BricksIt Weekly
Welcome to the Valley
Murray State is 4-0 and the rest of the Valley is still sorting itself out
The Racers have won four games by an average of 27.5 points. Behind them, eight teams sit between 115th and 223rd in our ratings.
By the Hardwood Bricks desk
Hardwood Bricks now covers the Missouri Valley, eleven schools from Nashville to Cedar Falls. Every game gets a preview, a recap, a line history and a spot in our ratings.
Murray State is the early leader by a distance. The Racers are 4-0, have scored at least 93 points every time out, and rate 70th nationally in our model, the best mark in the league.
After that, the Valley is bunched. Illinois State (115th), Valparaiso (116th), UIC (127th), Southern Illinois (135th), Northern Iowa (139th) and Belmont (142nd) are separated by about three points of rating.
Valparaiso has the best result so far. The Beacons won 83-80 at Purdue as 19.5-point underdogs. Southern Illinois added a 10-point home win over Richmond, an Atlantic 10 team, as a short underdog.
Drake is 3-0 but rates 208th, so its schedule has been kind. Indiana State (279th) and Evansville (321st) start near the bottom.
Close calls
Illinois State has lost twice by five or fewer: 90-85 at Saint Mary's and 82-81 at North Dakota State.
UIC's first loss
The Flames started 3-0 before losing 84-61 at Saint Mary's.
Northern Iowa's road test
The Panthers split their first four, including a 106-72 loss at Michigan State.
Arch Madness
The Missouri Valley tournament is played in St. Louis. We will track every team's path there all season.
By the numbers
The pecking order
Our model's rating for every Missouri Valley team: points better or worse than an average Division I team over 100 possessions. Record alongside.