How Will the MVC Shake Out?

(St. Louis, MO) – Everybody in the nation knows Wichita State is the best team in the Missouri Valley Conference.  Indiana State will finish second in the league race, but the rest of the league is completely up for grabs.

Since the Valley is a 10 team league, their conference tournament starts with ‘play-in’ games for the bottom four teams and the winners of those games play the top two teams less than 24 hours later.

Staying out of the Thursday night game is pivotal. No team has EVER made it to the championship game of ‘Arch Madness’ when starting in the ‘play-in’ round.

How tight is the race to stay out of the final four spots? Incredibly close. Three games separate the bottom eight teams in the Valley. Only first place Wichita State and the second place Sycamores are immune to Thursday night. There are six league games left, so anything can happen.

Four teams are 6 and 6 (Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Illinois State and Bradley) and tied for third through sixth and would be safe if the season ended today.  Four other teams are slotted for Thursday’s doom.  Northern Iowa (5-7) leads that group, followed by Loyola (4-8), Drake and Evansville (both 3-9).

You would assume the four 6 & 6 teams are in good shape, but who could catch them during the final month of the season?

Match ups and the scheduling will play huge roles in how this finishes, but the hottest team in the final eight is Southern Illinois. The Salukis have won four straight and seem to be playing with purpose after a mid-season flair up with their coach and then the Christmas morning passing away of Head Coach Barry Hinson’s son-in-law.

However, the Egyptian Dogs have just two home games left and their next two games are AT Wichita State and AT Indiana State, but they play all three of the other 6 & 6 teams, so the Dawgs can determine their own fate, but seem vulnerable.

Missouri State plays four of the final six in Springfield, so they seem safe.  This week the Bears host both Drake and Northern Iowa. A sweep of those games would assure a Friday start at Arch Madness for Missouri State

Northern Iowa is one game back and the Panthers play three of those 6 & 6 teams and two of them at home. The Panthers have a winning pedigree and that favorable schedule could catapult them out of Thursday night.

Newcomer Loyola (4-8) has just two home games left and one of those are against Wichita State. The Ramblers seem destined for Thursday night.

Either Drake or Evansville have to edge past the other and climb past three other teams to avoid the play in tag.  Drake splits the final six games evenly and play at Evansville the second last game of the season. The Purple Aces play four at home and both UE and Drake play Loyola.

We’re predicting Northern Iowa, led by great Head Coach Ben Jacobson will catch either Southern Illinois or Bradley.

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