Ever since he took the job in 2014, UIC head coach Steve McClain has returned to the word “process.” And after the Flames gutted their way through third and fourth consecutive losing seasons, the process has begun to pay off. McClain took over a 10-win…
I gave up my MVC vote when I moved back to New York, but that won’t stop me from debating all-conference picks anyway! I picked my teams in order of consideration. For example, the first player on my First Team picks is my Player of…
Cameron Krutwig’s combination of size and skill doesn’t come through a small, mid-major program like Loyola Chicago often. Yet the 6-foot-9 big man who’s helped Loyola reach first place in the Missouri Valley gets his favorite advice from one of the smallest characters in movie…
It’s a new era in the Horizon League with Valparaiso out and IUPUI in. But even though the Crusaders had won four of the last five regular season titles, they might not have been a major factor in the 2017-18 race this year. Oakland and…
The Valley is entering a wacky season. With Wichita State’s move to the AAC, the conference is wide open. SIU coach Barry Hinson expects one of the league’s craziest title races ever. Although the MVC no longer has top 25 teams, we could see three…
What should the Missouri Valley Conference do to replace Wichita State? One addition? Three? Where do you see the Valley going? Dave Reynolds, Peoria Journal Star I think the best solution would be to add two schools and have an 11-team, 20-game league schedule for…
At least in the short term, Wichita State’s decision to leave the Missouri Valley for the American is a blessing for Loyola. Twice in the last three years, Loyola has had teams that, when healthy, rank in the top 100 of Kenpom. In any mid-major league…
The state of Illinois finally ended its shutout streak in the NCAA Tournament with Northwestern going dancing. Aside from that? It was a somewhat disappointing year. UIC reached the CBI semifinals and Illinois made the NIT quarterfinals, but the state had a legitimate chance to send…
UIC continued its postseason run Monday with an 80-71 over George Washington in the CBI quarterfinals. The Flames led by 17 with 8:14 remaining, but a Colonials run brought them within one possession in the final two minutes. UIC (17-18, 7-11 Horizon) took care of the…
Illinois State’s NIT performance won’t quiet the crowd that thinks the Redbirds never belonged in the NCAA Tournament. The top-seeded Redbirds blew an 18-point lead at home against fourth-seeded UCF in the second round Monday, and the game was decided on an ill-advised defensive play…
