It’s finally the first week of March, and you know what that means, it’s time for Arch Madness! For the last 30 years, Arch Madness has captivated the hearts of College Basketball across the world. It’s provided us with some of the most exciting early March Madness moments with heartbreaking defeats and joyous victories. For 30 years, the Missouri Valley has given College Basketball fans something to get excited about, and this year will be no different.

In all honesty, this year’s Arch Madness could arguably be one of the most exciting Conference Tournaments this season. As it stands right now, the MVC will be a two-bid league with the possibility of stealing a third with either Missouri State or Indiana State pending a run to the championship game.

Coming into Arch Madness, 21st ranked Loyola Chicago is the favorite to win Missouri Valley Tournament in St. Louis, but Drake might have something to say about it. These two programs split the regular-season matchups, and on paper, they’re on a fast track for a rematch in the Arch Madness championship game. According to Joe Lunardi, Drake, and Loyola Chicago are both locks for the NCAA Tournament in a couple of weeks. The MVC is also a league that could see a third team sneak in there with success in St.Louis.

As far as the middle of the pack goes for the Missouri Valley Conference? Using the history of this tournament, it’s safe to say that we will see a Cinderella team on Saturday competing for the shot to play in the Championship game on Sunday. From top to bottom, MVC basketball is loaded. It’s that simple.

A lot of people often think that Mid-Major tournaments aren’t important, aren’t fun, and don’t matter to the overall product of College Basketball. Those people are wrong and simply don’t understand the beauty of Arch Madness and what it brings to the College Basketball landscape.

Arch Madness will get underway on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday.