To access the league’s most up-to-date player availability reports for men’s basketball, powered by HDI, visit here:
Click
- The State Farm MVC Tournament will be contested for the 50th time in 2026. This year's tournament is March 5-8, 2026, in St. Louis, Mo., at Enterprise Center.
- Nation’s Second Oldest -- Founded in 1907, the Missouri Valley Conference is the nation’s second-oldest Division I athletic conference (behind only the Big Ten). The MVC is celebrating its 119th season in 2025-26.
- Four Postseason Teams in 2025 — The Missouri Valley Conference had four teams in postseason play in men’s basketball as Drake (NCAA), Bradley (NIT), UNI (NIT), and Illinois State (CBI) represented the MVC. MVC schools have combined for 12 wins in post-season play the past two seasons. The six postseason wins in 2024-25 matches the ninth-best total in league history.
- 13-4 in NCAA First Round -- Including Drake in 2025, MVC teams are 13-4 in their first game in the NCAA tourney dating back to 2012. The league has combined for 21 wins in the NCAA Tournament in the past 12 NCAA championships and has had multiple bids 16 times since 1994.
Weekly Notebook (PDF)
Player of the Week: Jaquan Johnson, Bradley
Newcomer of the Week: Elijah Crawford, UIC
Freshman of the Week: JT Pettigrew, Valparaiso
| Wednesday, Feb. 18 |
Network |
Time (CT) |
| *Bradley at Valparaiso |
ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *UNI at Indiana State |
ESPN+ |
6:00 PM |
| *Southern Illinois at Drake |
ESPN+ |
6:30 PM |
| *UIC at Evansville |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Murray State at Illinois State |
ESPNU |
8:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, Feb. 21 |
Network |
Time (CT) |
| *Valparaiso at UIC |
ESPN+ |
2:00 PM |
| *Evansville at Murray State |
ESPN+ |
3:00 PM |
| *Southern Illinois at UNI |
ESPN+ |
5:00 PM |
| *Indiana State at Belmont |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Illinois State at Bradley |
ESPN2 |
7:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, Feb. 24 |
Network |
Time (CT) |
| *Bradley at UIC |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, Feb. 25 |
Network |
Time (CT) |
| *Illinois State at UNI |
ESPNU |
6:00 PM |
| *Evansville at Belmont |
ESPN+ |
6:30 PM |
| *Drake at Valparaiso |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
| *Indiana State at Southern Illinois |
ESPN+ |
7:00 PM |
*denotes MVC game
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE 2025-26 MEN’S BASKETBALL
2025-26 MVC Stats (PDF) |
NCAA Statistics |
MVC Standings
MVC Media Guide |
MVC Composite Schedule |
MVC NBA Draft Database
NET Rankings & NET Archive |
Statistics Rankings Summary (Sort by Team or Conf)
NATIONAL COLLEGE BASKETBALL SITES / METRICS
ESPN College Basketball Home |
CBS Sports College Basketball Home
EvanMiya CBB Home Page |
Bart Torvik CBB Home Page |
Bracketologists.Com Home Page
KenPom |
Valley Hoops Insider |
NCAA Division I MBB Home Page
Title Town -- With one more victory (or a Bradley loss), Belmont will secure at least a share of the 2025-26 MVC men’s basketball regular-season title.
What’s Left? -- Here’s the remaining schedule for league teams heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. (The Evansville-Southern Illinois meeting on March 1 is a rescheduled game from the weather-related postponement at Evansville).
| Team (Rec.) |
F18 |
F21 |
F24 |
F25 |
F28 |
M1 |
| BEL (14-3) |
-- |
INS |
-- |
UE |
-- |
at ILS |
| BRAD (11-5) |
at VU |
ILS |
at UIC |
-- |
-- |
MUR |
| MUR (11-6) |
at ILS |
UE |
-- |
-- |
-- |
at BU |
| UIC (10-6) |
UE |
VU |
BRAD |
-- |
-- |
at INS |
| ILS (9-7) |
MUR |
at BU |
-- |
at UNI |
-- |
BEL |
| UNI (9-7) |
at INS |
SIU |
-- |
ILS |
-- |
at DU |
| VALPO (8-8) |
BU |
at UIC |
-- |
DU |
at UE |
-- |
| SIU (6-10) |
at DU |
at UNI |
-- |
INS |
-- |
at UE |
| DU (6-11) |
SIU |
--- |
-- |
at VU |
-- |
UNI |
| INS (3-13) |
UNI |
at BEL |
-- |
at SIU |
-- |
UIC |
| UE (2-13) |
at UIC |
at MUR |
-- |
at BEL |
VU |
SIU |
Road Warriors -- Belmont is 11-2 in true road games this season after going 9-4 in true road games last year. Since 1975-76, only 18 MVC teams (all of them won the league’s regular-season title) have won 10 or more road games in a season. Sixteen played in the NCAA Tournament, one was ineligible for post-season play, and the other won the NIT. Only two teams in that span won more than 11 road games in a season.
MVC MBB “True” Road Wins, Since 1975-76
13 -- Bradley (1985-86)* [NCAA Tournament]
12 -- Wichita State (2013-14)* [NCAA Tournament]
11 -- Belmont (2025-26)
11 -- Bradley (1981-82)* [NIT Champions]
11 -- Southern Illinois (2003-04)* [NCAA Tournament]
*denotes MVC regular-season champ
Nothing But NET: MVC at 9 -- The Missouri Valley Conference is ranked No. 9 as a conference in the NCAA NET ratings (Feb. 16). Belmont (55) headlines seven MVC programs that rank in the Top 130. The Bruins are joined by UNI (83), Illinois State (93), and Murray State (99) in the Top 100. Belmont’s 56 WAB (wins above bubble) tops the Conference.
NET Ratings, By Conference (Leaders)
1. SEC
2. Big 12
3. Big Ten
4. ACC
5. Big East
6. Mountain West
7. Atlantic 10
8. West Coast
9. Missouri Valley
10. American
| Metrics, MVC Leaders |
|
|
|
|
| Team |
NET |
KP |
BPI |
KPI |
SOR |
WAB |
| BEL |
55 |
57 |
95 |
36 |
54 |
56 |
| UNI |
83 |
87 |
94 |
76 |
117 |
112 |
| ILS |
93 |
98 |
101 |
123 |
123 |
129 |
| MUR |
99 |
111 |
113 |
79 |
92 |
97 |
| KP - KenPom; BPI - ESPN Power Index; OR - Strength of Record; WAB - Wins Above Bubble; |
Percentage of Opportunities -- Through games of Feb. 15, there are 37 Division I men’s basketball teams that have a winning record in games against the top two quadrants (for those with a minimum of five Q1/Q2 victories). Belmont finds itself in good company, as it’s 83.3 win percentage against Q1/Q2 opponents is tied for 7th nationally -- all teams that are better are ranked in the AP Top-25 poll this week.
| Top 10 (Winning Percentage vs. Q1/Q2) |
|
| #1 Michigan |
Big Ten |
18-1 |
.947 |
| #11 Gonzaga |
WCC |
10-1 |
.909 |
| #3 Duke |
ACC |
17-2 |
.895 |
| #4 Arizona |
Big 12 |
15-2 |
.882 |
| #2 Houston |
Big 12 |
15-2 |
.882 |
| #5 UConn |
Big East |
13-2 |
.867 |
| Belmont |
MVC |
5-1 |
.833 |
| #6 Iowa St. |
Big 12 |
15-3 |
.833 |
| RV Utah St. |
Mtn. West |
8-2 |
.800 |
| #14 Virginia |
ACC |
12-3 |
.800 |
Home Cooking -- MVC teams are 52-37 (.584) in MVC home games this year after going 65-54 (.546) last year. For all games, Bradley (12-2 at home this season) leads the Conference in home win percentage.
Coaching Milestones -- Bradley’s Brian Wardle became the all-time wins leader in school history (for MVC wins) as he reached his 111th league victory over the weekend, surpassing Jim Molinari (110). Wardle is tied for eighth with Rich Herrin (1985-97 at SIU) on the league’s all-time wins list in MVC play. Belmont head coach Casey Alexander earned career victory No. 300 in last week’s victory against UNI.
Getting to 20 Wins -- In MVC men’s basketball history, there have been 210 programs to reach 20 wins in a season, including four teams last year. Belmont is just the fifth, however, to reach its 20th victory by Jan. 31. Murray State (19 wins) and Bradley (18) could reach the 20-win plateau this week.
MVC Teams To Record 20th Win By Jan. 31
2013-14 -- Wichita State (Jan. 22) -- final record: 35-1
1985-86 -- Bradley (Jan. 25) -- final record: 32-3
2011-12 -- Creighton (Jan. 28) -- final record: 29-6
2014-15 -- UNI (Jan. 31) -- final record: 31-4
2025-26 -- Belmont (Jan. 31)
Comeback Kids -- In league history, a total of 36 teams have rallied from an 18-point deficit to win a game -- four of those have occurred this season. A total of 24 of those 36 18-point comebacks have been in league play, including all four of the rallies in 2025-26. Belmont trailed Murray State by 19 points on 2/15/26 and rallied to win by 17. It’s the largest single-game turnaround (+36 points) since Memphis rallied from 22 points to beat UAB by 19 on 3/3/24 (+41).
MVC Teams to Rally From 18 Points Down to Win
(League Games Only, 2025-26 Games Denoted)
Date -- (Deficit), Winning Team, Score
1/27/77 -- (28 pts at Bradley) N. Mexico State, 117-109
1/10/26 -- (25 pts at Drake) Belmont, 78-67
3/6/05 -- (23 vs Southern Illinois), Missouri State, 65-61
1/27/01 -- (23 vs Bradley), Evansville, 70-67 (ot)
1/17/24 -- (23 vs. Southern Illinois), Bradley, 70-69
2/19/08 -- (21 to Wichita St.), Indiana State, 83-73 (ot)
1/23/19 -- (21 to UNI), Southern Illinois, 70-62
1/16/22 - (20 to Bradley), Illinois State, 75-64
1/27/24 -- (20 to Murray State), Southern Illinois, 60-58
1/28/26 -- (19 to Evansville), Drake, 82-78
2/15/26 -- (19 to Murray State), Belmont, 87-70
19 -- seven other times
1/31/26 -- (18 at Southern Illinois), UIC, 68-66
18 -- five other times
Making Shots -- Belmont ranks fourth in the NCAA in both effective field goal percentage and overall field goal percentage. The Bruins’ current shooting percentage (51.6) would rank seventh best in a season in MVC history. Belmont also ranks third nationally in three-point field goal accuracy (40.2).
2025-26 Field Goal Pct. Leaders
1. Miami (OH) (MAC) -- 53.6
2. Liberty (CUSA) -- 52.1
3. Saint Louis (Atlantic 10) -- 52.0
4. Belmont (MVC) -- 51.6
5. Bellarmine (ASUN) -- 51.6
2025-26 3FG Pct. Leaders
1. Yale (Ivy League) -- 41.9
2. Saint Louis (Atlantic 10) -- 40.9
3. Belmont (MVC) -- 40.2
4. Liberty (CUSA) -- 40.2
5. Miami (OH) (MAC) -- 40.1
Doing it With Defense -- UNI ranks in the Top 3 nationally in both scoring defense and three-point percentage defense. UNI has held 13 of its last 17 opponents under 30% from 3FG range.
Scoring Defense, NCAA Leaders
1. UNI (MVC) -- 61.2
2. Houston (Big 12) -- 61.3
3. Duke (ACC) -- 63.1
4. Marist (MAAC) -- 63.5
3FG Percentage Defense, NCAA Leaders
1. Saint Louis (Atlantic 10) -- 26.9
2. Marist (MAAC) -- 27.6
3. UNI (MVC) -- 27.6
4. UT Arlington (WAC) -- 27.7
Johnson Leads the Braves -- Jaquan Johnson of Bradley leads the league in steals and ranks second in scoring. Only five players nationally average 17.0 points AND 2.5 steals or more, including Johnson.
NCAA Leaders, Steals Per Game
1. Javontae Campbell, Bowling Green* -- 3.27
2. Tyler Cochran, Rhode Island -- 2.88
3. Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee St.* -- 2.81
4. Jaquan Johnson, Bradley* -- 2.78
5. TJ Burch, Wright St. -- 2.69
6. Dontrez Williams, Lindenwood -- 2.65
7. Prophet Johnson, Sacramento St.* -- 2.63
7. De’Shayne Montgomery, Dayton -- 2.63
*denotes PPG of 17.0 or better this season
On Target -- Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade leads the nation with his 93.4 free throw percentage accuracy. That figure currently ranks fifth-best for a single season in MVC history.
MVC Single-Season Leaders, FT Percentage
.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
.934 -- Tyler Lundblade, Belmont, 2025-26
.930 -- Mike Glenn, Southern Illinois, 1976-77
.925 -- Blake Ahearn, Missouri St., 2006-07
NCAA Leaders, FT Percentage
1. Tyler Lundblade, Belmont (MVC) -- 93.4
2. Miles Barnstable, Tulsa (American) -- 93.3
3. Isaiah Moses, Eastern Wash. (Big Sky) -- 92.9
3. Joshua Dent, Saint Mary’s (CA) (WCC) -- 92.9
3. TJ Hurley, Vermont (America East) -- 92.9
Roster Rebuilds -- Only three MVC teams returned more than half of their playing roster from last season -- of the league’s total 166 roster spots in 2025-26, 61.4 percent of the players are new to their programs. ESPN research indicates Murray State is one of just nine DI programs with no players returning from last year’s roster.
MVC Player of the Week
Jaquan Johnson, Bradley
G, 5-11, 195, So., Milwaukee, Wis. (Pius XI)
Johnson led the Braves to two wins last week. The second-year guard out of Milwaukee averaged 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 53% from three-point range in Bradley victories against Belmont and Southern Illinois. .Johnson’s 31-point performance against Belmont on Feb. 9 marked the first time a Bradley player has recorded three 30-point games in a season since 1990-91. Over the two-game stretch, Johnson also tied his career high in assists with seven against Belmont and matched his career high in rebounds with seven at Southern Illinois.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Elijah Crawford, UIC
G, 6-3, 187, So., Augusta, Ga. (Brewster Academy) | BYU
Crawford averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game with a 4.33 assist/turnover ratio. He scored a game-high 18 points and added five rebounds and five assists in Thursday’s road win at Drake, the Flames’ first in Des Moines since 1978 (and second all-time). He then tallied 12 points, a game-high eight assists (one off his career high), a career-best four steals and four rebounds in Sunday’s home win over Illinois State, contributing to UIC’s first regular-season sweep of ISU since joining the MVC in 2022-23.
MVC Freshman of the Week
JT Pettigrew, Valparaiso
F, 6-8, 220, Fr., Lisle, Ill. (Bolingbrook)
Pettigrew averaged a double-double in three games this week and had a double-double in two of the three contests, helping Valpo win two of its three games this week. Pettigrew, who averaged 18.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg this week, played a big role in Valpo’s first win at Drake since 2018 on Monday as he tallied a career-high 23 points to go along with 12 rebounds, tying a career high on the glass. On Thursday at Illinois State, Pettigrew enjoyed his second straight double-double with a 17-point, 13-rebound performance, setting a career high on the glass and becoming the first Valpo freshman on record with a 17-point, 13-rebound game.