At the start of league play this week, only two games separate third place from eighth place in the MVC race. Only once in league history (1926-27) have the league standings been fewer than three games from third to eighth at season's end.
Missouri State senior Kyle Weems and Creighton sophomore Doug McDermott are two of 25 finalists nationwide for the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. The award, sponsored by POINT 3 Basketball and CollegeInsider.com, will be determined by several criteria, including fan voting.
Each week, the Missouri Valley Conference will provide an update on the top Larry Bird Trophy candidates from each MVC school. This week's update is through men's basketball games of Feb. 15.