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MVC Player of the Week
Ben Sheppard, Belmont
6-6, 190, Sr., G
Atlanta, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian
Sheppard averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this past week as Belmont defeated Murray State and Bradley. Sheppard had 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and made the game-winning shot with 3.3 seconds left as Belmont won at Bradley to end Bradley’s 17-game home court win streak - the third-longest in the nation behind Auburn and UCLA. He had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists vs. Murray State. Sheppard ranks among MVC leaders in nine statistical categories, including third in scoring, ninth in assists per game and 10th in steals per game. Sheppard has 63 double-figure scoring games and is on the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Watch List.

MVC Newcomer of the Week
Quinton Green, Valparaiso
6-7, 185, 6th, G
Columbus, Ohio | Cedarville
Green averaged 17.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per outing to help the Beacons put together a 2-0 week featuring back-to-back double-figure victories. He shot 61.1 percent from the field (11-of-18) and 57.1 percent from the 3-point arc (8-of-14) over the two games. Green went 9-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3 in Saturday’s 71-51 win at Illinois State, helping Valpo enjoy its largest margin of victory in a regular season Missouri Valley Conference game since joining the league. He scored a season-high 26 points thanks in part to the career-high six made 3s, the most triples in a game by a Valpo player since February 2020. In Tuesday’s win over UIC, Green garnered nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. 

Bunched At the Top
Eight of the league’s 12 teams are within two games first place.  Belmont and Southern Illinois are 8-2; UNI is 7-3; and five teams are tied at 6-4.  Only the OVC (8) and Sun Belt (9) have as many teams within two games of first place.

MVC at Midway Point
The MVC reached the midway point of its 20-game Conference schedule on Saturday.  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.

Penn With 18 Assists
Drake’s Roman Penn had an historic performance against Evansville on Saturday, Jan. 21, as he recorded a school-record 18 assists against the Aces. He topped the Drake record of 17, set by Nick Norton (current Drake director of basketball operations), and the 18 helpers were the most by a league player in more than 30 years.

Home Cooking?
Five MVC men’s basketball teams won on the road on Saturday, and MVC teams are now 35-25 at home in league play (.583).   During the previous 10 seasons, MVC teams have collectively won 64.4 percent of its home Conference games.  Three lengthy homecourt win streaks have been spoiled this year, including Murray State (20, ended by Southern Illinois); Bradley (17, ended by Belmont); and Drake (12, ended by Missouri State). MVC teams are 46-10 against non-league teams in 2022-23 (.821).

Close Games in MVC Play
Thirteen of the league’s 48 contests have been decided by three points or less (or in overtime) this year.  Nine additional games have been decided by six points or less [22 of 60 decided by six or fewer points this year].  MVC records in games decided by 3 or fewer (or OT):
Belmont (2-0); Murray State (2-0); UNI (2-0); Missouri State (3-1); Indiana State (2-1); Illinois State (1-2); Drake (1-3); Southern Illinois (0-1); UIC (0-1); Bradley (0-2); Valparaiso (0-2)

MVC Active Career Leaders
Here are the league’s active career leaders in various statistical categories and, when applicable, MVC all-time rank.  The numbers only include stats while one’s school was an active member of the MVC (thru games of Jan. 21).

POINTS
1,444 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
1,420 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
1,350 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
1,339 - Ben Krikke, Valparaiso
1,251 - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
*eight active MVC players have reached 1,000 points

REBOUNDS
842 (44) - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
638 - Donovan Clay, Valparaiso/Missouri State
560 - Austin Phyfe, UNI
552 - Rienk Mast, Bradley
545 - Darnell Brodie, Drake

3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE
274 (7) - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
193 - Cooper Neese, Indiana State
180 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
164 - Ville Tahvanainen, Bradley
139 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois

ASSISTS
536 (12) - Roman Penn, Drake
318 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
304 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
264 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
253 - Donovan Clay, Valparaiso/Missouri State

STEALS
161 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
161 - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
120 - Roman Penn, Drake
111 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake

Nothing But Net
Bradley heads a list of six MVC men’s basketball schools that rank in the Top 131 of the NET (Jan. 23).  The Braves are at No. 77, followed by Drake (92) and Southern Illinois (106).  Only 10 conferences have six or more teams in the Top 135 of the NET:  ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West, MVC, Pac-12, SEC, WAC, and WCC.

KenPom 
Bradley leads the MVC in the KenPom ratings. The Braves are 86, followed by Drake (90). Six league teams are in the Top 140.  Southern Illinois (41), Bradley (50) and Drake (71) are among the KenPom leaders for adjusted defensive efficiency. Belmont tops the MVC in the KenPom metrics for offensive efficiency (71), followed by Drake (127) and Indiana State (128).

Making His Threes
Belmont’s Drew Friberg leads the MVC and ranks in the Top 10 in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 48.7); 3FG per game (7th, 3.52); and total 3FG made (4th, 74). His 74 makes are among the all-time bests for a player in his first year in the MVC.

Three-Pointers Made - First-Year MVC Players
103 - Adam Leonard, Missouri State (2009-10), Jr.
93 - Troy Hudson, Southern Illinois (1995-96), Jr.
90 - Chamberlain Oguchi, Illinois State (2008-09), Sr.
87 - Skipp Schaefbauer, Illinois State (1996-97), Jr.
86 - Luke McDonald, Drake (2000-01), Fr.
82 - Tad Ackerman, Creighton (1994-95), Jr.
  82 - Brady Ellingson, Drake (2017-18), Gr.
79 - Tyler Brown, Illinois State (2011-12), Jr.
77 - Tony Freeman, Southern Illinois (2009-10), Sr.
75 - Shea Seals, Tulsa (1993-94), Fr.
  75 - Ali Farokhmanesh, UNI (2008-09), Jr.
  75 - Tucker DeVries, Drake (2021-22), Fr.
74 - Drew Friberg, Belmont (2022-23), Gr. 
  74 - Jaylen Minnett, Missouri State (2021-22), Sr.

From the Charity Stripe
Virginia transfer Malachi Poindexter of Illinois State has made his first 32 free throw attempts as a Redbird. He’s the only NCAA player with a perfect percentage (among those with 20 or more attempts this season). Counting Poindexter, Only 18 different MVC players on record have made 32-straight free throws. The streak is tied for 17th-best all-time in MVC history.  It’s the third-longest free throw streak in program history, just behind Gene Jontry (35) in 1956-57. The ISU record is held by Vince Greene, who made 57 straight between the end of the 2003-04 season and through the beginning of the 2004-05 season.

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.

Power Play
MVC teams combined for three wins against power conferences in 2022-23, but only had eight tries. During the last four seasons, the MVC has averaged 12.5 games a year against teams from power leagues.  In the six seasons prior (2013-14 through 2018-19), MVC teams averaged twice as many contests against teams from power leagues (25.0).

MVC Experience
A total of 21 MVC players have scored more than 1,000 career points (counting previous institutions).

1,000-Point Scorers in the MVC (thru 1/22) - includes points from previous schools
1,747 - Trenton Gibson, Indiana State (Tusculum DII)
1,698 - Cameron Henry, IndState (Lincoln Memorial DII)
1,675 - Cade McKnight, IndState (Truman State DII)
1,527 - Quinton Green, Valparaiso (Cedarville DII)
1,497 - Courvoisier McCauley, INS (DePaul/Lincoln Memorial)
1,472 - Jamari Smith, Murray State (Queens DII)
1,444 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
1,420 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
1,409 - Rob Perry, Murray State (Stetson)
1,404 - Roman Penn, Drake (Siena)
1,350 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
1,339 - Ben Krikke, Valparaiso
1,301 - Ben Sheppard, Belmont
1,251 - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
1,211 - Cooper Neese, Indiana State
1,182 - Seneca Knight, ILS (San Jose State/BYU)
1,182 - Kendle Moore, Missouri State (Colorado State)
1,101 - Donovan Clay, Missouri State (Valparaiso)
1,065 - Kobe King, Valparaiso (Wisconsin)
1,013 - Quincy Anderson, MUR (Minn St. Mankato DII)
1,012 - Kieshawn Davidson, Belmont (Tennessee Tech)
943 - Jawaun Newton, Southern Illinois (Evansville)
   924 - JaShon Henry, Bradley
  897 - Tucker DeVries, Drake
  877 - Bowen Born, UNI

Fast Paced
Indiana State ranks 18th nationally (KenPom) in average possession length (15.7 seconds).  Belmont is next “fastest” in the MVC, averaging 17.1 seconds per offensive possession, which ranks 122nd nationally.

Inside & Outside the Arc
Valparaiso leads the MVC and ranks 48th nationally with 56.2 percent of its points coming from inside the arc. Belmont ranks 8th nationally as 41.4 percent of its points are via the three-pointer this season. Indiana State is second in the nation (60.1 percent) and Southern Illinois is 6th (58.2 percent) in two-point field goal percentage.

Bench Play
Missouri State continues to lead the league while averaging 26.6 points per game from its bench. The Bears rank 33rd 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 39th in the NCAA with 4.7 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).

Effective
Five MVC programs are in the Top 83 in the NCAA for effective field goal percentage, led by Belmont (25th) at 55.1 percent.  Indiana State is 33rd, at 54.8 percent.  Bradley (78), Southern Illinois (81), and Drake (83) are also among the NCAA leaders.

Leading the League
Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 39th nationally for team field goal percentage (47.5).  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 (85th at 46.3) is second-best in the MVC this season.

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 39.6 figure leads the MVC and ranks 27th nationally.

Charity Tosses
Illinois State ranks fourth 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 20th in the NCAA this year (76.6 percent) and two others in the MVC (Indiana State-80 and Southern Illinois-99) are in the Top 100.

On the Defensive
Four league teams rank in the Top 40 of the NCAA for scoring defense, and five MVC squads are in the Top 90.  Southern Illinois is tops in the MVC and ranks 14th nationally at 60.5 ppg allowed; Bradley is right behind (21st, 61.5). Only two schools among the Top 40 in the NCAA have a losing record this year (CSU Bakersfield and Fresno State).

Scoring Offense
Indiana State continues to lead the league and ranks 46th nationally in scoring (78.0 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 leads the league and ranks 2nd nationally by shooting 40.4 percent from beyond the arc. After shooting a season-low 18.2 percent (4 of 22) in its loss to Southern Illinois, Belmont has connected on 41.4 percent (65 of 157) during its six-game win streak.  Belmont is 10th nationally in total 3-pointers made per game (10.2).

BEL .. Top Frosh
Belmont’s Cade Tyson leads all freshmen in scoring average this season with 12.95 points per game.  This past week he averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game as Belmont beat Murray State and Bradley. He has 16 double figure scoring games this season.

BRAD .. Double Trouble
Rienk Mast had two double-doubles this past week, collecting 18 points and 13 rebounds in the win against Indiana State while pouring in 23 points and grabbing 11 boards against Belmont.  For the season, Mast has six double-doubles to rank 2nd in the MVC (Tytan Anderson-8), but Mast’s four double-doubles in league play is best in the Conference.

DU .. Big Brodie
Drake senior forward Darnell Brodie has scored double figures in the last five games. Brodie is averaging 12.6 points and 8.0 rebounds over the past eight games including a sizzling 65.1 field goal percentage over that stretch. 

UE .. Long Distance Success
Over the last six games, Marvin Coleman II has been lights out from outside.  During that time, Coleman has connected on 13 of his 21 3-point attempts – 61.9%.  Before the recent streak, Coleman was 12-for-46 to open the season (26.1%).  He has reached double figures in 10 of the last 11 games.

UIC .. Okani Shines
UIC’s Toby Okani netted a new career-high in scoring in Tuesday’s loss against Valparaiso, scoring 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds and two assists. The junior followed up that performance by scoring in double figures again at home Saturday, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

ILS .. Burford Breaks Out
Darius Burford of Illinois State scored a season-high 23 points in the loss to Valparaiso on Saturday.  He’s reached double-figure points in six-straight games.  Burford has now hit double figures in points 14 times this year (and 41 in his career).  The 23-point game marked the fourth time this year that Burford has hit 20 or more in a game.

INS .. Marked Improvement
At 13-8 overall and 6-4 in Valley play, Indiana State head coach Josh Schertz has already surpassed last season’s amount of total (11) and Valley (4) wins. Only four ISU coaches have improved win totals from year one to year two.

MOST .. Mogbo on the Go
Missouri State’s Jonathan Mogbo (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) posted game-highs with 14 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday’s game vs. Southern Illinois for his third double-double in a six-game span. In Valley games, Mogbo is averaging 8.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game with a team-best .507 FG percentage.

MUR .. Getting to the Line
In their win over Indiana State, the Racers earned 33 free throw attempts and made 28 for a clip of 84 percent, their best this season in the 11 games in which they have attempted 20 or more. The Racers have made 14.3 free throws per game (1st in the MVC) and attempted 19.5 per game (2nd in the MVC).

UNI .. Jake Climbing the List
UNI’s Ben Jacobson has won 332 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 one win.

Winningest MVC Coaches - All Games
486 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57) 
337 -- Eddie Hickey, CU/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58
332 -- 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)
181 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)

SIU .. Best Start
SIU is off to its best start under head coach Bryan Mullins in four seasons at 16-5 and 8-2 in MVC. With 16 wins at the midway point of the MVC schedule, Mullins matched the most wins in a season after finishing 16-15 a year ago and 16-16 in his first season at the helm in 2019-20.  SIU’s 60.5 points allowed per game leads the MVC and ranks 14th nationally. The team’s 7.9 steals per game is also tops in the MVC.

VALPO .. A Beacon Blowout
Valpo’s 71-51 win over Illinois State marked the team’s largest margin of victory in a regular season MVC game. Prior to that, the team’s most lopsided win in an MVC contest was 17 (three times). The team does own a pair of 22-point blowouts of Valley foes since joining the league, but both of those occurred in the State Farm MVC Tournament – 2022 vs. Evansville and 2019 vs. Indiana State. The 20-point drilling in Normal marked the first time Valpo went on the road and prevailed by such a lopsided margin since a 94-69 win at SIUE on Nov. 15, 2017. This was the team’s first regular-season conference victory by 20 points or more since beating Detroit Mercy 83-63 on Feb. 19, 2017 in the final road game of Alec Peters’ career. 

Hottest in the MVC?
Belmont has won six-straight games and 9 of its last 10.  Southern Illinois has a four-game win streak, which is part of a streak in which the Salukis have won 11 of 12 games.  Meanwhile, UNI hold the MVC’s next best record over the last 10 games with an 8-2 mark. The Panthers have won six of their past seven. 

DU .. 21 and Over
Sophomore Tucker DeVries has scored 21 points or more in 10 games this season including the past two games (26 vs. Missouri State & 23 at Evansville). 

INS .. Cold Spell
After starting off 6-0 in Valley play, Indiana State has dropped its last four. The four-game skid marks ISU’s longest losing streak of the season, and it’s the longest current losing streak out of the 10 Valley teams with two or more wins.

UNI .. Local Flavor
 The Panthers lead the nation in points per game scored by in-state players with 68.5 points per contest.  Notably Tytan Anderson (Eldridge, Iowa) leads the conference in total rebounds (187), rebounds per game (9.4) and defensive rebounds per game (9.4). He also ranks 2nd in offensive boards per contest (2.4).

SIU .. Domask Joins Rare Air
With four rebounds at Missouri State, forward Marcus Domask became just the fourth player in program history to score 1,400 points, grab 500 rebounds and dish out 300 assists. The senior joined Wayne Abrams, Darren Brooks, and Marcus Timmons – all three of which are Saluki Hall of Famers.

VALPO .. On a Roll
Thanks to victories over Evansville, UIC and Illinois State, Valpo owns its first three-game winning streak of the season. With a win on Wednesday at UNI, Valpo would possess its first four-game winning streak since the 2018-2019 campaign, when the team won five in a row in late December and early January including a 4-0 start to the MVC slate.  A victory in Cedar Falls would give Valpo its first three-game road winning streak since joining The Valley. The last time the program won three straight on the road was Matt Lottich’s first season in 2016-2017.