Players of the week
Overall: Illinois State’s Dinma Odiakosa. The forward from Nigeria averaged 17.5 points and 10 rebounds as the Redbirds split two games.
Newcomer: Drake center Seth VanDeest. The freshman from Bettendorf, Iowa, had a career-high 20 points and four blocked shots in a win over Creighton. He shot 61.5 percent from the field and was 11 of 11 from the line in two games.
Fans invited to vote
The Valley is asking fans to help pick all-tournament teams and the top moments from the 19 seasons it has had the conference tournament in St. Louis.
Fans can go to www.archmadness20.com to vote. A submitted ballot places fans in a drawing for a package to this season’s tournament that includes two all-session tickets and a three-night stay at the Marriott Union Station.
Creighton players on the all-tournament ballot are Rodney Buford, Duan Cole, Brody Deren, Nate Funk, Chad Gallagher, Bob Harstad, Kyle Korver, Larry House, Johnny Mathies, Jimmy Motz, Nick Porter, Ryan Sears, Terrell Taylor, Anthony Tolliver, Ben Walker and Booker Woodfox.
Among the top moments involving Creighton players include Harstad leading the Bluejays to the 1991 title, Sears’ play in the 2000 championship game, DeAnthony Bowden’s key steal in a 2003 semifinal win over Wichita State, Funk’s performance in the 2007 title game and Woodfox’s buzzer-beater against Wichita State last season.
Undefeated home records
Northern Iowa and Wichita State are among the 28 Division I teams that haven’t lost at home this season.
The Panthers, who host the Shockers tonight, are 9-0 at the McLeod Center. Wichita State is 13-0 at Koch Arena this season and trails only Washington (14-1) and Kansas (14-0) in home wins this season.
Bits and pieces
Illinois State grabbed 50 rebounds in its recent win over Bradley, the most by a Redbird team since 1995. Twenty rebounds came on the offensive end. ... Former Missouri State coach Charlie Spoonhour will be inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame this weekend. Spoonhour guided the Bears to a 197-81 record and five appearances in the NCAA tournament from 1983 to ’92.
— Steven Pivovar
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