It's looking pretty clearly like we have a top 4 in the Mo Valley this season. Drake, Missouri State, Loyola and BU are definitely a level or two better than the other 6. They are the top 4 in scoring margin (Drake #1 at 24 points, Loyola #2 at 17.5 points, MSU #3 at 13.6 and BU #4 at 13.5) and rebound margin, (Drake #1 at 9.9, BU #2 at 7.9, MSU #3 at 6.3 and Loyola #4 at 3.9). Drake goes about 9 deep averaging from 12 to 25 minutes, have 7 guys who average at least 6.5 points a game and 4 guys who average over 5 rebounds a game. The guy who has been their biggest difference maker is ShanQuan Hemphill a senior transfer from UW-Green Bay. He's averaging 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. Loyola goes about 9 deep averaging from 10 1/2 to 28 1/2 minutes and have 10 guys who average over 5 points a game. Cameron Krutwig has been Loyola's leading rebounder all 4 years and has averaged 15 points a game in his last 3 years. Missouri State has 7 guys who average over 20 minutes a game with 4 of them averaging over 30. 2 sophmores have made a big jump from their freshman year. Isiaih Mosley averaged 8.3 points last year. This year he is #1 in the Mo Valley, #3 in the nation, in scoring at 23.7 points a game. Ja'Monte Black averaged 3.2 points a game last year and he's averaging 13.4 this season. Senior Gage Prim could be the leading contender for Mo Valley POY as he's 2nd in points with 17.4, 1st in rebounds with 9.1, 4th is assists with 4.0 and 1st in blocks with 1.8. Last but most definitely not least is Bradley. We have 9 guys who average over 15 minutes a game, 7 guys who average over 5 1/2 points a game with 3 of them in double digits. Elijah Childs leads BU at 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a game but 2 of the newcomers, Terry Nolan and Sean East, have been big contributors. Nolan averages 11.9 points a game and is 2nd in the MVC with 1.7 steals. East averages 8.6 points and is #2 in the MVC with 4.4 assists and is #1 in assist/turnover ratio at 3.2. Drake, after being off for over 3 weeks, goes to Missouri State on the 26th and 27th. The Bears, because of being in Missouri, have allowed a lot more fans in than the other 9 teams combined as they have been averaging about 6400 fans a game. That gives them a huge advantage. Loyola goes to MSU on the 31st and February1 and we go there on February 13 and 14. Loyola comes to us next weekend and have to go to Drake on February 13 and 14. Drake comes to us on February 26 and 27.