Wednesday, Feb. 1
UIC at Illinois State (Marquee/ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Indiana State at Evansville (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Valparaiso at Missouri State (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Belmont at Murray State (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
Southern Illinois at Bradley (ESPN+) 7:00 PM
UNI at Drake (MVC TV/ESPN+) 8:00 PM
Saturday, Feb. 4
Evansville at UIC (ESPN+) 1:00 PM
Murray State at Indiana State (CBSSN) 3:00 PM
Illinois State at Belmont (ESPN3) 4:00 PM
Bradley at UNI (ESPN2) 5:00 PM
Drake at Valparaiso (ESPN+) 6:00 PM
Sunday, Feb. 5
Missouri State at Southern Illinois (MVC TV/ESPN+) 1:00 PM
Click Here for Weekly Notebook (PDF)
MVC Player of the Week
Ben Krikke, Valparaiso
6-9, 235, Sr., F
Edmonton (Alberta) Canada | Jasper Place
Krikke averaged 26.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over two contests this week, shooting 86.7 percent from the free-throw line (13-of-15) and 61.3 percent from the field (19-of-31). He also dished out nine assists (4.5 per game) and had a block and a pair of steals. Krikke started the week with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals at UNI on Wednesday. He continued his dominance in Saturday’s 81-69 win over Evansville, finishing a point shy of a career high with 30 while also pacing the team with nine rebounds. He made 10 free throws - a career high and the most by a Valpo player since Tevonn Walker in January 2018 - and 10 field goals. He became just the third Valpo player in the last decade with 30+ points and 9+ rebounds in a game, joining Javon Freeman-Liberty (twice) and Alec Peters (7x).
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Seneca Knight, Illinois State
6-7, 210, 5th, G
New Orleans, La., San Jose State/LSU/BYU
Knight averaged 21.5 points per game for Illinois State as the Redbirds went 1-1 with an overtime loss on the road at rival Bradley on Wednesday before returning and topping MVC-leader Southern Illinois on Sunday … He made 13-of-20 shots for the week (65.0%), was 4-of-5 from long range, and 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the charity stripe … He averaged four rebounds on the week with two assists, two blocks, and two steals … Against the Braves he scored a team-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe … He also added seven rebounds and a steal against the Braves while playing 42 minutes … In the finale of the week against Southern Illinois he scored a season-high 24 points, converting on 6-of-8 shots from the field, 3-of-4 from long range and 9-of-10 from the free throw stripe … He also had two assists, two blocks, a steal and a rebound in ISU’s win over Southern Illinois.
Bunched At the Top
With co-leaders Belmont and Southern Illinois both losing on Sunday, Jan. 29, eight of the MVC’s 12 teams are now within two games of first place. Only one other Division I conference has more than six teams within two games of first place -- the Ivy League (7).
Homecourt Advantage
While the league’s overall homecourt record is a pedestrian 44-28 (61.1 percent), notably the eight teams with winning records in league play have combined for a 38-10 record at home (79.2 percent). Six of those eight are 5-1 in league play on their home courts.
Close Games in MVC Play
Sixteen of the league’s 72 contests have been decided by three points or less (or in overtime) this year. Twelve additional games have been decided by six points or less [28 of 72 decided by six or fewer points this year]. MVC records in games decided by 3 or fewer (or OT):
Murray State (3-0); Belmont (2-0); UNI (2-0); Missouri State (3-2); Indiana State (2-2); Drake (2-3); Bradley (1-2); Illinois State (1-3); Southern Illinois (0-1); UIC (0-1); Valparaiso (0-2)
MVC at Midway Point
The MVC reached the midway point of its 20-game Conference schedule on 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.
First Year Phenoms
A handful of first-year MVC players are on pace to surpass 200 total points as freshmen. Cade Tyson of Belmont leads the way with 272 points so far. UNI (3) and Belmont (2) account for five of the league’s top scoring freshmen.
272 - Cade Tyson, Belmont
217 - Michael Duax, UNI
212 - Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Belmont
205 - Robbie Avila, Indiana State
165 - Trey Campbell, UNI
165 - Kenny White, Murray State
150 - Landon Wolf, UNI
Double Trouble
Tytan Anderson of UNI leads the MVC with nine double-doubles this year. He entered the 2022-23 season with career averages of 1.9 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game. Bradley’s Rienk Mast ranks second this year with six double-doubles.
9 -- Tytan Anderson, UNI
6 -- Rienk Mast, Bradley
5 -- Kendall Lewis, Illinois State
5 -- Malevy Leons, Bradley
5 -- Garrett Sturtz, Drake
4 -- Toby Okani, UIC
4 -- Jonathan Mogbo, Missouri State
4 -- DJ Burns, Murray State
30 Something
Marcus Domask of Southern Illinois reached the 30-point plateau for the third time this season in Sunday’s contest at Illinois State. He leads the MVC in 30-point games this year. Tucker DeVries of Drake leads the Conference with 12 20-point games.
Number of 30-Point games
3 -- Marcus Domask, Marcus - Southern Illinois
2 -- Ben Krikke, Ben - Valparaiso
2 -- Courvoisier McCauley, Courvoisier - Indiana State
5 players with 1
Number of 20-Point games
12 -- Tucker DeVries, Tucker - Drake
10 -- Bowen Born, Bowen - UNI
10 -- Ben Sheppard, Ben - Belmont
9 -- Ben Krikke, Ben - Valparaiso
3 players with 7
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. With 546 career assists, he ranks 12th all-time in MVC men’s basketball history.
Notable Player Trends
• Ben Krikke - In his first 15 games had nine total assists. In Last 8 games he has 34 assists and 18.5 ppg.
• Marcus Domask - shooting 85.4 percent from the line. In his last 18 games he’s not missed more than 1 in any game, going 70 of 78 (89.7)
• Brian Moore Jr. started last 4 games (had just five points at Belmont; but has averaged 18.3 points the last three.
• Donovan Clay - Has hit double figures 8 of last 9 games (15.9 avg.); but only had double figures 3 times in previous 13 games.
• Malevy Leons has scored in double figures in 7-straight games, with three double-doubles during that stretch.
• Darnell Brodie has had double figures 6 of last 7 (13.0 average) while lifting his season average from 7.6 to 9.3 ppg.
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. 29).
POINTS
1,469 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
1,462 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
1,391 - Ben Krikke, Valparaiso
1,384 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
1,278 - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
*eight active MVC players have reached 1,000 points
REBOUNDS
858 (38) - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
651 - Donovan Clay, Valparaiso/Missouri State
565 - Rienk Mast, Bradley
560 - Austin Phyfe, UNI
553 - Darnell Brodie, Drake
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE
278 (t5) - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
197 - Cooper Neese, Indiana State
187 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
165 - Ville Tahvanainen, Bradley
147 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
ASSISTS
546 (12) - Roman Penn, Drake
323 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
313 - Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
267 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
259 - Donovan Clay, Valparaiso/Missouri State
STEALS
164 - Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
164 - Garrett Sturtz, Drake
121 - Roman Penn, Drake
112 - D.J. Wilkins, Drake
Nothing But Net
Bradley heads a list of six MVC men’s basketball schools that rank in the Top 135 of the NET (Jan. 30). The Braves are at No. 77, followed by Drake (79) and Southern Illinois (108).
KenPom
Drake leads the MVC in the KenPom ratings. The Bulldogs are 82, followed by Bradley (92) and Southern Illinois (118). Six MVC teams are in the Top 140. Drake (50), Southern Illinois (57) and Bradley (68) are among the KenPom leaders for adjusted defensive efficiency. Belmont tops the MVC in the KenPom metrics for offensive efficiency (94), followed by Indiana State (129), Drake (130), and Bradley (134).
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 (5th, 46.6) and total 3FG made (6th, 76). His 76 makes are among the all-time bests for a player in his first year in the MVC. Courvoisier McCauley of Indiana State has 66 treys and has made a three in every game; Friberg failed to make a three for the first time (0-for-4) vs. Drake on Sunday.
From the Charity Stripe
Virginia transfer Malachi Poindexter of Illinois State made his first 36 free throw attempts as a Redbird before missing on Jan. 25 against Bradley. The streak is tied for 11th-best all-time in MVC history. Cade Tyson of Belmont had a streak of 32 in a row from Dec. 1 through Jan. 29, ending with a miss against Drake.
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.
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.
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).
Fast Paced
Indiana State ranks 23rd nationally (KenPom) in average possession length (15.8 seconds).
Inside & Outside the Arc
Valparaiso leads the MVC and ranks 45th nationally with 56.2 percent of its points coming from inside the arc. Belmont ranks 8th nationally as 40.0 percent of its points are via the three-pointer this season. Indiana State is second in the nation (59.3 percent) and Southern Illinois is 5th (57.9 percent) in two-point field goal percentage.
Block Party
Three MVC programs rank in the Top 100 nationally in blocks per game. UIC leads the league and ranks 41st in the NCAA with 4.6 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 80 in the NCAA for effective field goal percentage, led by Indiana State (31st) at 54.7 percent. Belmont is 34th (54.6).
Leading the League
Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 46th nationally for team field goal percentage (47.3). 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. Drake (76th at 46.5 percent) is second in the MVC.
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 40.1 figure leads the MVC and ranks 35th nationally.
Charity Tosses
Illinois State ranks 3rd nationally in team free throw percentage, connecting on 80.8 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 18th in the NCAA this year (76.8 percent) and two others in the MVC (Indiana State-65 and Murray State-73) are in the Top 75.
On the Defensive
Four league teams rank in the Top 40 of the NCAA for scoring defense. Southern Illinois is tops in the MVC and ranks 16th nationally at 61.2 ppg allowed; Bradley ranks 26th (62.7 ppg); Missouri State (28th, 63.0) and Drake (39th, 63.7) are right behind.
Scoring Offense
Indiana State continues to lead the league and ranks 53rd nationally in scoring (77.6 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 10th nationally by shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. Belmont is 12th nationally in total 3-pointers made per game (9.8), despite only connecting on one make against Drake (one 3FGM is tied for the season MVC low.)
BEL .. Here Comes February
Belmont has won of the nation’s best winning percentage during the month of February during the past four seasons (91.2), trailing only Gonzaga (93.5)
BRAD .. Mast Leads
After missing the Braves’ first six games, Mast has been in the starting lineup for the next 17 games, reaching double figures 16 times, including the past seven games. He’s recorded six double-doubles, second-most in the MVC.
DU .. Sturtz Breaks Record
Standing just 6’3” and weighting 180 pounds, Garrett Sturtz is now the all-time leading rebounder in Drake men’s basketball history with 858 career rebounds and counting. Sturtz broke Melvin Mathis’ (1982-86) mark of 854 by collecting a total of six rebounds on Sunday at Belmont. Of the 37 all-time MVC members, he’s the shortest to lead his program in career rebounding. He joins Oscar Robertson as the only guards to lead their MVC programs in rebounds.
Career Rebound Leaders (Past & Present MVC Schools)
Shortest Student-Athletes to Lead Their Schools
6-3 -- Garrett Sturtz, Drake*
6-4 -- Dick Estergard, Bradley*
6-4 -- Seymour Bryson, Southern Illinois
6-5 -- Byron Houston, Oklahoma State
6-5 -- Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati*
*played full career as an MVC student-athlete
UE .. Continuing the Story
Saturday’s game at Valparaiso saw UE senior Gage Bobe continue his inspirational journey from walk-on to starter for the Purple Aces. Bobe had the top game of his career against the Beacons as he scored 22 points in over 36 minutes of work. He drained six 3-pointers while dishing out two assists.
UIC .. Carter On Fire
UIC’s Jace Carter has been phenomenal of late, scoring in double figures in six straight games while hitting the 20-point plateau twice in that span, including 25 against Bradley on Sunday. He went 9-of-14 from the floor against the Braves and added 10 rebounds for his second-straight double-double.
ILS .. Perfect in Conference
This season in MVC play, Kendall Lewis is a perfect 25-of-25 at the charity stripe. No other player in NCAA Division I has not missed in conference with as many attempts as Lewis (the next most free throw makes is 22-of-22)
INS .. Back in the Win Column
Indiana State snapped its five-game skid Saturday with a win over UNI behind a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double from Cameron Henry and a combined 34 points from Xavier Bledson and Zach Hobbs off the bench.
MOST .. January With Clay
During the month of January, Donovan Clay averaged a team-best 15.9 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists and a 47.2 FG percentage. He scored in double figures in 8-of-9 contests in January (9 vs. Southern Illinois) and eclipsed a new career-best for assists in a season with more than a month to go (78).
MUR .. Moore of That
Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Brian Moore Jr. has reached double figures three times (in four games). He only had four double-figure scoring efforts in the 17 games prior.
UNI .. Jake Climbing the List
UNI’s Ben Jacobson has won 333 games in his time at UNI (3rd all-time in the MVC), and he is tied for second on the coaching wins list for MVC-only games trailing the legendary Henry Iba (Oklahoma State) by five wins.
Winningest MVC Coaches - All Games
486 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
337 -- Eddie Hickey, CU/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58
333 -- 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 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
182 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
SIU .. Domask is Top Dawg
Marcus Domask scored in double-digits in 21 of 23 games this season to lead SIU. He has scored 20 or more seven times, 30 or more three times. His 17.6 points per game rank fifth in the MVC.
VALPO .. Putting Up Points
Valpo scored 81 points in the Jan. 28 win over Evansville, tying a season-high against a Division-I opponent. The 81 points were the team’s most in any contest since 96 on Dec. 6 vs. Trinity Christian. The 81 marked Valpo’s highest point total in a regulation, regular-season MVC game since Feb. 25, 2020 vs. Missouri State (W 89-74). This marked Valpo’s 21st straight win when scoring 80 points or more. Valpo is 39-1 in its last 40 such contests with the lone loss coming on Feb. 13, 2019, an 87-82 OT setback vs. Indiana State.
DU .. DeVries Sidelined
Sophomore swingman Tucker DeVries did not make the trip to Nashville for Drake’s contest at Belmont on Sunday. DeVries missed the game due to an infection on his elbow that hospitalized him from late Tuesday until Sunday. DeVries is out of the hospital and continuing to progress as he recovers from the infection. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five games and have led by at least 13 points at halftime in all five of those contests including the game at Belmont without Tucker.
ILS .. One of a Few
Through 23 games this season Kendall Lewis has 31 assists, 19 blocks, 35 steals and has scored 239 points. Lewis is one of nine players in the country to have those numbers this season.
INS .. Comeback Kids
ISU was down by 18 points at halftime to Drake on the road Tuesday and outscored the Bulldogs 42-26 in the second half to completely erase that deficit and take a one-point lead with 20 seconds left, but Drake hit a triple with two seconds on the clock to win.
MOST .. Mogbo Emerging
Over the last three games, Jonathan Mogbo (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) is averaging 12.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game with a 66.7 FG percentage (16-of-24). He is coming off his third double-double in six games with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds at Murray State on Saturday.
UNI .. What’s On Tap
UNI faces off against in-state rival Drake on Wednesday night in Des Moines. The Panthers and Bulldogs have split the last 10 meetings, including both of last year’s regular season matchups. The Panthers host Bradley on Saturday afternoon, having won 8 of their last 10 home games against the Braves.
SIU .. Home Comfort
Southern Illinois is 10-1 inside Banterra Center this season -- its eight-game home streak is the longest in the MVC. SIU has won 19-straight nonconference games at home.
VALPO .. Double-Digit Assists
Nick Edwards handed out 10 assists in the win over Evansville on Saturday, his third game this season with double-figure assists and the fourth overall by a Beacon this year. Edwards became the first MVC player with three 10-assist games this year. In fact, no other MVC player has more than one double-figure assist effort. There have been only seven games featuring an MVC individual with 10 or more assists this year, and four of them have been by Valpo – Edwards’ three plus one by Darius DeAveiro.