Yes, technically Arch Madness began on Thrusday night, but they don’t nickname those ‘play-in games’ for nothing. The real heavy lifting of the postseason begins on Friday. Despite Northern Iowa winning the league by three games, it’s anybody’s guess who will cut the down nets on Sunday.
Creighton is not sure it has the advantage against [...]

Bradley will have to find a way to contain Evansville’s Colt Ryan, who dropped 31 on Creighton in a loss on Wednesday. Also, from that game the Bluejays mercurial P’Allen Stinnett returned to the bench while still serving his suspension.
Frustration is setting in Normal after the Redbirds loss to Indiana State. Even the win was [...]

Creighton’s game preview with the focus on how Bradley will adjust to the Jays not having P’Allen Stinnett.
UNI trying to avenge its only loss. And the Panthers may get Johnny Moran back.
A mid-season look at the Valley from the Southern Illinoisian.
The Shockers are still looking for consistent road play as the second half of the [...]

The week off for the holiday has meant nearly a silent week in the Valley.
Except in Springfield, Mo. where the big news is the dismissal of Missouri State sophomore guard Cardell McFarland on Saturday after he was arrested in his hometown of Evansville, Ind.
Indiana State is probably right where the Sycamores thought they would be.
UNI’s [...]

With nary a game to be played on Thursday, a chance to look at a busy first-half of the week.
With a few days between games, Creighton’s Justin Carter looks forward to a homecoming on Saturday when the Jays play George Mason.
A flat start doomed Indiana State against Ball State.
Out of the starting lineup, Anthony Booker [...]

The two unbeatens remained so with Illinois State beating Central Michigan and Missouri State beating Air Force.
Evansville won sloppily over Alabama State.
Drake finished third in its own tournament. Oops.
Wichita State has won five straight games now.
Southern Illinois wishes games were only 20 minutes after losing to Saint Louis.
On Sunday, Creighton plays the non-rivalry, rivalry game.

To quote (pun intnded) a Jeopardy category, a look at Friday in the Valley.
Wichita State held Texas Southern to 43 points in Thursday’s win.
“That’s something coach stresses every day in practice,” Ellis said. “Defense is what the great, great teams do to win championships.”
They’re still talking about Evansville’s double overtime win on Wednesday. Just in [...]

UNI got the better of a friendly rivalry with Iowa State.
Missouri State took the crowd out of its win over Arkansas-Little Rock early.
Wichita State needs to get more minutes out of J.T. Durley.

Northern Iowa is off to a quick start, record-wise, but the offense has slumped early. Still the Panthers have experience going for them.
It’s time for Missouri State to prove they can win on the road.
It wasn’t easy, but Evansville gutted out a double-overtime victory on Tuesday night.

Some quick hits…
\Creighton ran into a team that needed to bounce back worse.
Drake had a relaxing week off before facing Austin Peay on Saturday.
ISU was sluggish but got a win over Norfolk State.
UNI likes it start.
Southern’s Jack Crowder is still adjusting to playing in the backcourt.
Missouri State’s Michael Porter is back after an emergency appendectomy. [...]