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World-Herald staff writer Steven Pivovar ranks the Missouri Valley men's basketball teams (with rankings from RealTimeRPI.com). Published Thursday, Feb. 23.

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1. Wichita State (25-4, 15-2, 15th)

This week: Drake. Joe Ragland's 30-point performance against Davidson marked the first time since the 1999-2000 season that a Shocker had two 30-point games in the same season.

2. Creighton (24-5, 13-4, 28th)

This week: at Indiana State. Bluejays are nation's only team to have four top-50 RPI victories to go along with nine wins in true road games.

3. Missouri State (16-14, 9-8, 94th)

This week: at Evansville. Only two Valley players in the past decade have scored more career points than Kyle Weems, who has 1,832.

4. Indiana State (17-12, 8-9, 132nd)

This week: Creighton. Sycamores' win over Missouri State gives them 17 victories for the third straight season. Last time that happened in Terre Haute was in the Larry Bird era.

5. Evansville (14-14, 8-9, 152nd )

This week: Missouri State. What a difference a couple of baskets would make for Purple Aces, who have lost a nation-high seven games by one or two points.

6. Illinois State (17-12, 8-9, 124th)

This week: at Bradley. Valley rebound leader Jackie Carmichael is trying to become first Redbird in the past 35 seasons to average more than 9.0 per game.

7. Northern Iowa (18-12, 8-9, 64th)

This week: at Southern Illinois. Panthers have extended streak of 18-win seasons to nine; before 2003-04, UNI had won 18 or more games just six times.

8. Drake (16-13, 9-8, 131st)

This week: at Wichita State. Ben Simons scored 14 points in win over Southern Illinois after missing previous four games because of mononucleosis.

9. S. Illinois (8-21, 5-12, 241st)

This week: Northern Iowa. Attendance at SIU Arena has dropped from an average of 7,743 in 2006-07, when the Salukis reached the Sweet 16, to a league-low 3,289 this season.

10. Bradley (7-23, 2-15, 255th)

This week: Illinois State. Braves last in scoring and defense, and are seventh or below in 14 of the other 19 team categories in the Valley.

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