2009 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament

Printable & Viewable Bracket Link: 2009 Missouri Valley Mens Basketball Tournament Bracket

Participants/Overview: When the 2009 Missouri Valley Tournament tips off some of the leading basketball play will be on display. For those of you have been reading our site or are signed up with us for our winning college basketball spread picks, you know we absolutely love this conference and know it pretty much inside and out.

For the 4th straight year the Missouri Valley Conference tournament will have a new number 1 seed entering the tournament. This year the surprise team was Northern Iowa. The Panthers finished the season with a 20-10 record and identical 14-4 conference mark with the league favorite Creighton, but secured the #1 seed based on a tie breaker. This years regular season championship was the first for Northern Iowa with their previous best season finish a 2nd place run in the 2004 season, the same year they won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

With all that being said, the Panthers still have work to do to get into the 2009 NCAA tournament. Depending on how things break out in the major conference tournaments, Northern Iowa could possibly get an at large bid with a close loss to the tournament favorite Creighton in the finals, but with the way the selection committee likes to stick it to mid majors, dont count on the Valley getting an at large bid into the tournament unless Creighton loses in the finals.

Speaking of the Bluejays they come into the tournament red hot winning 10 straight games. Dana Altman once again has Creighton playing well at the right time and is assured a spot in post season play for the 11 straight year. Altman is hoping that this year that post season play is the NCAA tournament.

If you are looking for a sleeper in this years field, the stock seems to be pretty low on the Redbirds, but I wouldn't sleep on them. Illinois State comes into the tournament on a 3 game losing streak but all three of these losses were against quality opposition, including the last 2 losses against the co-league champs, Northern Iowa and Creighton. Expect a focused effort in their first round game setting up a likely rematch against the Blue Jays in the semis. Get passed them and they will likely go off as a favorite in the title game. All in all these figures to as it always is, be one of the best conference tournaments around.

Venue: Scottrade Center

Sponsor: State Farm

Dates: March 5th-March 8th

TV: The 2 first round games between will not be televised. The quarterfinals and semifinals are available on FSN Midwest, for those that don't receive Fox Sports Midwest, check out your local comcast sports channel. Occasionally you can find the Valley games shown there. The Missouri Valley championship game will be broadcast at 2:00 on CBS March 8th.

Missouri Valley Tournament Schedule
March 5th - Opening Round
March 6th - Quarterfinals
March 7th - Semifinals
March 8th - Championship
Click here for the updated MVC tournament bracket

Last Years Winner
Drake Bulldogs. The regular season champion and #1 seed heading into the tournament demolished the field including a 30 point victory over #2 seeded Illinois State. That loss mainly because of the point differential kept Illinois State out of the tournament.

Previous Years Valley Tournament Brackets
2008 Champion: Drake
2007 Champion: Creighton
2006 Champion: Southern Illinois
2005 Champion: Creighton

Off Site Links
MVC Conference Official Website
Scottrade Center

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