OUTLOOOK: The Missouri Valley Conference appears to be in store for a rebound
season after sending just one team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the prior
two campaigns. The league returns 35 starters from a year ago, the most since
2005-06, when the conference sent four teams to the Big Dance, including two
that reached the Sweet 16.
The Northern Iowa Panthers represented the MVC in the NCAA Tournament a year
ago and they return nearly every player, making them the team-to-beat in
2009-10. Creighton earned a share of the regular season crown with UNI a
season ago and the Bluejays welcome back several skilled players that will
have them competing for the league title once again. Illinois State received a
boost when Osiris Eldridge withdrew his name from the NBA draft and his return
alone makes the Redbirds a darkhorse. Wichita State made strides last year and
appears ready to contend, while Southern Illinois is hoping to rebound from a
down season. Bradley and Indiana State both return some good producers, but
each will need help from some new faces to finish in the upper half. Missouri
State should be improved after finishing last a year ago, while Drake needs
one of the top recruiting classes in the conference to produce right away in
order to have success. Evansville lost four starter from a season ago, so the
Purple Aces are most likely in for a long campaign.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Northern Iowa
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. Northern Iowa; 2. Creighton; 3. Illinois State; 4. Southern Illinois; 5.
Wichita State; 6. Bradley; 7. Indiana State; 8. Missouri State; 9. Drake;
10. Evansville
TEAM BY TEAM ANAYLSIS:
NORTHERN IOWA - The Panthers turned in a banner campaign in 2008-09 under head
coach Ben Jacobson, as they tied for the MVC regular-season title and won the
league tournament for the first time in school history. UNI went on to make
its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006, losing by just five points to
Purdue in the first round. The 2008-09 campaign was highlighted by an 11
winning streak that helped the team gain confidence and overcome a 6-6 start
to the season. All five starters are now back in the fold from last year's 23-
win club, so expectations are obviously at an all-time high for the program.
Adam Koch is the go-to-guy for the Panthers and he is as versatile as they
come. The 6-9 forward averaged 12.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg in earning first-team all-
league accolades and the senior also shot 48 percent from the floor and 77
percent at the foul line. Koch isn't a guy that will post 20-plus points per
night, but he does everything well and is a nightmare for opponents. Center
Jordan Eglseder is also a handful and his 7-1, 290-pound frame gives him a big
edge in the MVC. Last season, the senior averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg, while
using his height to alter shots consistently. Lucas O'Rear (5.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
is a valuable asset off the bench for the frontcourt and the reigning Sixth
Man of the Year in the MVC looks to improve upon his sophomore campaign. At
the perimeter, Kwadzo Ahelegbe returned after sitting out 2007-08 and he
earned second-team accolades, posting 11.8 ppg and 3.1 apg. Ali Farokhmanesh
will once again join Ahelegbe in the backcourt and juco transfer netted 9.6
ppg, while shooting 37.9 percent from long range last season. Johnny Moran is
also a three-point threat and another solid scoring option at 8.4 ppg. The 6-1
sophomore was impressive as rookie last season, leading the team with 41
steals, and he is another talent in a loaded backcourt.
CREIGHTON - The Bluejays have been one of the most successful programs in the
MVC under head coach Dana Altman, who has led Creighton to 12 straight
postseason appearances, including back-to-back NIT showings. With its 27-8
finish in 2008-09, Creighton extended its streak to 11 straight 20-win
campaigns and the return of three starters gives the team a shot to continue
its remarkable run. The Bluejays however, must find a way to replace the
production of Booker Woodfox, who averaged 15.8 ppg on his way to being named
the MVC Player of the Year. Fortunately, the team welcomes back the services
of P'Allen Stinnett, a 6-3 guard that averaged 12.5 ppg a season ago. With a
little more consistency, Stinnett could be among the top players in the league
after earning second-team honors in 2008-09. Justin Carter (8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
is another returning starter for the Bluejays and the 6-4 senior played
forward last season out of necessity. He is more of a wing and could flourish
this season with a return to his normal position. Cavel Witter (7.7 ppg) will
adds some depth to the backcourt, though, he needs to improve on his shooting,
hitting just 34 percent of from the floor last season. Up front, Creighton
welcomes back just one starter and that is Kenny Lawson. The 6-9 center led
the MVC in blocked shots and averaged 8.5 ppg, and the junior will be counted
on to carry a thin frontcourt.
ILLINOIS STATE - Head coach Tim Jankovich has done a remarkable job at ISU in
just two seasons, posting a 49-20 record and leading the Redbirds to two
straight MVC Tournament title games. Jankovich's 2008-09 club opened the
season a perfect 14-0, gaining some national recognition along the way.
Unfortunately, the team's finish wasn't as impressive, as ISU's campaign ended
with two overtime losses, including one against UNI in the MVC Tournament
title game. The Redbirds have earned consecutive NIT berths under Jankovich,
and the program is on the rise and moving in the right direction towards its
first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. Expectations for this season were
made even higher when Osiris Eldridge decided to return for his senior
campaign. The 6-3 guard is viewed as one of the premier players in the league
and he can do it all, averaging 14.0 pg, 6.2 rpg and 2.4 apg in 2008-09. Lloyd
Phillips (10.6 ppg, 3.6 apg) will accompany Eldridge in the backcourt and the
5-10 senior has a knack for making big plays when it matters most. ISU's
biggest threat in the paint is 6-8 forward Dinma Odiakosa, who netted 8.7 ppg
a season ago. Odiakosa is also a solid defender and rebounder, pulling in 7.5
rpg. Sophomore forwards Jeremy Robinson (6-8) and Kellen Thornton (6-7) should
see an increase in their workload to complement Odiakosa.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Due to injuries and inexperience, the Salukis finished
just 13-18 in 2008-09, marking their first losing campaign in over a decade.
SIU failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2001 as well, and
one of the more dominant MVC programs is now looking to rebound under head
sixth-year head coach Chris Lowery. Last year's youth movement should pay
immediate dividends for Lowery in 2009-10 and the availability of Tony Freeman
should also help in a big way. A 6-1 senior, Freeman sat out last season after
transferring from Iowa and he could become a big time scorer in the MVC after
posting 13.8 ppg in his last season with the Hawkeyes. Kevin Dillard is one of
those younger players Lowery has high expectation for, as the 6-0 sophomore
led SIU in scoring (12.2 ppg), assists (4.1 apg) and three-point percentage
(.452) as a rookie last season. He was voted the MVC Freshman of the Year and
has a bright future ahead of him. Ryan Hare is another sophomore that started
as a rookie in 2008-09 and the 6-4 guard that averaged 7.5 ppg should only get
better with more experience. In the frontcourt, Carlton Fay is the team's top
option and the 6-8 forward ranked second on the team in scoring at 10.4 ppg.
Fay has an outside game and is good free-throw shooter, but needs to cut down
on his turnovers. Anthony Booker (3.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), a 6-8 forward, and 6-11
center Nick Evans (2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg) both gained some good experience as
freshman last season and should be ready for an expanded role in 2009-10.
WICHITA STATE - Head coach Gregg Marshall's second go around at WSU was a much
more successful one, as the Shockers won 17 games after capturing just 11
victories the prior season. Considering Marshall had 11 players in their first
year of Division I basketball, last year's season, which included a trip to
the CBI, was certainly a positive one. Three starters are welcomed back for
the Shockers and that includes leader Clevin Hannah. A community college
transfer, the 5-11 Hannah averaged 11.2 ppg and 4.3 apg last season, while
shooting 41 percent from three-point land. Hannah, the lone senior on the
team, will not only be counted on to produce, but also provide leadership for
the younger players. Toure' Murry gained a lot of valuable experience as a
freshman last season and the 6-4 guard ranked second to Hannah with 11.0 ppg.
The sophomore is a good shooter along the perimeter and he even won two games
with three-pointers. The team's third returning starter is J.T. Durley, a 6-7
forward that produced 8.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg as a sophomore last season. Garrett
Stutz, a 7-0 center, earned 12 starters as freshman last year and though he
averaged just 4.2 ppg, he did show promise and his size alone makes a big
impact for the Shockers. Another intriguing option in the paint is 6-8 Gabe
Blair. A two-year starter at East Carolina, Blair averaged 7.7 ppg and 6.9
rpg as a sophomore in his final season with the Pirates before transferring.
BRADLEY - The Braves have made a habit of playing deep into March, as they
finished second in both the inaugural CBI in 2008 and the first
CollegeInsider.com Tournament last season. Head coach Jim Les has led the
program to four straight seasons of at least 21 victories, but he will need to
work some magic if Bradley is to extend that streak. The Braves do return
three starters, but they need to fill some gaping holes in the frontcourt. The
backcourt however, should be among the best in the league and the return of
Andrew Warren will only bolster that claim. The 6-5 Warren missed last season
with a stress fracture to his foot, but he was the team's leading scorer (13.2
ppg) in 2007-08 and his return gives the Braves another weapon at the
perimeter. Sam Maniscalco, the team's top scorer (12.6 ppg) last season, is
welcomed back as well and the 6-0 guard is an elite free-throw shooter,
hitting 83.6 percent of his attempts. Dodie Dunson, a 6-3 guard, is another
returning player that averaged double figures with 10.1 ppg and he is one of
the team's top three-point threats. Chris Roberts was a starter for the Braves
last season and the 6-4 guard figures to return to the same role after
averaging 8.7 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 2008-09. Eddren McClain averaged 5.6 ppg and
3.0 apg as a rookie starter for Bradley, although the 5-11 guard needs to cut
down on his turnovers to become more effective. Bradley is obviously loaded in
the backcourt, but in the paint is where the team is hoping some new faces can
make an immediate impact after losing Theron Wilson (14.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and
David Collins (7-0).
INDIANA STATE - The Sycamores' win total fell in year-two of the Kevin McKenna
era, but the team showed life down the stretch and should be able to build off
their solid finish with four starters back in the fold. While the return of
four starters is certainly a positive, the biggest boost this program received
was the news that Iowa transfer Jake Kelly will be allowed to play immediately
for the program. A 6-6 guard, Kelly was excused from the transfer rules due to
extraordinary personal circumstances and his presence should help the
Sycamores improve greatly from a season ago. Kelly, as a sophomore at Iowa,
earned All-Big Ten honors, averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.0 apg, and he should be
even more productive in the MVC. Harry Marshall should only benefit from the
insertion of Kelly, as the 6-0 guard carried ISU with 13.6 ppg and 4.2 apg
last season. Rashad Reed is another returning starter at the perimeter and the
6-1 senior can score as well as defend, posting 11.0 ppg and a team-best 40
steals in 2008-09. Aaron Carter, a 6-4 guard, netted 7.6 ppg in a starting
role last year and he is a solid shooter, hitting on 82 percent from the foul
line and 35.5 percent from long range. The backcourt is certainly set for the
Sycamores, but where they lack options is down low. Carl Richard started as a
freshman last season and the 6-5 forward scored 6.1 ppg and ranked second with
6.0 rpg. Isiah Martin (6-9), Josh Crawford (6-11) and Brant Leitnaker (6-10)
add size and depth to the frontcourt, but they aren't factors at the offensive
end.
MISSOURI STATE - Cuonzo Martin's first season as a head coach was a rough one,
as the Bears lost 17 of their last 21 games to finish just 11-20 overall. MSU
placed last in the conference at 3-15 due to a variety of injuries, as the
program suffered through its worst season as a Division I school. The Bears
struggled to score last season and lost three of their top four scorers, so
things may not get a whole lot better in Martin's second go-around. The return
of forward Kyle Weems, however, does give the team hope for some improvement.
The 6-6 Weems has the ability to score at the perimeter or in the lane and he
was terrific as a freshman last season, averaging 10.2 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
Another productive player was Will Creekmore, a Boston University transfer.
The 6-9 center became eligible at the semester and averaged 7.7 rpg and 5.7
rpg as a sophomore. Ryan Jehle (4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Caleb Patterson, a 7-0
sophomore transfer from Colorado, will get their share of looks in the
frontcourt along with a highly touted recruiting class. At the perimeter,
Cardell McFarland and Justin Fuehrmeyer are a pair of starters welcomed back.
The 6-2 McFarland contributed 6.9 ppg as a freshman last season and will be
counted on for a bigger role, while the 6-0 Fuehrmeyer could be overtaken by
some newcomers after averaging just 4.7 ppg. Jermaine Mallett (6-4) and Nafis
Ricks (6-2) are a pair of highly regarded newcomers and they should provide
some scoring immediately for the Bears.
DRAKE - The Bulldogs fell off in 2008-09 as expected, as the team lost a
majority of its players from the 2007-08 squad, which won the MVC and advanced
to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1971. Head coach Keno Davis
also departed after one magical year at the helm of the program, so Drake had
an awful lot to overcome in 2008-09. Despite the losses all around, the
Bulldogs did a rather good job under first-time head coach Mark Phelps, a
former Arizona State and NC State assistant. Phelps guided Drake to 17 wins
and that included road upsets of Creighton and Northern Iowa, to go along with
non-conference triumphs over Iowa and Iowa State. Drake was rewarded with a
spot in the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament, giving the program back-to-back
postseason appearances for the first since the early 1970's. Three starters
are back in the fold for Phelps, but the Bulldogs are short on depth and will
need some new faces to make an immediate impact. Josh Young highlights the
returnees and the 6-1 guard was the MVC's top scorer as a sophomore after
averaging 15.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg as a junior last season. Craig Stanley, a 5-11
guard, will run the point again and he dished out 3.8 apg, while chipping in
with 7.9 ppg last season. The backcourt should also receive a boost from 5-11
Ryan Wedel, who sat out last year after transferring from Arkansas State.
Wedel was a two-year starter at ASU and he averaged 15.1 ppg in 2007-08, so he
obviously has talent. The frontcourt is where Drake has issues to address, as
Adam Templeton is the lone returning starter. The 6-6, 220-pound UC Irvine
transfer didn't live up to expectations, averaging just 5.5 ppg, and the team
his hoping for more production this time around.
EVANSVILLE - In year two of the Marty Simmons' era, the Purple Aces nearly
doubled their win total, going from nine to 17 in 2008-09. Evansville posted
its first winning campaign since 2000 and even earned itself a spot in the
CollegeInsider.com Tournament. However, building off that success isn't
likely, as the Aces lost four starters, including seniors Shy Ely, Nate Garner
and Jason Holsinger, whom combined for 41.3 ppg. To make matters worse, Kaylon
Williams decided to transfer and that was a big hit considering the freshman
led the MVC with an average of 4.9 apg. The team's lone starter welcomed back
is forward/center Peter van Tongeren. A 6-11 junior, van Tongeren averaged
only 4.8 ppg last season, but is capable of handling a larger role. James
Haarsma, a 6-7 sophomore, is the team's leading returning scorer after
averaging 5.8 ppg as a rookie and he should move into a starting role this
time around. Fellow sophomore Bryan Bouchie is now eligible after sitting out
last year as a transfer. The 6-10 forward/center showed a glimpse of his
potential by averaging 7.0 ppg at Valparaiso and he figures to play a big role
for the Aces. The backcourt is where Evansville must find some talent and the
team is hoping Kavon Lacey is recovered from a torn ACL suffered in the
spring. He made four starts in 31 games last season and the team is hoping he
can step up. Monie Hudson, a juco transfer, is an intriguing talent and he is
a good shooter and scorer, something this team desperately needs.
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