Arch Madness Tournament Tips Off in St. Louis

Belmont leads deep Missouri Valley Conference bracket as tournament celebrates 50th edition

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The 50th edition of the Missouri Valley Conference's annual Arch Madness tournament tips off this week in St. Louis, with Belmont entering as the top seed after a strong regular season. However, several other teams like Bradley, Illinois State, and Murray State are poised to make deep runs in the balanced bracket.

Why it matters

The Arch Madness tournament is one of the most entertaining mid-major conference tournaments in college basketball, known for its physical, high-stakes matchups. With four teams entering the event with 20+ wins and several others playing their best basketball late in the season, this year's tournament has the potential to produce some thrilling upsets and close finishes as teams vie for the automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

The details

Belmont earned the top seed after finishing 16-4 in conference play and posting a 26-5 overall record. The Bruins boast one of the most efficient offenses in the league, led by Missouri Valley Player of the Year Tyler Lundblade. However, they'll face stiff challenges from the likes of Bradley, Illinois State, and Murray State, all of whom finished the regular season strongly and have the talent to make deep tournament runs.

  • The 50th edition of the Arch Madness tournament tips off on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Belmont

The regular season champion and top seed in the tournament, Belmont boasts one of the most efficient offenses in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Tyler Lundblade

The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Lundblade averages nearly 16 points per game and has been one of the conference's most dangerous three-point shooters for Belmont.

Bradley

Finished second in the conference standings with a 13-7 league record and has the kind of guard play that often shines in tournament settings.

Illinois State

Finished tied for third in the conference and might be the most balanced team entering the tournament, with a strong defense and an ability to play in close games.

Murray State

Few teams in the Missouri Valley can keep up with Murray State offensively, as the Racers averaged over 83 points per game during the regular season.

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What’s next

The winner of the Arch Madness tournament will earn the Missouri Valley Conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This year's Arch Madness tournament features one of the deepest and most balanced brackets the Missouri Valley Conference has seen in years, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable four days of high-stakes college basketball action in St. Louis.