2009–10 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season marks the 101st season of Missouri Valley Conference
basketball
.
was the conference favorite – returning all five starters and 9 of the top 10 players from their MVC championship team. UNI received all but one first-place vote in the preseason poll of MVC coaches, media, and sports information director
s. Creighton
received the other first place vote. The preseason player of the year was 2009 MVC conference tournament
MVP Osiris Eldridge
of Illinois State
– who tested the NBA Draft
waters over the offseason.
Also in the preseason, three MVC players were named to the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
preseason candidate list: Dodie Dunson of Bradley
, Adam Koch of Northern Iowa and Josh Young of Drake
.
Preseason Player of the Year
, but ultimately lost down the stretch 70–60. The Bluejays led 46–41 at the half and were within 3 points with 2 minues left to play. Jake Kelly also made his debut for Indiana State
, scoring 16 in an 88–58 win over Nebraska-Kerney
. Kelly transferred to Indiana State from Iowa
to be closer to home after the death of his mother.
won the inaugural challenge with 6 wins to the mountain west's 4 wins. 2009 marked the inaugural year of the Mountain West - Missouri Valley Challenge
– matching teams from the MVC against teams from the Mountain West Conference
in an effort to bolster strength of schedule for both leagues. Match-ups were set in January, 2009 and were based on 2008–09 preseason projections.
Throughout the conference season, the MVC offices name a player and newcomer of the week.
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
Preseason
In the preseason, Northern IowaNorthern Iowa Panthers men's basketball
The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition...
was the conference favorite – returning all five starters and 9 of the top 10 players from their MVC championship team. UNI received all but one first-place vote in the preseason poll of MVC coaches, media, and sports information director
Sports information director
A sports information director is a type of public relations worker who provides statistics, team and player notes and other information about a college or university's sports teams to the news media and general public...
s. Creighton
Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
The Creighton Bluejays basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007...
received the other first place vote. The preseason player of the year was 2009 MVC conference tournament
2009 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Popularly referred to as "Arch Madness", the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament as part of the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season was played in St. Louis, Missouri March 5–8, 2009...
MVP Osiris Eldridge
Osiris Eldridge
Osiris Eldridge is a former player of Illinois State's basketball team. As a freshman, he won the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award, and as a sophomore, he was runner up in MVP honors while leading ISU to its most wins in school history with 25...
of Illinois State
Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents the Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.-Season by Season Records:-NCAA Tournament Results:...
– who tested the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
waters over the offseason.
Also in the preseason, three MVC players were named to the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
preseason candidate list: Dodie Dunson of Bradley
Bradley Braves men's basketball
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2006, reaching the...
, Adam Koch of Northern Iowa and Josh Young of Drake
Drake Bulldogs men's basketball
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.The team's current coach is Mark Phelps, previously an assistant at Arizona State, who was hired after the 2007-08 season...
.
MVC Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Iowa (38) | 389 |
| 2 | Creighton (1) | 336 |
| 3 | Illinois State | 299 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois | 272 |
| 5 | Wichita State | 216 |
| 6 | Bradley | 208 |
| 7 | Indiana State | 173 |
| 8 | Drake | 105 |
| 9 | Missouri State | 92 |
| 10 | Evansville | 55 |
Preseason All-MVC Team
- Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa
- Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
- Tony Freeman, Southern Illinois
- Adam Koch, Northern Iowa
- P'Allen Stinnett, Creighton
- Josh Young, Drake
Preseason Player of the Year
- Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
Non-conference
Bradley was dealt a tough blow in their season opener as, for the fourth consecutive season, the Braves suffered an injury to a key player. Senior guard Dodie Dodson broke two bones in his forearm in Bradley's home opener against Idaho State. Bradley won the game 74–69, but likely lost Dodson for the season. In another memorable opening games, Creighton hung tough at #21 DaytonDayton Flyers men's basketball
The Dayton Flyers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Ten Conference representing the University of Dayton. They are known for a rivalry with Xavier University, playing for the Blackburn/McCafferty Trophy each year.-History:The...
, but ultimately lost down the stretch 70–60. The Bluejays led 46–41 at the half and were within 3 points with 2 minues left to play. Jake Kelly also made his debut for Indiana State
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, scoring 16 in an 88–58 win over Nebraska-Kerney
University of Nebraska at Kearney
The University of Nebraska at Kearney , founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney, is the Kearney, Nebraska, United States campus of the University of Nebraska system.-History:...
. Kelly transferred to Indiana State from Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
to be closer to home after the death of his mother.
Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge
The Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
won the inaugural challenge with 6 wins to the mountain west's 4 wins. 2009 marked the inaugural year of the Mountain West - Missouri Valley Challenge
Mountain West - Missouri Valley Challenge
The Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge is an in-season NCAA college basketball series, matching up teams from the Mountain West Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference...
– matching teams from the MVC against teams from the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
in an effort to bolster strength of schedule for both leagues. Match-ups were set in January, 2009 and were based on 2008–09 preseason projections.
- November 13: Bradley @ BYUBYU Cougars men's basketballThe BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference...
– Bradley L 60–70 - November 20: Colorado StateColorado State RamsColorado State University competes in 16 sponsored intercollegiate sports, including 10 for women and six for men...
@ Indiana State – Indiana State W 65–60 - November 21: Southern Illinois @ UNLV – SIU L 69–78
- December 5: Air ForceAir Force Falcons men's basketballThe Air Force Falcons men's basketball team represents the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Clune Arena and are members of the Mountain West Conference. Their current head coach is...
@ Missouri State – Missouri State W 58–48 - December 12: TCUTCU Horned Frogs men's basketballThe TCU Horned Frogs basketball team represents Texas Christian University, located in Fort Worth, Texas, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at Daniel–Meyer Coliseum and are members of the Mountain West Conference...
@ Wichita State – Wichita State W 80–68 - December 19: CreightonCreighton Bluejays men's basketballThe Creighton Bluejays basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007...
@ New Mexico – New Mexico W 66–61 - December 19: Illinois State @ UtahUtah Utes men's basketballThe University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind...
– Illinois State W 73–63 - December 22: San Diego StateSan Diego State Aztecs men's basketballThe San Diego State Aztecs basketball team is the basketball team that represent San Diego State University Aztecs in San Diego, California. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference, and play their home games in Viejas Arena...
@ Drake-San Diego State W 76–73 (OT) - December 23: WyomingWyoming Cowboys men's basketballThe University of Wyoming men's basketball program, which currently competes in the Mountain West Conference, has a lengthy tradition dating back to 1905. Cowboys fans can claim something that few other teams' fans can: an NCAA Championship, won in 1943 under Hall of Fame coach Everett Shelton and...
@ Northern Iowa -Northern Iowa W 72–54
Weekly awards
MVC Players of the WeekThroughout the conference season, the MVC offices name a player and newcomer of the week.
| Week | Player of the week | Newcomer of the week |
|---|---|---|
| November 16 | Carlton Fay, SIU Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball The Southern Illinois Salukis basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis are currently coached by Chris Lowery who led the team to the NCAA tournament in 2004 thru 2007. Lowery was... |
Wayne Runnels, CRE Creighton Bluejays men's basketball The Creighton Bluejays basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007... |
| November 23 | Kyle Weems, MSU Missouri State Bears The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
Dwayne Lathan, IN ST Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
| November 30 | Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition... |
Adam Leonard, MSU |
| December 7 | Jordan Eglseder, UNI | Colt Ryan, UE Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball The Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team represents the University of Evansville, located in Evansville, Indiana, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. Evansville's athletics teams were originally known as the Pioneers in the early part of the 1900s... |
| December 14 | Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI | Tony Freeman, SIU |
| December 21 | Clevin Hannah, WSU Wichita State Shockers men's basketball The Wichita State Shockers basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
Marc Sonnen, UNI |
| December 28 | Jordan Eglseder, UNI | Dwayne Lathan, IN ST |
| January 4 | Osiris Eldridge Osiris Eldridge Osiris Eldridge is a former player of Illinois State's basketball team. As a freshman, he won the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award, and as a sophomore, he was runner up in MVP honors while leading ISU to its most wins in school history with 25... , ISU Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents the Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.-Season by Season Records:-NCAA Tournament Results:... |
Jermaine Mallett, MSU |
| January 11 | Jordan Eglseder, UNI | Jackie Charmichael, ISU |
| January 18 | Bill Todd | Joey G |
| January 25 | ||
| February 1 | ||
| February 8 | ||
| February 15 | ||
| February 22 | ||
| March 1 | ||
| March 8 | ||