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2022 Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Thursday, March 3 (first round); Friday, March 4 (quarterfinals); Saturday, March 5 (semifinals); Sunday, March 6 (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site

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. ESPN+ will stream the first two rounds, which the Valley’s cable TV partners (Bally Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago) will air.

Participants

Barring any further realignment, this will be the final 10-team edition of Arch Madness, as Belmont, Murray State, and UIC will join next season. With Loyola off to the Atlantic 10, the 2022-23 MVC will have 12 teams.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Thurs., March 3)

Game 1: (9) Indiana State (11-20. 4-14) 53, (8) Illinois State 58
Game 2: (10) Evansville (6-24, 2-16) 59, (7) Valparaiso 81

Quarterfinals (Fri., March 4)

Game 3: (8) Illinois State (13-20, 5-13) 65, (1) Northern Iowa 78
Game 4: (5) Bradley (17-14, 11-7) 50. (4) Loyola Chicago 66
Game 5: (7) Valparaiso (14-18, 6-12) 58, (2) Missouri State 69
Game 6: (6) Southern Illinois (16-15, 9-9) 52, (3) Drake 65

Semifinals (Sat., March 5)

Game 7: (4) Loyola Chicago 66, (1) Northern Iowa (19-11, 14-4) 43
Game 8: (3) Drake 79, (2) Missouri State (23-10, 13-5) 78 (OT)

Championship (Sun., March 6)

Game 9: (4) LOYOLA CHICAGO (25-7, 13-5) 64, (3) Drake (24-10. 13-5) 58

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for 2021 and 2022.

Including Loyola Chicago’s win in 2021, the No. 1 seed has won four of the 11 Valley titles since the NCAA field expanded to 68 in 2011. The No. 2 seed follows with three victories, then the No. 4 with a pair. No team seeded worse than fifth has won the title recently, so keep that in mind if you’re considering whether one of the four teams that has to play in the Thursday’s opening round can make a run.

• 1 seed (4): 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021
• 2 seed (3): 2012, 2015, 2017
• 4 seed (2): 2016, 2020
• 3 seed (1): 2011
• 5 seed (1): 2019

NCAA Seeding Record Since 2011

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 1 seed (1): 2014
• 5 seed (2): 2012 (automatic), 2015 (automatic)
• 7 seed (2): 2013 (automatic), 2015 (at-large)
• 8 seed (1): 2012 (at-large), 2021 (automatic)
• 9 seed (1): 2013 (at-large)
• 10 seed (1): 2017
• 11 seed (3): 2016 (automatic and at-large), 2018, 2021 (at-large)
• 14 seed (1): 2014
• 15 seed (1): 2019

There’s a significant spread here, with the Valley’s results gradually declining since the departure of the Creighton Bluejays and Wichita State Shockers. The 2021 NCAA Tournament saw the Valley earn its first at-large in five years. That went to Drake, who happened to defeat former league rival Wichita State in the First Four.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

Loyola Chicago: 2021 (8 seed, Sweet 16)
Drake: 2021 (11 seed, 1st Round)
Bradley: 2019 (15 seed, 1st Round)—2020 Missouri Valley Tournament Champion
Northern Iowa: 2016 (11 seed, 2nd Round)
Valparaiso: 2015 (13 seed, Round of 64, Horizon member)
Indiana State: 2011 (14 seed, Round of 64)
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)

All 10 current Valley members have qualified for at least one NCAA Tournament, and that percentage won’t drop when Loyola departs and Belmont, Murray State, and UIC arrive this summer.