The Missouri Valley Conference has been through realignment following the loss of several programs in the offseason. Two of the more intriguing programs in the conference will do battle Wednesday in a matchup which features the Sycamore of Indiana State versus Missouri State
The Bears jumped out to a 12-3 start beating mostly weaker competition prior to an overtime loss to Wichita on Saturday. They were impressive nonetheless thanks to superb defense and quality shooting from their guards.
Missouri State is a very mediocre team when it comes to both offensive and defensive efficiency. They are not great on the offensive boards and lack both size and depth. Wichita’s Cleanthony Early dominated the middle against them, and they allowed 14 offensive rebounds which often resulted in second chance points for the Shockers.
The Bears are a mostly young team littered with a few transfers. They have an excellent coach and play a disciplined brand of basketball. Their opponent here is another interesting MVC group who currently sits at 13-3 and 4-0 in conference. Indiana State has a win over Notre Dame sitting on its resume, to go along with losses to Belmont, Tulsa and St. Louis (all either away or neutral).
Senior guard Jake Odum leads the Sycamore attack and he is both heady and consistent. Odum has posted quality offensive numbers throughout his ISU career, and he leads a balanced Sycamore attack which features five players currently scoring in double figures.
Manny Arop is a fellow senior who, at 6’5, is often a match-up nightmare. He is not a great rebounder, but does average close to 45% from beyond the arc this season. Justin Gant and Khristian Smith round out a front court that could undoubtedly be more assertive on the glass.
That being said, this is a great opportunity for ISU. Missouri State doesn’t have anything special in their front court, and while their guards have shown potential, the Sycamores have the advantage there. The Bears could also struggle as they have exerted a ton of energy in getting out to the start they’ve had. They are not a deep team, and the battle they just had with Wichita could still be on their minds.
For the Sycamores, they have to go to Wichita on Saturday, and that is the one item that does make this a difficult spot. I would have had this number at about 10, but the situational look-ahead possibility should put the number at perhaps a shade under double digits.
This is a tough game to play, but is an important conference battle for both teams as MVC play heats up. Keep an eye on this game as it could have major implications within the overall scope of a conference which has proven its depth over the years.
