Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
Quarterly Review
Buy now! Invest yourselves in the Missouri Valley Conference as soon as possible, because the MVC is positioning itself for another strong showing in March.
Considering what Valley squads have accomplished during the past few non-conference seasons, it sounds a little odd to say 2006 has been one of the top non-conference seasons ever for the league. But look at what has happened: First, an overall 53-18 record. Wichita State occupies the top 10 after winning two games on ranked opponents’ floors and another tough match at George Mason. Southern Illinois refuses to give up baskets and is an overtime against Arkansas away from being unbeaten. Missouri State and Northern Iowa have also lost just one contest apiece – MSU against No. 23 Oklahoma State by three points and UNI at No. 13 Washington by nine. Creighton has not had many chances to prove itself, but is a bad night at Nebraska from being a one-loss team. All five of the aforementioned teams are receiving votes for the AP top 25, with Missouri State and Southern Illinois ready to break the line.
Saturday marks the first conference contest when Evansville hosts Illinois State, and with that, most schools have finished the first quarter of the slate. Here is a look at how every team has fared, along with their first quarter grade.
Hoopville’s Player of the First Quarter: Jeremy Crouch, Bradley
The junior guard has caused headaches for opposing defenses, averaging 16.6 points per game, snatching 15 total steals (tops in the Valley) and hitting an unbelievable 64 percent from downtown (32-of-50).
Wichita State (6-0)
The Shockers are the team to beat this season, and that has been proven with road wins at George Mason, LSU and Syracuse. “Impressive” would be an understatement. During the 6-0 start, No. 10 WSU has managed quite the victory margin against such a tough schedule (plus-13.1 points).
Four players are averaging double figures in scoring, and a fifth is almost there. Kyle Wilson leads the way at 13.2 points per game, followed by Sean Ogirri at 12.8, Ryan Martin with 10.7, P.J. Couisnard at 10.7 and Karon Bradley with eight points per contest. The Shockers have not just won against a tough schedule. Success has been accomplished in style.
Grade: A+
Missouri State (7-1)
Don’t look now, but the Bears are ready to crack into the top 25 with their explosive offense. MSU is sinking just more than 78 points per game – which believe it or not, is only third in the Valley (for as defensive of a league the MVC is).
Missouri State has already knocked off one ranked foe after shocking Wisconsin, 66-64, and the Bears nearly defeated Oklahoma State as well but lost by three in overtime. What this all means is that for once MSU will not be passed up again, shall it be on the bubble come selection time. Bubble talk shouldn’t come into play though, because the defense has improved so far this season, allowing just 59 points per contest. MSU has the ability to keep throwing in fresh players to boggle the opposition. Eight players are seeing 16-plus minutes of court time.
Drew Richards leads the defensive side, as he currently tops the MVC with 13 blocks. Senior sharpshooter Blake Ahearn sits in the league’s top five for scoring with 15.3 points per game (although he has “only” hit 32-of-34 from the charity stripe so far).
Grade: A
Northern Iowa (7-1)
Northern Iowa has tacked some huge wins on the resume during the non-conference slate, but unlike past seasons, it might not be strong enough to solely propel the Panthers into the NCAA if the team struggles slightly in the conference season. Although UNI played toe-to-toe at then-No. 13 Washington, a win would have really helped to bulk up, because the victories over Bucknell, Iowa and Iowa State aren’t looking as strong as one might have hoped.
Never fear though. UNI won’t have to worry about how strong its non-conference opponents look if senior guard Brooks McKowen continues to lead the squad. It’s been pretty simple so far. When McKowen plays well, the Panthers win; when he doesn’t, tack an “L” in the column. As evident by UNI’s record, the latter has happened rarely this winter. The senior guard is by far enjoying one of his best campaigns since slipping on a Panther uniform.
With McKowen taking care of the guards, Grant Stout and Eric Coleman are dominating the inside once again. Both are grabbing more than eight rebounds a game, and Stout is again leading the Valley in blocks with 13.
Grade: A-
Southern Illinois (6-1)
A lot of basketball fans have let Southern Illinois slip off the map recently with the success of Wichita State. However, don’t forget about how strong of a defense the Salukis put on the floor. The Salukis just haven’t had the opportunity to face as tough of a non-conference schedule.
SIU boasts the best scoring defense in the MVC (49 PPG) and also leads the league in free throw percentage, is second in steals per contest and second in turnover margin. Sophomore Bryan Mullins leads the Valley with 15 total.
Give the Salukis a shot to crack into the rankings once the MVC slate begins. Their lone loss came at the hands of a good Arkansas team. Defense will carry the team to a shootout with Wichita State for the conference crown.
Grade: A
Illinois State (6-2)
These birds have wasted no time learning to fly. Youthful Illinois State leads the Valley in team blocks (32) and is in the top five for scoring offense. Junior transfer Dominitrix Johnson leads the squad with 13.4 points per contest and is followed by Boo Richardson, Anthony Slack and Greg Dilligard with double figure averages.
Illinois State hasn’t recorded any eye-popping upsets, but some of the wins have been notable: Cal State Northridge and St. John’s. If the top four scorers continue to perform, the Redbirds might be ready to contend for an upper-half MVC finish and possibly a postseason berth.
Grade: B+
Bradley (6-3)
Should we really be surprised? Nobody gave Bradley a chance last March when it had to face Kansas during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and look where that got the Braves. Well, few had confidence that BU could win many games this season after losing four starters, but here we are.
The Braves began the 2006-07 campaign with an impressive 20-point victory over DePaul. Since then a few losses have piled up, but to quality teams: a four-point defeat at the hands of Illinois and a two-point loss to Tennessee Tech, a strong Mid-Major so far this season. The only bad defeat on the resume was an 82-53 setback to Michigan State.
Led by Jeremy crouch, BU’s offense has been nothing but impressive. Crouch is second in the MVC with 16.6 points per game, which includes hitting 32-of-50 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Braves are dangerous from three-point land, nailing almost 50 percent of their attempts from downtown. The one weakness so far has been a struggling defense, which is allowing 72.2 points per contest. That could become a problem when the Valley slate begins, as BU faces more defensive-minded teams that will bring down that offensive output slightly.
Grade: B
Evansville (5-3)
For all of the players who returned, the non-conference slate has not gone as well as most expected. UE hasn’t capitalized on its opportunities so far, losing at Lipscomb and Missouri – two losses that will hurt the Aces when March rolls around.
Matt Webster leads the Ace attack with almost 15 points per contest – fourth-best in the Valley. He is followed by Bradley Strickland and Kyle Anslinger, who are sinking 10.7 and 9.7 points per game, respectively. The bench hasn’t contributed too much thus far, which could become a big problem when the conference schedule begins – especially against some squads who have the ability to use a regular rotation of seven or eight players.
Grade: C
Creighton (3-2)
The Bluejays haven’t had much of an opportunity to dazzle fans and the media, so an identity really hasn’t been established. If we go by the 58-56 win over George Mason, there is nothing to worry about. Use the bad night at intrastate rival Nebraska, and there might be some work to do. Currently, the Bluejays look good, but not good enough to contend for that conference title everyone had them picked for during the preseason.
Nate Funk’s return has been welcomed, as he leads the Bluejays with 13.8 points per contest. Anthony Tolliver is close behind with 13 per contest. The ‘Jays have an opportunity to build their resume on Saturday when Xavier travels to Omaha.
Grade: B
Drake (3-2)
Dr. Tom’s Bulldogs struggled out of the gate, but the team seems to be coming together now after a surprising win at Iowa State. DU’s disappointing loss to Troy and defensive lapse against Utah State are in the past, and the team is coasting offensively and inside. Ajay Calvin leads the Bulldogs and the MVC with 19.4 points per contest – a Drake squad that has easily sunk 82 points per game.
With a struggling defense similar to Bradley, one might worry about the upcoming conference slate, but Drake has strived in areas that the Braves lack some. The Bulldogs lead the league in rebounding margin and rebounds (plus-10.8 and 41.2 RPG) and top the Valley with more than 10 steals per contest. With eight players putting in 16 or more minutes a game, Drake still looks like it has the talent and endurance to contend for a postseason berth.
Grade: B
Indiana State (4-3)
Indiana State is poised with a big opportunity this weekend as Butler comes into town. It is the Sycamores chance to join the fun with several other Valley teams. A win would really help bulk the non-conference resume come March.
Almost five players are posting double figures in scoring, led by Gabriel Moore (13.4), Cole Holmstrom (13.0), Jay Tunnell (11.3), Marico Stinson (11.0) and Trent Wurtz (9.1). Wurtz and Tunnell are also pulling in the rebounds with 7.4 and 6.1 rebounds per game, respectfully.
Grade: C
