*2025-2026 Other games of Interest*

[BCPanther]

Why? Wouldnt we have the tiebreaker over valpo?

Valpo is going to be 12-8. They've got Drake and Evansville this week. Both us and Illinois State have to win out to get to 12-8.

Per mred, this is the most likely bracket statistically after last night:

1. Belmont (17 - 3)
2. Murray St (13 - 7)
Above UIC based on head-to-head record (2-0).
3. UIC (13 - 7)
Below Murray St based on head-to-head record (0-2).
4. UNI (12 - 8)
Above Bradley and Valpo based on current NET ranking (84).
5. Bradley (12 - 8)
Above Valpo and below UNI based on current NET ranking (111).
6. Valpo (12 - 8)
Below UNI and Bradley based on current NET ranking (150).
7. Illinois St (10 - 10)
Above S Illinois based on current NET ranking (94).
8. S Illinois (10 - 10)
Below Illinois St based on current NET ranking (118).
9. Drake (6 - 14)
10. Indiana St (3 - 17)
11. Evansville (2 - 18)

Our only path to the 3 is win out, Bradley over Murray and Indiana State over UIC on Sunday which would give us:

1. Belmont (17 - 3)
2. Bradley (13 - 7)
3. UNI (12 - 8)
With Murray St, above Valpo and UIC based on round-robin record (4-2).
Above Murray St based on head-to-head record (2-0).
4. Murray St (12 - 8)
With UNI, above Valpo and UIC based on round-robin record (4-2).
Below UNI based on head-to-head record (0-2).
5. Valpo (12 - 8)
Above UIC and below Murray St and UNI based on round-robin record (3-3).
6. UIC (12 - 8)
Below Murray St, UNI, and Valpo based on round-robin record (1-5).
7. Illinois St (10 - 10)
Above S Illinois based on current NET ranking (94).
8. S Illinois (10 - 10)
Below Illinois St based on current NET ranking (118).
9. Drake (6 - 14)
10. Indiana St (4 - 16)
11. Evansville (2 - 18)

[06panther10]

Valpo is going to be 12-8. They've got Drake and Evansville this week. Both us and Illinois State have to win out to get to 12-8.

Per mred, this is the most likely bracket statistically after last night:

1. Belmont (17 - 3)
2. Murray St (13 - 7)
Above UIC based on head-to-head record (2-0).
3. UIC (13 - 7)
Below Murray St based on head-to-head record (0-2).
4. UNI (12 - 8)
Above Bradley and Valpo based on current NET ranking (84).
5. Bradley (12 - 8)
Above Valpo and below UNI based on current NET ranking (111).
6. Valpo (12 - 8)
Below UNI and Bradley based on current NET ranking (150).
7. Illinois St (10 - 10)
Above S Illinois based on current NET ranking (94).
8. S Illinois (10 - 10)
Below Illinois St based on current NET ranking (118).
9. Drake (6 - 14)
10. Indiana St (3 - 17)
11. Evansville (2 - 18)

Our only path to the 3 is win out, Bradley over Murray and Indiana State over UIC on Sunday which would give us:

1. Belmont (17 - 3)
2. Bradley (13 - 7)
3. UNI (12 - 8)
With Murray St, above Valpo and UIC based on round-robin record (4-2).
Above Murray St based on head-to-head record (2-0).
4. Murray St (12 - 8)
With UNI, above Valpo and UIC based on round-robin record (4-2).
Below UNI based on head-to-head record (0-2).
5. Valpo (12 - 8)
Above UIC and below Murray St and UNI based on round-robin record (3-3).
6. UIC (12 - 8)
Below Murray St, UNI, and Valpo based on round-robin record (1-5).
7. Illinois St (10 - 10)
Above S Illinois based on current NET ranking (94).
8. S Illinois (10 - 10)
Below Illinois St based on current NET ranking (118).
9. Drake (6 - 14)
10. Indiana St (4 - 16)
11. Evansville (2 - 18)

Ok, but lets say Valpo does drop one of those games, UNI beats Ill St and loses to Drake.

In this scenario UNI, Valpo, and Ill St would all be 11-9. Tiebreaker comes down to NET correct? Of which it is very likely that we would clear both of them, I would assume.

Obviously, just hope we can find a way to win the last 2.

[BCPanther]

Ok, but lets say Valpo does drop one of those games, UNI beats Ill St and loses to Drake.

In this scenario UNI, Valpo, and Ill St would all be 11-9. Tiebreaker comes down to NET correct? Of which it is very likely that we would clear both of them, I would assume.

Obviously, just hope we can find a way to win the last 2.

Correct. Technically it would be a round robin first but everybody would have split with everybody in that situation.

Plus, Illinois State ain't beating Belmont Sunday and we've got the tiebreaker over Valpo.

Basically, win tonight and we're fine.

[GarretW1797]

Drake leading at Valpo by 2 with 2 minutes left. Would be big to potentially landing the 6 seed.

[GarretW1797]

Drake leading at Valpo by 2 with 2 minutes left. Would be big to potentially landing the 6 seed.

Well, that didn't work out. Now it will take a miracle to get there. Looking like 7 or 8.

[MVCBeat]

Valpo rallies from down 5 with four minutes to go to beat Drake.

I swear I don't think we've gotten a single other MVC game to go our way these entire last few weeks. It is truly incredible.

[BCPanther]

Not a one. Not that we've helped ourselves at all but we haven't gotten any help either.

Only takes Evansville sweeping the weekend to get the 6 boys!!!

[UNIAlum95]

I’ll take the 7th at this point with a path through Murray St.

[BCPanther]

I’ll take the 7th at this point with a path through Murray St.

That's the best possible outcome at this point so I assume it'll be Bradley

[MVCBeat]

Realistically, if you're playing on Thursday, your absolute best case realistic scenario is to make it to Saturday. Most likely you're looking at whether you can get to the quarterfinals or not and that's it. Only like 4 or 5 teams have ever made it to even Saturday from Thursday.

Losing twice in a row to Drake to end the year would be about right based on our luck this year.

[Gboom23]

Winning 4 games in 4 days would be the most UNI-thing ever. We've already done everything else down there. Might as well add something else that has never been done to the list.

[GarretW1797]

Only takes Evansville sweeping the weekend to get the 6 boys!!!

Only to then face said red hot Evansville team of course

But yeah, our best chance at dancing is getting the 7 seed with Murray and UIC finishing at the 2 and 3.

Side note, if we end the season on back-to-back losses to Drake I would completely understand the fire Ben Jacobson crowd.

[MVCBeat]

Evansville led Valpo basically the whole game and blew it in the end. Had an 8 point lead with less than 5 minutes to go. It is truly incredible at this point.

6 seed officially off the table.

[BCPanther]

Not so fast!

Evansville wins.

UNI and Illinois State wins tomorrow equal the 6.

[GarretW1797]

Not sure what happened as I only saw the final score and MVCBeat's comment, but Evansville somehow won!