Missouri Valley Basketball: Impact of recent transfers on the league

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Jake LaRavia #0 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons dribbles against Brevin Galloway #51 of the Boston College Eagles during the second half in the 2022 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament - Second Round at Barclays Center on March 09, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Eagles won 82-77. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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Missouri Valley Basketball Joseph Yesufu Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

College basketball’s free agency era began in the spring of 2021 and is in full force this year. Is it good for college basketball, the players, or universities? Are we seeing better basketball? Will the student-athletes finish their degrees and is the grass really greener? A Missouri Valley Basketball Conference transfer portal report is in order!

Following the 2021 season, 38 Missouri Valley Conference players changed programs. While Missouri State and Northern Iowa had one transfer each, the rest of the conference averaged over four departing players per team. The departures are greater in number this season.

According to VerbalCommits.com, 1,726 players entered the portal last season. The chaos of an extra covid-year of eligibility, instant eligibility, and the implementation of ‘name-image & likeness’ made last offseason uniquely outrageous.

This is a judgment-free zone. Players have been given the freedom to move and they are moving! Whether coaches or fans like it, no longer matters. Player movement is here to stay. Already over 1,350 players have landed in this year’s transfer portal and more will follow.

Valley schools lost ten starters and seven league-wide award winners to last season’s transfer frenzy and there are similar defections this year. How did those teams and players fare? While every situation is different and the only people that can truly evaluate the results are the players, we present you with some raw data and observations.