Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Preview

Schedule (all games played in Missouri):

Thursday, March 5th / First Round
- Game #1: #8 Drake vs. #9 Northern Iowa
- Game #2: #7 Wichita State vs. #10 Missouri State

Friday, March 6th / Quarters
- Game #3: #1 Northern Iowa vs. Game #1 Winner
- Game #4: #4 Bradley vs. #5 Southern Illinois
- Game #5: #2 Creighton vs. Game #2 Winner
- Game #6: #3 Illinois State vs. #6 Evansville

Saturday, March 7th / Semis
- Game #7: Game #3 Winner vs. Game #4 Winner
- Game #8: Game #5 Winner vs. Game #6 Winner

Sunday, March 8th / Finals
- Game #9: Game #7 Winner vs. Game #8 winner

Favorite: It isn't a secret that the MVC tourney, commonly known as Arch Madness, is one of the best conference tourneys around. This year should, once again, be exciting. While Northern Iowa earned the #1 seed, the favorite has to be Creighton. The Bluejays have the best back court in the conference (and maybe in the midwest) with conference POY Booker Woodfox (who doubles as the nation's best three-point shooter) and last year's rookie of the year P'Allen Stinnett. They won their last 10 games, including a win at Northern Iowa and a home victory over George Mason. They also won non-conference games against New Mexico and Dayton. In fact, they were a grand total of ten seconds away (in last second losses to Arkansas-Little Rock and Nebraska) from going undefeated out of conference.

P'Allen Stinnett (top), Cavel Witter, and company look to carry their momentum into Arch Madness
(photo credit: Nati Harnik/AP)

Contenders: You have got to think that Northern Iowa, Bradley and Illinois State all have a shot at winning this thing. Bradley probably has the either path, as they avoid Creighton until the Finals. Northern Iowa won both against Illinois State during the regular season, although it was by a combined six points with one win coming in overtime. Of the three, Bradley is the only team coming in playing well. NIU has lost four of seven, ISU has lost three in a row, but Bradley has won four of their last five.

Sleeper: As much as I want to say defending champion Drake, who returns both Josh Young and Jonathon Cox, I just don't see a team that has won four games since January 11th winning four in a row in March. I am going to go with Indiana State. The Sycamores started out the season 4-19, but they have won six of their last seven to finish at 7-11 in the conference.

BIAH Prediction: Creighton.