SENIOR JOSH YOUNG drives past a Creighton defender Saturday. Both teams are ranked in the middle of the MVC standings. Photo: Sarah Andrews
After boasting nine consecutive seasons of having multiple teams invited to the NCAA Tournament, the Missouri Valley Conference has only been able to send one team each of the last two years. With several teams from the Valley on the rise, however, the conference is begging to have the trend reversed.
This season, there is optimism about the possibility of sending up to three teams to the dance.
“The level of play the conference this year has been excellent,” said Drake University Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb. “The Valley definitely has the potential to be a two- or three-bid conference each year.”
Northern Iowa is putting together an exceptional season as they sit atop the conference standings with a 10-1 record in league play and a 19-2 record overall. Wichita State boasts an 18-4 record and has the bragging rights to Northern Iowa’s only loss.
“When you have parity at the top it usually hurts your chances,” said Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Northern Iowa and Wichita State have distanced themselves from the rest of the group.”
But the strength of the conference does not limit itself to the top two teams.
Illinois State is having a solid season, followed by Creighton and then Drake, touted as one of the hottest team in the conference. The Bulldogs bested Creighton last Saturday and defeated the red-hot Shockers on Jan. 23.
“St. Louis provides a great opportunity for anyone to win,” Elgin said. “It’s a neutral court so there can always be an upset.”
So what would happen if someone other than Northern Iowa or Wichita State won the tournament? The MVC has not been able to send anyone other than its conference tournament champion the last two years.
In 2008, the Valley witnessed Drake’s magical run as the Bulldogs won their final game in the 28-5 season with the conference tournament championship. That year, Illinois State was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament despite having 25 wins. Last year Creighton was not selected despite having 27 victories.
“You know the pundits and the experts and all that; it does not matter at all,” Elgin said. “The only thing that matters is what the committee decides.”
Lately, the MVC has not been feeling the love from the selection committee. However, this year the Valley has had its share of impressive non-conference victories, something that surely will influence the committee.
Illinois State beat Utah on the road and Wichita State has handled TCU, Texas Tech and Iowa. Bradley boasts a win over then-ranked Illinois. Missouri State beat Auburn while Northern Iowa defeated Iowa State, Iowa and Boston College.
Add that to the fact that the Pacific-10 conference is having an off year and there’s hope that the MVC will regain some of the respect that it has lost.
“Northern Iowa and Wichita State really have strong profiles,” Elgin said. “But they really need to win their ‘Bracket Busters’ match-ups to improve their resume.”
Northern Iowa will be paid a visit by Old Dominion, while Wichita State will travel to Utah State. Wins from both teams would certainly enhance the chances of the MVC receiving at-large bids this year.
So with the uncertainty regarding how many bids the MVC will receive, all focus will soon shift to the State Farm Missouri Valley Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship. With six or seven conference games remaining, the seeding for the tournament still remains fuzzy.
One thing is for sure: absolutely everyone in the Valley will be gunning for that crown.
TOP DIVISION I CONFERENCE STANDINGSBig 12Kansas 20-1Texas 19-3Missouri 16-5Kansas State 18-4Texas A&M 15-6Atlantic 10Xavier 15-6Charlotte 16-5Temple 18-4Rhode Island 18-3Dayton 15-6Big 10Michigan St. 19-3Purdue 18-3Wisconsin 16-5Ohio State 16-6Illinois 14-8MVCN. Iowa 19-2Wichita State 19-4Illinois St. 15-7Creighton 11-11Bradley 11-11
