Grading the Valley – Part Three

(St. Louis, MO) – We continue our evaluation of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 2015-16 season looking at three teams that had seasons that no one could have predicted.

We have been grading teams based on the outcomes compared against expectations. As we continue our alphabetical look at the MVC, today’s teams are Loyola, Missouri State and Northern Iowa.

Loyola Ramblers – C –

After a College Basketball Invitational championship in 2015 and the hope of a season with a healthy Milton Doyle, Loyola expected an un upper echelon finish in the Valley race. Doyle did stay healthy, but the Ramblers never overcame the departure (by graduation) of Christian Thomas. Porter Moser’s first ever recruit had been the heart and soul of the LU’s team for four years, and was the provider of toughness for Moser’s skill players.

Loyola started the season with four wins in their first five games, but it was down hill from there. The Ramblers (15-17, 7-11) finished dead last in the Valley in rebounding margin and second last in scoring. Their inability to create shots and impose their will on other teams was a problem all season.

Moser radically changed his lineup in late January because his starters were under performing, and many of the team’s deficiencies changed. They won seven of eleven games, just prior to the Valley tournament.

They then dropped three of their final four games. Two of those were to Wichita State. In fact, three of their final five losses were to the Shockers.

Doyle’s immense potential is yet to be realized. He shows flashes of brilliance and his overall game is second to none, but he found himself out of the starting lineup and Moser felt like it helped Doyle’s game and it elevated senior Montel James to ‘go to’ status. He responded by leading the Ramblers in scoring and rebounding.

Missouri State – C +

Missouri State was picked seventh and finished tied for that spot. After winning only 11 games in 2014-15, the Bears won 13 last season. Paul Lusk’s team expected big things Ron Mvouika, Shawn Roundtree, Dorrian Williams and Austin Ruder. Bears’ fans had the opportunity to see Mvouika, Roundtree and Ruder for a grand total of eight games. Mvouika didn’t play a minute last year. Williams missed 12 games.

So what did Lusk do? He launched a youth movement. Senior Camyn Boone solidified the center postion, but beyond that, Lusk leaned on the ‘baby Bears’. Freshmen Obadiah Church, Jared Dixon and Ryan Kreklow made solid impressions in their rookie years. Fellow freshman Robin Thompson came on late in the season and the Bears have a unique group with three remaining years of eligibility.

Dixon and Church were named to the MVC’s all-freshmen team.

Another newcomer, Dequon Miller was named to the all-newcomer team. Miller led MSU in scoring (12.7), assists (96), 3-point baskets (57) and game winning shots with two. The Motlow College transfer was exactly what Lusk needed as a lead guard.

Sophomore Chris Kendrix was named to the Valley’s most improved team. Kendrix joined Boone and Miller as a double digit scorer (12.1).

The Bears (13-19, 8-10) lost their first four games, and never really put together any kind of winning streak, but stayed competitive and had some big wins. They defeated Oklahoma State, and split with Illinois State and Northern Iowa.

The future is bright in Springfield.

 

Northern Iowa – C

Northern Iowa had one of the weirdest seasons on record. They defeated three nationally ranked teams, including two ranked in the top five nationally. They won an NCAA Tournament game. They won Arch Madness 2016 and finished the regular season winning 12 of their final 13 games.

They also lost six of their first eight games in Valley play and blew a 12 point lead in the final 44 seconds of their March Madness game against Texas A & M. They were picked to finish second to Wichita State in Valley play, and finished fourth.

Seniors Wes Washpun, Matt Bohannon and Paul Jesperson were the backbone of a team that had some serious skill, but lacked depth. Those three, along with young post players Bennett Koch and Clint Carlson and swing man Jeremy Morgan played virtually all the minutes for Ben Jacobson this season. That lack of depth didn’t pose a huge problem until the Texas A & M defeat, when Bohannon sprained an ankle and Washpun fouled out.

As usual, the Panthers bombed from deep and played sound defense. They led the Valley in made 3-pointers, free-throw shooting and they were second in scoring defense.

Washpun had a stellar season. The left-handed senior led the Panthers in scoring and was his very best in big games. His outstanding play in the upsets against North Carolina and Iowa State (he averaged 25 per game in those wins) were merely precursors to his amazing play in MVC tournament wins over Wichita State and Evansville.

Washpun’s play in those to Arch Madness games was the unmatched in any Valley tournament I have witnessed.

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