Mid-Continent Conference 2003-04 Season Recap
by Matthew Moll
Parity ruled the regular season of the Mid-Con. Every game of the regular season mattered, with Valparaiso becoming the outright regular season champs and the number-one seed of the Mid-Con tournament thanks to a win against Chicago State on the last day of the season. Had Valparaiso lost a six-way tie (with 10-6 records) would have ensued record in conference tilts.
Instead when teams in the Mid-Con look up they see Valpo. For the ninth time in 10 years the Crusaders and Homer Drew are the best team in the conference. IUPUI would have owned the coveted tiebreaker and the regular season title had Valparaiso collapsed on the last day of competition. As it was there was a three way tie for second between IUPUI, UMKC, and Centenary.
Milestones and surprises also enter into regular season play. IUPUI won a school record 21 games at the Division I level. Chicago State won more games in conference play since joining the Mid-Con and finished above .500 for the first time as a member of the conference. Oral Roberts turned heads with a freshman tandem that would not have came to be had an injury to a starting guard never occurred. Centenary’s first year in the conference brought them a 13 game home winning streak (18 dating to last season) and a 10-6 conference showing. Oakland’s potential remained untapped finishing second last in the conference.
Throughout the regular season it looked as if the league belonged to anyone giving rise to each team believing that they could win an NCAA bid. But at the end of the regular season a more familiar rather than foreign result materialized.
Conference Tournament
The first round saw some firsts in the Mid-Con tournament. Chicago State won their first ever post season game defeating Centenary 70-54, handing Centenary its first Mid-Con tournament loss.
Valpo, IUPUI, and UMKC also advanced to the second round. The semifinal round saw more of the same. Top seeded Valparaiso advanced to its 10th consecutive Mid-Con Tournament title game defeating fifth-seeded UMKC 90-78, coming back from a five point deficient. IUPUI advanced to its third straight title game defeating Chicago State 68-47. Valpo vs. IUPUI round three would be the last game of the season for the Mid-Con. For the second time in three years Valpo would advance past IUPUI overcoming a double-digit deficit and move on to the NCAA. The Battle of I-65 has an advantage and it belongs to Valpo.
Post-Season
Valparaiso received the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the Mid-Con tournament, becoming the only representative for the 10 Indiana’s DI schools.
Valpo received the 15-seed and faced the number-two-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs. Valpo managed an early 4-0 lead that they held onto until the score was 17-14, but that is where the upset hopes ended. The Crusaders were defeated 76-49 in the first round of the St. Louis Regional at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Player of the Year
Odell Bradley, IUPUI, averaged 24.4 points per game and 8.5 boards per contest. Good for second and third in the Mid-Con respectively. Bradley scored in double digits in all but one game this year and managed 17 games of 20 or more points including two 41-point performances over Oral Roberts. Bradley also added 11 double-doubles to his stat sheet. In just two seasons Bradley joined IUPUI’s 1000 point club.
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year
Ken Tutt and Caleb Green, Oral Roberts
No freshman duo in the nation scored more points than the Tutt-Green tandem. Tutt was a scoring machine rattling off eight straight games of 25 or more points. Green lead the league in double-doubles and field goal percentage.
Coach of the Year
Kevin Jones, Chicago State
Jones lead State to a 9-7 mark which is the best the Cougars have put up since joining the conference in 1994. The 11 wins the team posted is more wins than they have seen in the previous three seasons combined.
Defensive Player of the Year
Matt Crenshaw, IUPUI
Crenshaw lead his team in steals and is regarded as the best on the ball defender in the league.
First Team
Odell Bradley, IUPUI
Caleb Green, Oral Roberts
Mike Helms, Oakland
Ken Tutt, Oral Roberts
Michael Watson, UMKC
Andrew Wisnieski, Centenary
Valparaiso Crusaders
Record: 18-13, 11-5
For the eighth time in 10 years Valpo went to the NCAA tournament after defeating IUPUI for the second time in three years. At the end of the regular season Valpo stood alone as regular season champs and were the best team in the conference tournament. Valpo trailed late in the last two games of the tournament, but would not be denied a chance at going back to the dance with Homer Drew returning to the sidelines after a year hiatus. The win over IUPUI gave them a 25-2 record in the Mid-Con tournament.
No magic of 1998 could be rekindled for the 15-seeded Crusaders in the NCAA tournament. Second-seeded Gonzaga did not let the Crusaders have a sniff of an upset come the second half as they pounded Valpo 76-49.
Team MVP: Dan Oppland, So., six double-doubles, lead team in scoring
Top Scorer: Oppland, 15.7 ppg
Top Rebounder: Joaquim Gomes, 8.8 rpg
Top assists: Ali Berdeil, 6.0 apg
Starters leaving:
Gomes (graduating)
Roberto Nieves (graduating)
Key players returning:
The Oppland Brothers
Ron Howard (6-5 junior)
Coach Drew will need to find a replacement for Gomes’ 13 double-doubles, but with the return of Dan Oppland and the possible emergence of his brother Mike Drew should have his Crusaders back atop the Mid-Con again.
IUPUI Jaguars
Record: 21-11, 10-6
After representing the Mid-Con in the NCAA tournament in 2003, the Jag’s looked poised to make a run at the tourney again. The Jag’s finished the season with 21 wins, the most the school has recorded since moving up to DI and took their high win total into the Mid-Con tournament.
For the third straight season coach Ron Hunter and IUPUI met Valpo in the Mid-Con tournament final and for the second time in three years they watched the Crusaders cut down the nets. Senior Odell Bradley dominated the last three games of his career averaging 22.0 ppg. In the tournament and cleaning 9.0 boards per contest while earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Team MVP: Bradley, Sr., 1000 point club, named Mid-Con Player of the Year and conference tourney’s MVP.
Top Scorer: Bradley, 23.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Bradley, 8.5 rpg
Top assists: Matt Crenshaw, 5.6 apg
Starters leaving:
Bradley (graduating)
Matt Crenshaw (graduating)
Key players returning:
Akeem Clark (15.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg.)
Bradley was drafted by Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League. Bradley was the 42nd player chosen in the USBL draft.
IUPUI and coach Hunter will need to retool after the loss of Bradley if they intend to continue their newly acquired dominance of the Mid-Con.
Centenary Gents
Record: 16-12, 10-6
Thirteen home games equaled 13 wins for Golden Dome defending Gents. Andrew Wisniewski hit his final shot in the Golden Dome to defeat Oral Roberts and preserve the home winning streak, extending it to 18 games dating back to the 2002-2003 season.
That would prove to be the last time The Wizard of Shreveport saw a victory as they dropped their regular season finale and were sent home by Chicago State in the Mid-Con tourney. This past season was the first in the Mid-Con for the Gents finishing in a tie for first in the regular season.
Team MVP: Wisniewski, Sr., 18 20-plus point games, six 30-plus point games.
Top Scorer: Wisniewski, 21.9 ppg
Top Rebounder: Maclies, 6.3 rpg
Top assists: Wisniewski, 4.3 apg
Starters leaving:
The Wizard (graduating)
Key players returning:
Michael Gale (9.1 ppg)
Louisiana Sports Writers association named The Wizard Louisiana Player of the Year. Wisniewski also participated in the Portsmouth Invitational which is a chance for college seniors to showcase their talents to 200 NBA scouts.
No Wizard means less wins and no more Gold Dome dominance.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Record: 17-11, 10-6
Oral Roberts was apart of the possible six-way tie for first largely because of the contributions of freshmen Caleb Green and Ken Tutt. Tutt and Green combined to be the highest scoring freshman duo in the nation at the DI level. Tutt was the nation’s second best scoring freshman while Green dominated the Mid-Con leading everyone in shooting percentage (59.8 percent).
The pair also made league history by being the first pair of freshman from the same team to be named to the Mid-Con’s first team. Inexperience contributed to ORU’s in ability to capitalize on their momentum going into the Mid-Con tournament.
Team MVP: Tutt, Fr., eight straight 26-plus point efforts (longest in the nation), 20.7 ppg.
Top Scorer: Tutt, 20.7 ppg
Top Rebounder: Green, 9.9 rpg
Top assists: Jonathan Bluitt, 6.1 apg
Starters leaving:
Josh Atkinson (graduating)
Key players returning:
Bluitt (assist man)
Green (led Mid-Con in double-doubles)
Tutt (the King will return)
Tutt was awarded the Edward S. Steitz Award as the best NCAA DI three-point field goal shooter as well as Mid-major freshman of the year by College Hoops Insider. Former Northeastern Oklahoma A&M guard Chris Riouse transferred to Oral Roberts.
Chris Sutton’s team will have high expectations after the breakout season by the “Baby Eagles.” Dealing with the Mid-Con hype and using their weapons effectively will decide their season.
UMKC Kangaroos
Record: 15-14, 9-7
For the second time in three years Rich Zvosec lead his Kangaroos to a winning season. UMKC managed to at least split every season series with Mid-Con opponents in route to a fifth place tie in the conference and a chance to play in the Mid-Con semifinals for the third straight year.
Michael Watson became the conference’s and the schools scoring, field goals made, and three-point field goals made and attempted.
Team MVP: Watson, Sr., lead conference in scoring, 3.6 apg.
Top Scorer: Watson, 23.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Mike English 7.3 rpg
Top assists: Brandon Temple 3.9 apg
Starters leaving:
Watson (graduating)
Key players returning:
Everyone but Watson
Watson competed in the Portsmouth Invitational. Watson was among the nations top seniors competing on teams of other seniors in hopes of gaining attention of NBA teams.
Without Watson more shots will be available. Look for Mike English to supply the scoring spark.
Chicago State Cougars
Record: 12-20, 9-7
Chicago State’s season was historic as far as team history. Their 12 overall wins and nine conference wins were both records for the school since joining the Division I ranks in 1984-85. Kevin Jones’s earned Mid-Con coach of the year honors leading the Cougars to their first season above .500 since joining the conference.
State was the surprise team of the year in the Mid-Con and also won their first DI postseason victory with a win over Centenary in the first round of the Mid-Con tournament.
Team MVP: Craig Franklin, Jr., 14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg., 2.7 apg.
Top Scorer: Franklin 14.3 ppg
Top Rebounder: Rubeen Perry 5.9 rpg
Top assists: Franklin 2.7 apg
Starters leaving:
Perry (5 double-doubles)
Key players returning:
Eight players returning; most notably: leading scorers Franklin and Weeden. Red-shirt freshman Terren Wilson will also offer his services to the cougar cause.
Next season’s schedule will put the Cougars against seven teams that qualified for either the NCAA or the NIT.
Jones has a basketball program that believes and put up a schedule that shows it. The loss of Perry as a leader may prove crucial down the stretch if others are not more vocal.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Record: 10-18, 6-10
A team shooting percentage and wins over IUPUI and Valpo highlighted the otherwise uneventful season. The T’birds were not expected to turn many heads in the conference and they followed suit. Compliments of the lowly Leathernecks of Western Illinois, Southern qualified for the Mid-Con tournament where they were sent home by IUPUI for the second straight year.
Team MVP: Palmer, Sr., 15.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg
Top Scorer: Palmer, 15.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: DeAngelo Newsom 6.9 rpg
Top assists: Rensch 2.9 apg
Starters leaving:
Palmer (graduating)
Key players returning:
Newsom (10.4 ppg., 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg.)
Jason Baker (6 20-plus games, 2.5 apg.)
Jason Baker will need to become a more reliable offensive force and take control of the Thunderbirds if they want to become competitive. Coach Bill Evans may not have the designation much longer.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Record: 13-17, 6-10
Touted as the best team in the Mid-Con prior to the tip-off of the 2003-2004 season, Oakland stumbled early and never recovered. After the early 2-5 start the Grizz began to streak with several losses in a row followed by several wins in a row for a consistent, inconsistent season result. Oakland’s last chance at being the Mid-Con NCAA representative would have required an upheaval of the rulers of the conference, but alas the chance was dismissed by Valpo and inconsistent play.
Senior Mike Helms ended his career as the Mid-Con’s second leading scorer as well as the Oakland’s second highest career scorer.
Team MVP: Helms, Sr., 23.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4apg.
Top Scorer: Helms, 23.2 ppg.
Top Rebounder: Cortney Scott, 7.8 rpg
Top Assists: DeMarcus Ishmeal, 2.9 apg.
Starters leaving:
Mike Helms (graduating)
Key Players returning
Marshall (17 ppg, 7.8 rpg)
Ishmeal (2.9 apg, 1 spg)
There will be an obvious hole in the Golden Grizz’s offense next season with almost 24 ppg missing. Returning All-Conference representative Marshall will carry the inside load for the Grizz. Ishmeal could emerge as the Mid-Con’s premier point guard with a larger burden on his shoulder. Regardless Oakland will not have the target on their backs that came with the pressure of being preseason favorites.
Western Illinois Leathernecks
Record: 3-25, 1-15
Finishing last in the Mid-Con may more had to do with the fickle feelings of fate rather than the validity of this team as a conference contender. Eight times the ‘Necks lost conference games by single digits including an 81-79 loss to Mid-Con NCAA tournament representative Valparaiso, different bounces, different year. But as it was the Leathernecks did not qualify for the Mid-Con tournament and had to label this year as transitional and rebuilding under new head coach Derek Thomas. Freshman 5-9er T.J. Gray was the lone bright spot in a season with few highlights.
MVP: T. J. Gray 10.0 ppg, 3.1 ast, 1.2 stls.
Top Scorer: J. D. Summers, 12.7 ppg
Top Rebounder: Summers, 4.8 rpg
Top Assists: Gray, 3.1 apg
Starters leaving:
J.D. Summers (graduating)
Bobby Carter (graduating)
Key Players returning
T.J. Gray (freshman, 3.1 apg)
Bobby Carter finished fifth in the Mountain Dew College Slam Dunk Contest in San Antonio during the week of the Final Four.
Derek Thomas will be entering his second season as the ‘Necks head coach. Thomas’ experience as a recruiter under UNLV’s Charlie Spoonhour should improve the talent coming through Macomb, but the team will need to suffer through another losing season before they will be ready to compete in the Mid-Con. Little big man Gray will be the team’s floor leader along with three returning starters.
