MVC’s Increasing Talent

Part One – Large Group of Accomplished Players

(St. Louis, MO) – If you believe the press clippings, the MVC’s increasing talent base is arguably at an all-time high. No fewer than 17 Division 1 transfers will join Missouri Valley Conference teams.

While only seven of last season’s top 15 players return, four of the top 100 junior college transfers are joining the league. Among those 17 D1 players, two are ranked in the top 20 in all of college basketball.

Returning Stars

Part of the MVC’s increasing talent will come from the development of those players that stood out last season.

Bradley’s Darrell Brown (2^nd team) and Elijah Childs (3^rd team) might be the Valley’s best duo of top players. Brown was ninth in scoring (14.8 ppg), fifth in assists and second in made three-pointers. The senior was also fourth in three-point percentage and minutes played.

His junior teammate emerged as the conference’s second leading rebounder and his offensive game grew immeasurably. The reigning Arch Madness MVP was unstoppable in St. Louis and finished the season averaging 12.4 points per game. He has the potential to be the most dominant player in the league.

Head coach Brian Wardle agrees and says if his outside game matures, he will be a force in the MVC.

 

 

Missouri State’s Tulio Da Silva (1^st team) and Keandre Cook (3^rd team) return with similar credentials. After flirting with the NBA, Da Silva returns after finishing 11^th in scoring and third in rebounding. His energetic approach endeared him to Bears’ fans.

Cook tied or led the team in scoring eleven times and cracked the 20-point mark on four separate occasions. His driving ability created a team-best 126 free-throw opportunities.

Head coach Dana Ford says Da Silva’s interaction with the NBA should equip him to become an even better player.

 

 

Loyola’s Cameron Krutwig finished third in the Valley’s ‘Player of the Year’ balloting and had to settle for ‘All-Valley’ honors. The 6’9 lefty finished eighth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and first in field goal percentage. The former ‘Freshman of the Year’ has been a part of  52 wins and a pair conference championships during his two seasons on Chicago’s north shore.

Porter Moser says Krutwig’s game is still expanding.

 

 

Explosive Firepower

Indiana State may be a dangerous offensive team. Second teamer Tyreke Key led the Valley in scoring (17.4 ppg) converting over 50% of his shots including making more than 44% of his shots from deep.

If Jordan Barnes returns to form (he averaged 17.2 points his sophomore season), he and Key will terrorize Valley back courts. The St. Louis native has scored over 1,100 points and set the Sycamore single season record for three-pointers (117) two seasons ago.

Cooper Neese’s potential (all-freshman team & 7.6 points per game) makes this three-headed monster intimidating.

Super Sophomores

Northern Iowa’s A.J. Green, Drake’s D.J. Wilkins and Valparaiso’s Javon Freeman joined Neese on the all-rookie team. Green finished seventh in scoring (15.0 ppg) and third in three-pointers. Wilkins was fourth best at converting from long distance and Freeman led the league in steals. The normal growth from freshman to sophomore will be part of the MVC’s increasing talent.

Loyola’s Cooper Kaifes was the fifth member of the freshman team but will miss the season with a hip injury.

X-Factor

Valparaiso’s Ryan Fazekas was bothered by injuries last season. He missed seven games and played many games at less than 100 percent. Despite those struggles, the former Providence Friar averaged 11.8 points and connected on over 43% of his shots from distance and over 80% from the charity stripe.

Fazekas could be a game-changer.

In Part Two we will look at the MVC’s increasing talent from the newcomers’ perspective.

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