NOTEBOOK (PDF)
Heading Toward League Play
The league’s 90-game conference slate begins on Friday, Jan. 3, with five games on the calendar. The opening night is highlighted by UNI at Drake and Missouri State at Loyola Chicago.
Quick Starts Crucial
Since 1982-83, just three teams (Missouri State, champions in 1998-99, 1994-95 and 1990-91; Drake, champions in 1996-97 and co-champions in 1987-88; and Evansville, a 2007-08 co-champion) have won at least a share of the regular-season title without winning its regular-season opener. In fact, 14 of the last 19 regular-season champs (or co-champs) have opened 2-0 or better in MVC play, with Evansville in 2007-08, Missouri State in 2004-05, UNI in 2010-11, Missouri State in 2011-12 and UNI in 2015-16 serving as the only five exceptions.
For Starters
The 18-game conference schedule begins with five games on Jan. 3. Here’s a look at how current MVC members have fared in conference-opening games in the last five seasons. Southern Illinois has the current longest winning streak in MVC openers, having won its last six conference debuts.
Team ALL H A Streak
Bradley 1-4 0-3 1-1 L1
Drake 4-1 1-1 3-0 W3
Evansville 2-3 1-1 1-2 L2
Illinois State 2-3 2-3 0-0 W1
Indiana State 1-4 1-1 0-3 L3
Loyola 2-3 1-1 1-2 W1
Missouri State 3-2 1-2 2-0 W2
UNI 4-1 2-0 2-1 L1
Southern Illinois 5-0 2-0 3-0 W6
Valparaiso 0-2 0-0 0-2 L2
Impressive Winning %
Valley women’s hoops sits 69-37 during non-conference play. The Valley has the second-highest winning percentage outside of the Power Five conferences entering the final week of non-conference action.
Top Winning Percentages by Conference
.835 - Pac 12
.789 - Big Ten
.779 - Big 12
.731 - SEC
.679 - ACC
.675 - Ivy League
.651 - Missouri Valley
New Non-Con Record
Valley women’s basketball has already eclipsed 60 wins in non-conference play heading into the final weekend of non-league play. Only five times previously since the 1992-93 season has the MVC claimed 60+ non-league wins in a season. This year’s 69 wins sets a new league record for most non-con wins, surpassing 66 wins in 2009-10.
MVC Top Non-Conference Records (by Winning %)
1. 1994-95 54-28 (.659)
2. 2019-20 69-37 (.651)
3. 1998-99 55-31 (.640)
4. 2009-10 66-38 (.635)
5. 1993-94 62-37 (.626)
Historic Conference RPI
The Valley ranks seventh nationally in the NCAA’s conference RPI report (Dec. 23). The Valley sits behind the Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big East entering this week.
The Valley record for RPI in a season is 8th (2008 & 2011).
Conference RPI
1. Pac-12
2. Big Ten
3. ACC
4. SEC
5. Big 12
6. Big East
7. Missouri Valley
RPI Update
The latest weekly installment of the NCAA RPI Report (Dec. 23) has six Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including three in the top 40. Missouri State leads the way at No. 2 with Drake at No. 34 and UNI at No. 36. Illinois State (48), Loyola Chicago (80) and Southern Illinois (82) round out the schools in the Top 100.
Power Five Wins
The MVC secured nine wins over Power Five programs during the non-conference schedule. The Valley went 9-12 vs. Power Five teams, tripling last season’s win total of three. The Valley has a winning record against the Big 12 (3-2) and SEC (3-1) and sits 3-7 vs. the Big Ten and 0-2 vs. the Pac-12. The average margin of victory in the nine wins is 8.7 points per game. Missouri State and UNI each had three, Drake two, and Illinois State one.
Queens of Iowa
UNI swept Iowa and Iowa State for the first time since the 1974-75 season. The Panthers have back-to-back wins over Iowa State for the first time since 1975-76. UNI has three wins over Power Five opponents in one season for the first time in program history.
Compass Champs
Southern Illinois defeated Western Illinois, 79-65 and followed with an 80-61 win over Northern Illinois to win the Compass Challenge for the second-straight season. Makenzie Silvey was named the Tournament’s MVP for the second-straight season while Kristen Nelson earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team once again after she also did so last season.
The Streak Continues
Tuesday’s win over Morehead State extended Valpo’s winning streak to five straight games. It is the 20th streak of five or more consecutive wins in program history, but the first-such streak since the 2006-07 squad won six in a row Feb. 12-March 3. The last time Valpo won five straight games in non-conference play came back in the WNIT quarterfinal season of 2001-02, when the Brown and Gold closed pre-conference action with five wins in succession.
Road Success
Loyola Chicago is tied with UConn for the national lead with a 6-0 road record this season and is one of four teams with at least six road victories overall. Cleveland State is 7-1 on the road, while Duquesne is 6-1.
The Valley has posted a 26-24 overall road record this season. The 26 non-conference road wins is the most this decade for The Valley (21 road wins in 2011-12 & 2012-13).
Home Sweet Home
Six MVC teams are unbeaten at home: Bradley (4-0), Drake (5-0), Illinois State (6-0), Missouri State (5-0), UNI (4-0) and Valparaiso (3-0) have unblemished records on their home courts this season. The Valley currently holds a 37-7 (.841) mark at home this season. The 37 home wins ties a Valley record for most home wins this decade (2010-11 season).
Poll Position
Missouri State fell to No. 21 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll, following Friday night’s loss at No. 17 Gonzaga
The Lady Bears sit 17th in the USA Today Coaches Top25 Poll (Dec 17).