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MVC Basketball: 2023 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Harry Schroeder

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 9: Head coach Brian Wardle of the Bradley Braves directs his team against the Loyola Ramblers during the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 9, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 9: Head coach Brian Wardle of the Bradley Braves directs his team against the Loyola Ramblers during the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 9, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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MVC Basketball Josh Schertz of the Indiana State Sycamores (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
MVC Basketball Josh Schertz of the Indiana State Sycamores (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

First Round Games – Thursday – March 2
 
# 8 Northern Iowa v # 9 Illinois State – Noon

First-year Illinois State coach Ryan Pedon calls UNI coach Ben Jacobson ‘the Tom Izzo or the original OG’ of Valley coaches. ‘Coach Jake’ is coaching in his seventeenth edition of Arch Madness and has four Arch Madness trophies sitting in the UNI basketball office. UNI (9-11, 13-17) is uncharacteristically young due to offseason illness and in-season injuries.

The Panthers swept their two games against the Redbirds by a total of eight points. UNI’s Bowen Born (17.2 ppg) has been battling a nagging calf injury. Illinois State (6-14, 11-20) has searched for consistency all season. The Redbirds’ leading scorer Darius Burford has been playing with a mask to protect a fractured orbital bone under his eye.

# 5 Indiana State v # 12 Evansville – 2:30 pm

Evansville’s first-year coach David Ragland just needs to look down the sideline at second-year coach Josh Schertz for encouragement. Indiana State suffered through Schertz’s first season and they are thriving this year.

UE (5-26, 1-19) has been shorthanded almost all season. Nine games into the season, his fourth leading scorer left the team. Current third leading scorer Yacine Toumi and fourth leading scorer Antoine Smith sat out Sunday’s games with injuries. Promising transfer forward Sekou Kalle hasn’t played in 15 games and isn’t likely to play in St. Louis. UE’s bright spots have been the play of Kenny Strawbridge (14.5 ppg) and Marvin Coleman (11.0). They’ve been healthy and productive.

# 7 Murray State v # 10 Valparaiso – 6:00 pm

Valpo is 0-7 in games decided by five points or less or in overtime. Two of those overtime losses have been against Murray State. The Racers (16-14, 11-9) have struggled to put together a run of success, but have won three of their last four games and are reported to be bringing a lot of fans to St. Louis. Murray is 11-2 at home.

Valpo’s Ben Krikke is the Valley’s leading scorer (19.6) and is second in field goal percentage (.553). The 6’9 senior also leads Matt Lottich’s team in rebounds (5.9).

# 6 Missouri State v # 11 Illinois-Chicago – 8:30 pm

This is a battle between two coaches that both worked at Illinois State under former coach Dan Muller. Missouri State’s Dana Ford rebuilt his roster this season and the Bears seem to be playing their best basketball at the right time. UIC’s Luke Yaklich could be getting his roster healthy at the right time.

After a season where everyone on the roster started at least one game and nine players average double-digit minutes, the Bears (16-14, 12-8) have won their last two games and seem to have found a workable rotation. UIC has been playing with seven available players, but Yaklich believes he’ll have eleven ready for this game.