Seven Teams Fighting For Five Spots

Valpo Has Jumped Into the Race

(St. Louis, MO) – The battle for a first round bye at Arch Madness is heating up. Valparaiso’s recent success has created a scenario of seven teams fighting for five spots. While each of tonight’s five games has big implications some seem to weigh more than others.

League-leading Belmont (22-4, 12-3) is safely in a top five spot. With five games left, the math looks overwhelmingly in their favor. Of the seven contenders, four of them are three or four games behind the Bruins.

Then there are the juicy possibilities. While Murray State (18-8, 10-5) and Bradley (17-9, 10-5) are hanging on to the slim possibility of making up two games on the Bruins, more importantly, they want to stay in front of three teams 1.5 games behind.

Illinois State, Illinois Chicago and Northern Iowa have six games remaining and they are tied with league records of 8-6. Valpo’s two-game winning streak has them just one game behind that trio. Those four teams, seem to be battling for Arch Madness’ fourth and fifth spots.

Thursday’s Biggest Games

Valparaiso (13-12, 7-7) @ Illinois State (16-9, 8-6) – 6 pm – MVC TV & ESPN+

With six teams in front of them, the odds are stacked against Valpo, but they have already surpassed last year’s conference win total of six and are two wins shy of reaching last year’s overall total of 15. Third-year head coach Roger Powell JR has the program headed in the right direction.

They won two Arch Madness games to reach that win total, so they have already reached last season’s regular season number of 13.

Illinois State’s trajectory would be similarly positive, if it wasn’t for preseason MVC title expectations. Ryan Pedon’s teams have improved their win total and NET ranking in each of his four seasons. Four of last year’s 22 wins came after the regular season. One came in St. Louis and three in the Redbirds’ sweep of the College Basketball Insider tournament.

In-other-words, they won 18 regular season games and ten during Valley play. With six games to remaining, they will likely surpass those numbers again. However, high expectations have brought some negative press to the program. After drilling Bradley and then defeating Northern Iowa, the Redbirds looked ready to surge. Instead they’ve dropped three of their last five contests, including Monday’s loss at last place Evansville.

This would be a huge win for Valparaiso, but it is a ‘must win’ for Illinois State.

UNI (16-9, 8-6) @ Belmont (22-4, 12-3) – 8 pm – MVC TV & ESPN+

If anyone is going to catch the Bruins, UNI has to win tonight. After a five-game losing streak, the Panthers have won three-straight games and four of their last five. The return to active duty by forward Tristan Smith is critical for this team’s success.

Belmont has its own injury problems, Nic McClain continues to be MIA with a knee injury and Win Miller went down with an ankle problem Monday. He’s listed as questionable, as is UNI’s Ben Schwieger.

Everyone is scoreboard watching these days.

Fighting for Five Spots

Murray State tips at Indiana State at 6 pm. Assuming the Racers can take care of business in Terre Haute, where the Sycamores are without their two top post players, They will be watching that Belmont game.

The Racers host Belmont on Saturday and could be playing for a share of the title.

Illinois Chicago (13-12, 8-6) hosts Illinois State Saturday in another important head-to-head clash of the seven teams fighting for five spots.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of Valparaiso’s Owen Dease, courtesy of valpoathletics.com.