Early League Start
For the first time since the 2006-07 season, the MVC will play a conference game before Christmas as Loyola and Missouri State tip off the league slate on Dec. 22 (8 pm CT on MVC TV Network). Evansville also hosts Illinois State pre-Christmas this year (Dec. 23, MVC TV).
MVC Notebook (PDF)
MVC Player of the Week: Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State
MVC Newcomer of the Week: Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State
Nearly had a triple-double in the team’s only game during the week, a 101-97 overtime win over Ole Miss.
NCAA-Best at Home
The MVC is a combined 49-5 at home this year, which is best in the nation. Six league teams are still perfect at home, and Evansville has an MVC-best 29-game homecourt winning streak against non-league teams. The MVC, with 54 non-league home games, ranks 15th among all Division I leagues. The MVC has six more non-league home games remaining.
MVC Rated No. 8
The Conference ranks No. 8 in the RPI, while UNI leads the way in the team rankings, at No. 25. The MVC hasn’t been as high as No. 8 in a season-ending RPI since the 2012-13 season. Below is a look at the Conference RPI leaders (and the MVC’s collective W-L record against each league).
What’s Left
Following two non-conference wins on Sunday, Dec. 17, the MVC has 14 non-conference games remaining. Six games are at home, six are on the road, and two are at a neutral site.
Power Play
The MVC has a 6-9 record against teams from Power 5 leagues (Indiana State at Indiana; Drake vs. Wake Forest; Illinois State vs. South Carolina; UNI vs. NC State; Loyola at Florida; Illinois State at Ole Miss are the six wins). The league is also 9-8 vs. teams from the other four leagues among the Top 10: (AAC – 3-0); Big East (0-1); Mountain West (6-6); and Atlantic-10 (0-1).
M*A*S*Hed
The MVC’s 75-37 (.670) is fifth-best in the past 35 seasons, and what’s notable is that the league is having its success despite a rash of injuries and illnesses that have hit the starting lineups. Through Sunday, a total of 54 games have been missed by starters (or projected starters). Loyola’s starting backcourt (Ben Richardson, Clayton Custer), Evansville’s top-two scorers (Ryan Taylor, Dru Smith) and three players named to the league’s pre-season all-MVC Second Team (Thik Bol of Southern Illinois, Taylor, and Valpo’s Tevonn Walker) are currently on the mend.
Best Non-Conference Marks, Since 1981
2006-07 90-36 .714 2 NCAA, 2 NIT
2005-06 80-34 .701 4 NCAA, 2 NIT
2009-10 90-39 .698 1 NCAA, 2 NIT
2004-05 78-35 .690 3 NCAA, 2 NIT
2017-18 75-37 .670
Winning with Defense
Five MVC schools rank among the NCAA leaders (Top 51) in scoring defense this season, led by Bradley (4th) and UNI (5th). The five teams have combined for a 44-13 overall record (.772). Also, five MVC teams rank among the Top 45 in FG percentage defense, led by UNI, which is No. 5 nationally at 36.4.