(St. Louis, MO) – College basketball coaches say it every year. The biggest improvement comes to players between their freshman and sophomore years. They have the benefit of a full offseason in a college weight room, better nutrition and year-round workouts.
Who are making those big leaps this season? In the Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley Conferences, it will probably be seen in each league’s reigning Freshman of the Year.
The players were named to their respective preseason all-conference teams and will be the focal point of their team’s success.
Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie has added 25 pounds of muscle and Eastern Kentucky’s Nick Mayo has added even more weight, and has radically improved his vertical jumping ability.
WSU coach Gregg Marshall says McDuffie has gone from having what Marshall called ‘Gumby arms’ to having a real man’s body.
EKU head coach Dan McHale says Mayo is in radically different shape. Southern Illinois head coach Barry Hinson says similar things about his all-conference player Sean O’Brien, while not a sophomore is enjoying an offseason free of injury to get into better shape.
Sean O’Brien – siusalukis.com
Another non-freshman who is healthy and getting stronger is Loyola’s Milton Doyle has added weight and muscle too. The senior is enjoying the benefits of a full offseason of workouts. Doyle has missed virtually every offseason of his Rambler career due to injuries.
Head Coach Porter Moser says, in Doyle’s case, his confidence is up, because ‘strength leads to confidence.’
Bradley Head Coach Brian Wardle tells ‘Blue Ribbon Yearbook’ that several freshmen have added weight and strength, noting that Ronnie Suggs, Luuk van Bree and Antoine Pittman all gained at least ten pounds.
Forward Callum Barker took the opposite approach and worked himself into thinner shape.
“He trimmed down a little bit,” said Wardle. “He’s moving and jumping better than he ever has.”
Don’t look for these basketball players on the ‘World’s Strongest Man’, but increased strength, jumping ability and stamina to serve these players well.
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Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
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