NOTEBOOK (PDF)
Historic Conference RPI
After a month of non-conference play, The Valley ranks third nationally in conference RPI (WarrenNolan.com). The Valley sits behind the Pac-12 and Big Ten (Only two conferences MVC has a losing record against) and just ahead of the ACC and SEC entering this week.
The Valley record for RPI in a season is 8th (2008 & 2011).
Conference RPI
1. Pac-12
2. Big Ten
3. Missouri Valley
4. ACC
5. SEC
6. Big East
7. Big 12
Impressive Winning %
Valley women’s hoops sits 46-21 during the first month of non-conference play. The Valley has the highest winning percentage outside of the Power Five conferences entering this week’s action.
Top Winning Percentages by Conference
.821 - Pac 12
.786 - Big Ten
.773 - Big 12
.741 - SEC
.712 - ACC
.687 - Missouri Valley
Poll Position
Missouri State entered the AP Top 25 Poll this week, coming in at No. 22. It is the Lady Bears’ first appearance in the AP poll since Feb. 16, 2004 (23rd) and first time ranked during non-conference play since December 25, 2000 (16th).
Drake received one vote this week and sits T-36th.
The Lady Bears moved up to 18th this week in the USA Today Coaches Top25 Poll.
Road Success
Loyola Chicago leads the nation with a 5-0 road record this season and is the only team with five road victories overall. Missouri State has a road record of 4-1 and is one of four teams (UConn, Duquesne and North Dakota) with four road wins. Only five NCAA Division I teams have four or more road wins this season (Dec. 2) with two coming from The Valley. The league has posted a 21-14 overall road record this season.
Home Sweet Home
Currently eight MVC teams remain unbeaten at home: Bradley (2-0), Drake (4-0), Illinois State (3-0), Indiana State (0-0), Loyola Chicago (1-0), Missouri State (3-0), UNI (3-0) and Valparaiso (1-0) have unblemished records on their home courts this season. The Valley currently holds a 21-2 mark at home this season with 8 of the 14 games this week at home.
Record Start for Ramblers
Loyola roared back from a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat Portland, 78-64, this past Sunday. The victory saw the Ramblers move to a perfect 6-0 for the first time in program history. Loyola enters the week as one of just 19 teams in Division I women’s basketball with an unblemished record.
Strength of Schedule
Four Valley teams have a SOS ranking in the Top 50 according to the NCAA (Dec. 2). Illinois State leads The Valley with a SOS of No. 9. Drake comes in this week ranked No. 12 with Missouri State (19) and Bradley (49) also ranking in the Top 50.
Connecting on Freebies
Valpo senior Grace Hales has literally been automatic at the foul line to start this season. Through six games, Hales is a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw stripe and is one of only three players nationally still perfect at the line this season. Dating back to last season, Hales has connected on 30 straight free throws.
Free-Throw Percentage (100% NCAA Division I)
1. Eva Hodgson, WIlliam & Mary 29-of-29
Grace Hales, Valparaiso 16-of-16
Essence Booker, Nevada 15-of-15
Tournament Title
Bradley pulled out a 61-59 win over George Mason and rallied from 13 down for a 61-57 victory against Richmond to win the title at the Coastal Carolina Thanksgiving Classic. The Braves have won in-season tournaments in back-to-back years after claiming the FAU Tournament last year in Boca Raton, Fla. Bradley has claimed seven in-season tournament championships, also winning events at Northern Arizona (2008-09), Maine (2001-02), Arizona State (1996-97), Navy (1994-95) and Stetson (1993-94).
Dominating Defense
Illinois State put on a defensive clinic in Saturday’s win over UT-Martin, holding the Skyhawks to only 11 total points in the second half. The last time Illinois State held an opponent to 12 or less points in a half was in a 65-56 home victory over Eastern Michigan in December 2017, when the ‘Birds held the Eagles to three points in the first quarter and nine in the second. Through six games, ISU is ranked first in the Valley in scoring defense, limiting opposing teams to an average of 57.8 points per game.
Mid-Major Top-25 Poll
Drake, Missouri State and UNI all appear in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 (Nov. 26). The Bulldogs sit third in the poll, while Missouri State sits fourth. UNI moved up to No. 14 this week, while Illinois State is receiving votes for the first time. The Valley joins the West Coast (4) and Horizon (3) as the only leagues with three or more teams in the poll.
ESPNW Mid-Major Top-10 Poll
Missouri State, Drake and UNI appear at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6 respectively in the latest ESPNW Mid-Major Top 10 Poll released Nov. 27 by Graham Hays. The Lady Bears sit in front of Gonzaga and South Dakota, while Ohio is sandwiched between the Bulldogs and Panthers. No other conference has more than one team in the poll.
Power Five Success
The MVC has secured seven wins over Power Five programs this season, following Drake’s win over Auburn Sunday. The Valley is 7-9 vs. Power Five teams this season, already more than doubling last season’s win total of three. The Valley has a winning record against the Big 12 (2-1) and SEC (2-1) and sits 3-5 vs. the Big Ten and 0-2 vs. the Pac-12. The average margin of victory in the seven wins is 9.0 points per game.
MVC’s Wins Over Power Five Teams
Iowa State at Drake, W - 86-81
Missouri State at Oklahoma, W - 96-90
Illinois State at Illinois, W - 74-58
Iowa at UNI, W - 88-66
Missouri State at Minnesota, W - 77-69
UNI at Missouri, W - 78-73
Drake vs. Auburn, W - 83-82