MVC Super Subs

Making Their Mark As Relievers

(St. Louis, MO) – Every college basketball player wants to start the game. Each player wants to hear his name screamed by the public address announcer. However, MVC super subs make their mark as relievers.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s Detroit Piston guard Vinnie Johnson earned the nickname ‘the Microwave’ because he was instant offense off the Piston bench. During the Boston Celtic dynasty of the 1960s, John Havlicek spent many years of his hall-of-fame career as being famous for being the NBA’s best sixth man. ‘Hondo’ was part of winning eight NBA titles.

MVC super subs are charged with bringing extra energy, changing momentum or realigning the lineup.

The Missouri Valley Conference awards these impactful relievers by electing an ‘all-bench team’ and a ‘Sixth Man’ award.

Successful teams have two or three non-starters that bring significant impact and the Valley has outstanding, game changing super subs.

Ja’Shon Henry – Bradley Braves

Henry is an explosive athlete. At 6’6, 230 he is strong enough to play power forward and quick enough to play the wing. His explosive dunks are momentum swinging, crowd pleasing events. He is Bradley’s third leading scorer (11.2 ppg) and converts .595 from the field.

While he made 14 starts last season, Henry has made just one this year. His 3-point-shooting has improved and is making sagging defenses pay. The Saskatoon native missed Bradley’s most recent game (a loss at Illinois State) with concussion protocols in place. His worth to the Braves was magnified during Arch Madness 2020.

It was his three-point-play in the final moments of the quarterfinal round that eliminated Southern Illinois, and his 16-point/seven rebound performance sparked the Braves during the title contest. Henry was named to the Valley’s 2020 ‘Most Improved Team’.

His relentless attacking of the rim has earned him a team high 54 free throw attempts. He is a player near the top of every team’s Bradley scouting report. Brian Wardle says Henry is their toughest player.

Garrett Sturtz & Joseph Yesufu – Drake Bulldogs

Garrett Sturtz is the epitome of what coaches mean when they say ‘he is a Swiss Army Knife.’ The Newton, Iowa native does whatever is needed in any particular moment. He leads the undefeated Bulldogs in steals with 21. While fifth in scoring (8.5 ppg), third in rebounding (4.9), like Henry he is reliable at the line. The 6’3 junior has the second most free-throw attempts and is converting those opportunities at an 85% clip.

Sturtz was part of the 2020 ‘all-bench’ team.

Though playing fewer minutes, Joseph Yesufu is scoring at a slightly higher level (8.8 ppg) and is a greater deep threat (.394) than Sturtz. They are the perfect complement to one another. His 29 assists are second on the team.

Dedric Boyd – Illinois State Redbirds

Dedric Boyd is a scorer. After a successful freshman season at Eastern Kentucky, he transferred to Illinois State. His first season of eligibility was marred by injury, but he seems healthy now.

He is a shooter and has improved his defense enough for coach Dan Muller to trust him with more minutes. His 9.1 points per game during 17 minutes per game is highly efficient. The 6’4 guard is making 50% of his field goals and .442 from deep.

Loyola Rotation

Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser insists he has seven starters. Until recently that meant five players, Cameron Krutwig, Lucas Williamson, Braden Norris, Aher Uguak and Tate Hall started every game and Marquise Kennedy and Keith Clemons were his ‘go-to’ relievers. Tom Welch would spell Krutwig in the paint.

Clemons has replaced Hall in the lineup and the results have been remarkable. Hall who was a third team, all-Valley player last year, had reached double figures in scoring four times in eleven starts. He has met that figure in all three of his relief appearances and earned last week’s MVC ‘Player of the Week’ award.

Clemons averaged 10.4 points per game in last year’s starting lineup but has struggled to find his shot this season. During his three game starting stint the 6’1 senior has made seven of 12 shots, including four of six from deep.

Moser says Hall has embraced the changes and Clemons seems to have a fresh bounce in his step. The 2018 Valley ‘Coach of the Year’ says his players embrace a ‘team-first’ mentality.

 

 

Kennedy was the Valley’s ‘Sixth Man’ last season and was named to the ‘all-freshman’ team. His minutes are down because of LUC’s great depth, but is second on the team in steals, is deadly from the free throw line and is making better that 56% from the field and 42% from long range.

Randy Miller  & TJ Howard – Indiana State Sycamores

Greg Lansing signed two grad transfers and neither of them start, but Randy Miller and Tobias (TJ) Howard are making their mark as relievers. Both players, named after their respective fathers are logging over 20 minutes per game and are offensive threats.

Miller averages 7.9 points and Howard six and they are both threats from deep and solid from the charity stripe. Howard replaced freshman in Julian Larry in ISU’s starting lineup during the team’s last two games and has scored 19 points during that span.

There are other valuable ‘bench players’, but these MVC super subs are standing out. LUC’s rotation may continue to change, but their ‘seven starters’ will do their damage in the starting lineup or will continue making their mark in relief.

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