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Missouri Valley Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview

By Harry Schroeder

Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23
Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23 /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Bradley Braves head coach Brian Wardle Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Valley Basketball Bradley Braves head coach Brian Wardle Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Key teams to watch

The Favorite – Northern Iowa

The Panthers have won nine of their last ten games, have the most accomplished coach in the league and have multiple weapons. Ben Jacobson’s team has become an up-tempo team, scoring 75.4 points per game, but if they don’t score quickly, they wear the opposition down with relentless back cuts and ball movement.

Jacobson’s team swept second-seeded Missouri State and split with seeds three through five. In each of those matchups, UNI lost the first game and won the second one. The ‘Dean of the Valley Coaches’ knows how to game plan.

Noah Carter (14.8), Trae Berhow (9.8), and Nate Heise (9.1) all average above nine points per game, and super-sub Bowen Born is a difference-maker off the bench. The 5’10 Born averages 7.6 points and is second to Green in assists and was the Valley’s freshman of the year last season. UNI and Missouri State are ‘lights out’ free throw shooting teams.

Dangerous Upstart – Missouri State

The Bears are the most talented team in the league. They score a shade under 78 points per game, lead the conference in free-throw shooting (.795), and are second to Loyola in the other two shooting categories. Joining Mosley and Prim are three-point marksmen Ja’Monta Black and Jaylen Minnett. Black (73) and Minnett (70) have more triples than Mosley (63) who leads the Valley in three-point percentage (.434). Glue guy Donovan Clay does a little bit of everything, including being the team’s top defender.

Dark Horse – Bradley

Brian Wardle’s team won back-to-back Arch Madness titles in 2019 and 2020. He knows how to prepare his team for three games in three days in St. Louis. Bradley split with their two likely early-round foes (UNI and Loyola). Their loss to the Ramblers was in overtime.

Bradley is a tough, defensive-minded team. Wardle believes in a team having an identity and theirs is about being tougher on the defensive end and rebounding with a passion. BU leads the Valley in scoring defense and rebounding margin.

Potential newcomer of the year Terry Roberts has been outstanding. The 6’3 Florida Southwestern State transfer is averaging 14.4 points per game while finishing second in the Valley in assists (4.2) and in steals (1.5). Transfer Melevy Leons and burly sophomore Rienk Mast provide size inside and shot-blocking ability. Mast was the Valley’s top rebounder (8.3).