Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Every Missouri Valley team’s most successful season since 2000

By Shea Irish

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Missouri State University logo. Tmsu00070
Missouri State University logo. Tmsu00070 /

Missouri State Bears

Year: 2010-11

Record: 26-9 (15-3)

NCAA Tournament Results: Did not make it.

-Missouri State’s last appearance in the NCAA Tournament came in 1999 when Head Coach Steve Alford led the Bears to the Sweet 16.

Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin

Notable Players:

Kyle Weems 6’6” JR (16.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 66 3-PT):

-2011 MVC Player of the Year.

Jermaine Mallett 6’3” SR (11.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG):

-2011 MVC 2nd-Team Selection.

Will Creekmore 6’9” SR (10.1 PPG, 86 3-PT):

-2011 MVC 2nd-Team Selection.

Season Summary:

Missouri State’s 2010-11 squad was just one win away from receiving the auto bid and representing the MVC in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. Boasting a 25-7 record and winning 15 conference games, the Bears won the regular-season Valley championship and were headed into the tournament title game as the top seed. Just 20 minutes away from the big dance, they would squander a halftime lead and fall to Indiana State.

Head Coach Cuonzo Martin would leave after the season to accept the head coaching job of the Tennessee Volunteers. The 26 wins by the Bears was the second-best mark in school history and the 15 conference wins were the most ever for their program.

Another Season Worth Honorable Mention: This past season in 2021-22, Missouri State tied for the second-most conference wins in school history with 13 and finished the year 23-11. They would fall in OT of the MVC semifinals but still managed to receive a bid to the NIT.