The Missouri Valley has produced some of the best mid-major Cinderella teams in recent memory, with Wichita State, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Iowa, and Creighton. Bradley is looking to three-peat as Missouri Valley Basketball Champions this season. Let’s take a look at the Missouri Valley Tournament bracket and schedule, then preview what we can expect to see.
Missouri Valley Basketball Standings
| Team | Conference Record | Overall Record | Tournament Outlook |
| Loyola – Chicago | 16-2 | 21-4 | 1 Seed |
| Drake | 15-3 | 24-3 | 2 Seed |
| Missouri State | 12-6 | 16-6 | 3 Seed |
| Indiana State | 11-7 | 14-9 | 4 Seed |
| Evansville | 7-11 | 9-15 | 5 Seed |
| UNI | 7-11 | 9-15 | 7 Seed |
| Valparaiso | 7-11 | 10-17 | 6 Seed |
| Bradley | 6-12 | 12-15 | 8 Seed |
| Southern Illinois | 5-13 | 11-13 | 9 Seed |
| Illinois State | 4-14 | 7-17 | 10 Seed |
Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Schedule
Dates: March 4-7
TV: ESPN+
Location: Enterprise Center, Saint Louis, Missouri
Byes: Top six get single bye
Most Recent Champion: Bradley
Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Bracket
First Round
- (8) Bradley 63 vs. (9) Southern Illinois 73
- (7) Northern Iowa 65 vs. (10) Illinois State 60
Quarterfinals
- (1) Loyola – Chicago 73 vs. (9) Southern Illinois 49
- (4) Indiana State 53 vs. (5) Evansville 43
- (2) Drake vs. (7) Northern Iowa – Cancelled
- (3) Missouri State 66 vs. (6) Valparaiso 55
Semifinals
- (1) Loyola-Chicago 65 vs. (4) Indiana State 49
- (2) Drake 71 vs. (3) Missouri State 69
Championship
- (1) Loyola-Chicago 75 vs. (2) Drake 65
Loyola-Chicago advances to NCAA Tournament
Missouri Valley Basketball Breakdown
The Missouri Valley Conference was dominated Loyola and Drake. The two teams combined for only five conference losses and seven losses overall. Both teams were ranked at some point in the season with Loyola currently ranked 21. Drake was one of the last undefeated teams remaining in Division 1, where they won their first 18 games. Drake’s full court press has stifled some teams, leading to highlight dunks. Loyola’s bread and butter is also their defense, holding teams to only 55.7 points per game. The two split their regular season series.
This conference looks like its going to be a two team race. If there is one other team who can make some noise in the Missouri Valley Tournament, it is Missouri State. Along with Drake and Loyola as the only teams to score more points than they give up, Missouri State could spoil the expected championship. Forwards, Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim account for just under 40 of the Bears 74 points per game. If these two are on their game together, they could play spoiler in the MVC.
The preseason poll was predicted well besides a couple team. UNI was projected to win the conference, but ended up finishing sixth, making them the biggest underachiever. Drake on the other hand was projected to finish seventh, but ultimately finished second, making them the biggest overachiever.
