By: Alonso Tacanga in: Conference Notes
18 Feb 2010Northern Iowa suspended its second-leading scorer, Jordan Egleseder, but keeps winning. A big BracketBusters game against Old Dominion could sew up an at-large bid and boost the Panthers’ NCAA Tournament seeding.
By: Michael Protos in: Columns
13 Feb 2010Three potentially one-bid conferences could steal at-large spots from bubble teams if the favorites fail to win their conference tournaments.
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
8 Nov 2007Missouri Valley Conference 2007-08 Preview
by Neal Heston
The glass is half full
After unprecedented success the last few seasons, the Missouri Valley Conference will rely on a lot of new faces – both on the bench and the court – to continue its nice run. Twenty six players will occupy starting lineups for the first time [...]
By: Phil Kasiecki in: Columns
8 Mar 2007Is the Missouri Valley Seen Differently Now?
by Phil Kasiecki
Generally speaking, perceptions don’t change quickly. That goes for a number of things in life, including college basketball. Enter the Missouri Valley Conference now that a week of hot debate is upon us.
The conference tournament is in the books. The next few days [...]
By: Phil Kasiecki in: Columns
5 Mar 2007Bluejays Finish Hard Road to Victory
by Phil Kasiecki
ST. LOUIS – It’s only fitting that Creighton would take home the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. This is arguably the best season the Valley has had, and the Bluejays have led the way in the conference’s surge since the mid-1990s.
But this one sure didn’t [...]
By: Phil Kasiecki in: Columns
4 Mar 2007Missouri Valley Conference Tournament – Day Three
by Phil Kasiecki
ST. LOUIS – A sellout crowd, the first in tournament history, witnessed Saturday’s semifinal games. The record crowd totaled 22,612, the largest crowd ever to witness a basketball game at the Scottrade Center. Aided by the presence of nearby Southern Illinois in the title [...]
By: Phil Kasiecki in: Columns
3 Mar 2007Missouri Valley Conference Tournament – Day Two
by Phil Kasiecki
ST. LOUIS – The quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament have come and gone. All of the top four seeds have advanced to the semifinals, the first time that has happened since 2003. There was also some news that came after the third [...]
By: Phil Kasiecki in: Columns
2 Mar 2007Missouri Valley Conference Tournament – Opening Round Notes
by Phil Kasiecki
ST. LOUIS – The first day of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is in the books. The lower seed took both games on the night, a rarity but not a shocker. We have notes regarding the two first round games played, as well [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
1 Mar 2007Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Competitive weekend ahead
Advancing to the semifinals is a must to even have a view of an NCAA berth. For most teams, reaching the title game would make hearts beat a lot slower come March 11.
Two statements can be made with high confidence about the league going into Thursday: Three [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
20 Feb 2007Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Brackets busted indeed
After a rough weekend on the court for the Missouri Valley Conference, the league may have decreased its potential number of tourney bids to two, with an outside chance for three. Southern Illinois continued its dominance after knocking down No. 12 Butler on the road, but Creighton, [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
27 Jan 2007Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Round 2 to Salukis
Northern Iowa was nearly perfect from behind the arc against Southern Illinois Tuesday, but the one that mattered was just off the mark in a 56-54 defeat that sent the Salukis past the Panthers for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The would-be buzzer-beater looked good [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
17 Jan 2007Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Too close to call
We’re almost halfway through the conference slate and six teams are within one game of first place in the Valley, and that isn’t including once-eighth-ranked Wichita State, who is showing signs of resurgence. The Shockers knocked off then league-leader Creighton to create a three-way tie for [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
9 Jan 2007Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Hoopville’s Player of the Week: Grant Stout, Northern Iowa
The senior forward has begun the conference slate on the right jump, scoring an average of 16 points and grabbing 11.3 rebounds in UNI’s 4-0 start.
Bradley (11-6 / 2-3)
Raining Threes
Only Wichita State has limited the Braves to less than 10 3-pointers [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
9 Dec 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Quarterly Review
Buy now! Invest yourselves in the Missouri Valley Conference as soon as possible, because the MVC is positioning itself for another strong showing in March.
Considering what Valley squads have accomplished during the past few non-conference seasons, it sounds a little odd to say 2006 has been one of [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
29 Nov 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
The Missouri Valley Conference helped itself to quite a feast during Thanksgiving week: a 2-1 (nearly 3-0) record vs. the Big Ten, three wins over Final Four teams and a 2-0 mark against the nation’s top 10. Wipe out Bradley’s four-point defeat at Illinois, Drake’s upset loss to Troy [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
22 Nov 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Early season surprises
Through Nov. 18, the Valley fought to a 14-8 non-conference record – slightly lower than what the quickly rising mid-major conference has been used to seeing the past two seasons. Wichita State has cruised to a 3-0 mark and is joined by Southern Illinois, Missouri State, and [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
14 Nov 2006Missouri Valley Conference 2006-07 Preview
by Neal Heston
As if the upper half of the Missouri Valley Conference weren’t crowded enough. This season, two more teams, the Drake Bulldogs and Evansville Aces, will compete with the perennial contenders. Both squads return a large part of their talented 2005-06 rosters, which will make for an even more [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
3 Jul 2006Missouri Valley Conference 2005-06 Season Recap
by Neal Heston
It seems as if the Missouri Valley Conference re-writes history each season. Two years ago, the league had one of its best non-conference seasons ever. That was followed by five teams reaching the postseason last year – including three in the NCAA Tournament. For the 2005-06 campaign, [...]
By: Hoopville Staff in: Columns
3 Mar 2006MVC jump starts the Madness
by Michael Ermitage
Friday, March 3rd, 12:41CST – Are you as giddy about the Missouri Valley Conference tournament as I am? To me, it’s the official start to "March Madness." The opening round games were fantastic and were highlighted by Indiana State’s remarkable Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde performance yesterday afternoon. The [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
2 Mar 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Valley Tidbits
Don’t adjust the brackets; you read it correctly. Southern Illinois is not the top seed heading into the MVC Tournament this weekend – the first time in four years. However, No. 2 isn’t so bad – especially this season. Maybe not being No. 1 will give SIU a [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
24 Feb 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Looking into the postseason
With Missouri State winning five of its last six games, including contests against Bradley and at Northern Iowa, the Missouri Valley now has another team worthy of grabbing an at large bid to the NCAA. Will the committee see it that way, though? Northern Iowa, Wichita [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
9 Feb 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Putting the game in perspective
The UNI men’s basketball team will play a tough game this Saturday at home against Missouri State, but a more important event will take place during the contest.
As part of “Coaches vs. Cancer” weekend, the University of Northern Iowa will team up with the American [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
2 Feb 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
First to 20 wins?
The UNI Panthers are nearing their school-record of 23 wins, but they also have the opportunity to become the first 20-win team in the nation on Tuesday. Illinois also has the chance to hit the 20-win plateau on Tuesday when it plays at Wisconsin. Duke and [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
26 Jan 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
On pace for a match:
Last season the MVC saw four teams hit the 20-win plateau. Halfway through the conference slate, four are again on track for 20 wins before the league tournament in St. Louis during the first weekend of March.
Not counting remaining non-conference games, Northern Iowa is pacing [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
20 Jan 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
League race tightens: UNI downs SIU in double overtime
Northern Iowa has racked up some huge victories on its home floor during the last two seasons, but perhaps none were as large as the 71-65 double-overtime victory over Southern Illinois on Monday night. UNI (16-3, 6-2) kept pace with Southern [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
14 Jan 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
First Quarter Report Card
The conference season is four to five games deep now. Some of your typical straight-A teams will still make Mom and Dad proud. Others may want to forge signatures.
Southern Illinois (11-3, 4-0)
The Salukis definitely didn’t hit the panic button after a mediocre 2-3 start. SIU has [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
6 Jan 2006Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
The conference season is finally here, and highly-anticipated competition can now begin in the Missouri Valley Conference. All 10 Valley squads will head into league play with .500 marks or better for the first time in more than 20 seasons.
Full MVC play begins on Wednesday, but one thrilling contest [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
5 Dec 2005Missouri Valley Notebook
by Neal Heston
In the Valley, basketball is 24-7
That is, 24 wins and 7 losses in the non-conference slate – good for a .774 winning percentage. Five teams are undefeated after the first full week of action, and it could have easily been seven. Drake (3-1) nearly upset No. 10-ranked Boston College, but [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
23 Nov 2005Missouri Valley Conference 2005-06 Preview
by Neal Heston
During the past few years, it seems as if the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) enters a new season following its best year ever. Well, the 2005-06 campaign will have a lot of expectations to live up to. Three teams (Southern Illinois, Creighton and Northern Iowa) from the Valley [...]
By: Neal Heston in: Conference Notes
7 Jun 2005Missouri Valley Conference 2004-05 Recap
by Neal Heston
Most everyone thought the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) success last season – two teams going to the NCAA Tournament and another two in the NIT – couldn’t be topped in the 2004-05 campaign. Well, topped it was, as three teams went dancing this season while another two qualified [...]

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Managing Editor Phil Kasiecki spent Friday (3/20) discussing NCAA first-round action on ESPN 1040 in Tampa. Download the broadcast! (5.7 MB)