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2020 Missouri Valley Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Thursday, March 5th (first round); Friday, March 6th (quarterfinals); Saturday, March 7th (semifinals); Sunday, March 8th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site(s)

As usual, Arch Madness is set for the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.

TV/Streaming Info

CBS has the final on Sunday afternoon, while CBSSN carries Saturday’s semifinals The earlier rounds are streaming on ESPN+ and will be aired by the Valley’s cable TV partners.

Participants

All 10 teams will participate.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Thu., March 5)

FS Midwest and NBCS Chicago Plus will air and ESPN+ ($) will stream both games.

Game 1: No. 9 Illinois State Redbirds (10-21, 5-13) 65, No. 8 Drake 75
The season series was a home split.

Game 2: No. 10 Evansville Purple Aces (9-23, 0-18) 55, No. 7 Valparaiso 58
The Crusaders swept the season series.

Quarterfinals (Fri., March 6)

ESPN+ ($) will stream all four games.

Game 3: No. 8 Drake 77, No. 1 Northern Iowa Panthers (25-6, 14-4) 56
The Panthers swept the season series.

Game 4: No. 5 Southern Illinois Salukis (16-16, 10-8) 59, No. 4 Bradley 64
The Braves swept the season series.

Game 5: No. 7 Valparaiso 74, No. 2 Loyola Chicago Ramblers (21-11, 13-5), 73 (OT)
The Ramblers swept the season series.

Game 6: No. 6 Missouri State 78, No. 3 Indiana State Sycamores (18-12, 11-7) 51
The season series was a road split.

Semifinals (Sat., March 7)

CBSSN will air both games.

Game 7: No. 8 Drake Bulldogs (20-14, 8-10) 66, No. 4 Bradley 76
The season series was a home split.

Game 8: No. 7 Valparaiso 89, No. 6 Missouri State Bears (16-17, 9-9) 82
The season series was a home split.

Championship (Sun., March 8)

Game 9: No. 7 Valparaiso Crusaders (19-16, 9-9) 66, No. 4 Bradley Braves (22-11, 11-7) 80
The season series was a home split.

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, one of the Valley’s top two seeds has won the automatic bid seven times. Four of those titles have gone to the No. 1 seed, the last coming in 2018.

• 1 seed (4): 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018
• 2 seed (3): 2012, 2015, 2017
• 3 seed (1): 2011
• 4 seed (1): 2016
• 5 seed (1): 2019

10-Year NCAA Seeding Record

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 5 seed (2): 2012 (automatic), 2015 (automatic)
• 7 seed (2): 2013 (automatic), 2015 (at-large)
• 9 seed (2): 2010, 2013 (at-large)
• 11 seed (2): 2016 (automatic and at-large), 2018
• 1 seed (1): 2014
• 8 seed (1): 2012 (at-large)
• 10 seed (1): 2017
• 14 seed (1): 2014
• 15 seed (1): 2019

As you can see, there’s a significant spread here, with the Valley’s results gradually declining with the departure of the Creighton Bluejays and Wichita State Shockers. It’s been four years since the MVC earned an at-large.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

Bradley: 2019 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Loyola Chicago: 2018 (11 seed, Final Four)
Northern Iowa: 2016 (11 seed, 2nd Round)
Valparaiso: 2015 (13 seed, Round of 64, Horizon member)
Indiana State: 2011 (14 seed, Round of 64)
Drake: 2008 (5 seed, 1st Round)
Southern Illinois: 2007 (4 seed, Sweet 16)
Missouri State: 1999 (12 seed, at-large, Sweet 16)
Evansville: 1999 (11 seed, at-large, 1st Round)
Illinois State: 1998 (9 seed, 2nd Round)

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