Press Break Bubble Babble For Jan. 29

As January gives way to February, those first tinges of the seasonal affliction that arrives every March begin to settle in.

March Madness is the most engrossing postseason spectacle in sports, but the six weeks preceding Madness’ three are every bit as chaotic — if not more so.

The Press Break is here to help you navigate the February Frenzy, spotlighting the stories you need to know in anticipation of bracket season.

Arch for March

Indiana State has not-so-quietly emerged as one of the most fun teams in the nation. I write “not-so-quietly” because big man Robbie Avila is a favorite among the YouTube and TikTok content-creator set for his…well, an image can more thoroughly convey it than I could explain it in writing.

Avila’s body type and 1960s-style Rec Specs might make him a bit of a meme for casuals, but he absolutely has game. The big man combines solid, old-school post presence and back-to-basket footwork with a reliable face-up game that has manifested in a 43.2 percent shooting average from 3-point range (on 74 attempts) with Indiana State’s second-most assists at 78.

ISU has collectively leaned into the meme in an endearing way, as coach Josh Schertz and some of Avila’s teammates rocked the Rec Specs during the postgame press conference following a 95-86 overtime win over Bradley last week.

But while Avila may command the most attention, Indiana State is loaded. The Sycamores offense puts up 86.3 points per game with five different players scoring in double-figures; Isaiah Swope’s 18.4 lead the way after he dropped 30 on UIC and 19 against Bradley last week.

ISU’s top three scorers — Swope, Avila and Ryan Conwell — all shoot better than 41 percent from 3-point range.

The Sycamores are built to make a second-weekend run in the NCAA Tournament, perhaps even contend for the Final Four. And, barring a complete collapse over the final month, they should be in the field no matter what.

Of course, should is the operative word.

The Missouri Valley isn’t the hardest-hit conference as a result of recent realignment; that distinction probably belongs to Conference USA.

CUSA restructured decently enough with the additions of a Liberty program that, no matter ones feelings on the motivations fueling it, has been consistently strong and a historically competitive New Mexico State.

Losing a Final Four participant as part of a football-driven raid, however, is a dirty bit of business.

Well, the Missouri Valley lost two Final Four teams from the last decade and in neither case was it a football move. Furthermore, one could argue that Loyola Chicago made a lateral move competitively to the A-10, and Wichita State has gained nothing tangible from going to the American.

Their exits also contribute to the atmosphere in 2024: A league that not long ago was typically a slam dunk to receive multiple NCAA Tournament bids feels destined to get the shaft come Selection Sunday.

Indiana State plays Drake on Saturday in a rematch of a Bulldogs win in early January. Tucker DeVries was fantastic for Drake with 28 points, six made 3-pointers and four assists in what is the mantlepiece of a solid NCAA Tournament resume.

Drake heads into the week ranked No. 49 in KenPom and No. 47 NET, ahead of power-conference teams like Nebraska, Virginia, Virginia Tech and South Carolina. And yet, the lingering sense that Drake needs to beat Indiana State again — either Saturday in Terre Haute or in a hypothetical Arch Madness Championship come March — to make the field haunts me.

Realistically, Indiana State might be in a similar position.

The Missouri Valley, as it stands right now, deserves two bids. A 15-6 Bradley team that Indiana State coach Josh Schertz compared favorably to Freddy Kreuger — “you can’t kill ‘em” — might even make it three, though that’s not a limb I’m going out on.

However, with Bradley, the 2023-24 edition of the Valley features three teams prominently in the Top 75 of KenPom overall metrics. Indiana State’s No. 37 leads the way and puts it ahead of noteworthy names like Villanova, Colorado State, Northwestern and Iowa.

Missouri State, which is in the middle of pack in the league, holds a win at Saint Mary’s in addition to its overtime defeat of Drake. Northern Iowa has wins over Stanford (which beat Arizona) and Richmond (undefeated in the A-10 after beating a top 15-ranked Dayton last Saturday).

That’s all to say the Missouri Valley may look different, but it hasn’t fallen off. Should Drake and Indiana State continue on their current trajectories, both should make the Tournament — and both can make noise in it.

From Worst to First

Green Bay finished a dismal 3-29 a season ago. Will Ryan, son of Wisconsin coaching legend Bo Ryan, turned out to be Basketball Max Landis¹.

In Sunny Wicks’ first season, the Phoenix have risen to 14-9 and head into February leading the Horizon League.

Wins over a good Oakland team and a, uh, not good Detroit Mercy bunch were Green Bay’s fourth and fifth victories over the last six. The Phoenix have sole possessions of first-place, and should extend that by another two wins heading into a Feb. 10 matchup with Youngstown State.

Green Bay’s remaining stretch is difficult, pitting the Phoenix against the Penguins twice, Purdue Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State on the road. What’s more, the Horizon League Tournament is pretty notorious for the favorites losing should Green Bay maintain its place atop the conference.

Nevertheless, the program’s turnaround is remarkable.

Noah Reynolds, who followed Wicks to Green Bay from Wyoming, is a pretty good example of the transfer portal helping downtrodden reverse fortunes in short order. Reynolds is averaging more than 19 points per game, which includes pouring in 39 points in a marquee win over Wright State.

First-Timers Watch

Of the teams currently leading their conferences, two have never before reached the NCAA Tournament: Big South pace-setter High Point, and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference leader Quinnipiac.

Early polling in the MAAC a year ago at this time suggested Quinnipiac might be on its way to its first Big Dance, but a February slide foreshadowed an early conference-tournament exit.

The Bobcats overachieved through the first month of MAAC play last year, but this season look more ready for the front-running role. They’re 16-4 overall, have won seven straight and are undefeated since the start of 2024.

Quinnipiac’s league wins include reigning conference champion Iona and a 66-64 thriller on Sunday at Fairfield, which came in one game back of first-place.

High Point, meanwhile, has built the nation’s longest winning streak coming into the final days of January. The Panthers ran it to 10 games surviving an 83-81 shootout on the road against perennial Big South contender Winthrop.

Kezza Giffa’s play in the second half powered a comeback from down 17 points, as he finished with 37 including the game-winner.

The final two minutes are some of the most intense and exciting basketball you’ll see all season.

1. The son of John Landis, whose filmography include some personal favorites — An American Werewolf in London, Animal House, Blues Brothers, Coming to America, Trading Places — Max Landis is notorious for the Netflix boondoggle Bright.