Offseason Update – UNI & Bradley – Updated – Green Declares for NBA Draft

Defending Champions Seem Prepared to Defend

(St. Louis, MO) – Northern Iowa and Bradley are the two, Missouri Valley Conference champions. UNI is the defending regular season champ and Bradley is the two-time, reigning Arch Madness winner. Both programs seem prepared to defend their titles.

UNI has their top three scorers returning, while Bradley returns just two starters, they have three highly rated players that sat out last season ready to plug into those vacant holes. Each program has a highly regarded transfer that could become a factor this season if NCAA rules happen to change.

We invited Dave Reynolds (Peoria Journal-Star) and Nick Petaros (WCF Courier) to break down each team’s roster.

UNI – All-Star Starters & Solid Supporting Cast

Northern Iowa returns league MVP A.J. Green and all-league center Austin Phyfe. As both enter their junior seasons, they are prepared to defend their regular season championship. UNI won 25 games and won the MVC title with a 14-4 league record. The Panthers were the Valley’s highest scoring team and Green led the league in scoring. Phyfe was the Valley’s top rebounder.

Defensive improvement and developing other scoring threats will be important for this year’s team. Petaros (@NickatCourier) says the Panther freshmen class is impressive and the returners are stellar.

 

 

Green averaged nearly 20 points per game and fellow first-team All-Valley member Phyfe scored over 11 points and eight rebounds per game. Those two juniors are the headliners. Seniors Trae Berhow and Tywhon Pickford will play larger roles as will sophomores Antwan Kimmons and Noah Carter.

Petaros says Kimmons, Berhow and freshman Bowan Born are intriguing players on this year’s team.

 

 

Bradley’s Impressive Pipeline of Talent

Brian Wardle’s team has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons. Elijah Childs has been on hand for all three. The 6’7 lefty missed 12 games last season, but still landed on the Valley’s all-conference, second team. Bradley’s graduation losses were heavy.

Starters Darrell Brown, Nate Kennell and Koch Bar have moved on. After leading the team in scoring for four straight seasons, Brown’s brilliant career has ended. Kennell was one of the greatest three-point shooters in Braves’ history and Bar was an accomplished rim protector.

Reynolds (@DaveReynolds2) says Childs and the other returners are solid.

 

 

While Bradley was winning the MVC Tournament title, three talented players were sitting out the season. Terry Nolan Junior, Kevin McAdoo and Rienk Mast are so highly regarded that some observers believe Bradley is better than they were last season.

 

 

A talented freshman class is also on hand. Coach Wardle believes this is his best, most athletic and versatile team. Darius Hannah and Connor Linke are both 6’9 and Jason Kent is 6’7. Bradley has talent and some increased size.

 

 

Similarly Prepared to Defend Their Titles

Childs and Green might be the two best players in the conference. Had Childs not been hurt last season he would have competed with Green for the Larry Bird Trophy. While both players have been outstanding, they still have room to improve and each is looking for his first NCAA Tournament game victory.

Green can still develop as a defender and while Childs has been a good leader he will shoulder the bulk of that leadership role.

 

 

Update! A.J. Green Declares For the NBA Draft!

Since our interview, Green has declared for the draft. While it doesn’t look like he will turn pro this offseason, the possibility remains. He says he plans on returning to Cedar Falls this season.

“As of right now I don’t plan on leaving,” Green said. “I’m doing this to get feedback and try to learn as much as possible about the whole process and about how I can get better.” Read Nick’s full article here. 

Each of these teams could be affected by next week’s NCAA vote on transfers having the right to relocate one time without sitting out a season. After transferring to their respective schools, Bradley’s Sean East and UNI’s Goanar Mar could both be sitting out or playing this season.

Each player comes with high expectations.

 

 

Petaros and Reynolds joined us for a lively discussion about the Valley, these two programs and possible NCAA changes. In Part One of this Valley Hoops Insider Podcast we dig into the rosters and prospects. During Part Two we delve into the coaches, rule changes and growth of the two programs.

UNI’s Ben Jacobson is the dean of Valley coaches and the reigning ‘Coach of the Year’. Bradley’s Wardle has captured two-straight Arch Madness wins and three straight 20-win seasons. These two coaches and programs seem poised to battle for Valley supremacy and are prepared to defend their titles.

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