Men's Basketball

MVC Men's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Jan. 20)

The MVC will reach the midway point of the season following games of Saturday, Jan. 25.  Since 1992-93, 42 of 44 MVC teams in the lead (or co-lead) at the midway point have reached post-season play.


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MVC Player of the Week:  Kennard Davis Jr., Southern Illinois -- Was the only league player to average 20 points (21.0) and nine rebounds (9.0) last week as the Salukis won for the third-straight game with a 2-0 week (road win at Missouri State and home win against UNI).  He scored a career-high 24 in a win over UNI as he notched his third double-double of the season with a 24-point, 10-rebound performance against the Panthers.  Davis had 18 points, eight rebounds and three 3-pointers during a road win at Missouri State.  He shot 57 percent from the floor (16-of-28) and connected on seven three-point baskets last week.
 
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MVC Newcomer of the Week:  Javon Jackson, UIC -- Jackson played a critical role in UIC's two Valley wins last week, averaging 23.5 points and 3.5 assists per game with a .469 field-goal percentage and .824 free-throw percentage as the Flames downed Murray State at home in double overtime and went on the road to defeat Valparaiso. Jackson led UIC in scoring in both wins, tallying a career-high (and game-best) 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting against Murray State, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:02 left in the 2nd OT to give the Flames their first win over the Racers since 2006 (and first since joining the MVC). He then scored 17 points and converted a career-high 11-of-13 free throws (7-of-8 in the final 2:30) to seal the road win at Valparaiso, giving UIC its fifth conference win this year, its highest season total since joining the MVC in 2022-23.
 
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MVC Freshman of the Week:  Jaquan Johnson, Bradley -- The Braves were one of five league teams to go 2-0 last week as Bradley secured a 53-point home win against Indiana State and a double-digit road win against Murray State.  Johnson collected a career high in scoring (17) in seventeen minutes of game action against Indiana State with four rebounds, finishing one off his career high to go along with his stellar seven-rebound, five-assist, one turnover week.  He shot 67 percent from the floor for the week and was perfect from the foul line.
 
 
Tuesday, Jan. 21 Network Central
*Bradley at Belmont ESPN+ 6:30 PM
*Indiana State at Illinois State Marquee/ESPN+ 7:00 PM
*Missouri State at UNI ESPN+ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, Jan. 22 Network Central
*Murray State at Southern Illinois MVC TV/ESPN+ 6:00 PM
*Valparaiso at Drake MC22/ESPN+ 6:30 PM
*UIC at Evansville ESPN+ 7:00 PM
Saturday, Jan. 25 Network Central
*UNI at Indiana State ESPN+ 12:00 PM
*Illinois State at Bradley CBSSN 1:00 PM
*Southern Illinois at UIC ESPN+ 2:00 PM
*Drake at Missouri State ESPN+ 3:00 PM
*Belmont at Murray State ESPN+ 3:00 PM
*Evansville at Valparaiso ESPN+ 3:00 PM
 
*denotes MVC game
 
  • Nothing But Net -- The Missouri Valley Conference has six teams rated in the Top 125 of the NET, including two in the Top 70 (Drake-63; Bradley-65).  Seven MVC teams rank in the Top 135 of the KPI, led by Drake (39) and Bradley (49).  The MVC finished non-league play 82-48 (.631).  The league was 84-48 in non-league play during the regular season last year.  The league is rated 10th among Division I conferences (and finished 10th last year).  Here’s a snapshot of the league’s top-seven rated teams and their respective records against the top two Quads of the NET.
 
Metrics NET (Q1+2) KPI KenPom
Drake 63 (3-1) 39 72
Bradley 65 (3-3) 49 81
UNI 105 (2-4) 105 122
UIC 110 (2-3) 82 145
Belmont 123 (1-3) 71 136
Illinois State 124 (1-3) 133 149
Murray State 143 (3-4) 110 127
 
  • MVC in the NET -- Since 1992, 101 of 116 Missouri Valley Conference teams with regular-season NETs or RPIs (on Selection Sunday) in the Top 100 have participated in the postseason. A top-75 finish in the regular-season metric has secured all 75-such Valley teams a post-season berth.  Indiana State, Drake, and Bradley were in the Top 75 on Selection Sunday last year.  The league was No. 15 in 2022-23 and climbed to No. 10 in 2023-24.
 
  • The Close Ones -- So far, 23 of the league’s 48 conference games have been decided by six points or less or in overtime.  Belmont (5-1) has the most victories in games decided by six points or less.  Bradley (3-0) is the only league team to have a perfect record in “close” games.  There have been six league overtime contests.
 
  • Margin Call -- Bradley’s 53-point victory (118-65) over Indiana State on Jan. 15 tied for the fourth-largest margin of victory in league history.  It was the largest margin of victory in an MVC game for the Braves and largest margin in league play in 67 seasons.  Cincinnati holds the league record with a 70-point victory (127-57) over North Texas on Jan. 11, 1958.  The 118 points scored by the Braves tied for the seventh most in a league game (Cincinnati’s 127 is the record.)
 
  • Road Warriors -- League teams are 22-26 (.458) on the road during league play - that’s the best road win percentage in at least the past 10 seasons.  MVC teams were 40-50 (.444) on the road in league play during 2020-21, during which teams played back-to-back games at the same site due to COVID.  Teams were 47-73 (.392) in MVC road games last year.
 
  • UIC Picked 12th, at 5-3 -- UIC enters the week one game out of second place (and two out of first place in the MVC race).  The Flames were picked to finish last in the preseason poll.  Only one team in MVC history has finished in the Top 3 after being picked last in the league’s pre-season poll.  Drake, in 2017-18, was picked 10th and tied for third place.
 
Picked Last (or 2nd to Last) to Finish in Top 3
1988-89 - Creighton (picked 7th of 8) -- 1st
2007-08 - Drake (picked 9th of 10) -- 1st
2017-18 - Drake (picked 10th of 10) -- t3rd
2018-19 - Drake (picked 9th of 10) -- t1st
 
  • Helping Hands -- Three MVC players have had 10 or more games of 10+ points and 4+ assists this year.  Drake’s Bennett Stirtz leads the way as he has scored in double digits and added at least four assists in 17 of Drake’s 18 games.  As a team, Belmont leads the MVC in assists per game (17.3) and assist:turnover ratio (1.47).  The Bruins are the only MVC team with two players among the top six in assists per game:  Carter Whitt (3rd, 4.72) and Jonathan Pierre (6th, 3.89).  Stirtz leads the league (6.44 apg).
 
No. of Games with 10+ points and 4+ assists
17 -- Bennett Stirtz, Drake
12 -- Carter Whitt, Belmont
11 -- Duke Deen, Bradley
8 -- Tayshawn Comer, Evansville
8 -- Samage Teel, Indiana State
8 -- JaCobi Wood, Murray State
8 -- Ahmad Henderson II, UIC
 
  • Defending the Shot -- Bradley leads the MVC in field goal percentage defense (39.6). Since 2010, all but four teams that have led the MVC in FG percentage defense have played in the NCAA Tournament.  The Braves have led the league in field goal percentage defense in five of the past seven seasons. Bradley also leads the MVC (and ranks 13th nationally) in three-point field goal percentage defense (28.3).
 
  • Power Play -- With wins over Miami (ACC), Vanderbilt (SEC), and Kansas State (Big 12), Drake is the fifth MVC team in the past six seasons to have multiple wins against “Power” teams.  Indiana State had three-such wins last season (Minnesota, Cincinnati, Utah).  The only other MVC teams in the past 10 seasons to have three “Power” wins during the regular season were Loyola (2021-22) and UNI (2015-16) -- both were NCAA Tournament teams in those respective seasons.\
 
  • Tytan in Select Company -- UNI’s Tytan Anderson is just 14 assists shy of becoming the fourth player in team history (and UNI’s third as an MVC member) to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists in his career. Previous Panthers to reach this milestone include Seth Tuttle (2011-15), Eric Coleman (2004-08) and Ron Lemons (1975-79).  Only 21 players in MVC history have reached those statistical plateaus (1000p-700r-200a).  The last two to accomplish the feat were Donovan Clay (Valpo-MoState) and Cameron Krutwig (Loyola).\
 
  • Doing it With Defense -- Drake’s scoring defense of 57.1 is second in the NCAA, trailing Houston (55.0).  Only six MVC teams since 1979 have held teams to below 57.0 points per game for a season.  Also, only four teams in the past 20 seasons have allowed 58.0 or fewer points, recorded 9.0 steals per game, and held opponents to less than 43.0 field goal shooting -- Drake is one of those four.  Drake has held 12 opponents this year to their season low in scoring.
 
MVC Scoring Defense, Since 1970
54.6 UNI, 2014-15 NCAA 2nd Round
55.1 UNI, 2009-10 NCAA Sweet 16
56.1 Loyola, 2020-21 NCAA Sweet 16
56.2 S. Illinois, 2006-07 NCAA Sweet 16
56.5 S. Illinois, 2005-06 NCAA Sweet 16
56.8 MoState, 1991-92 NCAA 1st Round
57.1  Drake, 2024-25
57.4  Wichita St., 2015-16 NCAA 2nd Round
57.8  UNI, 2005-06 NCAA 1st Round
 
Opp. FG Pct. SPG PPG
Drake (2024-25) 42.7 9.1 57.1
Houston (2023-24) 37.9 9.8 57.6
Holy Cross (2006-07) 41.4 9.5 57.5
Savannah St. (2012-13) 39.1 9 55.5
 
  • Wardle Moving Up Charts -- Following the Bradley win at Murray State on Jan. 18, coach Brian Wardle moved into second place in all-time MVC wins at Bradley with his 92nd MVC win passing Joe Stowell (91). Jim Molinari sits in first with 110. Bradley’s 7-1 start in league play is tied for the second best in program history, last done in 1993-94, (BU’s best start was in 1985-86 when it went an unbeaten 16-0 in league play.)
 
Most MVC Wins (Conference Games Only)
200 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
187 -- Henry Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
182 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
163 -- Eddie Hickey, CU/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58)
155 -- Barry Hinson, MOST/SIU (1999-08; 2012-19)
134 -- Gregg Marshall, Wichita State (2007-17)
126 -- Phog Allen, Kansas (1907-09; 1919-28)
111 -- Rich Herrin, Southern Illinois (1985-97)
110 -- Jim Molinari, Bradley (1991-02)
106 -- Porter Moser, ILS/LUC (2003-07; 2013-21)
102 -- Greg Lansing, Indiana State (2010-21)
95 -- Maury John, Drake (1958-71)
92 -- Brian Wardle, Bradley (2015-present)
 
  • Home Cooking -- Four league teams were perfect in non-league home games this year.  Bradley (6-0), Drake (6-0); Missouri State (5-0); and UIC (4-0) all went undefeated at home in non-league play.  Drake has won 49-straight non-league games at home, which is third-best in MVC history. 
 
Best MVC Non-Conf Home Streaks
61 - Bradley (Dec. 1962 - Dec. 1969)
51 - Cincinnati (Dec. 1957 - Dec. 1963)
49 - Drake (Dec. 2016 - current)
 
  • Roster Rebuilds -- Only three MVC teams returned more than eight players who were on their rosters last year (Bradley, Evansville, UNI).  On average, MVC squads have 9.7 new players per team (116 total players across the MVC were not on their current rosters last year).  Ten players started their careers at another MVC program and transferred to their current school.
 
 
The Valley Runs Deep
  • The Conference has a rich tradition of success in postseason play. In league history, 18 teams have reached the men’s NCAA Final Four, and the MVC owns four NCAA men’s basketball titles and seven NIT crowns.  Indiana State reached the title game of the NIT in 2024.
  • Notably, MVC teams are 12-4 in their first game in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 2012. The league has now combined for 20 wins in the NCAA Tournament in the past 11 NCAA championships and has earned multiple bids 16 times since 1994.
  • MVC teams have 42 total wins in the NCAA Tournament since 1994 with 12 Sweet 16 trips and two Final Four appearances. Notably, 31 of 42 victories have been against Power conferences, and the league has a winning record in that span against Big 12 and SEC schools.
  • In 2023-24, the Missouri Valley Conference sent a total of four teams to postseason play as Drake competed against Washington State in the NCAA Tournament, Bradley and Indiana State participated in the NIT, and Evansville played in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The Valley posted a total of five NIT victories, as Indiana State reached the title game, collecting wins over SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Utah.  Bradley defeated Loyola in the first round of the NIT.  Evansville split a pair of games in the CBI.