Murray State is basically speedrunning the Missouri Valley Conference right now. It's January 14, 2026, and the Racers are sitting at 7-0 in the league with a terrifying 11-game winning streak. If you haven't been watching the mvc men's basketball standings lately, you've missed a total power shift in the mid-major world.
Honestly, the Valley is usually a meat grinder where nobody escapes without a few scars, but Murray State is making it look sort of easy. They’re 15-3 overall. They haven't lost at the CFSB Center all season. Just last Saturday, they held off a gritty Valparaiso team 92-79, and even when Valpo cut the lead to four late in the second half, the Racers just... didn't blink. They shot 36 free throws in that game. That’s how you close doors.
The Top Tier: Murray, Belmont, and Bradley
When you dig into the mvc men's basketball standings, there's a clear gap forming at the top. While Murray State is the only undefeated team left in conference play, Belmont and Bradley are breathing down their necks at 6-2.
Belmont is doing it with pure offensive efficiency. They're shooting over 51% as a team. That is wild. They just put on a clinic against UNI, winning 81-62 in Nashville. Nic McClain has been the engine there, but the real story is their road record. They are 7-1 on the road. In a league where winning away from home is usually a nightmare, the Bruins are treats-at-the-door comfortable in opposing gyms.
Then you have Bradley. The Braves are 13-6 overall and 6-2 in the Valley. They’ve won three straight, including a huge win over UNI. Jaquan Johnson has been the name on everyone’s lips lately. He’s the kind of player who can take over a game when the shot clock is winding down and the crowd is screaming. Bradley is 9-1 at home, making Peoria one of the most hostile environments in the conference this year.
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Why the Middle of the Standings is a Total Mess
The middle of the pack is where things get weird. Illinois State and Northern Iowa (UNI) are both hovering around that .500 mark in league play, and it’s a bit of a head-scratcher.
UNI was picked second in the preseason polls. Now? They’re 4-3 in the conference and on a three-game losing skid. Leon Bond III and Max Weisbrod are playing well, but the team defense has slipped. They’re allowing opponents to shoot way better than they did in November. It's frustrating for fans because the talent is clearly there—they just can't seem to close out the tight ones right now.
- Illinois State (4-2 MVC): They’ve got the best scoring margin in the league (+14.7), but they've dropped two straight.
- UIC (3-4 MVC): The Flames are on a three-game heater. They were dead in the water two weeks ago, and now they’re the team nobody wants to play.
- Drake (2-4 MVC): It’s been a rough transition year for the Bulldogs after all the roster turnover. They’re 4-6 at home, which is unheard of for them.
The most surprising stat? Valparaiso's Owen Dease is actually leading the conference in scoring during league play at 19 points per game. He’s shooting nearly 58% from three. Despite that, Valpo is 2-5 in the MVC because they can't buy a road win (1-7 away).
The Battle at the Bottom
Indiana State and Evansville are struggling to keep their heads above water. The Sycamores are 1-5 in the league, which is a massive comedown from their NIT run a couple of years back. Ian Scott is a bright spot, though. He just dropped 24 and 11 against Evansville, but the Purple Aces still walked away with the 72-69 win.
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Evansville is 1-7 in the MVC. They’re 5-14 overall. It’s tough sledding for the Aces, who are struggling with a -5.8 scoring margin. They did manage to snap a long skid by beating Indiana State on the road, which might give them some momentum heading into the back half of the schedule.
What Most People Get Wrong About the MVC Standings
The common mistake is looking at the overall record and assuming Murray State is a lock for the NCAA Tournament. In the Valley, the regular season title is great for pride, but "Arch Madness" in St. Louis is a different beast.
The mvc men's basketball standings only tell you who gets the Thursday night bye. They don't tell you about the matchups. A team like UIC or Southern Illinois (2-4 in MVC) has the physical size to bother Murray State. The Racers are fast, but they aren't huge. If they run into a team that can slow the pace to a crawl in St. Louis, that 7-0 start won't mean much.
Southern Illinois is a great example. They’re 8-9 overall, but they play a style that is just miserable to face in a tournament setting. They grind you down. They're 5-1 at home, showing they can defend their turf. If they can just find a way to win a couple on the road, they’ll be a terrifying 7-seed or 8-seed in March.
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Looking Ahead: Games That Will Shift the Standings
The next ten days are going to be chaotic. We have some "moving day" matchups on the schedule:
- January 14: Indiana State vs. Illinois State. The Sycamores need this to stay alive; the Redbirds need it to stop the bleeding.
- January 15: Southern Illinois vs. Murray State. This is the ultimate "unstoppable force vs. immovable object" game.
- January 17: Bradley vs. Illinois State. The I-74 Rivalry always delivers, and with both teams near the top, the stakes are massive.
The parity is actually higher than it looks. Aside from Murray State's tear, only four games separate the #2 spot from the #10 spot. One bad weekend and you go from a first-round bye to playing on Thursday afternoon.
Statistical Leaders to Watch
If you're tracking the mvc men's basketball standings for betting or just deep fandom, keep an eye on these specific metrics. They usually predict who will move up or down over the next month.
Belmont leads the league in field goal percentage at 51.5%. History says that usually regresses slightly, so don't be shocked if they drop a game they "should" win soon. Conversely, UNI has the best scoring defense, giving up only 57.3 points per game. Their 4-3 record feels like an anomaly—teams with that kind of defense almost always end up in the top three by February.
Actions for MVC Fans
To get the most out of the mid-season stretch, you should focus on the following:
- Track the Home/Road Splits: Look for teams like Valparaiso or Drake who are underperforming at home; they are likely to have a "bounce back" week soon.
- Monitor the Injury Reports for Murray State: Their 11-game streak has relied on a very tight 7-man rotation. Any fatigue or minor ankle sprain could see them drop games to SIU or Belmont.
- Watch the Thursday Bye Race: The top four teams get a massive advantage in St. Louis. Right now, Murray, Belmont, Bradley, and Illinois State hold those spots, but UNI is just one game back.
- Check the NET Rankings: As of mid-January, the MVC is looking like a one-bid league again, unless Murray State can keep their losses to a minimum and Belmont or Bradley can snag a couple of "Quad 1" wins.
The Missouri Valley Conference is far from settled. Murray State is the king for now, but in this league, the crown is always heavy. By the time we get to February, these standings will look completely different, and that's exactly why we watch.