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Evansville Today
By the People, for the People
Missouri Valley Conference Offers Upsets Galore in Men's and Women's Basketball
The fourth-oldest Division I conference has a history of March Madness surprises
Mar. 2, 2026 at 8:23am
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The Missouri Valley Conference, the fourth-oldest collegiate conference in the nation, has 11 teams competing in both men's and women's basketball. While Belmont leads the men's standings and Murray State tops the women's, the conference is ripe for upsets in the upcoming conference tournaments, with several teams capable of pulling off surprises and earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Why it matters
The Missouri Valley Conference has a long history of sending Cinderella teams to the NCAA Tournament, with the conference often punching above its weight as a mid-major. This year is no different, with several teams capable of knocking off the conference leaders and earning an unlikely March Madness berth.
The details
On the men's side, Belmont leads the conference at 14-3, but the Bruins are just barely a bubble team according to advanced metrics. Murray State, led by standout center Fredrick King, is lurking just behind at 11-7 and could pull off an upset in the conference tournament. The women's side is even more wide open, with no teams firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture. Murray State and Belmont are the top two teams, but both have vulnerabilities that could be exposed by other squads.
- The Missouri Valley Conference tournament will take place in early March 2026.
- The NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 16, 2026.
The players
Fredrick King
A senior center at Murray State who leads the Missouri Valley Conference in rebounds and blocks per game, and has the highest shooting percentage in the league.
Ryley Goebel
A standout player for Northern Iowa, Goebel is eighth in Division I in blocks per game and also contributes significantly as a scorer, rebounder, and defender.
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks
A senior forward at Murray State who is averaging a double-double this season, leading the Racers' high-powered offense.
What they’re saying
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
What’s next
The Missouri Valley Conference tournament will determine which teams earn automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Fans will be eager to see if any of the conference's underdogs can pull off upsets and punch their tickets to March Madness.
The takeaway
The Missouri Valley Conference has a long history of sending Cinderella teams to the NCAA Tournament, and this year appears to be no different. With several teams capable of knocking off the conference leaders, the upcoming conference tournaments promise to be full of excitement and unpredictability.
