The 2023-24 regular season campaign begins on Monday with eight games on the schedule. The first week of the regular season features one game against a Preseason AP Top 25 team (#3 Iowa at UNI), including seven vs. the Power Five.
The MVC secured five wins over Power Five programs during the 2022-23 non-conference schedule. The Valley registered a 5-21 record vs. Power Five teams. The Valley went 2-3 vs. the SEC, 2-13 vs. the Big Ten, 1-2 vs. the Big 12 and 0-3 vs. the ACC. Five different Valley teams registered a Power Five win as Drake beat Nebraska, Illinois State beat Wisconsin, Missouri State won at TCU, UNI beat Vanderbilt and Murray State won at Kentucky.
Monday, November 6
Bradley at Kansas City........................................ 11 AM
Belmont at Missouri (SECN+)....................... 11:30 AM
Missouri State at Little Rock (ESPN+).................. 5 PM
Illinois State at Omaha......................................... 5 PM
UIC at Loyola Chicago (ESPN+)............................ 6 PM
Green Bay at UNI (ESPN+).................................... 6 PM
Indiana State at Northern Kentucky (ESPN+)...... 6 PM
St. Thomas at Drake (ESPN+).............................. 6 PM
Tuesday, November 7
SEMO at Southern Illinois (ESPN+)...................... 6 PM
Lipscomb at Evansville (ESPN+)........................... 6 PM
Thursday, November 9
Indiana State at Missouri (SECN+)....................... 7 PM
Drake at Saint Louis (ESPN+)............................... 7 PM
UIC at Northwestern (BTN+)................................. 7 PM
Friday, November 10
Murray State at Arkansas (SECN+)............... 10:30 AM
Georgia at Belmont (ESPN+).......................... 6:30 PM
Saturday, November 11
Illinois State at Green Bay (ESPN+)................... 12 PM
Cornell at Southern Illinois (ESPN+)..................... 2 PM
Sunday, November 12
Evansville at SIUE (ESPN+)................................... 1 PM
Valparaiso at Eastern Illinois (ESPN+)................. 2 PM
Iowa State at Drake (ESPN+)............................... 2 PM
UIC at Milwaukee (ESPN+)................................... 2 PM
#3 Iowa at UNI (ESPN+)........................................ 2 PM
Central Michigan at Bradley (ESPN+)................... 2 PM
Rise of The Valley
The 2022-23 season saw The Valley record a Top 15 RPI/NET conference ranking for the fifth-straight season. The league also saw four teams in the NET Top 100 for the fourth-straight season. Just six seasons ago, the league posted its worst conference RPI, sitting 24th nationally.
Year MVC RPI Top 100 Teams
2022-23 13 (NET) 4 (NET)
2021-22 10 (NET) 4 (NET)
2020-21 7 (NET) 5 (NET)
2019-20 8 5
2018-19 14 3
2017-18 24 2
Five 20 Win Teams
Last season, Belmont, Drake, Illinois State, Missouri State and UNI all reached 20 wins, with all five teams reaching the NCAA or WNIT field. It marked the first time in league history, five teams reached 20+ wins in the same season.
Leagues with 5+ 20 Win Teams
1. ACC 9
2. Pac-12 8
SEC 8
4. Big 12 7
5. Big Ten 6
6. Missouri Valley 5
Big East 5
Mountain West 5
Sun Belt 5
Mid-Major Top-25 Poll
UNI, Drake and Belmont appear in the preseason (Nov. 1) CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. UNI opens the season at No. 10 in the poll, while Drake comes in at No. 13 and Belmont No. 20. Illinois State is also receiving votes.