Morning In The Valley

Jeff Bidwell

5.0 (3)
Basketball
Updated Semiweekly

Jeff Bidwell talks with players, coaches and media to bring you year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men's and women's basketball. morninginthevalley.substack.com

11/09/2025

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 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
11/07/2025

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 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
11/06/2025

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 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
10/31/2025

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 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
10/29/2025

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 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
10/27/2025

Weekend exhibition recap, plus season previews on the Illinois State men with John Baker, and we break down the UNI women

October 27, 2025 — In today’s episode, we’ll recap the weekend exhibition games for Murray State and Evansville’s men, along with Illinois State’s women (3:03). Other topics we discuss: * Former Belmont guard Carter Whitt gets drafted into the NBA G League (9:57) * Illinois State men’s season preview with John Baker from the ‘March to the Arch’ podcast (11:10) * Illinois State’s women rout Illinois Wesleyan in exhibition action (34:25) * Previewing the Northern Iowa women’s season (35:15) * Indiana State’s men get another 2026 commitment (44:55) * How many Valley teams slide into Matt Norlander’s Top 100 teams in the country list? (45:40) * More exhibition games to come this week (48:30) Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube 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
10/25/2025

We finally have a Valley women's preseason poll, Bradley thumped in final exhibition, and Illinois State women's season preview with Greg Halbleib

You’ve asked for an audio version of our YouTube show, and now you have it. October 24, 2025 — In today’s episode, we’ll talk about Bradley’s exhibition loss to Saint Louis and look ahead to this weekend’s exhibition games (2:20), plus we continue our preseason previews as we break down the Illinois State women with Redbird radio voice Greg Halbleib (7:50). Other topics we discuss: * Missouri Valley Conference women’s preseason poll finally released (25:45) * Murray State’s Haven Ford and Halli Poock named to Hammon Award watch list (28:25) * Murray State’s men dealing with preseason injuries to a pair of players (30:03) * Gambling on pro sports is now allowed for college athletes (31:28) * No ‘5 for 5’ rule coming for 2026-27 season (35:08) * Former G-League players can now play college basketball? (37:16) * A pair of old friends sign professional contracts overseas (44:30) Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. You can also watch ‘Morning In The Valley’ live on YouTube 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

7 Episodes

out of 5

3 Ratings

Jeff Bidwell talks with players, coaches and media to bring you year-round coverage of Missouri Valley Conference men's and women's basketball. morninginthevalley.substack.com

Creator

Jeff Bidwell
Years Active

2025
Episodes

7
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Morning In The Valley

Morning In The Valley

Episodes

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?

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

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

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

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

Weekend exhibition recap, plus season previews on the Illinois State men with John Baker, and we break down the UNI women

We finally have a Valley women's preseason poll, Bradley thumped in final exhibition, and Illinois State women's season preview with Greg Halbleib

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