MVC Basketball Rivals - Who Are They?

[Dallas Brave]

The hullabaloo around this year's league schedule got me wondering about which MVC schools have true basketball rivalries ... and I realized I was in the dark about some of the schools. Here is my take, but I'm sure it less than 100% accurate:

BU: ........(1) Ill St. ..........(2) SIU
Ill St: .....(1) BU ..............(2) SIU
SIU: .......(1) Creighton ... (2) BU
WSU: .....(1) Creighton ....(2) SIU
CU: ........(1) WSU ..........(2) SIU
DU: .......(1) No IA ..........(2) ??
No IA: ....(1) DU ..............(2) ??
UE: .......(1) Ind ST ..........(2) ??
Ind St: ...(1) UE ..............(2) ??
Mo St: ....(1) ?? ..............(2) ??

Help fill it in and we can send to the League Office for next year!

[squirrel]

The relationship between Drake and Bradley doesn't exactly drum up imagery of a "rivalry" but they have always had a mutual respect for one another as long-standing senior, sister MVC programs.

And every college basketball video game with a "rivalry" mode includes them along with ISU. FWLIW.

[amckillip]

SIU-MSU is a pretty decent rivalry isn't it?

[Dallas Brave]

Does Mo State have an MVC basketball rival?

[BUFAN]

Does Mo State have an MVC basketball rival?

I know Mo St is the only MVC team with a winning record vs. BU and I for one take exceptional pride in winning at the Hammond.

[MacabreMob]

Does Mo State have an MVC basketball rival?

We had what seemed like a rivalry a few years back with Mo St... seemed like we met in the semi's of the conference tourney a bunch of times.

[brocks]

We had what seemed like a rivalry a few years back with Mo St... seemed like we met in the semi's of the conference tourney a bunch of times.

Yep. Deon beat em with that last-secon shot in '96. Unfortunately, they returned the favor in '97, beating us at the buzzer.

[Tone Bone]

SIU seems to be a big rivalry game for just about everyone in the valley. For obvious distance reasons, Bradley, Evansville, and Illinois State are natural rivals. Missouri State has always been a thorn in the side of the Salukis, while Northern Iowa and SIU have a great football rivalry and this carries over to basketball as well. Creighton has turned into SIU's arch nemesis but it wasn't always this way. Success by both of those schools has led to their rivalry developing. Prior to this decade, I would say SIU's biggest rival was Illinois State. Witchita State would like to think SIU is their rival, but honestly if it wasn't for Valleytalk, SIU fans wouldn't give two rats asses about Witchita State. I would call what has happened there more of an internet message board fued than a real rivalry. As an SIU fan, the Bradley and Creighton games have been my favorites for the last few years as I believe our rivalry with BU is only heating up.

[DUBulldog]

if it wasn't for Valleytalk, SIU fans wouldn't give two rats asses about Witchita State. I would call what has happened there more of an internet message board fued than a real rivalry.

Same with the Creighton/WSU "rivalry". I know a lot of Creighton fans, and unless they read Valleytalk, they don't think there's any kind of rivalry with Wichita State.

I consider Creighton to be more of a rivalry for Drake than UNI for several reasons....in spite of Creighton's recent domination of the series (other than Drake's 3-0 sweep last season).

Creighton is almost as close to Drake (geographically) as is UNI.

Creighton is a much more similar school to Drake than UNI. Drake and Creighton are much more likely to compete for the same students than Drake and UNI.

Drake has a longer basketball history with Creighton than they do with UNI.

[SFP]

I agree with you DUbulldog! Those are some of the same reason I would put you guys as our next rivalry. It's great to have other schools in the Valley that care about their academics. We can't and do not shout the same chants to you guys as we do to ISU.

[AE Braves Fan]

Yep. Deon beat em with that last-secon shot in '96. Unfortunately, they returned the favor in '97, beating us at the buzzer.

I was at that game. I think 'Bayo blocked a shot as the time was winding down and then Colieco Buie(sp?) hit a 25 footer after corralling the blocked shot. If my memory is correct, AP missed a 3 pointer from the baseline that would have won it as time expired.

Man that one hurt.

Let's beat Mo State!!!!!!!

[Braves4Life]

Say What?

I think the real rivalry of the future will be SIUC vs. SIUE and I see Lennox coming to dominate CLo in future years!

I usually agree with you tornado but "Say What?" Are you smokin' something wacky tonight?

[DoubleJayAlum]

Same with the Creighton/WSU "rivalry". I know a lot of Creighton fans, and unless they read Valleytalk, they don't think there's any kind of rivalry with Wichita State.

I consider Creighton to be more of a rivalry for Drake than UNI for several reasons....in spite of Creighton's recent domination of the series (other than Drake's 3-0 sweep last season).

Creighton is almost as close to Drake (geographically) as is UNI.

Creighton is a much more similar school to Drake than UNI. Drake and Creighton are much more likely to compete for the same students than Drake and UNI.

Drake has a longer basketball history with Creighton than they do with UNI.

Agree with everything you said (including the WSU comments). As far as CU-DU, there has also been an issue in the past with Drake fans not exactly liking how many fans Creighton brought to the games in Des Moines. The Drake-Creighton rivalry has some really good potential if Drake can maintain an upper level hoops program. In geographic terms, DU is the closest school to CU by a large margin.

Right now, Creighton's biggest conference rival is with SIU. Its a strong rivalry, built on mutual respect and based on the fact most of the time, the games have involved a title of some sort (regular season or tourney).