Post Season Anyone?

(St. Louis, MO) – Everybody knows Wichita State and Northern Iowa will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to their showdown on Saturday, bracketologists place both Missouri Valley Conference teams somewhere from a four to a six seed in ‘the Big Dance.’

The question hanging in the air, is what other MVC teams deserve some post-season invitations? With the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) and College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championships to be pursued, how many other Valley schools will play beyond Arch Madness?

I firmly believe both the Panthers and Shockers will qualify for the NCAA tournament, but let us not forget that Missouri State had 21 RPI in 2006 didn’t get invited. According the latest numbers available, Northern Iowa is in at 20. Barring a loss to Evansville prior to their Wichita State showdown, I don’t think their RPI can get much worse. WSU’s RPI is 16 and obviously both the Shockers and Purple Aces have outstanding records. But don’t believe for a second, there isn’t still an anti-midmajor bias, in the minds of the selection committee.

Indiana State Head Coach Greg Lansing says UNI and Wichita State can make their travel plans.

 

 

But back to those other teams and other tournaments.

The NIT is the most prestigious of the other post-season events. It is run by the NCAA. It concludes at Madison Square Garden and has some very tangible history attached. But all three tournaments provide practice time, additional games, money to make and trophies to be won.

Valley teams have won seven NIT titles. Wichita State (2011) was the last to cut down the nets at MSG. After nine straight years of having multiple teams in this tournament (2004-12), only Indiana State has been invited the past two seasons. The Sycamores lost opening round games in each of those tournaments.

During the seven-year history of the CBI, only once has the MVC had more than one team participate. Twice, a league representative has been the runnerup (Bradley – 2008 & Creighton – 2011).

In four of the six years the CIT has been in existence, the Valley has sent multiple teams. Twice MVC squads have earned a title shot, with Missouri State winning in 2010.

So who gets in? I asked Valley coaches if they believed both Wichita State and Northern Iowa were assured of their NCAA dance cards and which other teams could be invited to play more basketball.

Evansville, Illinois State, Loyola and Indiana State all have respectable RPI numbers (under 200) and all but Indiana State are guaranteed a winning record heading into St. Louis.

Last season, four teams played beyond the conference tournament. Five participated in 2013.

With two games and the MVC tournament to play, Evansville (19-9) and Illinois State (17-11) have records that could attract attention. Both teams are attractive from an offensive standpoint. They are second and third in the Valley in that department.

Indiana State’s Lansing believes Illinois State and Evansville are the most likely candidates for post season action.

 

 

Drawing fans is an important factor in those tournaments. Of those four teams, Illinois State (5,543) leads the way. Both Indiana State and Evansville average over 4,300 fans.

Star power matters to those selection committees too and that certainly favors Evansville. D. J. Balentine is in his second straight season of being one of the national scoring leaders and the improvement of center Egidijus Mockevicius makes the Purple Aces and enticing selection.

Head Coach Marty Simmons says he’s glad he finally has everybody back and healthy.

 

 

Tradition and history factor in at times. Indiana State has played in the last two NITs. Evansville missed post-season play last year, but played in the CBI in 2012 and in the CIT in 2013. Illinois State played into the semi-finals of the CBI last season.

The Redbirds and the Purple Aces will be playing extra basketball and don’t put it past Illinois State to actually win the league tournament. They are athletic enough and deep enough to make a run in St. Louis.

Indiana State will likely finish the season with a .500 record. It seems unlikely that they would receive an invitation. Without Milton Doyle, it would be questionable to see Loyola’s Ramblers in post-season play. However, Head Coach Porter Moser says he could be back for the Valley tournament.

 

 

Four teams?  Five teams?  MVC fans will have several to root for and the future is bright in this league. UNI graduates a big class, including potential player of the year Seth Tuttle. Beyond the Panthers, the lion share of the Valley talent is scheduled to return next year. Five teams? Six teams?  2016 could be explosive.

Do Good