Winning the First One a Key
Since 1993-94, only one team (UNI, a 2008-09 co-champ) has won at least a share of the MVC regular-season title without winning its league opener. In fact, 23 of the last 25 regular-season champs (or co-champs) have opened 2-0 or better in MVC play, with UNI in 2008-09 and Wichita State in 2011-12 the exceptions.
Thursday, Dec. 28 (Times CENTRAL)
Southern Illinois at UNI (Panther SN/ESPN3) | Cedar Falls, Iowa • 7:00 p.m.
Valparaiso at Indiana State (MVC TV) | Terre Haute, Ind. • 6:00 p.m.
Bradley at Drake (Mediacom / ESPN3) | Des Moines, Iowa • 7:00 p.m.
MVC MBB Weekly Notes (PDF)
Player of the Week: Alize Johnson, Missouri State
Newcomer of the Week: Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State
Sign of Things to Come?
Only 11 times in the past 40 seasons (since 1978-79) has the MVC had a better non-conference regular-season winning percentage than this year’s .651 (82-44) ledger. Here are the 15 best in that span, with notable post-season success.
Non-Conf Regular-Season Bests (Last 40 Years)
2006-07 87-32 --- .731 --- 2 NCAA, 2 NIT
2005-06 73-28 --- .723 --- 4 NCAA, 2 NIT
2004-05 74-30 --- .712 --- 3 NCAA, 2 NIT
2009-10 83-35 --- .703 --- UNI - Sweet 16*
1984-85 71-32 --- .689 --- 3 NCAA, 1 NIT
1980-81 81-37 --- .686 --- Tulsa - NIT title
1998-99 60-30 --- .667 --- 3 NCAA, 1 NIT
2007-08 78-40 --- .661 --- 1 NCAA, 3 NIT^
1983-84 65-34 --- .657 --- 2 NCAA, 2 NIT
1979-80 61-32 --- .656 --- 1 NCAA, 2 NIT
1978-79 60-32 --- .652 --- Indiana State - Final 4
2017-18 82-44 --- .651
2012-13 82-45 --- .646 --- Wichita State - Final 4
2008-09 77-44 --- .636 --- 1 NCAA, 2 NIT~
2011-12 77-45 --- .631 --- 2 NCAA, 2 NIT
*Missouri State won CIT title in 2010
^Bradley reached CBI championship series in 2008
~Bradley lost CIT championship game in 2009
10-Win Teams Open Sked
For just the second time in 111 seasons, two MVC teams with 10+ wins opened up their league schedule against one another as Missouri State (10-3) hosted Loyola (10-2) on Dec 22. The only other time since 1907 in which two 10-win MVC teams opened up league play against one another was in 2014-15 when 10-2 Evansville beat 11-1 UNI on Jan. 1, 2015, 52-49. The Loyola-Missouri State game was the only, though, to tip off a league season (UNI-UE was the first game for both teams but a conference game had been played the night prior.)
Four Teams Reach 10 Wins
Four MVC teams reached 10 non-conference regular-season wins for just the 12th time in the league’s 111-year history. A total of 17 teams all-time have won 10 or more non-conference games in a season (inclusive of post-season games).
M*A*S*Hed
The league recorded non-conference success despite a rash of injuries and illnesses that hit the starting lineups. During the regular-season non-league slate, a total of 63 games were missed by starters (or projected starters).
Home Sweet Home
The MVC concluded its regular-season non-league slate with a 53-7 home record. The league was just 44-16 at home in non-league play last season. Inclusive of all games (non-conference and conference), the MVC is a combined 54-8 at home this year, sixth-best in the nation.
Battle for Illinois
Introduced Dec. 22 by the respective athletic departments for Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola and Southern Illinois, the inaugural Battle for Illinois competition begins on New Year’s Eve, when the Illinois State women’s basketball team hosts Bradley. The men’s and women’s basketball teams for the four universities will accrue points through head-to-head competition.
Winning with Defense
Six MVC schools rank among the NCAA leaders (Top 60) in scoring defense this season, led by UNI (8th) and Bradley (9th). Also, four MVC teams rank among the Top 22 in FG percentage defense, led by UNI, which is No. 12 nationally at 37.5. Teams in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense have a collective winning percentage of 79.0 (98-26). Teams in the Top 10 nationally in FG percentage defense have an impressive collective winning percentage of 86.2 (106-17).
All-Around Leaders
Alize Johnson of Missouri State leads the league in total points-rebounds-assists per game average (27.6) this season. Illinois State leads the league with three in the Top 10 of the P-A-R leaderboard, while Indiana State also has two among the Top 10.
Off the Bench
Valparaiso leads the MVC and ranks 22nd nationally in bench scoring. The Crusaders have averaged 30.1 points per game from their non-starters.
Dangerous From Deep
Evansville leads the nation in 3FG accuracy, connecting on 46.3 percent of its shots beyond the arc. Loyola (21st/41.1) and Drake (23rd/40.9) are also among the NCAA leaders in 3FG percentage. Individually, Jordan Barnes of Indiana State (t4th/49) and Keyshawn Evans of Illinois State (t7th/46) are in the Top 10 nationally for three-pointers made.