Missouri Valley Basketball: Can anyone challenge Loyola Chicago for title?

Biggest threats to Loyola Chicago

Missouri State may be the most talented team in the league. Stars Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim can score with any collegiate duo in the nation. They are second and fifth in the Valley scoring race. Mosley (17.4 ppg) and Prim (16.7) can dominate a game by themselves and when both are firing on all cylinders, they are practically unstoppable. Prim is the Valley’s top rebounder and Mosley the league’s best free-throw shooter.

Newcomer Jaylen Minnett is the conference’s best three-point shooter (.482) and has made 27 triples during his first eight Missouri State games. Minnett (13.0 ppg) has unlimited range, often shooting from Steph Curry distances. Prior to MSU, Minnett made 285 trifectas for IUPUI.

Ja’Monta Black, Mosley’s high school teammate (10.2 ppg) gives coach Dana Ford a fourth double-figure scorer. Valparaiso transfer Donovan Clay is a former Valley all-freshman team member and gives Ford a stout defender, willing rebounder, and can occasionally break out offensively.

Missouri State’s roster is filled with talent and if they find consistency this is the team with the most potential to challenge Loyola Chicago.

Prim can handle LUC’s interior rotation while Mosley and Minnett can score from anywhere. Consistency is the issue. The Bears have historically struggled with the league’s top teams and this season are 0-and-4 in games decided by six or fewer points. They are 7-and-0 in their other contests.

During their first ten games, Mosley has reached double figures eight times with five of those games reaching the 20-point mark. However, in a recent three-game span, he scored seven during a blow-out win over George Washington, just 12 in an overtime loss to Illinois State, and was shut out during a six-point defeat to BYU.

The Bears have been missing senior guard Demarcus Sharp who is recovering from a foot injury.