St. Louis, MO – ‘Arch Madness is starting to sweep over St. Louis! In what may be the most wide open tournament in memory, the big question is “Can anyone beat Creighton in St. Louis?” The very clear answer is that anyone can.
Listen, I love history and statistics and the Bluejays have certainly owned the post season tournament since it moved to St. Louis. Creighton is not only the defending champion and the Omaha based university has the most post season championships in MVC history, but they have won six of the thirteen tournaments played since 2000.
Their 11 Arch Madness Championships are more than any two other teams combined! And yet, my friends, this is anybody’s tournament to win. I know that no team has ever played in the first round and won the trophy. I know that no team seeded lower than third has ever won it. I know that of those last thirteen tournaments Creigton has won six and one more was won by Northern Iowa when current Bluejay Head Coach was trolling the side-lines of Cedar Falls, and yet, I say anybody can win it this year.
You be the judge. For only the fourth time in the 105 year history of the MVC the champions (Creighton) had as many as 5 regular season losses. Among their losses were games to NINTH SEEDED DRAKE and sixth seeded Illinois State and fifth seed Indiana State. Powerful and intimidating Wichita State lost twice to Evansville, once when the Purple Aces second leading scorer, Ned Cox was out with an injury.
So we know the two power-houses can be beat, but who can win? Northern Iowa has three championships in those last 13 years. They own victories over both Creighton and Wichita State this year and defeated a St. Mary’s team that the Bluejays could not. The Panthers lost AT Louisville by and to Memphis both by just five points.
U-N-I has SENIORS! The Panthers have four players averaging double figures in scoring and three of them are SENIORS! Those SENIORS were bit players in the Panthers’ last tournament win in 2010, so they know how it’s done.
Evansville has won four straight games the MVC’s seventh all-time leading scorer, Colt Ryan has taken his game to great heights. No one other than Creighton’s Doug McDermott in his class. During the winning streak ‘Colt 45’ is averaging 28 points per game. You want more evidence? The Aces swept Wichita State and they have SENIORS.
I’ve mentioned Wichita State only in the negative and let me say, they probably will win this tournament! They’ve defeated the likes of VCU, De Paul, Iowa and Tulsa and lost close at Tennessee. They split with Creighton and they have defend, rebound, dive on loose balls and play with a passion that few possess.
The Shockers have been the best regular season team in the Valley the last four years and I believe that Carl Hall has the ability to will them to a title and Coach Greg Marshall will finally get THAT monkey off his back.
Oh yeah, did I tell you that tenth seeded Southern Illinois is playing great basketball right now? Coach Barry Hinson has his team humming. They’ve won five of their last six games.
And what about Indiana State? They beat Mississippi and Miami (the real one) in non-conference play.
And don’t forget …. Oh never mind. You get my point. Anybody can win this thing!
If you can, get to Scottrade Center for some great games or listen us broadcast the games on 101 ESPN!
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