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.
Weekly MVC MBB Notes (PDF)
MVC Rated No. 8
The Conference ranks No. 8 in the RPI. Notably, the MVC joins the Big 12 and the SEC as the only leagues this year with no teams rated 200 or worse.
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. In those 11-such seasons, the MVC has combined for 23 NCAA bids.
3-0 Starts in Conference Play
Only once since 1989-90 has the league not had a team start conference play 3-0 or better. Three league teams sit at 2-0 entering this week’s action. Last year, both Wichita State (5-0) and Illinois State (11-0) had better than 3-0 starts before losing their lone league games.
0-2 Starts in Conference Play
The league has not had a regular-season champ (or co-champ) start an MVC season with two-straight losses since the 1992-93 season when Illinois State started 0-2 in league play before winning the league race with a 13-5 MVC mark.
The New Guys
Several MVC newcomers have made an impact in their first years in the league. Milik Yarbrough of Illinois State is the only first-year player in the league to rank in the Top 10 in both scoring (3rd) and rebounding (10th).
Power Play
The MVC has a 6-10 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 10-10 vs. teams from the other four leagues among the Top 10: (AAC – 3-0); Big East (0-2); Mountain West (6-7); and Atlantic-10 (1-1).
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).
Nation’s Best Under 6’5”
UNI freshman guard Tywhon Pickford is the nation’s top rebounder under 6’5”. Pickford (6’4”) is averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. He ranks No. 7 in the nation among freshmen at 8.9 per game.
No. 9 in KenPom Ratings
The MVC’s No. 9 conference rating in KenPom is its best since the 2012-13 season (also No. 9). The last time the league was better than ninth in KenPom’s rankings was in 2008, when the league hit its high-water mark of No. 7 (also achieved in 2005, 2006, and in 2007).
Winning with Defense
Since 2010, every team that has led the MVC in field goal percentage defense has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. In the past 20 years, nine MVC teams have led the league in both categories -- those teams averaged 25 wins and combined to win 10 NCAA tourney games. Bradley currently leads the league in both scoring defense and FG pct. defense.
Doubling Up
Alize Johnson of Missouri State recorded his ninth double-double of the season last week, and he ranks No. 6 in the NCAA.
20-Point Games
Milik Yarbrough of Illinois State has hit the 20-point plateau in 5-straight games. The 5-consecutive 20-point games is a league best this season.
MVC Leaders, 20-Point Games (Total)
7 -- Reed Timmer, Drake
6 -- Ryan Taylor, Evansville
6 - Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State
5 - Keyshawn Evans, Illinois State