What Did We Learn?

MVC First Game Observations

(St. Louis, MO) – Every Missouri Valley Conference team has played its first game, so what did we learn? Valley teams accumulated a 9-2 opening game record, but that success is clouded by the fact that six of the wins came against non-Division 1 teams.

A 3-and-2 record isn’t quite as impressive.

Explosive Scoring

Murray State, Illinois Chicago, Northern Iowa and Drake each reached the 90-point-plateau and a significant number of players enjoyed big offensive numbers. Seven players scored at least twenty points as Illinois State’s Johnny Kinziger exploded for 30. Indiana State’s Karmoni Gregory tallied 29. Ironically, those top two scoring performances each came in season-opening losses.

Some sophomores were showing off as Belmont’s Jack Smiley (24 points), Murray State’s Roman Domon (22) and Southern Illinois’ Jalen Haynes (20) showed no signs of a sophomore slump.

UIC sophomore Jayce Nathaniel and Evansville second-year guard Bryce Quinet recorded the league’s first two double-doubles. While Nathaniel scored 13 points and grabbed ten rebounds, Quinet handed out eleven assists to go with his ten points.

Kinziger’s six, three-point-plays highlighted his offensive night and a trio of SIU Salukis drained eleven. Luke Walsh and Haynes both dropped four triples and Luke Susko drained three.

Tackling D1 Opponents

While Murray State, Belmont and Valparaiso each handled Ohio Valley Conference teams, Illinois State and Indiana State were narrow losers to quality D1 opponents. The Redbirds took St. Mary’s into overtime before succumbing on the road.

Illinois State enjoyed an eight-point, second half lead, but couldn’t hold on.

Indiana State led Charlotte by one point with 6:27 left but lost by eight.

During those OVC showdowns, the average winning margin was over 23 points-per-game. Five Racers reached double figures in scoring. Valpo’s J.T. Pettigrew scored 18 points during the Beacons’ win over Western Illinois.

Tidbits

Northern Iowa’s Kyle Green and Belmont’s Evan Bradds won their first-ever Division 1 coaching decisions.

Tonight’s Schedule

Two more sub-D1 games are on tonight’s schedule. Belmont entertains Centre and Central State visits Illinois State. Four Valley squads battle fellow Division 1 opponents on Friday as Valparaiso travels to Purdue. Saturday’s highlighted game finds the River City Classic in Evansville, Indiana. Southern Indiana and Evansville face off for ‘river city bragging rights’.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of J.T. Pettigrew, courtesy of valpoathletics.com.