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Watch now: MVC Notebook: Drake, Loyola clearly distancing themselves from rest of pack

NORMAL — Indiana State's Greg Lansing has seen it happen before and, like other Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball head coaches, isn't all that surprised.

A two-team race has emerged in the Valley.

Like what happened in 2017 with Illinois State and Wichita State and 2015 with the Shockers and Northern Iowa, there is a huge separation between No. 25-ranked Drake and Loyola from the rest of the league which could help the league on Selection Sunday.

Drake (17-0 overall) is atop the Valley at 8-0 closely followed by Loyola at 10-1. Surprising Evansville is third (6-4) and hot Indiana State (7-5), which has won six straight, sits fourth.