Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Loyola Chicago keeps coming back

By Harry Schroeder

Loyola sophomore guard Braden Norris drives in as he is guarded by Drake junior guard Garrett Sturtz in the second half on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines.20210213 Drakevsloyola
Loyola sophomore guard Braden Norris drives in as he is guarded by Drake junior guard Garrett Sturtz in the second half on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines.20210213 Drakevsloyola /
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Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson 190105 Uni S Illinois 031 Jpg
Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson 190105 Uni S Illinois 031 Jpg /

Top teams starting to separate themselves

Drake, Loyola, Northern Iowa and Missouri State were picked to finish in that order of the Valley’s preseason poll. They are atop the league standings. LUC leads the way at 4-0 and Northern Iowa stands at 5-1. Drake has played just four games (3-1) and the Bears are 4-2.

Missouri State has split games, defeating Drake and losing to Northern Iowa, but none of the other contenders have played one another. The back two-thirds of the Valley season will be filled with contender collisions.

Saturday all four will meet on the same day. Missouri State visits Loyola and UNI hosts Drake. No other MVC squad has a winning percentage in league play. Loyola has eight games left with the other contenders, UNI and Drake each have seven and MSU six.

The regular-season title will run through these highly anticipated games. Most will be on national television and played before packed arenas. Missouri State hasn’t won a conference crown since 2011, the other three have all won titles in recent seasons. Loyola is the reigning champion, UNI captured the title in 2020 and the Ramblers and Drake shared top spot in 2019. They are the cream of the Valley crop.

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The high scoring Missouri Valley has become much more entertaining with Loyola Chicago’s comebacks and these top-level teams meeting in a repeated fashion.