This edition of the VN Interview takes us to college basketaball’s most underappreciated conference, the Missouri Valley. Coach Barry Hinson has had his Missouri State squad rising in the Valley for a number of years now. Thanks to Mark Stillwell of the Missouri State SID for his help in coordinating this interview. Hope everyone enjoys:

1. VN-How pleased are you with your team’s progress to this point in the season?
Coach Hinson-We said that our goal in creating such a challenging non-conference schedule this year was to get us ready for the type of competition we would face in the Missouri Valley Conference. We also said we just wanted to get a little better each day. At this point, I think we’re where we need to be and we need to stay focused, work hard, and keep trying to get better.

2. VN-With Rick Majerus now coaching the Billikens, do you see the Missouri State-St. Louis rivalry becoming the type that will get the attention of national television programmers?
Coach Hinson-Missouri State and Saint Louis have enjoyed a great rivalry for almost 25 years. The better the two teams are on a consistent basis, the more attention it will attract whn they play each other.

3. VN-Does the consistent presence of Valley teams in the polls the last few years indicate that the rest of the country is finally catching on to the quality of basketball being played in the league?
Coach Hinson-Coaches all over the country have known about it for years. The public and the media are finally coming to realize what people in and around our league have known for a long time. We’re hindered because we all dwell in small market venues. There isn’t anyone to blame for it; however, articles such as this are a great promotion for our league. Don’t forget, we’re the second oldest conference in the country; second only to the Big Ten.

4. VN-How difficult is it to get schools from the marquee leagues to agree to come to Springfield for a game?
Coach Hinson-It’s always been tough for us to get a schools from a BCS league to come here because it’s not good for them if they lose to us and not a particular benefit to them if they beat us. That’s what makes us truly appreciative and respect the coaches who will bring their teams in here to compete.

5. VN-What is the biggest crisis facing college basketball?
Coach Hinson-I don’t think there’s any question we’re losing sight that Cinderella made the ball. Over the last four years there has been a major reduction in the number of non-BCS programs that have been given the opportunity to go to the NCAA Tournament. The popularity of Division I basketball has always rested on its parity and the opportunity for the little guy. If we continue to lose sight of this, the tournament will lose its luster and we’ll see the demise of what was once great.

6. VN-Can we expect to see more quality teams from non BCS leagues playing each other, like your game with Winthrop this past weekend?
Coach Hinson-The O’Reilly Bracket Busters series has been very beneficial in that regard because it gives some really good team a chance to showcase their programs much earlier during the season. Some of the opportunities that are present in the early season exempt tournaments do the same thing because they give schools a chance to compete against BCS schools on neutral floors.

7. VN-What are your thoughts on the three point line being moved back next season?
Coach Hinson-I don’t think moving it back nine inches will make a great deal of difference to the really good shooters we have in college basketball right now. You will see more fouls called beacause of a rise in penetrating offenses using the extra space. I can honestly see it slowing the game down.

8. VN-How has your team adjusted to playing without the graduated Blake Ahearn?
Coach Hinson-Even in the years when Blake was leading our team in scoring, we were still very balanced offensively. What we will miss is having the greatest free throw shooter in NCAA history on our ballclub. With the new bench decorum rules, he would come in real handy.

9. VN-What are the toughest road venues in the Missouri Valley Conference?
Coach Hinson-All 10 schools. There’s not a coach in our league who’s anxious to take his team anywhere in the conference and play. I’m not being politically correct. I’m being “real,” as my players would say.

10. VN-How do the challenges of recruiting to Missouri State compare to those faced by teams in leagues that get more exposure?
Coach Hinson-I would say they’re probably not that much different. All schools are looking to recruit the types of players who can make them better against the level of competition they face. It really helped our recruiting efforts when our name was changed to Missouri State in 2005. Beyond that, you want a good fit with your team and your players and a recruit’s academic needs so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and that’s pretty much what everyone else is trying to do.

We’ll be back soon with another installment of the VN Interview.