This week's MVC weekly award winners include: Bennett Stirtz, Drake; Tayshawn Comer, Evansville; and All Wright, Valparaiso.
MVC Player of the Week: Bennett Stirtz, Drake
MVC Newcomer of the Week: Tayshawn Comer, Evansville
MVC Freshman of the Week: All Wright, Valparaiso
Stirtz averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in Drake’s two wins over UIC and UNI this past week improving the Bulldogs’ overall record to 25-3, while helping the Bulldogs clinch at least a share of the MVC regular-season title ... led the Bulldogs in scoring in both contests going for 25 points against UIC and delivered 26 points on the road at UNI. The junior went 18-for-34 (55%) from the field over Drake’s two games and shot efficiently from beyond the arc going 8-for-13 (62%) … Against UNI, Stirtz recorded his third double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds with his 10 boards marking a career high … he hit a season high five three pointers against the Panthers including the game sealer with 12 seconds remaining in overtime … Played a total of 83 minutes of the possible 85 in Drake’s two games.
Comer averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in road contests at Indiana State and UIC. He played all 80 minutes and shot 41.9% from the field, 46.2% from outside and 78.6% from the line. In the win over the Sycamores, Comer scored 21 points and picked up five boards and five assists while picking up two steals. Comer followed that up with 22 points, seven boards, and seven assists at UIC.
Wright averaged 26.5 points per game over two games this week, shooting 42.9 percent from 3 (6-of-14) and 93.8 percent from the free-throw line (15-of-16) to help his team go 2-0 with wins over Missouri State and Southern Illinois. He drove to the basket and made a difficult layup that was the game-winning shot with two seconds remaining in a 66-64 win over Missouri State. Wright scored 22 of his game-high 24 points after halftime against the Bears, including 20 in the final 11:06 and 16 in the final 6:20. He followed that up with 29 points, all in the game’s final 28 minutes, to help Valpo erase a 16-point deficit and beat Southern Illinois 83-79 on Saturday. Wright, who has scored 20 points or more six times in his last eight games, scored 16 points in the final eight minutes of the first half in Carbondale. The 29 points marked the second-highest scoring output of his freshman season.
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)
| Tuesday, Feb. 25 |
Network |
Central |
| *Illinois State at Southern Illinois |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Indiana State at Murray State |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| |
|
|
| Wednesday, Feb. 26 |
Network |
Central |
| *UIC at UNI |
MVC TV/ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *Drake at Evansville |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Belmont at Missouri State |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Bradley at Valparaiso |
MVC TV/ESPN+ |
8:00 PM |
| |
|
|
| Sunday, March 2 |
Network |
Central |
| *Southern Illinois at Indiana State |
ESPN+ |
12 PM |
| *UNI at Bradley |
ESPN2/ESPN+ |
1:00 PM |
| *Missouri State at Drake |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
| *Evansville at Illinois State |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
| *Murray State at Belmont |
CBSSN |
2:00 PM |
| *Valparaiso at UIC |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
*denotes MVC game
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. Belmont (19) and UNI (19) could reach 20 victories prior to Arch Madness. Only once in MVC history have four teams entered the Conference tournament with 20 wins (2023).
| 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 |
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 -- With its overtime win at UNI on Feb. 23, Drake secured its ninth all-time regular-season MVC crown in men’s basketball (and first since 2019).
| MVC MBB Titles |
Regular Season* |
MVC Tournament |
| Belmont |
-- |
-- |
| Bradley |
7 (2023) |
4 (2020) |
| Drake |
9 (2025) |
3 (2024) |
| Evansville |
1 (1999) |
none |
| UIC |
-- |
-- |
| Illinois State |
6 (2017) |
4 (1998) |
| Indiana State |
3 (2024) |
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 |
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 the fifth MVC player in the last 50 years to record 1,200 points, 750 rebounds, 200 assists, and 145 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 |
| Marcus Timmons, SIU, 1992-95 |
1434 |
999 |
343 |
211 |
| Matt Renn, INS, 1997-01 |
1347 |
789 |
262 |
165 |
| Tytan Anderson, UNI, 2020-25 |
1324 |
778 |
207 |
147 |
Road Warriors -- League teams are 51-56 in road Conference games this season. That win percentage in league games is second-highest nationally, trailing on the Southern Conference (40-40, .500). If Drake wins at Evansville on Wednesday, it will complete its season with a 9-1 record on the road in league play - that would be the fourth-best road record in league play since 1975-76 (50 seasons).
| Team |
Season |
Rec. |
Place |
Post |
| Wichita St. |
2013-14 |
9-0 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Indiana St. |
1978-79 |
9-0 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Bradley |
1985-86 |
8-0 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Drake |
2024-25 |
8-1 |
1st |
|
| Illinois St. |
1997-98 |
8-1 |
1st |
NCAA |
| S. Illinois |
2003-04 |
8-1 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Wichita St. |
2011-12 |
8-1 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Wichita St. |
2014-15 |
8-1 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Wichita St. |
2015-16 |
8-1 |
1st |
NCAA |
| Wichita St. |
1982-83 |
8-1 |
1st |
* |
| Wichita St. |
2010-11 |
8-1 |
2nd |
NIT |
| UNI |
2008-09 |
8-1 |
t1st |
NCAA |
| Wichita St. |
2016-17 |
8-1 |
t1st |
NCAA |
| Illinois St. |
2016-17 |
8-1 |
t1st |
NIT |
| *probation |
|
|
|
|
Nothing But NET -- The Missouri Valley has seven teams rated in the Top 150 of the NET, including three in the Top 100 (Drake-58; Bradley-84; UNI-91). The MVC ranks 10th as a Conference in the NET rankings. Here’s a snapshot of the league’s top-7 rated teams and their respective records against the top two Quads of the NET. There are 74 NCAA Division I teams that have a winning record against DI opponents and four or more wins against teams from the top two quadrants. Of those 74 teams, only 35 have a winning record against the top two quadrants, including Drake (5-1) and UIC (4-2). Drake’s .833 percentage in those opportunities only trails Auburn (.905). UIC is tied for 19th on the list.
| Metrics |
NET (Q1+2) |
KPI |
KenPom |
| Drake |
58 (5-1) |
35 |
59 |
| Bradley |
84 (3-5) |
57 |
95 |
| UNI |
91 (2-6) |
77 |
98 |
| Illinois St. |
112 (2-5) |
108 |
133 |
| UIC |
135 (4-2) |
115 |
149 |
| Belmont |
138 (2-4) |
98 |
142 |
| Murray St. |
148 (3-6) |
130 |
144 |
| Top 5 (Winning Percentage vs. Q1/Q2) |
| Auburn |
SEC |
19-2 |
0.905 |
| Drake |
MVC |
5-1 |
0.833 |
| Florida |
SEC |
14-3 |
0.824 |
| Houston |
Big 12 |
15-4 |
0.789 |
| Duke |
ACC |
11-3 |
0.786 |
In Some Other Metrics -- According to EvanMiya.com, Drake’s “resume” ranks No. 32 nationally with a projected NCAA Tournament seed line of 6-7-8. Bradley is No. 65 in that same report as the MVC’s next-highest rated team. If RPI was still a thing (it’s not a tool used in selection), Drake is 32; Bradley is 53; and UNI is 79. Drake ranks fifth among mid-major programs in Bart Torvik’s “wins above bubble” report.
Leading the Nation in Wins -- Drake (25-3) is tied for the national lead in victories and is second in winning percentage (89.3) behind Auburn (92.6). Bradley’s 22 wins are tied for 12th best in the NCAA.
“Rookie” Coaching Records -- Drake’s Ben McCollum is the 21st MVC head coach to earn the league’s regular-season crown in his first year with a league school. He is the third Drake coach to do so, joining Keno Davis (2008) and Darian DeVries (2019). With 25 wins, he’s among the most successful first-year league coaches.
| Coach, Team |
Season |
All |
MVC |
| Bill Hodges, Ind. St. |
1978-79 |
33-1 |
1st |
| Keno Davis, Drake |
2007-08 |
28-5 |
1st |
| Ed Jucker, Cincinnati |
1960-61 |
27-3 |
1st |
| Chris Lowery, SIU |
2004-05 |
27-8 |
1st |
| Denny Crum, Louisville |
1971-72 |
26-5 |
1st |
| Nolan Richardson, Tulsa |
1980-81 |
26-7 |
2nd |
| Ben McCollum, Drake |
2024-25 |
25-3 |
1st |
| Matt Painter, SIU |
2003-04 |
25-5 |
1st |
| Tim Jankovich, Illinois St. |
2007-08 |
25-10 |
2nd |
| Drew Valentine, Loyola |
2021-22 |
25-8 |
t2nd |
| ^Eddie Hickey, SLU |
1947-48 |
24-3 |
2nd |
| Darian DeVries, Drake |
2018-19 |
24-10 |
t1st |
| ^coached in league with CU before Saint Louis |
|
|
Hampton Stars for Bears -- Over his last 7 appearances, Missouri State’s Jalen Hampton (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) is shooting 32-of-39 (.821) from the field while averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. During the month of February (six games for Hampton), he’s the only player in the nation to shoot 80 percent from the floor (80.0), with averages of 10.0 points (10.3) and 5.0 rebounds (5.5).
Valpo Point Peaks -- After notching the team’s highest scoring output in league play with 101 vs. Belmont on Feb. 12, Valpo turned in its highest road point total since joining the league in the 83-79 victory at Southern Illinois on Feb. 22. This represented Valpo’s highest road scoring output in a league game since Feb. 24, 2017, at Wright State, an 84-74 win.
Winning Away From Home -- Drake has 12 wins away from the Knapp Center (nine road games, three neutral games) and Bradley has 10 away/neutral site victories. Those rank among the best in the nation for wins away from home.
Wild Finishes -- All six MVC games this past weekend (Feb. 22-23) were decided by two possessions. This season, 52 of the league’s 108 games have been decided by six points or less or went into overtime. Bradley has the best record in those as it is 7-1 in “close” games, with three OT victories. Belmont has the most wins in “close” games (8), while Illinois State (12 times with a 6-6 record) has the most-such games. Missouri State is 0-9 in games decided in overtime or by six points or less. There have been nine overtime games -- Bradley and Drake are both 3-0 in MVC OT contests.
Rally Time -- An MVC team has fallen behind by 16 or more points in a game this year and rallied to win five times this season. Three of those were this past week.
Date -- Final Score (Deficit)
12/20 -- Valparaiso 76, W. Michigan 73 (22)
02/19 -- UNI 82, Belmont 75 (19)
11/19 -- Belmont 90, Oral Roberts 80 (17)
02/22 -- Bradley 85, Murray St. 83 (ot) (16)
02/22 -- Valparaiso 83, S. Illinois 79 (16)
The Only One -- Drake’s Bennett Stirtz leads the MVC in scoring (18.96), assists (6.00) and steals (2.29). 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, who leads the nation in minutes per game, is the only player in the NCAA to lead his conference in scoring, assists, and steals.
Two Approaching 100 -- A pair of MVC players are approaching 100 made three-pointers. Duke Deen of Bradley and Tyler Lundblade of Belmont each have 91. Mitch Mascari of Drake is third-best in the MVC, with 82 makes.
Three-Pointers -- First-Year Players
113 Isaiah Swope, Indiana State (2023-24) Jr.
111 Courvoisier McCauley, INS (2022-23) Sr.
109 Ryan Conwell, Indiana State (2023-24), So.
103 Adam Leonard, Missouri State (2009-10), Jr.
97 Drew Friberg, Belmont (2022-23) Gr.
93 Troy Hudson, Southern Illinois (1995-96), Jr.
91 Tyler Lundblade, Belmont (2024-25), Jr.
Three-Pointers Made -- Season
134 Troy Hudson, Southern Illinois, 1996-97
129 Kyle Korver, Creighton, 2002-03
118 Jeremy Crouch, Bradley, 2007-08
117 Jordan Barnes, Indiana State, 2017-18
113 Isaiah Swope, Indiana State, 2023-24
111 Courvoisier McCauley, Indiana State, 2022-23
109 Ryan Conwell, Indiana State, 2023-24
103 Adam Leonard, Missouri State, 2009-10
100 Kyle Korver, Creighton, 2000-01
Playtime -- A pair of current MVC players are climbing the leaderboard for career games played. According to Basketball Reference, here are the MVC leaders for career games played (at an MVC school).
| Player, School |
Seasons |
GP |
Starts |
| Garrett Sturtz, Drake |
2018-23 |
167 |
74 |
| D.J. Wilkins, Drake |
2018-23 |
162 |
161 |
| Donovan Clay, VU/MSU |
2019-24 |
160 |
153 |
| Lucas Williamson, Loyola |
2017-22 |
150 |
116 |
| Noah Frederking, UE |
2017-22 |
150 |
88 |
| Dalton Banks, SIU/ILS |
2020-25 |
150 |
74 |
| Tywhon Pickford, UNI |
2017-22 |
146 |
83 |
| Darius Hannah, BRAD |
2020-25 |
144 |
81 |
| Kenny Lawson Jr, CU |
2006-11 |
143 |
107 |
| Antoine Young, CU |
2008-12 |
142 |
107 |
| three players at 141 |
|
|
|
Defending the Shot -- Bradley leads the MVC in field goal percentage defense (40.8). 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 (31.8; behind Drake at 30.7). 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.
?
From the Line -- A pair from the MVC is shooting 90.0 percent (or better) from the free throw stripe this season. UIC’s Ahmad Henderson II leads the Conference at 91.7 (99 of 108). K’mani Doughty of Indiana State is 90.0 (63 of 70). Henderson ranks 7th nationally. Only five MVC players on record have hit 91.7 from the stripe for an entire season. (Blake Ahearn of Missouri State did it all four years of his career.)
Free Throw Percentage -- Season
.975 Blake Ahearn, Missouri St., 2003-04
.949 Rick Fields, Indiana State, 1982-83
.947 Blake Ahearn, Missouri St., 2004-05
.936 Blake Ahearn, Missouri St., 2005-06
.930 Mike Glenn, Southern Illinois, 1976-77
.925 Blake Ahearn, Missouri St., 2006-07
.920 Vince Greene, Illinois State, 2004-05
.917 Ahmad Henderson II, UIC, 2024-25
.917 AJ Green, UNI, 2019-20
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.