For the 13th time in 34 years, the top two seeds of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament will meet in the championship game on Sunday.
Top-seeded Northern Iowa (27-4) and second-seeded Wichita State (25-8) will square off at 1 p.m. at the Scottrade Center in a game nationally televised by CBS. The winner receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
UNI is the defending tourney champion while WSU has never been to the title game in the tournament’s 20-year run on a neutral court here. The Shockers’ two titles came in 1985 and 1987, both over host Tulsa.
“It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” said WSU coach Gregg Marshall. “It’s a sense of accomplishment, but still the biggest accomplishment is right there in front of us. We’ve got a great opponent. But if we keep battling, we’ve got the horses to give anyone a game.”
The teams split during the regular season, but haven’t met since Feb. 3 when UNI eked out a three-point win in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
In this tournament, Northern Iowa has had an easier time of it, thumping Drake 55-40 and Bradley 57-40.
Wichita State went nearly to the wire to beat both Missouri State 73-63 and Illinois State 65-61.
“Wichita State has a very balanced team,” said UNI coach Ben Jacobson. “They have depth that is productive and a great point guard. They’ve got size up front and they can bang you.”
The Shockers’ leader is senior point guard Clevin Hannah, a first-team all-MVC performer who has been solid in his two tournament games, averaging 11.5 points, 3.0 assists and just 1.5 turnovers.
The most surprising Shocker has been 7-foot sophomore Garrett Stutz, who averaged just 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds during the season, but is averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds the past two days. He’ll be matched up with another 7-footer, UNI first-team all-MVC center Jordan Eglseder.
“I’ve just got to come out and be the aggressor,” Stutz said. “I can’t wait for them to send a punch at me first and I go back at them. I have to come out and really stick it to them.”
Since UNI is already a lock for the NCAA tournament, Valley officials can’t be faulted for secretly rooting for the Shockers to win so the league can secure two bids for the first time in three years.
And the No. 2 seed has a good history in this game, winning nine of the previous 12 matchups. Plus Wichita State, with its bulk and backcourt, certainly seems up to the challenge of knocking off the Panthers.
“Everybody wants to win a championship in March,” said Marshall. “Northern Iowa has proven it before. This group has not proven they can win a championship yet. But their opportunity is tomorrow.”
Dave Reynolds can be reached at 686-3210 or dreynolds@pjstar.com.
