Salukis Xavier Johnson and Clarence Rupert score 16 each.
Winner of the opening week for the MVC without a doubt are the Bradley Braves.
A road win at UAB and a home win vs Utah State, two great Mid Major brands not only helps boost their resumé, but will boost the MVC’s throughout the season.
Bradley defeats Utah State 72-66 in an Overtime thriller.
Connor Hickman scores 21. Darius Hannah scores 14. And Christian Davis scores 13 coming off the bench.
Last year when star PG Terry Roberts entered the transfer portal, many wrote Bradley off.
Brian Wardle reloaded once again and has won the Missouri Valley regular season.
Bradley Basketball. Wardle’s Warriors.
Bradley defeats Drake 73-61 in Peoria to win the 2022-23 regular season title and get the one seed.
Peoria was ROCKING today and are one of the hottest teams in the country.
Nobody wants to see this team in the tournament.
Roman Penn has been UNDER THE RADAR ever since his injury in 2020-21.
Penn is back and back at his Larry Bird form.
Roman Penn. You should’ve bought stock a long time ago.
5 weeks from today we have
Bradley at UAB
Kentucky St at Southern Illinois
Midway at Murray St
Saint Mary of the Woods at Indiana St
Miami (OH) at Evansville
Lourdes at Illinois St
Missouri St at West Virginia
Georgia St at Belmont
Trinity at VALPO
UIC at Cincinnati
Northern Iowa defeats Southern Illinois 82-70 in Carbondale.
Bowen Born leads the Panthers in scoring with 19.
Xavier Johnson leads all scorers with 24.
Panthers get the bye and the four seed.
Indiana State defeats SMU 101-92 to advance to the second round of the NIT.
Jayson Kent scores 35 for the Sycamores.
They will host Minnesota in round two.
Indiana State defeats Missouri State in Terre Haute 88-66.
Ryan Conwell leads the Sycamores in scoring with 25. Robbie Avila scores 24. Jayson Kent adds 15.
Alston Mason leads the Bears in scoring either 15.
Indiana State once again defends home court.
Uniform rankings (alts only, no alts = unranked)
1.Indiana St
2.UIC
3.Drake
4.Evansville
5.Northern Iowa
6.Valparaiso
7.Belmont
8.Murray St
9.SIU
10.Missouri St
NR. Bradley, Illinois St (no alts or wore more than 2 uniforms equally throughout the season)
Bradley has a higher NET than Wisconsin by EIGHTEEN spots
Teams rarely get at large bids outside of 45, Wisconsin is at 78!
While Bradley doesn’t have the quality of wins, they don’t have the bad losses like for example, Iowa does.
MVC appointment TV rankings this season
1. Bradley at Drake 3/3
2.Bradley at Indiana St 1/27
3.Drake at Bradley 2/10
4.Drake at Northern Iowa 2/24
5.Indiana St at Drake 1/10
6.Northern Iowa at Drake
7.Drake at Indiana St 2/3
8.Missouri St at Drake 12/2
1/2
Indiana State defeats Murray State on the road 72-63.
Robbie Avila leads the Sycamores in scoring with 20. Ryan Conwell scores 17.
Quincy Anderson leads the Racers in scoring with 21 points. Nick Ellington with 17.
Indiana State remains in a tie for first.
Northern Iowa and Bradley were picked 2nd and 3rd in the MVC preseason poll.
They both start 0-2 in conference play.
Anarchy? Nope just College Basketball.
Four years ago, a friend from college invited me to his wedding.
I was in St. Louis for the first round of Arch Madness.
I missed the wedding and reception, but I saw Drake upset top-seeded Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.
Life is about key decisions.
Bradley get yet another quality win this time at home vs Vermont 79-70.
Darius Hannah leads the Braves with 17. Malevy Leons scores 16. Connor Hickman scores 14.
Illinois State defeats Illinois Wesleyan 78-46.
Darius Burford leads the way with 19. Malachi Poindexter adds in another 17. Freshman Ty Pence goes for 13 on 4/5 shooting. Transfer Myles Foster also had a big impact with 8 with 4/5 shooting.
Very excited about this Drake game tonight.
Losing long time starters such as Roman Penn, Garrett Sturtz, and DJ Wilkins is a huge loss, but Drake has reloaded and then some.
The Bulldogs bring in the best freshman and best transfer class in the Missouri Valley.