Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Loyola stumbles opens up league race

By Harry Schroeder

Drake senior forward ShanQuan Hemphill dunks the ball in the second half against Northern Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines20210210 Drakeuni
Drake senior forward ShanQuan Hemphill dunks the ball in the second half against Northern Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines20210210 Drakeuni /
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Drake Bulldogs head coach Darian DeVries Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Drake Bulldogs head coach Darian DeVries Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

Drake’s Win Brings Mayhem to the Standings

Darian DeVries’ Drake Bulldogs are the hottest team in the Missouri Valley Conference, but surging right along with them are the Bradley Braves. The top five teams in the Valley couldn’t be any closer, while injuries continue to mount for those teams trying to compete for the upper echelon of the standings. Five teams are struggling to keep up. ‘Missouri Valley Monday’ recognizes three emerging Missouri Valley trends.

Injuries have cost Illinois State its leading rebounder, Valparaiso two of their top scorers and rebounders. Bradley lost their most experienced and talented player. Drake has had players in and out of the lineup, while Missouri State has been without a key component all season.

The Valley’s Big Four will play one another again next weekend, but right now Drake has taken a ‘tie-breakers’ lead in the conference standings. Two games separate the top five teams and two teams are tied for first, while two more are tied for third place.

Teams have been making up covid-delayed games and it is having an effect on those squads’ ability to stay mentally sharp, continue to practice and it is having an affect on the standings. Loyola just finished a stretch of four games in eight days and they lost two of the four games, including the end to their 30-game home winning streak.