MVC – Award Winners – Not Really

Not That I Have a Vote

(St. Louis, MO) – Postseason awards will be coming at us from all angles. So before the real Missouri Valley Conference trophies are handed out, here are mine. Some are serious, and some are not.

Real Awards

I have spent the whole season declaring Drake’s Nick McGlynn is the league’s Most Valuable Player, so I’m not changing now. All he has done is provided leadership, scoring, rebounding and interior defense for a group of players that didn’t know one anothers’ names 12 months ago. His 15.6 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per contest and 52 total blocks are obviously important, but head coach Darian DeVries says his contributions go well beyond what we see on ESPN+.

 

 

Loyola’s Marques Townes and Cameron Krutwig, Southern Illinois’ Armon Fletcher and Bradley’s Darrell Brown will warrant consideration, but for my money, the ‘Larry’ ought to go to McGlynn, and when he receives the trophy on Thursday, he should dedicate it to the memory of former Drake broadcasting icon Larry Cotlar.

It’s clear that A.J. Green is going to win the ‘Freshman of the Year’ award. He should, but the race is a lot closer in my mind than many may think. Northern Iowa’s Green has been outstanding and should win, but Javon Freeman has had a tremendous year at Valparaiso. The Chicago native leads the league in steals while scoring 10.9 points and grabbing 4.2 rebounds. He has started every game for the injury decimated Crusaders.

Drake’s D.J. Wilkins has been great and Indiana State’s Cooper Neese has had a very productive back half of the season.

Tulio Da Silva will be the ‘Newcomer of the Year’. It would have been Nick Norton, but he got injured and missed 16 of 18 Valley games for Drake. It might have been Ryan Fazekas, but Valpo’s leading scorer kept getting injured too. Drake’s Brady Ellingson will receive well respected votes too.

Da Silva’s energy, scoring a rebounding helped turn Missouri State’s season from mediocre to solid.

All M.A.S.H.Unit

Norton, Fazekas, Illinois State’s Josh Jefferson and Taylor Bruninga, Loyola’s Lucas Williamson and Northern Iowa’s Austin Phyfe.

All Mystery Team

SIU’s Armon Fletcher, Missouri State’s Obediah Church, Evansville’s Shea Feehan all received mystery suspensions or removals from their teams. Joining them are Indiana State’s Jordan Barnes and Illinois State’s Keyshawn Evans who somehow misplaced their shooting touch.

Heart Break Hotel

Injuries have truly hampered Valparaiso and Illinois State dropped two games on half court buzzer beating shots. They share this dubious award.