MVC International Travels – Updated!

Five Valley Teams Take Trips Abroad

(St. Louis, MO) – Five Missouri Valley Conference teams seized the opportunity to get a jump on their collective seasons. Evansville, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Valparaiso and Drake played exhibition games abroad. After 13 games, the Valley teams enjoyed international travels!

2018-19 was not a banner year for the Missouri Valley Conference. Early season disappointing losses and a poor record against ‘power 6’ teams ruined what was a promising season.

Often teams take these kinds of trips when they are poised for a great season or when they have numerous newcomers.

Playing abroad can be a huge way of cultivating chemistry and starting to grow as a team. Valpo traveled to Canada, Evansville to several European countries and both Illinnois State and Northern Iowa went to Italy. Drake traveled to Cost Rica. All five came back relatively healthy and excited about their teams.

NCAA teams are allowed to take international trips every four years. It is a unique summer where half of the MVC teams traveled abroad. Valley teams won 12 of thirteen international games.

Valpo’s Northern Exposure

Matt Lottich’s Valparaiso squad headed north to Canada. With a returning backcourt of Javon Freeman-Liberty and Daniel Sackey. Lottich is also integrating a large number of newcomers. After sitting out last season, the trip provided a great opportunity for transfers Nick Robinson and Eron Gordon to knock some rust from their ‘game experience’.

The Crusaders went 4-0 on their northern trip. The signature win came against Canadian power Carleton. Valpo won three nail-biters and one comfortable victory despite playing without Ryan Fazekas. The team’s leading returning offensive threat had the flu and didn’t participate.

Javon Freeman-Liberty was the Crusaders’ best player leading them in scoring in three of the four victories. Freeman-Liberty flirted with transferring during the offseason, but has returned with a vengeance.

Canadian native Daniel Sackey stood out with four double-digit scoring performances. However, it was his overtime, game winning shot against Carleton the secured some national attention.

 

 

The Crusader victory ended Carelton’s 15-game winning streak against US-based Division 1 teams. Robinson and Gordon showed flashes of their enormous potential and freshman Donovan Clay (Alton, Illinois) was impressive.

Sackey told Paul Oren of the Northwest Indiana Times that Carleton is like Canada’s Duke Blue Devils. They’ve won 14 of the last 17 Canadian national championships.

“That was the game we wanted to win the most,” said Sackey. “so that was a story book ending especially since I got to do it at home.”

For the full interview go to Paul’s twitter account (@NWIOren) or click here.

Evansville’s European Excursion

Walter McCarty’s team played in London, Belgium and France, sweeping their three European foes. Like Valparaiso, Evansville has players that sat last season and took full advantage of their international travels.

DeAndre Williams exploded out of the gate. After sitting out last season Williams wasted no time living up to the hype surrounding his prep status. The Houston native was a three-star recruit and invited to the NBA Top 100 Camp prior to his senior season. The 6’9 forward scored 73 points in the three Purple Aces’ victories.

Highly rated transfers Artur Labinowicz and Sam Cunliffe picked up some playing time, but holdover Noah Frederking (Okawville, IL) was among the team’s top scorers in all three games. Cunliffe was hit hard in the team’s win in Belgium and did not play in France.

After two, two-point wins, the Purple Aces defeated AK Training Camp (an all-star team) by 13 points. Coach McCarty told gopurpleaces.com that final game provided the stiffest competition.

“We are very excited to complete this trip with a 3-0 record, but our guys are really getting connected and that is what this trip is about,” UE head coach Walter McCarty said. “This was the best team we have seen over here; they really came after us and made a game out of it.”

MVC International Travels – Two to Italy

Both Illinois State and Northern Iowa traveled to Italy. Both went 3-0.

The Redbirds’ story follows a similar script. Transfers Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman III and Keith Fisher have been dying to play in a real game. All summer coach Dan Muller has been talking about defense and ISU held all three opponents below 66 points.

Boyd was electric scoring 20 points off the bench in game one while senior Zach Copeland led the team in scoring in the final two games. Fisher reached double figures in all three games.

Muller told goredbirds.com that his team took a mature approach to the trip and learned to trust one another.

“They bonded. You can’t not get closer when you go on a trip like that,” said Muller. “They developed a confidence in what we’re trying to do as coaches and confidence in each other.”

Northern Iowa blew away their competition. Twice they eclipsed the 100-point mark and the Panthers made 30 three-pointers in the first two games. Italy hasn’t seen bombs like that since World War II.

Senior Spencer Haldeman asserted himself early scoring 18 points against the Vicenza All-Stars. Freshman Noah Carter was impressive in his first collegiate experience.

Drake traveled to Costa Rica where they won two of three contests. Very little is known about those games. (Thanks to bradleyfans.com for pointing out my oversight of the Drake excursion!)

Five MVC teams went on international travels and came home with rich, cross-cultural experiences and undefeated records. Coaches talk continuously about building confidence and creating culture. For UNI, Illinois State, Valpo, Evansville and Drake cashed in on each opportunity.

Do Good