Is there reason to be worried about Illinois State's men? We wrap up our preseason previews with the Indiana State and Evansville women, plus Bradley's men get a 2026 commit

Johnson has a career-night for Bradley, Belmont's Casey Alexander joins the show after the Bruins beat Tennessee State, and is Murray State the best Valley team one week in?

November 8, 2025 — In tonight’s edition of ‘Morning In The Valley: Overtime’, we have immediate reaction to Bradley blowing Central Michigan, and Belmont holding off Tennessee State at home. We also catch up with Bruins Head Coach Casey Alexander to get his thoughts after Belmont improved to 2-0 on the season. TheVictoryBell.com’s Paul Oren joins the show to look back at Valpo’s disappointing trip to Rupp Arena, and to break down who the best teams in the Valley are after six days of the season. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@MorningInTheValley] for year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morninginthevalley.substack.com [https://morninginthevalley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Illinois State drops opener at Ohio, Robert Morris snaps long Drake streak, UNI drops the hammer on CSUN

November 6, 2025 — In tonight first edition of ‘Morning In The Valley: Overtime’, we were joined by Valley Hoops Insider Harry Schroeder, The March to the Arch Podcast’s John Baker and Drake Men’s Basketball radio voice Michael Admire. Among other things, we discussed: * Illinois State’s 72-68 loss at Ohio * Robert Morris ending Drake’s 49-game non-conference home winning streak * Northern Iowa throttling Cal State Northridge, 86-57 Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@MorningInTheValley] for year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morninginthevalley.substack.com [https://morninginthevalley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Valpo rallies past EIU, Jevin Redman on Evansville's trip to #1 Purdue, and a rapid recap of a busy opening Monday

November 5, 2025 — In today’s episode, we catch you up on how Valley teams fared in the first two days of the 2025-26 season. Topics we discuss: * Valpo’s men rally past Eastern Illinois, 66-63 (2:20) * Evansville’s men fall at #1 Purdue (5:45) * Evansville radio voice Jevin Redman breaks down the Aces’ trip to West Lafayette (8:38) * Daily KenPom update for Valley teams (21:50) * SIU’s women win their season-opener (24:45) * Bradley women rout Judson (25:27) * DePaul blows out Valpo in Courtney Boyd’s debut with Beacons (26:40) * Recap of Monday’s men’s action (28:10) * Recap of Monday’s women’s action (37:33) Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@MorningInTheValley] for year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morninginthevalley.substack.com [https://morninginthevalley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Is there reason to be worried about Illinois State's men? We wrap up our preseason previews with the Indiana State and Evansville women, plus Bradley's men get a 2026 commit

October 31, 2025 — In today’s episode, we’ll look back at a mixed bag of Wednesday’s exhibition results, including Illinois State’s men getting blown out at Northwestern (2:50). Other topics we discuss: * Indiana State women’s season preview with Sycamore radio voice John Sherman (13:37) * Evansville women’s season preview (29:17) * Belmont’s Bart Brooks and Murray State’s Rechelle Turner named to preseason watch for mid-major coach of the year (37:55) * Bradley’s men get a 2026 commitment (39:50) * Indiana State's men announce apparel sponsorship deal (41:25) * Schools will be required to giver injury reports in the 2026 NCAA Tournament (43:59) Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@MorningInTheValley] each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00am for year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morninginthevalley.substack.com [https://morninginthevalley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

More exhibition recaps, the Valley media releases their own preseason teams, 11 questions for 11 teams, plus our UIC women's season preview

October 29, 2025 — In today’s episode, we’ll recap this week’s exhibition games around the Missouri Valley ( weekend exhibition games for Murray State and Evansville’s men, along with Illinois State’s women (3:50). Other topics we discuss: * Former UIC standout Makiyah Williams signs her first professional contract (11:25) * Paul Oren presents the Missouri Valley Conference media’s preseason rankings and All-Conference teams (12:35) * 11 questions for 11 teams in 11-ish minutes (33:00) * Previewing the UIC women’s season (50:50) * Bradley’s men schedule a “Hoops on the Hilltop” (58:50) * Sports Illustrated ranks all 365 Division I men’s college basketball teams (1:00:15) * Gambling for college athletes has been tabled for a few weeks (1:03:10) Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@MorningInTheValley] each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00am for year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morninginthevalley.substack.com [https://morninginthevalley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]