Developing Valley Big Men

(St. Louis, MO) – The Missouri Valley is a ‘guard driven’ league. You hear that like a broken record when you talk to people inside and outside of the Valley. Frankly, college basketball, in general and in post-season, is about guard play.

But what about the ‘big guys?’ Where are those big post players you can dump the ball to and he can go make a play and change the complexion of the game?

Obviously in the MVC, the answer is in Evansville where Egidijus Mockevicius is having an all-American type season. He leads the nation in rebounding, has been among the national leaders in double-doubles all year and is a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ‘Center of the Year’ award given out by the college basketball hall of fame.

Mockevicius has had a great career at Evansville. The 6’10 Lithuanian was named to the ‘All Freshman Team’ his first year, ‘All Defensive Team’ his sophomore season and ‘All Conference’ as a junior. He is one of 14 players in the Valley’s 109 year history to collect 1,000 rebounds (1,134) and score at least 1,000 points (1,378), but it isn’t always easy for the ‘big guys.’

Shaquille Morris is starting to come into his own at Wichita State, but Head Coach Gregg Marshall hasn’t always been happy with his 6’8 sophomore. Morris is in better shape in 2016 and seems lighter on his feet.

The Shocker head man says the Edmond, Oklahoma native has all the abilities to be an outstanding player.

 

 

Morris reached double figures in scoring in four of Wichita State’s first 18 games and has now accomplished that feat in six of their last seven contests.

Drake Head Coach Ray Giacoletti has two 7-footers and both are in the development stage. Junior Jacob Enevold Jensen and freshman Dominik Olejniczak, both from Europe, are still learning the American game, but Giacoletti sees improvement, largely because they challenge one another in practice.

 

 

Giacoletti has inserted Olejniczak into the starting line up and is going to live with the growing pains. After the loss to Wichita, the head coach says, he’s sticking with his young post player, but noted after Tuesday’s game Olejniczak was ‘playing against men’ and it will help him grow.

Missouri State’s Tyler McCullough has battled injuries, but that is an added factor for taller players. Often the 6’10 and above players (McCullough is 6’11) struggle with back and knee issues. Head Coach Paul Lusk sees improved health and still expects good things from his junior post player.

 

 

Bradley freshman Callum Barker shows potential while being thrown to the wolves in the ‘all freshmen’ season of Brian Wardle’s first year on the Hilltop. Evansville’s 7’1 junior Sergej Vucetic doesn’t play much, but is learning valuable lessons as Mockevicius’ caddie.

Indiana State and Loyola both have a pair of 6’9 guys that haven’t stood out yet, and maybe the trio of post players at Northern Iowa (Bennett Koch, Ted Friedman and Klint Carlson) will be the other place we look for stellar post play.

This crop of big men is young and could develop into a special group, but big men take time and patience.

Do Good