Missouri Valley Basketball has turned into the "Hunger Games"

Missouri Valley Basketball has turned into the “Hunger Games”

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 4: Head coach Dan Muller of the Illinois State Redbirds directs his team against the Loyola Ramblers during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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Missouri Valley Basketball Dana Ford Missouri State Bears (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Battles at the top of Missouri Valley Basketball

Missouri State (19-8, 10-4) has reversed previous patterns of beating up on the bottom half of the league but failing against the conference’s best teams. The Bears were 1-6 against Loyola, Drake, and Northern Iowa last season while going 12 and 1 against the rest to the Valley (including the conference tournament).

Bradley (15-11, 9-5) has continued previous patterns of playing its best basketball as the season wears on. Those two patterns have changed the look of the MVC’s standings and postseason chances. The Braves have won seven of its last eight games, including back-to-back wins over Loyola and Drake.

Missouri State snapped Loyola’s long home-winning streak and has won three of five against the league’s ‘big four’. The Bears lost to Loyola last Sunday only to come back and win at Drake. MSU has just four games left including a road game at UNI and a home contest with Bradley.

After Loyola’s impressive win over the Bears, they dropped a decision to Bradley to fall one-half game behind Northern Iowa and turned right around and crushed the Panthers Sunday to reclaim the top spot. The Ramblers (19-5, 10-3) have five conference games left, including one with Drake and one at Northern Iowa.

Each of the league’s top five teams has a NET of 110 or better and KenPom ranks of 102 or better. While their individual achievements are outstanding as The Hunger Games have played out, it is unlikely that any of the teams would be named to the NCAA Tournament without winning the Arch Madness championship. It is desperation time for the Valley’s top five teams.