11/17 KenPom rankings update

MBB: Valpo and Illinois State both win their non-conference games on Sunday

Rakim Chaney and Roger Powell Celebrate after Valpo’s win over Bryant. (Photo: Valparaiso Athletics)

Valparaiso was the big mover in the KenPom rankings overnight after their 68-50 home victory over Bryant on Sunday. The Beacons jumped 25 spots after that win against the #305 Bulldogs.

Illinois State helped cap a perfect day in the Valley, as they held on to win at Long Beach State, 82-80. Even though the victory came on the road, the Redbirds got dinged for giving up 80 points to KenPom’s 257th-ranked team, as Illinois State dropped eight spots in the updated rankings.

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There are two games in The Valley tonight, as Drake and Southern Illinois both have big road opportunities. If Drake can win at #153 Charleston, it would be the best non-conference win for a Valley team this year.

It shouldn’t be a surprise Northern Iowa is the highest-rated Valley team in the KenPom, as they currently have three of the Top-5 best non-conference wins this year.

1. #157 South Dakota State (Northern Iowa)

2. #164 Cornell (Illinois State)

3. #180 SIUE (Indiana State)

4. #194 Furman (Northern Iowa)

5. #203 CSU Northridge (Northern Iowa)

After last night’s games, here are this morning’s updated KenPom rankings for the Missouri Valley Conference:

• #96 Northern Iowa — Up 2 spots (Next: Hosts #304 Northern Illinois Tuesday)

• #104 Belmont — No change (Next: Hosts #268 Lipscomb Wednesday)

• #114 Murray State — Down 1 spot (Next: Hosts #214 Little Rock Tuesday)

• #121 Southern Illinois — No change (Next: At #190 North Dakota State tonight)

• #133 Bradley — No change (Next: Hosts #342 UMass Lowell Wednesday)

• #134 Illinois State — Down 8 spots after 82-80 road win at #257 Long Beach State (Next: Hosts Non-D1 Rockford on Thursday)

• #140 UIC — Up 1 spot (Next: Neutral-site game vs. #93 High Point on Thursday)

• #148 Drake — No change (Next: At #153 Charleston tonight)

• #197 Indiana State — Down 1 spot (Next: Hosts #169 Louisiana Tech Wednesday)

• #259 Valparaiso — Up 25 spots after 68-50 win over #305 Bryant (Next: At #254 Cleveland State Wednesday)

• #270 Evansville — Down 2 spots (Next: Hosts #158 UT Arlington Tuesday)

In the conference rankings, KenPom has the Missouri Valley Conference still listed as the 10th-best league in the country. Last season, only seven conferences received multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament. Here are the updated KenPom conference rankings:

1. SEC +19.54

2. Big Ten +18.50

3. Big 12 +17.34

4. ACC +15.58

5. Big East +13.72

6. Mountain West +7.16

7. Atlantic 10 +5.30

8. West Coast Conference +3.60

9. The American +3.20

10. Missouri Valley +0.94 (Up +0.10)

11. Conference USA -1.11

12. Mid-American Conference -3.29