What Is 2007 MVC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2007 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the MVC's 12 teams, determining the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. Held annually since 1907, the 2007 edition marked the 20th consecutive year the event took place in St. Louis, Missouri.

This tournament was particularly significant due to the competitive balance across the conference and the high stakes of securing an NCAA Tournament bid. Southern Illinois entered as the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with a 14–4 conference record, while Bradley surged late to claim a strong seeding.

• Championship game: Southern Illinois defeated Bradley 70–61 on March 11, 2007, capturing their second MVC Tournament title in four years.
• Location: All games were played at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, a neutral site used by the MVC since 1991 for its tournament.
• Format: The tournament featured 12 teams, with the top four seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals, while seeds 5–12 played in first-round matchups.
• MVP:Blake Averkamp of Southern Illinois was named Tournament MVP after averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during the event.
• NCAA bid: The win gave Southern Illinois an automatic berth in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, where they were seeded No. 8 in the East Region.

How It Works

The MVC Tournament follows a single-elimination format designed to crown a conference champion and award an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Teams are seeded based on regular-season conference records, with tiebreakers used when necessary.

• Seeding: The top 12 teams in the MVC qualify, with seeding determined by regular-season conference win-loss records and tiebreaker rules.
• First round: Seeds 5 through 12 compete in four games, with winners advancing to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinals.
• Quarterfinals: The eight remaining teams play, with the top four seeds entering at this stage after receiving first-round byes.
• Semifinals: The two highest remaining seeds play on Saturday, March 10, with both games held at Scottrade Center.
• Championship game: Held on March 11, the final determines the MVC champion and automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
• Selection criteria: The MVC uses head-to-head record, record against common opponents, and RPI as tiebreakers when seeding teams.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2007 MVC Tournament compared to recent editions in terms of attendance, champion performance, and NCAA success.

The 2007 tournament continued the MVC's trend of competitive balance, with Southern Illinois reclaiming the title after losing in 2006. The Scottrade Center consistently hosted high attendance, with the 2007 final drawing over 15,000 fans. MVC teams had struggled in the NCAA Tournament recently, with none advancing past the second round since 2004.

Why It Matters

The 2007 MVC Tournament had lasting implications for conference prestige, team legacies, and NCAA Tournament representation. Its structure and outcomes influenced how mid-major programs approached postseason preparation.

• Conference visibility: A strong MVC showing helped maintain the league’s reputation as one of the top mid-major conferences in Division I basketball.
• Player development: Blake Averkamp’s MVP performance highlighted the conference’s ability to produce high-level talent despite limited national exposure.
• NCAA impact: Southern Illinois’ win secured an automatic bid, giving the MVC two teams in the 2007 NCAA Tournament (along with regular-season co-champ Bradley).
• Rivalry intensity: The Southern Illinois–Bradley matchups in 2005, 2006, and 2007 intensified one of the MVC’s most heated conference rivalries.
• Recruiting boost: Success in the tournament helped both SIU and Bradley attract higher-profile recruits in the following seasons.
• Historical significance: The 2007 title was Southern Illinois’ third in five years, cementing their dominance in the mid-2000s MVC era.

The 2007 MVC Tournament remains a benchmark for competitive balance and postseason drama in mid-major college basketball, showcasing how conference tournaments can shape legacies and national perceptions.