2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season

The 2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2021, followed by the start of the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2022 and ended in February.

With a win over Loyola Chicago on February 26, 2022, Northern Iowa clinched the regular season championship.

The MVC tournament was held March 3 through March 6, 2022 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Loyola Chicago won the tournament championship for the second consecutive year, defeating Drake in the championship game.

Northern Iowa point guard A. J. Green was named the conference's player of the year. Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson was named conference coach of the year.

The season was the final season for Loyola Chicago in the conference as they joined the Atlantic 10 Conference on July 1, 2022.

Preseason

Preseason poll The preseason awards and coaches' poll was released by the league office on October 20, 2021. RankTeam 1. Drake (29) 411 2. Loyola Chicago (8) 363 3. Northern Iowa (6) 354 4. Missouri State 325 5. Southern Illinois 228 6. Bradley 171 7. Valparaiso 151 8. Evansville 141 9. Indiana State 147 10. Illinois State 68(first place votes)

Preseason All-Missouri Valley teams

Honor Recipient Preseason Player of the YearAJ Green, Northern Iowa Preseason All-MVC First TeamAJ Green, Northern IowaTyrke Key, Indiana StateIsiaih Mosley, Missouri StateRoman Penn, DrakeGaige Prim, Missouri State Preseason All-MVC Second TeamMarcus Domask, Southern IllinoisShanQuan Hemphill, DrakeBen Krikke, ValparaisoAustin Phyfe, Northern IowaLucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago Preseason All-MVC Third TeamShamar Givance, EvansvilleJa'Shon Henry, BradleyLance Jones, Southern IllinoisRienk Mast, BradleyBraden Norris, Loyola Chicago Source

Regular season

Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.

  BradleyDrakeEvansvilleIllinoisStateIndianaStateLoyola ChicagoMissouriStateNorthernIowaSouthernIllinoisValparaisovs BU – 71–8359–68 47–7941–76 74–6564–72 76–7152–67 78–71 (OT)61–68 71–6983–67 71–6965–78 62–7065–57 56–7155–79vs DU 83–7168–59 – 59–6051–73 75–8688–89 (OT) 67–8558–74 68–7776–83 61–5666–62 74–82 (OT)74–69 (OT) 59–6060–62 66–7365–71vs UE 79–4776–41 60–5973–51 – 94–5653–56 56–6580–77 (2OT) 77–4882–31 72–5888–79 83–6164–59 54–5269–62 72–5674–69vs IlSU 65–7472–64 86–7589–88 (OT) 56–9456–53 – 60–5766–86 78–6459–50 74–79 (OT)88–63 79–6472–70 75–6990–69 81–76 (OT)75–78 (OT)vs InSU 71–7667–52 85–6774–58 65–5677–80 (2OT) 57–6086–66 – 88–7664–56 72–7679–70 80–74 (OT)88–82 63–5576–72 75–7379–72 (2OT)vs LU 71–78 (OT)68–61 77–6883–76 48–7731–82 64–7850–59 76–8856–64 – 79–6962–71 58–85102–96 (OT) 47–5939–44 74–81 (2OT)69–71vs MSU 69–7167–83 56–6162–66 58–7279–88 79–74 (OT)63–88 76–7270–79 69–7971–62 – 85–8495–75 76–8154–69 57–7466–84vs UNI 69–7178–65 82–74 (OT)69–74 (OT) 61–8359–64 64–7970–72 74–80 (OT)82–88 85–5896–102 (OT) 84–8575–95 – 68–6944–53 65–9283–80 (OT)vs SIU 70–6257–65 60–5962–60 52–5462–69 69–7569–90 55–6372–76 59–4744–39 81–7669–54 69–6853–44 – 60–6355–77vs VU 71–5679–55 73–6671–65 56–7269–74 76–81 (OT)78–75 (OT) 73–7572–79 (2OT) 81–74 (2OT)71–69 74–5784–66 92–6580–83 (OT) 63–6077–55 –Total 11–7 13–5 2–16 5–13 4–14 13–5 13–5 14–4 9–9 6–12

Player of the week Every Monday, throughout the season, the Missouri Valley Conference named a player of the week and a newcomer of the week. DatePlayer of the weekNewcomer of the weekNovember 15, 2021Antonio Reeves, Illinois StateThomas Kithier, ValparaisoNovember 22, 2021Trae Berhow, Northern IowaRyan Schwieger, LoyolaNovember 29, 2021A. J. Green, Northern IowaAntoine Smith Jr., EvansvilleDecember 6, 2021Shamar Givance, EvansvilleTerry Roberts, BradleyDecember 13, 2021Isiaih Mosley, Missouri StateBen Coupet Jr., Southern IllinoisDecember 20, 2021A. J. Green, Northern IowaJaylen Minnett, Missouri StateDecember 27, 2021Terry Roberts, BradleyTerry Roberts, BradleyJanuary 3, 2022Sy Chatman, Illinois StateZach Hobbs, Indiana StateJanuary 10, 2022Isiaih Mosley, Missouri StateRyan Schwieger, LoyolaJanuary 17, 2022Isiaih Mosley, Missouri StateTerry Roberts, BradleyJanuary 24, 2022Isiaih Mosely, Missouri StateTerry Roberts, BradleyJanuary 31, 2022Rienk Mast, BradleyTucker DeVries, DrakeFebruary 7, 2022Lucas Williamson, LoyolaTucker DeVries, DrakeFebruary 14, 2022Cooper Neese, Indiana StateMikey Howell, BradleyFebruary 21, 2022A. J. Green, Northern IowaTucker DeVries, DrakeFebruary 28, 2022Isiaih Mosley, Missouri StateBen Coupet Jr., Southern Illinois

Honors and awards All-Conference awards and teams The MVC announced its all-conference teams and major playing honors on March 1, 2022, and its Coach of the Year award two days later.

HonorRecipient Larry Bird Player of the Year A. J. Green, Northern Iowa Coach of the Year Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa Defensive MVP Lucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago Sixth-Man of the Year Bowen Born, Northern Iowa Newcomer of the Year Terry Roberts, Bradley Freshman of the Year Tucker DeVries, Drake First Team A. J. Green, Northern Iowa Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State Gaige Prim, Missouri State Terry Roberts, Bradley Lucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago Second Team Noah Carter, Northern Iowa Tucker DeVries, Drake Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois Antonio Reeves, Illinois State Garrett Sturtz, Drake Third Team Ben Krikke, Valparaiso Rienk Mast, Bradley Cooper Neese, Indiana State Braden Norris, Loyola Chicago Roman Penn, Drake

Postseason

MVC Tournament

NCAA Tournament

The winner of the MVC tournament, Loyola Chicago, received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. No other team received a bid to the tournament.

Seed Region School First Four First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship10SouthLoyolaN/Alost to (7) Ohio State 41–54W–L (%): Total:

National Invitation Tournament

Northern Iowa, having one the regular season conference, but failing to win its conference tournament, received an automatic bid to the NIT. Missouri State received an at-large bid as well.

School First round Second Round Quarterfinal Semifinal ChampionshipNorthern Iowadefeated (3) Saint Louis 80–68lost to (2) BYU 71–90Missouri Statelost to (1) Oklahoma 72–89W–L (%): Total:

College Basketball Invitational

Drake received an invite to the CBI tournament as the No. 1 overall seed.

Seed School First round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship1Drakedefeated (16) Purdue Fort Wayne 87–65lost to (9) UNC Wilmington 75–76W–L (%): Total:

References