Arch Madness Begins!

Opening Ceremonies Are Over

(St. Louis, MO) – After a day of awards and banquets and shoot arounds at Enterprise Center, Arch Madness begins. Four games will be played in down town St. Louis today and tomorrow. The semifinals are played Saturday and the Sunday final will be broadcast by CBS.

Awards and Banquets

To no one’s surprise, Indiana State’s Josh Schertz was named the ‘Coach of the Year’. His Sycamores won the regular season title, collected 25 regular season victories and were an offensive juggernaut. His six top players all landed on at least one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-conference teams.

Sophomore center Robbie Avila landed on the Valley’s all-conference team, while three of his teammates were second-teamers. Isaiah Swope and Ryan Conwell, who were both named to the all-newcomer team were given second-team recognition and Jayson Kent, who was honored as one of the league’s most improved players and named to the all-defensive team, was also on the second team.

Julian Larry was also named to the all-defensive team and was on the league’s third-team, all-conference squad.

Veteran reserve Xavier Bledson was named as the Valley’s Sixth Man.

Drake star Tucker DeVries picked up his second straight ‘Larry Bird – Player of the Year’ trophy. He and teammate Darnell Brodie were named to the Valley’s first-team all-conference squad.

The other first teamers were Southern Illinois’ Xavier Johnson who was named the captain of the conference’s ‘most improved’ team, Bradley’s Malevy Leons, who received his second straight ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ award and his teammate Duke Deen.

Valparaiso’s Cooper Schwieger is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Year’.

Today’s Schedule

Eighth seeded Murray State and ninth seeded Missouri State get the ball rolling with a noon tip. Murray (12-19, 9-11) split their two Arch Madness games during its first visit last year and swept the Bears this season. Missouri State’s (16-15, 8-12) Alston Mason is a third-team, all-conference player.

The 2:30 contest features first year head coach Roger Powell Jr’s Valparaiso Beacons and the fifth seeded Belmont Bruins. Valpo forward Cooper Schwieger was named as the league’s ‘Freshman of the Year’. Belmont swept the Beacons during the regular season.

The evening session kicks off with Illinois State facing Evansville. That 6:30 contest features two of the league’s top freshmen. Illinois State’s Johnny Kinziger has taken the league by storm over the last month and UE’s Chuck Bailey III is an electric performer.

Two Illinois schools face off in the night cap. Sixth seeded Southern Illinois and the league’s leading scorer and assist man Xavier Johnson battle Illinois Chicago.

All of Thursday’s games can be seen on MVC TV.

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