Noticing Unsung Heroes

(St. Louis, MO) – Who are the players that make subtle contributions to winning basketball games. Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall would talk about players making ‘winning plays’. Every team has star players that receive the headlines and adulation from the fans, but for a team to be successful it needs contributions, dependable play and the ability to lift a team when the star is having an ‘off night’.

There are players that do ‘the dirty work’, teammates with a knack for making a big play at the right time and those that quietly contribute throughout each and every game. Each key contributor plays a role that is necessary for successful teams.

These kind of players might be named to the ‘All Lunch Pail‘ team or the ‘Doing What’s Got to Be Done‘ team, but these contributors might be missed by the fans, but not by the MVC coaches.

Prior to last week’s games in which Donte Thomas pulled off a pair of double-doubles, I asked head coach Brian Wardle about the contributions from the only senior on his club. The third year head coach says that Thomas is a high motor and high energy guy.

 

 

After the road loss at Illinois State, Wardle said Thomas and junior Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye lead by energy. Thomas leads the Braves in rebounding and blocked shots and is second in scoring. He was part of the Valley’s ‘Most Improved Team‘ last season and might land on that squad again.

His late dunk Saturday sealed the Braves’ win over Evansville.

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The way you put an ❗️ on another home win

Jayden Hodgson ➡️ DLO ➡️ Donte Thomas #TheMovement pic.twitter.com/Z1zzB41xis

— Bradley Basketball (@bradleyumbb) January 21, 2018

 

Everyone in the Valley knows about Evansville leading scorer Ryan Taylor. Who people have gone to sleep on, is sophomore Dru Smith. Like Taylor, Smith has missed some games due to injury, but he is second to Taylor in scoring (13.2 ppg), leads them in steals (2.3 per game) and barely misses a shot. The 6’3 Evansville native is shooting .586 from the floor, .844 from the line and .476 from deep.

Head coach Marty Simmons says Smith has had to elevate his game and that he is one of the team’s hardest workers.

 

 

Marques Townes arrived at Loyola with a winning resume and some thought he would take over as the Ramblers dominant player. Instead the 6’4 junior has just done whatever it takes. The Ramblers (16-4, 6-2) have four players averaging double digits in scoring and Townes is fourth (11.4) he is third in rebounds (4.2 per game) and like Evansville’s Smith, he makes shots!

His season averages are .522 from the field and .472 from long range.

Head coach Porter Moser says Townes is capable of having huge offensive games, but more importantly he knows how to win. Moser says a successful team has to have a roster full of guys that are team oriented, to be successful.

 

 

Indiana State (10-10, 5-3) and Missouri State (15-6, 5-3) have important post men, that receive very few accolades, but are the epitome of doing the dirty work. ISU’s Brandon Murphy has elevated his rebounding game during Valley contests and is contributing over seven points per game. His threat as an interior scorer and defender, give the Sycamores flexibility on both ends of the floor.

Missouri State’s Obediah Church is second to all-star Alize Johnson in rebounding and is among the Valley’s leaders in blocked shots. He scores just over six points per game. Both of their coaches, Paul Lusk of MSU and Greg Lansing of ISU wish their ‘team first’ guys were just a little bit more selfish.

 

 

Southern Illinois has been snake bitten by injuries, but one sixth year senior has performed like a warrior. Tyler Smithpeters sat out virtually all of the past two seasons and needed some time to fit back in to his role with the Salukis. His shot has come around, his defense has improved dramatically and head coach Barry Hinson says Smithpeters is the portrait of the kind of players you have to have to be successful.

 

 

Others in this category might be Valparaiso’s Max Joseph, Drake’s C.J. Rivers, Evansville’s Blake Simmons, Loyola’s Ben Richardson and Drake’s Graham Woodward.

With the Valley race being tighter than any we’ve seen in years, the players that ‘do the little things’ might be the big reason some team rises to the top.

Do Good