This week's Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball players of the week are Tyler Lundblade of Belmont; Bennett Stirtz of Drake; and All Wright of Valparaiso.
MVC MBB Weekly Notebook (PDF)
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE 2024-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL (@ValleyHoops)
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Rankings Summary (Sort by Team or Conf)
| Tuesday, Feb. 11 |
Network |
Central |
| *UIC at Murray State |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Indiana State at UNI |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, Feb. 12 |
Network |
Central |
| *Southern Illinois at Bradley |
MVC TV/ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *Belmont at Valparaiso |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Evansville at Missouri State |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Drake at Illinois State |
MVC TV/ESPN+ |
8:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, Feb. 15 |
Network |
Central |
| *Illinois State at Indiana State |
ESPN+ |
12:00 PM |
| *Belmont at Southern Illinois |
ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Sunday, Feb. 16 |
Network |
Central |
| *Bradley at Drake |
EU or E2/ESPN+ |
1:00 PM |
| *Missouri State at UIC |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
| *UNI at Murray State |
ESPN+ |
4:00 PM |
| *Valparaiso at Evansville |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
*denotes MVC game
MVC Player of the Week
Tyler Lundblade, Belmont
G, 6-5, 210, Jr., Dallas, Texas (Greensboro Day School / TCU / SMU)
Lundblade delivered two of the top shooting performances in recent memory in leading Belmont to victories over Bradley and Missouri State this past week. The Dallas, Texas, native recorded new career highs in scoring in consecutive games, posting 25 points at Bradley and 27 points vs. Missouri State. Lundblade went a remarkable 17-for-28 from 3-point distance in the two games. His nine 3-pointers vs. Missouri State were one shy of a Curb Event Center single-game record. Lundblade leads the MVC in effective field goal percentage in conference games. The nine treys are a league single-game best this season and are tied for the third-most in a game in MVC history.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
G, 6-4, 180, Jr., Liberty, Mo. (Liberty HS / Northwest Missouri State)
Stirtz averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in Drake’s two wins over Murray State and Indiana State…led the Bulldogs in scoring in both contests going for 23 points vs. the Racers and 20 points vs. the Sycamores…went 16-for-33 (48%) from the field over Drake’s two games including a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe… Against Indiana State, scored 13 of 20 points in the second half and overtime to guide Drake to its 10th consecutive win and improve to 3-0 in overtime contests this season…Logged 84 out of a possible 85 minutes played in Drake’s two games.
MVC Freshman of the Week
All Wright, Valparaiso
G, 6-3, 180, Fr., Durango, Mexico (Link Year)
Valpo freshman All Wright averaged 19.5 points per game over two contests this week while also pulling down 4.0 rebounds per outing and shooting 80 percent (12-of-15) at the free-throw line. Wright’s week was highlighted by Wednesday’s game at Indiana State, when he tallied a career-high 32 points, breaking the known Valpo freshman single-game scoring record. He recorded the third-most points in a single game by any Missouri Valley Conference player this season and the second-highest in league play. In addition, he had the highest scoring output by an MVC rookie since Bradley’s Darrell Brown in November 2016 and the highest by a Valley rookie in league play since Indiana State Marico Stinson in December 2006.
Leading the Nation in Wins -- Drake (22-2) leads the NCAA in victories and in winning percentage (91.7).
| 1. Drake (MVC) |
22-2 |
91.7 |
| 2. Auburn (SEC) |
21-2 |
91.3 |
| 3. Utah St. (Mtn West) |
21-3 |
87.5 |
| 3. St. John’s (Big East) |
21-3 |
87.5 |
| 5. Florida (SEC) |
20-3 |
87.0 |
| 5. Duke (ACC) |
20-3 |
87.0 |
| 5. Alabama (SEC) |
20-3 |
87.0 |
| 8. Saint Mary’s (WCC) |
21-4 |
84.0 |
What’s Left -- Drake (22-2, 12-2 MVC) enters the final three weeks of the regular season race with a three-game lead over second-place Bradley (19-6, 14-4 MVC) and UNI (16-9, 14-4 MVC). Every MVC regular-season champion since 2013 had the lead (or shared it) with six games remaining in the league slate. Since 1991-92, no MVC team with a two-game lead withsix games remaining failed to win the league.
|
FEB 10-16 |
FEB 17-23 |
FEB 24-M2 |
| BEL |
at VU |
at SIU |
UNI |
INS |
at MSU |
MUR |
| BU |
SIU |
at DU |
at ILS |
MUR |
at VU |
UNI |
| DU |
at ILS |
BU |
UIC |
at UNI |
at UE |
MSU |
| UE |
at MSU |
VU |
at INS |
at UIC |
DU |
at ILS |
| UIC |
at MUR |
MSU |
at DU |
UE |
at UNI |
VU |
| ILS |
DU |
at INS |
BU |
at MSU |
at SIU |
UE |
| INS |
at UNI |
ILS |
UE |
at BEL |
at MUR |
SIU |
| MSU |
UE |
at UIC |
at VU |
ILS |
BEL |
at DU |
| MUR |
UIC |
UNI |
SIU |
at BU |
INS |
at BEL |
| UNI |
INS |
at MUR |
at BEL |
DU |
UIC |
at BU |
| SIU |
at BU |
BEL |
at MUR |
VU |
ILS |
at INS |
| VU |
BEL |
at UE |
MSU |
at SIU |
BU |
at UIC |
Nothing But NET -- The Missouri Valley has six teams rated in the Top 125 of the NET, including three in the Top 100 (Drake-57; Bradley-83; UNI-95). The MVC ranks 10th as a Conference in the NET rankings. Here’s a snapshot of the league’s top-six rated teams and their respective records against the top two Quads of the NET.
| Metrics |
NET (Q1+2) |
KPI |
KenPom |
| Drake |
57 (3-1) |
42 |
61 |
| Bradley |
83 (3-4) |
63 |
95 |
| UNI |
95 (2-4) |
86 |
108 |
| Illinois St. |
113 (2-5) |
111 |
137 |
| UIC |
117 (4-2) |
103 |
136 |
| Belmont |
122 (2-4) |
84 |
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 made postseason play. A top-75 finish in the regular-season metric has secured all 75-such Valley teams a post-season berth.
Getting to 20 Wins -- In the league’s 118-year history, a total of 205 men’s basketball teams have won 20+ games, including Drake this season. Bradley could reach 20 wins on Feb. 12 when it hosts Southern Illinois. Only 41 teams in MVC history have earned their 20th victory on Feb. 12 or earlier. Below are the earliest dates on which an MVC team won its 20th game.
| Season |
Team |
Final |
20th Win |
| 2013-14 |
Wichita State |
35-1 |
Jan. 22 |
| 1985-86 |
Bradley |
32-3 |
Jan. 25 |
| 2011-12 |
Creighton |
29-6 |
Jan. 28 |
| 2014-15 |
UNI |
31-4 |
Jan. 31 |
| 2024-25 |
Drake |
|
Feb. 1 |
| 2016-17 |
Wichita State |
31-5 |
Feb. 1 |
| 2007-08 |
Drake |
28-5 |
Feb. 2 |
| 2012-13 |
Creighton |
28-8 |
Feb. 2 |
On the MVC Road -- MVC teams are 42-42 (.500) in league road games this year. Teams were 47-73 (.392) in MVC road games last year. The 50.0 win percentage is the best in the MVC in at least the past 30 seasons. Only the Ivy League (60.7; 17-11) has had better road success in its league games this year.
Since 1975-76 (50 seasons), a total of 107 MVC teams have had a winning road record in league play.Eighty-eight of the previous 107 teams to do so have reached post-season play (57 NCAA, 28 NIT, 2 CBI, 1 CIT).Fifty of the previous 107 teams won (or shared) the league regular-season title.Only one team (UNI in 2006) failed to finish fourth or better in the league standings.
Road Records in MVC Play, Last 30 Years
| Season |
Rec. |
Pct. |
Top MVC Teams (Rec.) |
| 2024-25 |
42-42 |
0.500 |
DU/BRAD (6-1) |
| 2020-21 |
40-50 |
0.444 |
DU/MOST/LUC (7-2) |
| 2018-19 |
29-41 |
0.414 |
MSU (5-3); BU/DU (4-3) |
| 1997-98 |
36-54 |
0.400 |
ILS (8-1); CU/WSU (5-4) |
| 2015-16 |
36-54 |
0.400 |
WSU (8-1); UE (6-3) |
| 2008-09 |
36-54 |
0.400 |
UNI (8-1); CU (7-2) |
Close Games -- So far, 40 of the league’s 84 conference games have been decided by six points or less or in overtime. Belmont (6-3) has the most victories in games decided by six points or less. There have been eight league overtime contests. Illinois State has played in the most MVC games decided by six points or less (11).
Doing it With Defense -- Drake’s scoring defense of 58.5 is second in the NCAA, trailing Houston (57.0). Only 10 MVC teams since 1979 have held teams to 58.0 points per game for a season -- all 10 have played in the NCAA Tournament. Also, only 10 NCAA teams in the past 20 seasons have allowed 60.0 or fewer points, recorded 9.0 steals per game, and held opponents to 44.0 field goal shooting -- Drake is one of those 10.
Defending the Shot -- Bradley leads the MVC in field goal percentage defense (40.3). Since 2010, all but four teams that have led the MVC in that statistic have played in the NCAA Tournament. Bradley is second in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage defense (31.1; behind Drake at 30.2). The last four teams to lead the MVC in both field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense have played in the NCAA Tournament.
MVC Teams to Lead League in Both FG Pct. Defense AND 3FG Pct. Defense
1988 -- Illinois State [NIT]
1989 -- Creighton [NCAA]
1991 -- Tulsa [NIT]
1995 -- Evansville
1998 -- Bradley
1999 -- Bradley [NIT]
2004 -- Wichita State [NIT]
2009 -- Illinois State [NIT]
2014 -- Wichita State [NCAA]
2015 -- UNI [NCAA]
2017 -- Wichita State [NCAA]
2023 -- Drake [NCAA]
Tytan in Select Company -- UNI’s Tytan Anderson is just one assist shy of becoming the ninth MVC player in the last 50 years to record 1,200 points, 750 rebounds, 200 assists, and 125 steals in a career.
| Player |
Pts. |
Reb. |
Ast. |
Stl. |
| Hersey Hawkins, BU, 1984-88 |
3008 |
818 |
400 |
259 |
| Larry Bird, INS, 1976-79 |
2850 |
1247 |
435 |
240 |
| J.J. Anderson, BU, 1978-82 |
2341 |
947 |
267 |
134 |
| Seth Tuttle, UNI, 2011-14 |
1747 |
917 |
282 |
126 |
| Marcus Timmons, SIU, 1992-95 |
1434 |
999 |
343 |
211 |
| Herb Johnson, TU, 1981-85 |
1372 |
764 |
206 |
143 |
| Matt Renn, INS, 1997-01 |
1347 |
789 |
262 |
165 |
| Tytan Anderson, UNI, 2020-25 |
1235 |
751 |
199 |
142 |
Stirtz Stuff -- Drake’s Bennett Stirtz is the only player in the nation to lead his league in scoring (18.6), assists (6.2), and steals (2.4). Only two others on record have done so in MVC history: Anthony Manuel of Bradley (1989), and Curt Smith of Drake (1993). It’s believed Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati (1958-59-60) also accomplished the feat, but assists (1984) and steals (1986) were not an official NCAA statistic at the time. Stirtz leads the nation in minutes per game.
Making Shots –
- Led by Illinois State at 57.8 percent (4th in the NCAA), six MVC teams rank in the Top 50 in the NCAA in effective field goal percentage. Bradley (8th, 57.6) joins ISU in the national Top 10.
- UNI’s overall field goal percentage of 49.5 leads the MVC and ranks seventh in the nation. Three other MVC teams rank among the Top 30, including Drake (15th, 49.2); Bradley (22nd, 48.7); and Illinois State (27th, 48.4).
- Two MVC teams rank in the Top 10 nationally in three-point field goal percentage. Bradley is second in the NCAA (40.3), and Illinois State is 7th (39.4). Notably, the Redbirds finished 12th from the bottom in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage last year (29.2).
- Valparaiso’s 77.8 field goal percentage leads the league (19th nationally) and is among the Top 7 all-time in the MVC.
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.
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.
Imbalanced Schedule -- As part of the league’s 20-game schedule, MVC teams play nine teams home and away, and play the remaining two teams once (one game at home and one game away).
| 2024-25 |
Only Home |
Only on Road |
| BEL |
UIC (W) |
at DU (L) |
| BRAD |
MOST (W) |
at UE (W) |
| DU |
BEL (W) |
at SIU (W) |
| UE |
BRAD (L) |
at UNI (L) |
| UIC |
INS (L) |
at BEL (L) |
| ILS |
VALPO (W) |
at MUR (W) |
| INS |
SIU (March 2) |
at UIC (W) |
| MOST |
MUR (W) |
at BRAD (L) |
| MUR |
ILS (L) |
at MOST (L) |
| UNI |
UE (W) |
at VALPO (L) |
| SIU |
DU (L) |
at INS (March 2) |
| VALPO |
UNI (W) |
at ILS (L) |
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.