Bunched At the Top
Eight of the league’s 12 teams are within one game of first place (three teams are 6-2; five teams are 5-3). Only the Sun Belt (six teams at 4-2; three teams at 3-3) has as many as eight teams within a game of first place prior to games of Monday, Jan. 16.
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Tuesday, Jan. 17 (times CT)
UIC at Valparaiso (ESPN+) 6:00 PM
Evansville at Southern Illinois (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Murray State at Belmont (CBSSN) 8:00 PM
Wednesday, Jan. 18 (times CT)
Bradley at Indiana State (ESPN+) 6:00 PM
Illinois State at UNI (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Missouri State at Drake (MVC TV/ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Saturday, Jan. 21 (times CT)
UNI at UIC (ESPN3) 1:00 PM
Southern Illinois at Missouri State (ESPN+) 3:00 PM
Drake at Evansville (ESPN+) 3:00 PM
Belmont at Bradley (MVC TV/ESPN+) 3:00 PM
Indiana State at Murray State (ESPNU) 5:00 PM
Valparaiso at Illinois State (ESPN3) 6:00 PM
MVC Player of the Week
Tucker DeVries, Drake
6-7, 210, So., G/F
Waukee, Iowa | Waukee High
DeVries averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists last week in wins over UIC and Bradley this past week. He scored 15 points including seven points in less than one minute during overtime at UIC on Tuesday, and he also hauled in nine rebounds and dished out three assists against the Flames. DeVries paced Drake with 28 points (one point shy of his career-high) while finishing 5-for-8 from beyond the arc in the home victory against Bradley.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Belmont
6-0, 175, Fr., G
Greeneville, Tenn. | Greeneville High
Gillespie helped the Bruins to a 2-0 record last week with a win at Valparaiso and a win at home against UNI (snapping UNI’s four-game win streak). He averaged 14.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Gillespie had a career-high 15 points, six assists and two steals at Valparaiso. Gillespie had 14 points and four assists vs. UNI and teamed with Ben Sheppard to limit the league’s top scorer Bowen Born to just seven points in 25 minutes. Gillespie shot 62 percent from the field for the week. He ranks among league leaders in steals and assists.
Midway Point Approaches
All league teams will have played their 10th Missouri Valley Conference game by Saturday, Jan. 21. Notably, since 1992-93, all 41 MVC teams in the lead (or co-lead) at the ‘turn’ have reached post-season play. The last Valley mid-season leader to not reach post-season play was Tulsa in 1992. Drake and Loyola were both tied for first place after nine league games last season. Loyola (NCAA) and Drake (CBI) represented the MVC in post-season tournaments in 2022.
Homecoming
Two games this week features MVC student-athletes facing their former programs for the first time. Indiana State’s Jayson Kent transferred from Bradley. And Murray State’s JaCobi Wood previously played for Belmont. Notably, Jawaun Newton (Southern Illinois) played four seasons at Evansville, and Donovan Clay (Missouri State) played his first two seasons at Valparaiso. Clay has averaged 8.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in three previous meetings against his former team; Newton had four points and three rebounds in SIU’s November meeting with the Aces.
Home Cooking
League teams are 30-18 in MVC games played at home this year. Bradley (10-0) and Drake (9-0) are the league’s lone unbeaten teams at home this season. Bradley has won 17-straight at home dating back to last year; Drake’s current streak is 12 in a row. Bradley’s active streak is 5th best nationally. Drake’s 12-game streak is tied for 11th best in the NCAA.
76 - Gonzaga
28 - Auburn
21 - Jacksonville
19 - UCLA
17 - Bradley
16 - Kansas
15 - Kent State
Close Games in MVC Play
Ten of the league’s 48 contests have been decided by three points or less (or in overtime) this year. Seven additional games have been decided by six points or less [17 of 48 decided by six or fewer points this year]. Team records in games decided by 3 or fewer (or OT):
Murray State (2-0); Belmont (1-0); UNI (1-0); Indiana State (2-1); Missouri State (2-1); Illinois State (1-1); Drake (1-2); Bradley (0-1); Southern Illinois (0-1); UIC (0-1); Valparaiso (0-2)
Nothing But Net
Bradley heads a list of six MVC men’s basketball schools that rank in the Top 136 of the NET (Jan. 16). The Braves are at No. 77, followed by Drake (87) and Southern Illinois (100) in the Top 100. Only 10 conferences have six or more teams in the Top 140 of the NET: ACC, A-10, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West, MVC, Pac-12, SEC, WCC.
KenPom
Bradley leads the MVC in the KenPom ratings. The Braves are 87, followed by Drake (89). Six teams are in the Top 140. Southern Illinois (36), Bradley (43) and Drake (72) are among the KenPom leaders for adjusted defensive efficiency.
Vs. Non-MVC
The league finished the regular season with a 74-55 record vs. non-league teams (.574). That record includes an impressive 46-10 slate in home non-league games. MVC teams were 71-54 (.568) in non-league play in 2021-22.
Against the Top 25
MVC teams were 2-2 vs. Top 25 non-conference teams this season, and the Conference was 3-5 against teams from Power leagues. Drake beat No. 15 Mississippi State on Dec. 20, and Murray State knocked off No. 24 Texas A&M in the opening round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. In 2021-22, the MVC recorded a 1-6 record against non-conference Top 25 programs.
Fast Paced
League co-leader Indiana State ranks 18th nationally (KenPom) in average possession length (15.6 seconds). Belmont is next “fastest” in the MVC, averaging 17.0 seconds per offensive possession, which ranks 116th nationally.
Inside & Outside the Arc
Valparaiso leads the MVC and ranks 27th nationally with 58.0 percent of its points coming from inside the arc. Belmont ranks 7th nationally as 40.9 percent of its points are via the three-pointer this season. Indiana State leads the nation (60.4 percent) and Southern Illinois is 7th (58.1 percent) in two-point field goal percentage.
Bench Play
Missouri State continues to lead the league while averaging 26.0 points per game from its bench. The Bears rank 50th nationally in Bench Scoring.
Block Party
Three MVC programs rank in the Top 100 nationally in blocks per game. UIC leads the league and ranks 30th in the NCAA with 4.9 blocks per game. Since the MVC began tracking blocks (1987), only one team has eclipsed 5.0 blocks per game for an entire season (Wichita State, 5.1, 2014).
Leading the League
Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 31st nationally for team field goal percentage (48.2). The Sycamores have led the MVC in team field goal percentage just one time in ISU history -- their 1978-79 MVC championship and Final Four season with Larry Bird. Belmont (89th at 46.3) is second-best in the MVC this season.
Effective
Five MVC programs are in the Top 103 in the NCAA for effective field goal percentage, led by Indiana State (20th) at 55.8 percent. Belmont is 30th (55.1). Belmont, Indiana State, and Southern Illinois enter the week tied for first place in the league standings (6-2). Bradley and Drake are among five schools at 5-3.
Defending the Shot
Since 2010, all but three teams that have led the MVC in FG percentage defense have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Bradley’s current 39.5 figure leads the MVC and ranks 30th nationally.
Charity Tosses
Illinois State ranks fifth nationally in team free throw percentage, connecting on 80.1 percent of its foul line shots. Missouri State set a league record last year by connecting on 79.7 percent for the season. Drake ranks 32nd in the NCAA this year (75.5 percent) and two others in the MVC (Indiana State-52 and Southern Illinois-73) are in the Top 75.
On the Defensive
Three league teams rank in the Top 30 of the NCAA for scoring defense, and five MVC squads are in the Top 100. Southern Illinois is tops in the MVC and ranks 14th nationally at 60.2 ppg allowed; Bradley is right behind (15th, 60.3). CSU Bakersfield is the only team in the Top 30 that is not .500 or better this year.
Scoring Offense
Despite being held to 61 and 62 points, respectively, in its past two contests, Indiana State continues to lead the league and ranks 42nd nationally in scoring (78.8 ppg). Notably, only one league team has averaged better than 80 points per game since 1994 (Tulsa, 83.4). Wichita State averaged 81.0 points per game in 2017.
Long Range Snipers
Belmont ranks 7th nationally and leads the league by shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. In Saturday’s home win against UNI, the Bruins connected on 10-of-16 three-point attempts in the first half.
Making Threes
Belmont is tied for 13th nationally in total 3-pointers made per game (10.1). Drew Friberg of Belmont ranks in the Top 10 nationally for 3FG percentage (9th/47.4) and total 3-pointers made (4th/65). With 65 made three-point baskets, Friberg is on pace to crack the MVC’s single-season Top 10 for treys made by a first-year MVC player. He’s currently tied for 26th all-time on that list.
BEL .. Trending
Belmont has scored 99 bench points over the last four games. And center Even Brauns has eight blocked shots over his last three games.
BRAD .. Deen Shines in Loss
Bradley’s Duke Deen was a bright spot in Des Moines for the Braves as he hit five three-pointers en route to a team-best 21 points. He added four assists and a steal against the Bulldogs. Both Malevy Leons and Rienk Mast battled through foul trouble vs. Drake. Leons managed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
DU .. Bench Boosts Bulldogs
Drake utilized 33 bench points including 16 from Sardaar Calhoun and 13 from Conor Enright in an 86-61 win over Bradley at the Knapp Center for Drake’s 12th consecutive home victory. Saturday’s 25-point win was Drake’s widest victory margin over Bradley in the series since the Bulldogs earned a 113-78 victory in Des Moines, Feb. 11, 1971.
UE .. Turning the Corner
Between Dec. 21 and Jan. 4, Antoine Smith Jr. averaged 4.8 points in four contests but has turned the corner over the last three. Over that time, he has recorded an average of 10.7 points and is coming off an 8-rebound performance versus Valpo, tying his career best.
UIC .. Young Guns
UIC (and UNI) are among the “youngest” teams in the NCAA. According to KenPom calculations, each are in the Top 50 in the NCAA. The Flames roster features all freshman and sophomores except for Tre Anderson (Gr.), Toby Okani (Jr.) and Griffin Yaklich (Jr.).
ILS .. Poindexter is Perfect
Malachi Poindexter has not missed a free throw this season, going 27-of-27. He’s one of just two players in the NCAA with 20 or more attempts to make all of his free throws this season (Giovanni Santiago of Kent State - 21-of-21; and Keisei Tominaga of Nebraska - 21-of-21). The MVC has just 25 streaks on record of better than 30 makes in a row.
INS .. Offense The Key
Indiana State has scored 62 or less points in a game four times this season and is 0-4 in those games. In their last three losses, the Sycamores have scored 57, 61, and 62 points, with the last two coming in Valley play. Indiana State did not lead at any point during its loss at Missouri State on Sunday, marking the first time that has happened since Jan. 30, 2022, against Bradley.
MOST .. Ford Seeking 50
Bears head coach Dana Ford is on the verge of his 50th Valley victory. The fifth-year Bears sideline boss is 49-31 (.613) in Valley games, including a league-best 23-17 ledger in MVC road games during that span.
MUR .. Old Rivals Meet Again
Murray State renews one of the top rivalries in the nation when they take on the Belmont Bruins on Tuesday. From 2013 to 2022, the Racers met the Bruins 18 times in the Ohio Valley Conference in regular season and post-season games combined and won seven. The Racers won both games a year ago, including their first win at the Curb Center.
UNI .. Jake Climbing the List
UNI’s Ben Jacobson has won 330 games in his time at UNI (3rd all-time in the MVC), and he is third on the coaching wins list for MVC-only games, trailing Dana Altman by three wins.
Winningest MVC Coaches - All Games
486 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
337 -- Eddie Hickey, CU/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58
330 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
327 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
285 -- Barry Hinson, MoState/SIU (1999-08; 2012-19)
Winningest MVC Coaches - MVC Games Only
187 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
182 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
179 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
SIU .. Domask in Select Co.
Forward Marcus Domask can become just the fourth player in program history to score 1,300 points, grab 500 rebounds and dish out 300 assists. The senior needs just seven boards and two assists to join Wayne Abrams, Darren Brooks, and Marcus Timmons – all three of which are Saluki Hall of Famers.
VALPO .. In Rare Air
Ben Krikke is one of eight players in the country who is averaging at least 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting better than 75 percent from the free-throw line and better than 50 percent from the field. Krikke is on pace to become just the third different MVC player since 2005 to average at least 17 points and five boards while shooting better than 75 percent from the free-throw line and 50 percent from the field. He would join Missouri State’s Isiaih Mosley and Creighton’s Doug McDermott, who did so twice each.
DU .. Working Overtime
Drake escaped UIC in overtime, 76-71, in the Bulldogs’ first overtime game of the season. Drake is 9-3 in overtime under head coach Darian DeVries. It marked the fourth OT game in the MVC this year.
MOST .. Great on the Glass
The Bears have matched or out-rebounded 7 of their last 8 opponents, posting a +6.4 rebound margin since Dec. 16. In Valley games, MSU boasts a league-best 36.0 rebounds per game, while ranking third in rebound margin (+3.5) against MVC foes.
UNI .. Aiming to Extend Streak
UNI faces Illinois State for the second time this season at home on Wednesday. The Panthers have won 8-straight games against the Redbirds, their longest winning streak against opponents on their schedule this season.
SIU .. Defensive Leader
Southern Illinois has held conference opponents to a league-best 58.1 points per game and five of its eight Valley foes to under 57 points or fewer. The Salukis held Belmont to 45 points and preseason favorite Drake to 49 points. Notably, SIU has protected its homecourt this season, going 8-1 within the Banterra Center. It’s six-game home streak is the third longest in the MVC behind Bradley and Drake.
VALPO .. King Reaches 1,000
Kobe King reached a significant career milestone on Jan. 10 vs. Belmont at the Athletics-Recreation Center. At the 13:41 mark of the second half, he made his milestone basket to reach the 1,000-point threshold. Three members of Valpo’s starting lineup are 1,000-point scorers as Quinton Green reached the milestone while playing at Division-II Cedarville and Ben Krikke did so earlier this season.