1 MVC game Tuesday, Jan. 31

[Da Coach]

The one game in the MVC tonight is Loyola at Missouri State-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400918185

[Da Coach]

The Missouri State-Loyola game is going to overtime- 71-71

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400918185

MSU lead by 7 points with 29 second left, but turnovers and a couple silly fouls by MSU allowed Loyola to come back and tie the game with 1 second left.

[tornado]

yup- thought Missouri State had this one..now it's in OT

[Da Coach]

After Missouri State blew their 7 point lead in the last 29 seconds of regulation, now Loyola blows the chance to win the game in overtime. Loyola lead 81-80 in the final seconds of OT, but then a foul on Clayton Custer sent Alize Johnson to the FT line for 2 FTs with 5 seconds left. He made both to give MSU the 82-81 lead. Milton Doyle missed a desperation 3-point attempt as time ran out, and Missouri State gets the 82-81 overtime win.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400918185

Doyle lead Loyola with 21 points, and juco transfer Aundre Jackson had 17 points and 7 rebounds.
MSU's Austin Ruder, who averages just 13 minutes of playing time per game, played 37 minutes and was the game's leading scorer with 22 points, on 6-8 from three. Juco transfer Alize Johnson has 14 points, 12 rebounds, and a game-leading 6 assists for MSU.

[tornado]

Saw a discussion over on the ISU board about this being THEIR BEST TEAM EVER...
and capable of going to the Sweet Sixteen, etc...

What does everyone else think...

Sure they are 10-0 in the MVC - and good for them but the Valley is way down this year and almost every game except the Wichita games are gimmes..

But then look at their non-conference performance
They were 8-4 - Non-conference RPI of 67, Non-conference SOS of 70

Wins over:
Ft. Wayne- mediocre
Ferris State - a DII
IUPUI - way under .500
New Mexico- not doing well - constant talk of firing their coach
UT-Martin - mediocre against a 258 SOS
St. Joseph's - sub-.500
Hawaii - sub-.500
Tulsa - mediocre, they played twice & won one and lost the other

Losses to:
Murray State - sub-.500
TCU - have lost 4 in a row and 6 of last 9, they are not a good team
Tulsa - RPI 107
San Francisco - RPI 96

Is this their best team ever?
Do these numbers and does this list of teams they've beaten impress you?
If they lose a couple in the remaining MVC season and end with an RPI in the 50's, are they an at-large team?

If this is what everyone's banking on that the Valley is gonna get two bids this year - then I am a little shaky,
since Wichita's RPI is 70 and SOS is 184!! Seems both have a little work to do to be a cinch at an at-large bid.

[Da Coach]

ISU just happens to be peaking at the right time, right as the MVC has dropped to its lowest level in 3 decades.
ISU's RPI is 35, reflecting that they are a good team.

However, the MVC has only 2 good teams.
The current RPI shows only 2 teams- ISU and WSU - with RPI's inside the Top 115 RPI-

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2017MBBrpi1.html

Compare that with how many Top 115 RPI teams were in the MVC in previous years-

2016- 3 teams
2015- 5 teams
2014- 4 teams
2013- 6 teams
2012- 4 teams
2011- 5 teams
2010- 7 teams
2009- 5 teams
2008- 5 teams
2007- 7 teams
2006- 6 teams inside the top 50 RPI

[Stickboy46]

KenPom is a better indicator of how "good " a team is. They have WSU at 20 and ISU at 38.. Both in "at large territory". RPI is still the most important but still looks at your resume rather that how good your team is. You are heavily affected just by who is in your schedule.

So both teams are tourney teams IMO, but i don't think both get in.