NOTEBOOK (PDF)
Season Tipoff
The 2018-19 regular season campaign begins on Wednesday, November 7 with four games on the schedule, highlighted by Drake’s season-opener at Nebraska. The non-conference schedule features 14 games against Power Five schools and 15 games vs. 2018 NCAA Tournament teams.
Lots Returning
The Missouri Valley Conference will see 37 of 50 starters return (74%) for the 2018-19 season. Defending champion Drake returns all five starters next season, while Illinois State, Indiana State, UNI, Southern Illinois and Valparaiso will see four starters return. Bradley, Evansville, Loyola and Missouri State will each see three starters return to the court.
MVC vs. Non-Conference
Last season, MVC teams combined for a 45-70 record against non-conference opponents, including a 30-21 mark at home. Only four of the 14 opening week games for MVC teams are at home.
Preseason WNIT
UNI will open at home against Delaware in the Preseason WNIT Friday, November 9. A win would advance the Panthers into the second round where they would face the winner of Marquette/Montana State on November 11. The tournament features a three-game guarantee for all teams.
Polling
Drake is receiving votes in the Preseason AP Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs received a single vote in the initial poll. Drake's season opening opponent Nebraska is also receiving votes in the poll.
Rhine on McClain Watch List
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the WBCA announced that Drake junior Sara Rhine is one of 20 watch list candidates for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award. Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10.
MVC Preseason Basketball Special
The Missouri Valley Conference will preview its 2018-19 men’s and women’s basketball seasons with its Preseason Basketball Special which will be aired on FOX Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City and NBC Sports Chicago, beginning on Monday, November 5.
The hour-long program -- which is hosted by MVC TV Network personality Scott Warmann and produced by Indianapolis-based Tupelo Raycom -- will air at 4:30 p.m. Central on FOX Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City and at 7 and 11 p.m. Central on NBC Sports Chicago (main channel). The preview will also be shown on the following dates and times:
November 6 (1:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Central) – NBC Sports Chicago (Main)
November 6 (4 p.m. Central) – NBC Sports Chicago (Plus)
November 7 (5:30 p.m. Central) – FOX Sports Midwest-Indiana
November 7 (9 p.m. Central) – NBC Sports Chicago (Plus)
November 8 (6 p.m. Central) – FOX Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City
November 9 (5 p.m. Central) – FOX Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City