Fansided

2018 MVC tournament preview and season review

By Neil Harrington

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Donte Ingram (0) and Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Ben Richardson (14) celebrate after defeating the University of Illinois - Chicago Flames on December 17, 2016 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Donte Ingram (0) and Loyola (Il) Ramblers guard Ben Richardson (14) celebrate after defeating the University of Illinois - Chicago Flames on December 17, 2016 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MVC
TERRE HAUTE, IN – FEBRUARY 10: Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers forward Aundre Jackson (24) shoots a free throw during the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) college basketball game between the Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers and the Indiana State Sycamores on February 10, 2018, at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball 2018 regular season standings

  1. Loyola Ramblers: 25-5 (15-3 MVC) RPI: 33
  2. Southern Illinois Salukis: 19-12 (11-7 MVC) RPI: 93
  3. Illinois State Redbirds: 16-14 (10-8 MVC) RPI: 84
  4. Drake Bulldogs: 16-15 (10-8 MVC) RPI: 162
  5. Bradley Braves: 19-12 (9-9 MVC) RPI: 114
  6. Indiana State Sycamores: 13-17 (8-10 MVC) RPI:169
  7. Missouri State Bears: 17-14 (7-11 MVC) RPI: 133
  8. Evansville Purples Aces: 17-14 (7-11 MVC) RPI: 137
  9. Northern Iowa Panthers: 15-15 (7-11 MVC) RPI: 141
  10. Valparaiso Crusaders: 15-16 (6-12 MVC) RPI: 175

Once again, pre-season votes and predictions mean absolutely nothing. To be fair, predicting the future is hard, especially without the Grays Sports Almanac as a handy guide.

In only their fourth year in the MVC, the Ramblers have done the unthinkable and won the regular season crown.

Missouri State will have an opportunity to redeem themselves, with a season to forget. That’s the beauty of March Madness and the Conference tournaments leading up to it. Teams who underachieved have new life. A new season, of sorts.

2018 MVC Pre-Season predictions

  1. Missouri State
  2. Northern Iowa
  3. Loyola
  4. Illinois State
  5. Southern Illinois
  6. Valparaiso
  7. Bradley
  8. Indiana State
  9. Evansville
  10. Drake

The MVC in non-conference play:

82-44 ( 53-7 home), (12-25 road), and (17-12 neutral). Verse the Top 25 (1-6) — Loyola 65-59 win at the No.5 ranked Florida Gators in Gainsville. Illinois State also snagged wins against SEC foes South Carolina and Ole Miss. The MVC split the 2018 Mountain West/MVC challenge, which drastically helps their current league RPI mark.

Speaking of Loyola, the Ramblers were highly honored in the 2018 MVC regular season awards, taking home well- deserved hardware.

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