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Missouri Valley Basketball: Plenty of revenge from last week’s matchups

By Harry Schroeder

Jan 25, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Keith Clemons (5) after scoring a three point basket against Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Joseph J. Gentile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Keith Clemons (5) after scoring a three point basket against Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Joseph J. Gentile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Northern Iowa guard Bowen Born Missouri Valley Basketball 020522 Drake Uni 004 Jpg
Northern Iowa guard Bowen Born Missouri Valley Basketball 020522 Drake Uni 004 Jpg /

Upcoming matchups for top Missouri Valley Basketball teams

There are no breathers for the Valley’s ‘big four’. While Northern Iowa plays at home against Southern Illinois (12-12, 5-7 on Wednesday, they travel to Chicago to battle the Ramblers on Sunday.

Missouri State steps right back into the fire for a game with Drake (17-7, 8-3) and the Ramblers travel to Bradley (13-11, 7-5). The Braves (101 NET) have already defeated Drake and Northern Iowa and lost an overtime game to LUC.

Valentine says the Valley is highly competitive and both the players and coaches match up well with any league nationally.

Coming into the weekend LUC was 25 in KenPom and 30 in the NET. Loyola’s win over Missouri State (62 NET) is a Quad One win. The top five MVC teams are in KenPom’s top 100 while LUC, the Bears, and Drake are in the NET’s top 100.

Drake follows Loyola to Bradley on Saturday.

The following weekend Loyola entertains Drake and Missouri State visits Northern Iowa. After this gauntlet of games, they do it all over again in St. Louis for the league tournament affectionately called ‘Arch Madness’.

During the first 31 years of the league’s tournament being hosted in St. Louis, the top seed has claimed the title just ten times. Arch Madness requires the champion to win three games in three days and the second-seeded team has won the same amount of times (ten) as the top seed.

Next. Top-30 mid-major power rankings. dark

Loyola’s slim, one-game margin over three teams, is tenuous at best. UNI was the regular-season champion in 2020 and Drake tied the Ramblers three seasons ago. These big four have history with one another and each knows revenge is sweet.