This week's Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball players of the week include Duke Deen of Bradley; Samage Teel of Indiana State; and All Wright of Valparaiso.
Click Here for PDF Release
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE 2024-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL (@ValleyHoops)
2024-25 MVC Stats (PDF) |
NCAA Statistics |
MVC Standings
MVC Media Guide |
MVC Composite Schedule |
MVC NBA Draft Database
NET Rankings & NET Archive |
RPI Archive |
Rankings Summary (Sort by Team or Conf)
| Wednesday, Feb. 19 |
Network |
Central |
| *Evansville at Indiana State |
MVC TV/ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *Murray State at Southern Illinois |
ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *UNI at Belmont |
ESPN+ |
6:30 PM |
| *UIC at Drake |
ESPN+ |
6:30 PM |
| *Missouri State at Valparaiso |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Bradley at Illinois State |
CBSSN |
7:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, Feb. 22 |
Network |
Central |
| *Evansville at UIC |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
| *Murray State at Bradley |
ESPNU/ESPN+ |
5:00 PM |
| *Indiana State at Belmont |
ESPN+ |
5:00 PM |
| *Valparaiso at Southern Illinois |
ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *Illinois State at Missouri State |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Sunday, Feb. 23 |
Network |
Central |
| *Drake at UNI |
ESPN2/ESPN+ |
3:00 PM |
*denotes MVC game
Switcheroo -- Due to a campus power outage at Murray State, the Murray State-UNI men’s basketball’s game scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, was moved to Feb. 17 and played in Nashville, Tenn. (at Belmont). The last three league games played on a neutral court also involved UNI: Dec. 17, 1994, vs. Wichita State; Dec. 31, 1994, vs. Bradley; and Jan. 8, 1995, vs. Drake. All three games were moved to what was then called U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, due to a UNI-Dome roof collapse.
Switcheroo, Part II -- The Murray State-Southern Illinois contest scheduled for Wednesday will now be played in Carbondale, Ill. Additionally, the Conference has selected the Evansville at Indiana State game on Wednesday for linear distribution on Gray Media affiliate and non-affiliate stations and national digital distribution on ESPN+. Originally, the league had selected the SIU-MUR contest but made the decision to choose another game for its network package due to the power outages on Murray State’s campus.
Super Sophomores -- With Chase Walker (16.0) and Johnny Kinziger (15.2) each averaging over 15 points per game, Illinois State is one of just two schools in the country with two sophomores that average at least 15 points per game, along with Toledo.
Cooper’s Crazy Game -- Valpo’s Cooper Schwieger posted a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds in the Feb. 12 win over Belmont. He became the first Valpo player with at least 27 points and 13 rebounds in a game since Javon Freeman-Liberty (30&13) on Nov. 12, 2019, at SIUE. Schwieger also rejected three shots, becoming the first Valpo player with a 27-point, 13-rebound, three-block performance in at least 35 years, probably ever. He became just the eighth player in the country to post such a stat line this season and the first Missouri Valley Conference player to do so since Illinois State’s Sy Chatman (29-13-4) on Nov. 12, 2021, at Eastern Michigan.
Road Warriors -- Drake (8-1) and Bradley (7-2) are among the nation’s leaders in road winning percentage this season. MVC teams are 45-50 (.473) in league road games this year. Teams were 47-73 (.392) in MVC road games last year. The 47.3 win percentage is the best in the MVC in at least the past 30 seasons.
| Team |
Conf. |
W-L |
Pct. |
| Houston |
Big 12 |
7-0 |
1.000 |
| Drake |
MVC |
8-1 |
0.889 |
| Duke |
ACC |
8-1 |
0.889 |
| Alabama |
SEC |
8-1 |
0.889 |
| Auburn |
SEC |
7-1 |
0.875 |
| Saint Mary’s |
WCC |
7-1 |
0.875 |
| Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
6-1 |
0.857 |
| San Diego |
Big West |
9-2 |
0.818 |
| Memphis |
American |
8-2 |
0.800 |
| McNeese |
Southland |
8-2 |
0.800 |
| Louisville |
ACC |
8-2 |
0.800 |
| Bradley |
MVC |
7-2 |
0.778 |
| Utah St. |
Mtn. West |
7-2 |
0.778 |
| Liberty |
CUSA |
7-2 |
0.778 |
What’s Left -- Four teams are still in the regular-season title chase: Drake (13-3); UNI (12-4); Bradley (12-4); and Belmont (10-6).
REMAINING GAMES
|
FEB 17-23 |
FEB 24-M2 |
| BEL |
UNI |
INS |
at MSU |
MUR |
| BU |
at ILS |
MUR |
at VU |
UNI |
| DU |
UIC |
at UNI |
at UE |
MSU |
| UE |
at INS |
at UIC |
DU |
at ILS |
| UIC |
at DU |
UE |
at UNI |
VU |
| ILS |
BU |
at MSU |
at SIU |
UE |
| INS |
UE |
at BEL |
at MUR |
SIU |
| MSU |
at VU |
ILS |
BEL |
at DU |
| MUR |
at SIU |
at BU |
INS |
at BEL |
| UNI |
at BEL |
DU |
UIC |
at BU |
| SIU |
MUR |
VU |
ILS |
at INS |
| VU |
MSU |
at SIU |
BU |
at UIC |
Getting to 20 Wins -- In the league’s 118-year history, a total of 206 men’s basketball teams have won 20+ games, including Bradley and Drake this season. Only 42 teams in MVC history have earned their 20th victory on Feb. 12 or earlier (including Bradley and Drake this year). Below are the earliest dates on which an MVC team won its 20th game. Drake (23-3) is tied for the national lead in victories and is second in winning percentage (88.5) behind Auburn.
| 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 |
| Auburn (SEC) |
23-2 |
92.0 |
| Drake (MVC) |
23-3 |
88.5 |
| Duke (ACC) |
23-3 |
88.5 |
| Saint Mary’s (WCC) |
23-4 |
85.2 |
| High Point (Big South) |
23-5 |
82.1 |
| Florida (SEC) |
22-3 |
88.0 |
| New Mexico (Mountain West) |
22-4 |
84.6 |
| Utah St. (Mountain West) |
22-4 |
84.6 |
| UC San Diego (Big West) |
22-4 |
84.6 |
| UC Irvine (Big West) |
22-4 |
84.6 |
| St. John’s (Big East) |
22-4 |
84.6 |
| Bradley (MVC) |
21-6 |
77.8 |
| 10 other teams with 21 wins |
|
|
Best at 25 -- In the past 30 years (since 1995-96), there have been six MVC teams that have won 23 or more games in the first 25 games of a season; the previous five teams each earned an NCAA bid.
| Season |
Team |
thru 25 |
Final |
| 2024-25 |
Drake |
23-2 |
|
| 2020-21 |
Drake |
23-2 |
26-5 |
| 2014-15 |
UNI |
23-2 |
31-4 |
| 2013-14 |
Wichita State |
25-0 |
35-1 |
| 2007-08 |
Drake |
23-2 |
28-5 |
| 2023-24 |
S. Illinois |
23-2 |
25-5 |
MVC Title Town -- In 2003-24, Indiana State earned its third all-time regular-season MVC crown in men’s basketball (and first since 2000).
| MVC MBB Titles |
Regular Season* |
MVC Tournament |
| Belmont |
-- |
-- |
| Bradley |
7 (2023) |
4 (2020) |
| Drake |
8 (2019) |
3 (2024) |
| Evansville |
1 (1999) |
none |
| UIC |
-- |
-- |
| Illinois State |
6 (2017) |
4 (1998) |
| Indiana State |
3 (2023) |
3 (2011) |
| Missouri State |
1 (2011) |
1 (1992) |
| Murray State |
-- |
-- |
| UNI |
4 (2022) |
5 (2016) |
| S. Illinois |
8 (2007) |
5 (2006) |
| Valparaiso |
-- |
-- |
| *includes outright and shared titles |
In Some Other Metrics -- According to EvanMiya.com, Drake’s “resume” ranks No. 33 nationally with a projected NCAA Tournament seed line of 9 or 10. Bradley is No. 63 in that same report. Drake ranks sixth among mid-major programs in Bart Torvik’s “wins above bubble” report.
| Team |
Conf. |
Rec. |
WAB |
| Memphis |
AAC |
21-5 |
3.7 |
| Saint Mary’s |
WCC |
23-4 |
3.5 |
| New Mexico |
MWC |
22-4 |
3.3 |
| Utah State |
MWC |
22-4 |
3.1 |
| San Diego St. |
MWC |
17-6 |
1.6 |
| Drake |
MVC |
23-3 |
1.6 |
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.
Three-Point Artist -- Belmont guard Tyler Lundblade is 30-for-46 from 3-point distance over his last four games. Here are the six NCAA Division I players in the past 20 seasons who have had a stretch of 30 three-pointers over a four-game period.
| No. |
Player, Team |
Date Range |
| 31 |
Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame |
N25-D2, 2008 |
| 30 |
Tyler Lundblade, Belmont |
F5-15, 2025 |
| 30 |
Antoine Davis, Detroit |
J14-27, 2023 |
| 30 |
Troy Daniels, VCU |
D21-J5, 2013 |
| 30 |
Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame |
N24-N30, 2008 |
| 30 |
Robert Vaden, UAB |
F23-M5, 2008 |
Teel Hits for 36 -- Indiana State’s Samage Teel scored 36 points in the Sycamore victory over Illinois State on Saturday, Feb. 15. That’s the second-best total in the league this year (UNI’s Leon Bond III had 37 points in a Dec. 16 game against Montana.) Teel’s 36 points are the most by a Sycamore since Dec. 30, 2006, when ISU’s Marico Stinson scored 37 against Drake.
Top-Scoring Games, MVC, Past 10 Years
43 -- Isiaih Mosley, MOST, 1/8/22 vs. UNI
41 -- Kale Abrahamson, DU, 11/23/15 vs. WKU
40 -- Isiaih Mosley, MOST, 1/22/22 vs. Loyola
39 -- Jaylon Brown, UE, 11/25/16 vs. Toledo
39 -- Reed Timmer, DU, 2/14/18 vs. Indiana State
39 -- Tucker DeVries, DU, 2/28/24 vs. UIC
38 -- Jeremy Morgan, UNI, 12/10/16 vs. N. Dakota
38 -- Ryan Taylor, UE, 12/14/16 vs. Norfolk State
38 -- Xavier Johnson, SIU, 11/21/23 vs. JMU
37 -- Deandre Williams, UE, 12/7/19 vs. Miami
37 -- Leon Bond III, UNI, 12/16/24 vs. Montana
36 -- Samage Teel, INS, 2/15/25 vs. Illinois State
36 -- six others
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.
MVC Player of the Week
Duke Deen, Bradley
G, 5-8, 170, 5th, Shreveport, La. (Bossier High / Troy)
Deen led the Braves to a 2-0 week following wins over Southern Illinois in Peoria and league-leader Drake in Des Moines. In both contests Deen led the Braves in scoring in including a season-high 25 points against SIU. During the Braves win over Drake, Deen recorded his 339th Bradley assist, which places him 15th all-time in BU history. He becomes the first BU player to accomplish that feat in three years or less (since Jim Les in 1986). Over the week, Deen connected on 50 percent of his shots from the floor (13-for-26) including a 53 percent mark from behind the arc (10 of 19) that fueled Deen’s week average of 18.5 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists per game. Bradley was the lone team in the week to go 2-0 last week.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Samage Teel, Indiana State
G, 6-2, 185, Sr., Greenville, N.C. (Farmville Central / Presbyterian)
Teel scored 36 points on Saturday in the win against Illinois State. It is the most points in a game by a Sycamore since 2006. He led Indiana State to a home MVC win with his career-high 36 points on 14-for-23 shooting, making 6-of-9 from downtown, also a career high. He recorded one rebound, four assists, two steals, and one block. In the two-game week, he averaged 28.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 5.0 APG shooting a combined 58.3% (21-of-36) from the field, 53.3% (8-of-15) from deep, and 87.5% (7-of-8) from the line. Against Illinois State, he scored seven of the team’s first nine points and when Indiana State was down by three with under seven minutes to play before Teel went on a personal 10-0 run that gave the Sycamores the lead for good. Earlier in the week, Teel scored 21 points that marked his third 20+ point game in the previous five, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line and dishing out a game-high six assists.
MVC Freshman of the Week
All Wright, Valparaiso
G, 6-3, 180, Fr., Durango, Mexico (Link Year)
Wright averaged 18.5 points per game over two games this week, going 9-for-9 at the free-throw line over the two contests. He has scored 17 points or more in five of his last six games including both games this week. He had a 20-point effort in Wednesday’s 101-86 victory over Belmont at the ARC.