SectionsColumn: Arch Madness guide: UNI, Creighton favorites
Jeff Faust
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
The Missouri Valley Conference's March to the Arch will begin at 6:05 p.m., tonight when Drake plays Indiana State in Game One of the MVC Tournament in St. Louis.
At 8:35 p.m. sharp, our Missouri State Bears will be taking on the Wichita State Shockers, as both teams hope to keep playing basketball in 2009.
While the winner of that moves on to face Creighton in the next round, the loser has a long, long bus ride home.
So, as a public service, for those of you who can't make it to St. Louis to see the Valley Tourney live, here is my breakdown of who may actually win the MVC (by seeding) and take its automatic seed straight into the NCAA tournament:
1. Northern Iowa (20-10, 14-4) - UNI is good, but they are beatable. They deserve the respect for winning 11-straight MVC games. However, they did only go 6-6 out of conference, with only one notable win, a W over Auburn, 67-61. They should be in the finals, but can they beat a team like Creighton or Illinois State? That's the question. Chances: 25 percent.
2. Creighton (25-6, 14-4) - The Bluejays are considered one of the heavy favorites to win the tournament for good reason. With an 11-2 record out of conference, and tied for the best record in the Valley, coach Dana Altman's boys have the pedigree to pull out a victory. Plus, Mr. College Basketball, Doug Gottlieb said they were his favorite (Just don't ask him for financial help). Chances: 30 percent.
3. Illinois State (22-8, 11-7) - The Redbirds started the season off with one of the best runs in school history (they were one of the last six undefeated teams in NCAA Division I) but, as of late, have lost three straight, including at Niagara (in ESPN's BracketBuster) and the top two seeds in the MVC. Chances: 9 percent.
4. Bradley (17-13, 10-6) - Bradley is a team that surprised me this year. They don't seem that good overall but they just keep winning. They are incredibly streaky, so they have a chance, but it's just not that good. On the bright side though, I do have to say coach Jim Les is one of the best stylist coaches in basketball. He's easily the Brad Pitt of this league. Chances: 10 percent.
At 8:35 p.m. sharp, our Missouri State Bears will be taking on the Wichita State Shockers, as both teams hope to keep playing basketball in 2009.
While the winner of that moves on to face Creighton in the next round, the loser has a long, long bus ride home.
So, as a public service, for those of you who can't make it to St. Louis to see the Valley Tourney live, here is my breakdown of who may actually win the MVC (by seeding) and take its automatic seed straight into the NCAA tournament:
1. Northern Iowa (20-10, 14-4) - UNI is good, but they are beatable. They deserve the respect for winning 11-straight MVC games. However, they did only go 6-6 out of conference, with only one notable win, a W over Auburn, 67-61. They should be in the finals, but can they beat a team like Creighton or Illinois State? That's the question. Chances: 25 percent.
2. Creighton (25-6, 14-4) - The Bluejays are considered one of the heavy favorites to win the tournament for good reason. With an 11-2 record out of conference, and tied for the best record in the Valley, coach Dana Altman's boys have the pedigree to pull out a victory. Plus, Mr. College Basketball, Doug Gottlieb said they were his favorite (Just don't ask him for financial help). Chances: 30 percent.
3. Illinois State (22-8, 11-7) - The Redbirds started the season off with one of the best runs in school history (they were one of the last six undefeated teams in NCAA Division I) but, as of late, have lost three straight, including at Niagara (in ESPN's BracketBuster) and the top two seeds in the MVC. Chances: 9 percent.
4. Bradley (17-13, 10-6) - Bradley is a team that surprised me this year. They don't seem that good overall but they just keep winning. They are incredibly streaky, so they have a chance, but it's just not that good. On the bright side though, I do have to say coach Jim Les is one of the best stylist coaches in basketball. He's easily the Brad Pitt of this league. Chances: 10 percent.
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