Arch Madness 2020: Drake's March to the Madness

[Cyinthenorth]

Arch Madness is one of the best mid-major tournaments this time of year. The Missouri Valley Conference is routinely one of the best Mid Major Conferences as well, having graduated several of its members to larger conferences. Here is what you need to know for this year's conference tournament, tipping off tonight:

Link to Bracket: http://mvc-sports.com/feature/20Arch

The Teams

UNI 25-5 14-4 1 Seed First Round Bye
Loyola 21-10 13-5 2 Seed First Round Bye
Indiana St 18-11 11-7 3 Seed #6 Seed Missouri State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Mo St)
Bradley 20-11 11-7 4 Seed #5 Seed Southern Illinois Friday 2:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs SIU)
Southern Ill. 16-15 10-8 5 Seed #4 Bradley Friday 2:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Bradley)
Missouri St 15-16 9-9 6 Seed #3 Indiana State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ind St)
Valparaiso 16-15 9-9 7 Seed #10 Evansville Tonight 8:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs Evans)
Drake 18-13 8-10 8 Seed #9 Illinois State Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ill St)
Illinois St 5-13 10-20 9 Seed #8 Drake Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Drake)
Evansville 9-22 0-18 10 Seed #7 Valparaiso Tonight 8:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Valpo)

The Situation
Despite recent success, there is only one indication that this conference will accommodate an At-Large bid this season; UNI, with a NET Ranking of 36 would have a solid case were they to slip in this tournament, but the next highest ranked teams in NET are Loyola (98) and Bradley (109). Iowa State, just as a reference, is currently 91st. That means, if anyone else wants in, they've got to win the whole damn thing!

Recent History

Bradley was the team that made a run in this tournament last year, making the NCAA Tournament despite being the 5th seed. In 2018, it was the 1 seeded Loyola running the table, en route to a Final 4 Appearance. Fun year. In 2017, 2 seed Wichita State won the title match against 1 seed Ilinois State in their Arch Madness curtain call.

ISR Slant
As mentioned above, locally, UNI has a great shot at an At-Large bid. If they were to get upset in their first game against either Drake or Illinois State, they could potentially be left out in the cold, but in my opinion, they are safe either way. On the other hand, Drake is in must win mode if they want to reach the Big Dance for the first time in 12 years. I always want Drake to do well, but their path goes through the Panthers. We'll see if they have any magic in the tank after a somewhat disappointing season IMO. They are 5 point favorites for the game against 10-20 Illinois State tonight, and should win, setting up a noon game tomorrow vs UNI.

Feel free to add any info to this. I'm going to be glued to my TV for the next 3 nights. Might take a nap for the 2nd game tonight though. Evansville is winless in conference....they have got to be one of the worst NCAA teams in recent memory.

 

[ISUTex]

Go Panthers.

 

[Statefan10]

Arch Madness is one of the best mid-major tournaments this time of year. The Missouri Valley Conference is routinely one of the best Mid Major Conferences as well, having graduated several of its members to larger conferences. Here is what you need to know for this year's conference tournament, tipping off tonight:

Link to Bracket: http://mvc-sports.com/feature/20Arch

The Teams

UNI 25-5 14-4 1 Seed First Round Bye
Loyola 21-10 13-5 2 Seed First Round Bye
Indiana St 18-11 11-7 3 Seed #6 Seed Missouri State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Mo St)
Bradley 20-11 11-7 4 Seed #5 Seed Southern Illinois Friday 2:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs SIU)
Southern Ill. 16-15 10-8 5 Seed #4 Bradley Friday 2:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Bradley)
Missouri St 15-16 9-9 6 Seed #3 Indiana State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ind St)
Valparaiso 16-15 9-9 7 Seed #10 Evansville Tonight 8:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs Evans)
Drake 18-13 8-10 8 Seed #9 Illinois State Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ill St)
Illinois St 5-13 10-20 9 Seed #8 Drake Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Drake)
Evansville 9-22 0-18 10 Seed #7 Valparaiso Tonight 8:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Valpo)

The Situation
Despite recent success, there is only one indication that this conference will accommodate an At-Large bid this season; UNI, with a NET Ranking of 36 would have a solid case were they to slip in this tournament, but the next highest ranked teams in NET are Loyola (98) and Bradley (109). Iowa State, just as a reference, is currently 91st. That means, if anyone else wants in, they've got to win the whole damn thing!

Recent History

Bradley was the team that made a run in this tournament last year, making the NCAA Tournament despite being the 5th seed. In 2018, it was the 1 seeded Loyola running the table, en route to a Final 4 Appearance. Fun year. In 2017, 2 seed Wichita State won the title match against 1 seed Ilinois State in their Arch Madness curtain call.

ISR Slant
As mentioned above, locally, UNI has a great shot at an At-Large bid. If they were to get upset in their first game against either Drake or Illinois State, they could potentially be left out in the cold, but in my opinion, they are safe either way. On the other hand, Drake is in must win mode if they want to reach the Big Dance for the first time in 12 years. I always want Drake to do well, but their path goes through the Panthers. We'll see if they have any magic in the tank after a somewhat disappointing season IMO. They are 5 point favorites for the game against 10-20 Illinois State tonight, and should win, setting up a noon game tomorrow vs UNI.

Feel free to add any info to this. I'm going to be glued to my TV for the next 3 nights. Might take a nap for the 2nd game tonight though. Evansville is winless in conference....they have got to be one of the worst NCAA teams in recent memory.

And Evansville won earlier this year @ #6 Kentucky, which is outrageous.

 

[CyCrazy]

This used to be good when Creighton and WSU were still in the leauge.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Go Panthers.

I think it's theirs to lose, though they did drop 4 games to this group of teams over the course of the season.

@ Illinois State (worst loss on their schedule, by 6)
@ Southern Illinois (by 2)
@ Loyola (by 11)
@ Indiana State (by 3)

1 loss by 11 and 3 losses by a combined 11. Only win in the state of Illinois was in Peoria against Bradley. Good thing the tournament is in MO.

UNI is safe. I think they should "let" Drake beat them tomorrow.

 

[UNI1ISU2]

Arch Madness is one of the best mid-major tournaments this time of year. The Missouri Valley Conference is routinely one of the best Mid Major Conferences as well, having graduated several of its members to larger conferences. Here is what you need to know for this year's conference tournament, tipping off tonight:

Link to Bracket: http://mvc-sports.com/feature/20Arch

The Teams

UNI 25-5 14-4 1 Seed First Round Bye
Loyola 21-10 13-5 2 Seed First Round Bye
Indiana St 18-11 11-7 3 Seed #6 Seed Missouri State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Mo St)
Bradley 20-11 11-7 4 Seed #5 Seed Southern Illinois Friday 2:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs SIU)
Southern Ill. 16-15 10-8 5 Seed #4 Bradley Friday 2:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Bradley)
Missouri St 15-16 9-9 6 Seed #3 Indiana State Friday 8:35 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ind St)
Valparaiso 16-15 9-9 7 Seed #10 Evansville Tonight 8:35 PM (2-0 Reg Season vs Evans)
Drake 18-13 8-10 8 Seed #9 Illinois State Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Ill St)
Illinois St 5-13 10-20 9 Seed #8 Drake Tonight 6:05 PM (1-1 Reg Season vs Drake)
Evansville 9-22 0-18 10 Seed #7 Valparaiso Tonight 8:35 PM (0-2 Reg Season vs Valpo)

The Situation
Despite recent success, there is only one indication that this conference will accommodate an At-Large bid this season; UNI, with a NET Ranking of 36 would have a solid case were they to slip in this tournament, but the next highest ranked teams in NET are Loyola (98) and Bradley (109). Iowa State, just as a reference, is currently 91st. That means, if anyone else wants in, they've got to win the whole damn thing!

Recent History

Bradley was the team that made a run in this tournament last year, making the NCAA Tournament despite being the 5th seed. In 2018, it was the 1 seeded Loyola running the table, en route to a Final 4 Appearance. Fun year. In 2017, 2 seed Wichita State won the title match against 1 seed Ilinois State in their Arch Madness curtain call.

ISR Slant
As mentioned above, locally, UNI has a great shot at an At-Large bid. If they were to get upset in their first game against either Drake or Illinois State, they could potentially be left out in the cold, but in my opinion, they are safe either way. On the other hand, Drake is in must win mode if they want to reach the Big Dance for the first time in 12 years. I always want Drake to do well, but their path goes through the Panthers. We'll see if they have any magic in the tank after a somewhat disappointing season IMO. They are 5 point favorites for the game against 10-20 Illinois State tonight, and should win, setting up a noon game tomorrow vs UNI.

Feel free to add any info to this. I'm going to be glued to my TV for the next 3 nights. Might take a nap for the 2nd game tonight though. Evansville is winless in conference....they have got to be one of the worst NCAA teams in recent memory.

Nice write up. I agree with you

 

[UNI1ISU2]

This used to be good when Creighton and WSU were still in the leauge.

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

 

[CyCrazy]

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

LOL, why would I? And yes I have been to Arch Madness, I lived in STL from 05-07.

 

[Cat Stevens]

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

It’s been a one bid midmajor since they both left.

 

[Statefan10]

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

Do you think the MVC has lost some of its mojo since those two teams are no longer affiliated?

 

[CyCrazy]

Do you think the MVC has lost some of its mojo since those two teams are no longer affiliated?

It was also much better when Southern Illinois was a good team, and or Misery State.

 

[Statefan10]

It was also much better when Southern Illinois was a good team, and or Misery State.

Yeah the MVC isn't really good at all this year.

 

[CloneFan4]

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

Why would anyone want to watch mediocre basketball, let alone pay for it?

 

[CyCrazy]

Yeah the MVC isn't really good at all this year.

Its not and I hope Drake wins tonight then punks UNI out of the tournament tomorrow so this clown goes back in his hole.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

The hate is real. My bet is you dont watch much if any MVC games. I also assume you have never been to Arch Madness

I went to UNI for my last 2 1/2 years of school, and never got to experience it either. My wife, who I met at UNI, got to go a couple times. Still on my bucket list, along with Kansas City for Hilton South obviously. The MVC has taken a half step back from when it had Creighton and Wichita, but Loyola has been a nice alternative, and there is plenty of room for another team to make a Wichita-like jump IMO. Problem with UNI is consistency. They are kind of just OK a lot of years with an occasional great season like this one has been. Drake had that boom year in '08 but has not been good at all since. Bradley and Illinois State are kind of similar to UNI.

 

[cyclones500]

It was also much better when Southern Illinois was a good team, and or Misery State.

That was around late-90s to mid-Zeroes, a high point for MVC -- 3 teams in tournament in '05, 4 bids in '06 (two reached sweet 16, both as underdogs)

 

[HitItHard58]

Why would anyone want to watch mediocre basketball, let alone pay for it?

Better than paying for less than mediocre basketball at Hilton all year *ba dum tsss* Happy to see UNI should be in the big tourney even if they slip up. I know there are plenty here who love to hate on UNI but I like watching them play and need a team I give a shred of a **** about to cheer for during March madness.

 

[CyCrazy]

That was around late-90s to mid-Zeroes, a high point for MVC -- 3 teams in tournament in '05, 4 bids in '06 (two reached sweet 16, both as underdogs)

Pretty much. I don't hate the MVC but its not what it once was.

 

[CloneFan4]

Better than paying for less than mediocre basketball at Hilton all year *ba dum tsss* Happy to see UNI should be in the big tourney even if they slip up. I know there are plenty here who love to hate on UNI but I like watching them play and need a team I give a shred of a **** about to cheer for during March madness.

Oh no doubt, but I cant get myself to root for what feels like an extension of the U of I

 

[ISUChippewa]

Better than paying for less than mediocre basketball at Hilton all year *ba dum tsss* Happy to see UNI should be in the big tourney even if they slip up. I know there are plenty here who love to hate on UNI but I like watching them play and need a team I give a shred of a **** about to cheer for during March madness.

This is going to open up a can of worms, but oh well...anyway, the Iowa State fanbase is obviously a passionate one with lots of love for our teams, but based on how at least a vocal minority absolutely lost their minds a few years ago when UNI had a really good team (the '14-15 team that spent much of the season ranked in the Top 25, same as the '14-15 ISU team with BDJ and Dustin Hogue's senior season), it's also a really insecure fan base. I swear; the amount of Iowa State fans who absolutely hated that UNI for having the audacity to be a really good team and get some national attention for themselves during the same season as a good Iowa State team was a really pathetic look for the Cyclone fanbase. And I would write that same thing even if I wasn't a dual ISU/UNI fan who got his degree from UNI.

Flame away...