Explore every episode of the podcast The March to the Arch Podcast

Preview season continues with the Bradley Braves, Indiana State Sycamores, Valparaiso Beacons and Illinois State Redbirds.

Baker and Vance are joined by Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) of Field of 68 and Bracketeer.org.

• Open/Valley News (0:15)
• Bradley Braves (17:07)
• Valparaiso Beacons (32:05)
• Indiana State Sycamores (48:53)

• Rocco Miller (1:21:22)
• Illinois State Redbirds (1:34:54)

Preview season begins with UIC Flames, Murray State Racers and the Northern Iowa Panthers.

Baker and Vance are joined by Ryan Hammer (@RyanHammer09) of the Blue Blooded Pod and creator of the Trapezoid of Excellence to talk MVC and preseason picks.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• UIC Flames (10:30)
• Murray State Racers (25:18)
• Ryan Hammer @RyanHammer09 (44:42)

• Northern Iowa Panther (1:13:56)
• Gauntlet (1:28:31)

The Summer Hoops series continues first with news and expansion discussion around the potential for 14 team Valley in 2026-2027. Then Baker and Vance sit down with Illinois State Redbirds Head Coach Ryan Pedon.

• Banter (00:28)
• News and Expansion (7:15)
• Ryan Pedon - Illinois State Redbirds (27:10)
• Close (57:26)

The Summer Hoops series continues by getting to know the newest coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference, Eric Henderson (Drake) and Ryan Miller (Murray St.).

• Banter (00:28)
• Eric Henderson (17:34)
• Ryan Miller (47:07)
• Gauntlet (1:09:25)

Summer practice is underway on campuses across the Valley. Baker and Vance took a break from summer activities to catch-up on recent events. Paul Oren from https://www.thevictorybell.com/ joins them with a Valpo update and the future of the MVC.

• Banter (0:28)
• Early Power Rankings (5:42)
• Valpo with Paul Oren (20:55)
• Transfer Portal (51:50)
• Valley lookahead (58:09)
• Closing (1:57:39)

Baker and Vance close out the 24-25 Missouri Valley Conference Season. Listen to post-season recaps, team recaps and a brief look ahead.

Stick around for a candid conversations about the State of Valley Hoops with a retro and proactive look at what opportunities and shortcomings that need to be filled for sustained success.

• Banter (0:28)

• Post-season Recap (6:37)
• Valley Hoops News (25:09)
• Season Recap by Team in One Word (32:21)
• State of Valley Hoops (45:05)
• Look ahead by Team in One Word (1:07:45)

Drake is on their way to Wichita to take on the Mizzou Tigers. In the NIT, Bradley hosts North Alabama and UNI heads to SMU. While the Illinois St. Redbirds head to Daytona Beach for the CBI. Baker and Vance preview the postseason tournaments for @ValleyHoops.

Michael Admire, play-by-play for Drake, joins us to preview the Drake Bulldogs trip to Wichita.

• Banter (0:28)

• NCAA Preview (4:25)
• Michael Admire (11:06)
• NIT & CBI (43:40)
• Gauntlet (1:05:50)

Congrats to the Drake Bulldogs on punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament! Baker and Vance are joined by friend of the show Nick McCargar to talk about the weekend.

• Banter (0:28)

• Arch Madness Recap (5:08)
• Drake Looking Ahead (57:33)
• Listener Questions (1:02:23)

The March to the Arch is on! Baker and Vance preview the upcoming 4 days in St. Louis. Joining the episode, Harry Schroeder of Valley Hoops Insider, recaps the season and storylines for Arch Madness.

• Banter (0:43)
• This or That (8:10)
• Rankings (21:30)
• Arch Madness Picks (26:48)
• Harry Schroeder @FatherHarry1 (41:46)
• Gauntlet (1:08:00)

Join us for the Arch Madness Bracket Challenge with @BettorEdge

• Free Entry - https://share.mybe.app/id/L3206103

• $10 Entry - https://share.mybe.app/id/L3208329

The Drake Bulldogs are your Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Champions! Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Game 20.

• Banter (0:43)
• Game 20 (4:16)

Join the 2025 Arch Madness Bracket Challenge hosted by BettorEdge.com.

Baker and Vance are joined by Tony Seghetti to recap Valley Hoops Games 18 & 19 and make their All-Conference Award picks. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks, and Listener Questions!

• Open/Banter (0:43)

• Game Recaps (8:34)
• Power Rankings (32:50)
• Game Picks (47:59)

• All-Conference Awards (54:56)
• Listener Questions (1:32:03)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 16 & 17 and are joined by MVC Sr. Associate Commissioner Mike Kern. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks, and a This or That. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:43)

• Game Recaps (9:36)
• Power Rankings (46:06)
• Mike Kern (57:03)

• Game Picks (1:25:42)
• This or That (1:32:32)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 14 & 15. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks, and a Gauntlet of Valley topics. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:43)

• Game Recaps (5:33)
• Power Rankings (33:34)

• Game Picks (49:49)
• Gauntlet (55:52)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 12 & 13 and chat with @RoccoMiller8 of https://bracketeer.org/. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks, and this week's listener questions. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:43)

• Game Recaps (14:05)
• Power Rankings (50:20)
• Rocco Miller (1:01:29)
• Game Picks (1:47:29)
• Listener Questions (1:54:52)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 10 & 11 and chat with @CoachZZ. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks and fun Valley banter. Go Valley!

Open/Banter (0:43) Game Recaps (10:34) Power Rankings (45:05) Rich Zvosec (53:38) Game Picks (1:25:28)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 8 & 9 and discuss Murray State hoops with @AKAJeffBidwell. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks and a This or That. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:43)
• Game Recaps (7:50)
• Power Rankings (32:50)
• Jeff Bidwell (45:53)
• Game Picks (1:22:34)
• This or That (1:33:25)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 6 & 7 and discuss Evansville Purple Aces hoops with @Jevin_13. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks and it's Gauntlet week. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:14)
• Game Recaps (3:50)
• Power Rankings (34:16)
• Jevin Redman (42:45)
• Game Picks (1:08:42)
• Gauntlet (1:19:38)

Baker and Vance recap Valley Hoops Games 3-5 and discuss Sycamore Hoops with @Jorourke20. As always, Power Rankings, Game Picks and fun segments. Go Valley!

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Valley News (2:51)
• Game Recaps (5:28)
• Power Rankings (32:58)

• Joey O'Rourke (54:52)
• Game Picks (1:25:53)
• Arena Promotions (1:33:00)

Baker and Vance get ready for the new year by recapping @ValleyHoops Game 2 and other non-cons, Power Rankings and a look ahead with a This or That.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Valley News (8:15)
• Game Recaps (25:52)
• Power Rankings (48:58)

• Look Ahead (1:27:45)
• This or That (1:35:40)

Baker and Vance get ready for the holiday by giving each @ValleyHoops team a present. Then the games of the past few weeks are broken down, Power Rankings and a look ahead. The "Voice of the Panthers" JW Cox joins the podcast to talk UNI Hoops and the Valley.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Holiday Gifts (8:15)
• Game Recaps (25:52)
• Power Rankings (48:58)
• @JWindell (55:56)
• Look Ahead (1:27:45)
• Listener Questions (1:35:40)

Baker and Vance recap Game 1 of the @ValleyHoops season. They are joined by Kurt Pegler of WMBD and Illinois State TV play-by-play on ESPN+.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Valley Hoops Game 1 (7:07)
• Power Rankings (29:47)
• @KurtPegler (36:02)
• Look Ahead (1:09:14)
• Listener Questions (1:20:18)

Baker and Vance made it back from their trips. This episode recaps the MTEs from the past Thanksgiving week as we look ahead to Game 1 of the @ValleyHoops conference season.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• MTE Recap (7:00)
• Power Rankings (46:45)
• Conference Game 1 (55:38)

Thankful for Valley Hoops! Baker and Vance talk recent games and look ahead to MTE season. Paul Oren of ⁠https://www.thevictorybell.com/⁠ joins us to talk the state of Valpo Basketball and @ValleyHoops.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Thankful (4:16)
• Games (21:43)
• Paul Oren @TVBOren (34:51)
• Power Rankings (1:26:44)
• MTE Preview (1:31:32)

@ValleyHoops is off and running and we have a quick recap of the first few weeks.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• First 2 Weeks (2:51)
• Upcoming Games (23:53)
• Quick Takes (28:24)

Preview season concludes with our MVC preview with picks and all-conference selections. We are joined by Harry Schroeder of ValleyHoopsInsider.com.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Valley Hoops News (4:16)
• Rankings and All-Conference Picks (5:00)
• Harry Schroeder @FatherHarry1 (31:09)
• Gauntlet (1:01:39)

Preview season continues with Missouri State Bears, Drake Bulldogs and UNI Panthers in the Missouri Valley Conference. We get to know Head Coach Ben McCollum in his first year at Drake.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Missouri State @MoStateMBB (10:09)
• Drake @DrakeBulldogsMB (25:41)
• Head Coach Ben McCollum @CoachMcCollum (36:41)
• UNI @UNImbb (54:19)
• Preseason Awards Preview (1:04:00)

Preview season continues with Bradley Braves, Illinois State Redbirds and the SIU Salukis in the Missouri Valley Conference. We are joined by the Voice of the SIU Saluki Luke Martin.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Bradley Braves @BradleyUMBB (17:29)
• Illinois State @Redbird_MBB (31:27)
• SIU Salukis @SIU_Basketball (43:48)
• Luke Martin @_LukePMartin (1:08:15)
• This or That and Close (1:41:58)

Preview season continues with UIC Flames, Belmont Bruins and Murray State Racers in the Missouri Valley Conference. We are joined by Steve Layman of NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss the Bruins acclimation to the MVC.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• UIC Flames @UIC_MBB (16:03)
• Belmont Bruins @Belmont_MBB (30:18)
• Steve Layman @SteveLayman (41:40)
• Murray State Races @RacersHoops (1:10:14)
• Gauntlet and Close (1:24:46)

Baker and Vance are joined by the father of Bracketology, Joe Lunardi. An interesting conversation ranging from Indiana State getting bounced from the bubble last year to what the MVC needs to do to position itself for more at-large bids.

Preview season begins with each of the Indiana schools in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• Open/Banter (0:28)
• Joe Lunardi @ESPNLunardi (7:16)
• Indiana State Sycamores @IndStBasketball (40:57)
• Evansville Purple Aces @UEAthletics_MBB (58:10)
• Valpo Beacons @ValpoBasketball (1:07:19)
• Speed Round and Close (1:20:43)

Baker and Vance are back with a summer update, along with conversations with Illinois coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Valley News (0:28)

Rob Ehsan - UIC (26:29)

Scott Nagy - SIU (49:58)

Ryan Pedon - Illinois State (1:19:39)

Brian Wardle - Bradley (1:47:05)

Close (2:08:39)

Baker and Vance take a break from their summer activities to talk Valley Hoops. Wyatt Wheeler of the Springfield News Leaders joins the episode to talk about the roller coast of an offseason for Missouri State.

• Open (00:27)
• Valley Updates: Coaching Changes & Conference Realignment (09:23)
• Wyatt Wheeler - Springfield News Leader (33:09)
• Gauntlet (1:08:12)

The 23-24 season comes to a close. Baker and Vance recap the post-season, updated coaching carousel and players in the portal. Baker give his Way to Early 24-25 Power Rankings and we answer listener questions.

Banter 0:27

NCAA-NIT-CBI Recap 6:26

Coaching Carousel 28:35

Players in the Portal 1:05:15

Listener Questions 1:25:53

The Valley has four teams heading to postseason play and we can't wait to support Drake, Indiana State, Bradley and Evansville, while Baker and Vance break down each game in the NCAA, NIT and CBI. Adam Emmenecker joins us to give us his perspective on what the Drake players are going through this week and relives some of his experiences in 2008.

Banter 0:27

Game Previews 8:30

Adam Emmenecker 29:32

One Word for each Valley Team 59:50

The Drake Bulldogs are Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champions. Baker and Vance recap the weekend in St. Louis.

Banter 0:27

All-Conference Awards 3:00

Arch Madness Recap 20:00

Coaching Changes 50:42

The bracket is set and the March to the Arch is on. Join Baker and Vance as they prepare for the best weekend of the year. Whether you're traveling to St. Louis or watching it at home join us to talk Valley Hoops. Banter/News (0:43) Mike Kern - MVC Senior Associate Commissioner (11:01) Game 20 (30:42) Power Rankings (45:00) Harry Schroeder Valley Hoops Insider (47:42) Arch Madness Preview (1:09:08) This or That (1:32:40)

Baker and Vance are joined by Valley fans Nick @NickMcCargar and Tony @tseghetti11 to talk Valley Hoops and All-Conference Picks. Banter/News (0:43) Game 18 & 19 (10:04) Power Rankings (30:50) All-Conference Awards (39:09) Game Picks (1:20:20) Rapid Fire (1:25:30)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 16 & 17. To give us a national perspective on The Valley, Bobby Reagan joins us from Barstool Sports. Banter & News (0:42) Game 16 & 17 Recap (9:34) @BarstoolReags (36:51) Power Rankings (1:09:46) Game Picks (1:18:43) Gauntlet (1:23:55)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 14 & 15. MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson joins us to talk @ValleyHoops and Arch Madness. Banter & News (0:42) Game 14 & 15 Recap (7:16) Power Rankings (46:47) MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson (51:15) Game Picks (1:10:55)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 12 & 13. Banter & News (0:42) Game 12 & 13 Recap (10:50) Hunter Tickel - @TribStarHunter (45:25) Power Rankings (1:11:19) Game Picks (1:18:38) This or That (1:27:40)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 10 & 11. Banter & News (0:42) Game 10 & 11 Recap (8:33) Dan Muller - Illinois State and ESPN+ (35:23) Power Rankings (1:02:28) Down the Stretch (1:08:15) Game Picks (1:16:32)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 8 & 9. Banter & News (0:42) Game 8 & 9 Recap (10:41) Power Rankings (40:03) Kevin Lehman - ESPN and MVC TV (50:23) Game Picks (1:20:07) Listener Questions (1:29:10)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 6 & 7.

Banter & News (0:42)

Game 6 & 7 Recap (7:06)

Wyatt Wheeler - Springfield News Leader (45:04)

Power Rankings (1:15:58)

Game Picks (1:23:57)

Gauntlet (1:28:50)

Baker and Vance recap @ValleyHoops Game 4 & 5.

Banter & News (0:42)

Game 4 & 5 Recap (17:53)

Power Rankings (29:45)

Game Picks (54:30)

This and That (59:40)

Baker and Vance recap the non-conference season and @ValleyHoops games 2 & 3. They are join by Paul Oren of https://www.thevictorybell.com/. Banter (0:42) Non-Con (3:10) Games 2 & 3 (22:00) Paul Oren (47:22) Game 4 & 5 Picks (1:43:50) Listener Questions (1:51:45)

Baker and Vance recap the Get Right Week in @ValleyHoops action. They are joined by Evansville Head Coach David Ragland to talk Purple Aces Hoops. Sticking with tradition - gifts are opened up for each of the 12 Valley Hoops teams, along with fun segments like future conference awards, game picks and power rankings. Open (0:43) Get Right Week Recap (2:45) Valley Christmas Gifts (52:00) Head Coach David Ragland (1:02:30) Upcoming Games (1:28:53) Future Awards (1:37:10) Power Rankings (1:50:15)

Baker and Vance recap the 2 game start of the @ValleyHoops conference season. Banter 0:27 Conference Games (4:30) Power Rankings (47:57) Non-Conference Remainder (55:05) Gauntlet (1:05:20)

Baker and Vance recap the MTE season as we prep for the 2 game start of the @ValleyHoops conference season. Banter 0:27 MTE Recap (3:53) Power Rankings (34:06) MVC Conference Preview (39:41) This or That (47:35)

Tons of interviews and tons of @ValleyHoops talk to get you through the holiday. Four head coaches, recap of the first few weeks, Valley Thankfulness and MTEs. Banter 0:27 Casey Alexander - Belmont (6:09) First week recap (18:10) Darren Devries - Drake (50:26) Thankful (1:00:05) Josh Schertz - Indiana State (1:07:48) Thanksgiving MTEs (1:32:17) Luke Yaklich - UIC Flames (1:53:33) Close (2:13:39)

Get ready for the start of the @ValleyHoops season. Baker and Vance preview the start of the college basketball season with MVC rankings and awards. The episode also features reactions by Harry Schroeder (ValleyHoopsInsider.com) and an interview with Bradley Braves head coach Brian Wardle. Banter 0:27 Preseason Rankings (4:00) Harry Schroeder (27:30) Preseason Awards (54:56) Brian Wardle (1:06:30) Gauntlet (1:26:20)

It's preview season with the Evansville Purple Aces, SIU Salukis with “Voice of the Salukis” Luke Martin, and the Northern Iowa Panthers. Banter 0:27 Evansville Purple Aces (4:00) Luke Martin (15:50) Southern Illinois Salukis (36:42) Northern Iowa Panthers (47:48) This or That (57:05)