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Since the MVC season is wrapping up I decided to take a look at what the future might hold for the conference next year. I came away very excited for next season. This could be the strongest the Valley has been since 2006. I count 8 of the 10 teams that should be better than they were this year. Only Drake and UNI do I see going backwards. UNI should still be a decent team, just not as good at they were this year. So many teams are returning almost their whole team. ISUR, ISUB, Evansville, and Loyola should all be pretty good next year. SIU, Bradley, and MSU should all be much better teams than they were this year. Depending how things go in the non-con, we could be looking at a lot of pretty good rpi's next season. Dare I say possibly getting 3 teams in the tourney next year?! It is possible!
Northern Iowa
Key returners: Wes Washpun, Paul Jesperson, Matt Bohannon, Jeremy Morgan, Wyatt Lohaus
Key losses: Seth Tuttle, Deon Mitchell, Nate Buss, Marvin Singleton
Recruits: NR Luke McDonnell (6’8” 200 lbs PF), NR Spencer Haldeman (6’1” apparently he has no weight PG), NR Justin Dahl (6’11” 225 lbs C), JC Aarias Austin (6’4” 180 lbs SG)
Outlook: Obviously loosing Tuttle, Mitchell, and Buss is huge. They definitely will not be as good next year, but with Waspun, Jesperson, and Bohannon returning they also definitely won’t fall off the face of the earth. None of their recruits seem like they will make an instant impact. They should be in the middle of the pack next year.
Indiana State
Key returners: Devonte Brown, Brenton Scott, Khristian Smith, Tre' Bennett, T.J. Bell, Grant Prusator, Brandon Murphy
Key losses: Justin Gant, Jake Kitchell,
Recruits: NR Bronson Kessinger (6’6” 200 lbs SF), NR Emondre Rickman (6’8” 220 PF)
Outlook: I was very surprised to see that Indiana State is returning 4 of their top 5 scorers. I for some reason was thinking they were very senior heavy. Gant and Kitchell are good pieces, but they are returning the majority of their team. None of the recruits look to factor in early. They should be an improved team next year and will be pushing the top 100 RPI.
Illinois State
Key returners: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Reggie Lynch, Deontae Hawkins, Paris Lee, MiKyle McIntosh, Tony Wills, Justin McCloud
Key losses: Daishon Knight, Bobby Hunter, John Jones
Recruits: NR Daouda Ndiaye (6’11” 205 lbs C), NR Roland Griffin (6’6” 195 lbs SG), NR Matt Hein (6’2” 170 lbs PG), NR Keyshawn Evans (5’11” 150 lbs PG)
Outlook: Another team that returns most of their key guys. Losing Knight will hurt, but they should take a pretty good step forward next year. A lot of talent returning. I don’t see any of their recruits making an impact early on. They should be in the running for #2 in the Valley next year.
Evansville
Key returners: D.J. Balentine, Egidijus Mockevicius, Mislav Brzoja, Blake Simmons, Adam Wing, Duane Gibson, Jaylon Brown, David Howard
Key losses: Jaylon Moore
Recruits: NR Harris Brown ( 5’11” PG), NR Dainius Chatkevicius (6’9” 245 lbs PF)
Outlook: Evansville returns basically their whole team. Top 7 scorers and 9 out of the top 10. They should take a big step forward. Mock and Balentines senior year. Could be a very big year for Evansville next year. Recruits don’t seem like they will factor in. Will be in the upper part of the league next year.
Loyola
Key returners: Milton Doyle, Montel James, Earl Peterson, Devon Turk, Donte Ingram, Ben Richardson, Jeff White, Jay Knuth
Key losses: Christian Thomas, Joe Crisman
Recruits: 3 star Roosevelt Smart (6’2” 170 lbs PG), JC Maurice Kirby (6’9” 230 lbs C), NR Pernell Adgei (6’7” SF)
Outlook: Loyola returns 8 of their top 9 scorers. They were very young and small this year. Look for them to take a step forward with the experienced gained. Down low they should be a little bigger and better than they were this year. Their only two players taller than 6’7” were both freshmen this year. They are also adding a 6’9” 230 lbs JC transfer to the mix. I expect them to be improved next year. They also have a 3 star PG coming in that could factor into the mix.
Drake
Key returners: Reed Timmer, Jacob Enevold Jensen, Ore Arogundade, C.J. Rivers, Kory Kuenstling
Key losses: Gary Ricks Jr., Jordan Daniels, Chris Caird, Trevor Berkeley, Karl Madison
Recruits: NR Nick McGlynn (6’8” 210 lbs PF), NR Billy Wampler (6’6” 200 SG), NR Johannes Dolven (6’8” 225 lbs PF), NR Dominik Olejniczak (7’ 230 lbs C)
Outlook: Drake has a lot of turnover from a not very good team to begin with. They have a couple good pieces in Timmer and Enevold Jensen to anchor their team next year, but they will have a hard time gathering a lot of wins in the Valley next year. I expect a slight step back from where they are this year. On a side note, they are huge down low. 3 guys over 6’10” on the roster and they are adding a 7’ to the mix. Could use that to their advantage.
Missouri State
Key returners: Camyn Boone, Austin Ruder, Dorrian Williams, Chris Kendrix, Gavin Thurman, Loomis Gerring, Tyler McCullough, Shawn Roundtree
Key losses: Marcus Marshall, Christian Kirk
Recruits: NR Jarred Dixon (6’3” 170 lbs PG), NR Zach Cameron-Chodes (6’9” 205 lbs PF), NR Obediah Church (6’8” 200 lbs SF), NR Ryan Kreklow (6’3” 185 lbs SG)
Outlook: Losing Marshall really hurts the bears. They lack that go to guy without him. If he would of stayed on the team, they might of actually had a chance to be decent next year with them returning basically every other guy that contributed this year. Still look for them to be a better team since they were so young this year and return so many parts. They will probably be an opening night team next year in the MVC tournament.
Southern Illinois
Key returners: Anthony Beane, Jordan Caroline, Sean O'Brien, Jalen Pendleton, Deion Lavender, Tyler Smithpeters, Bola Olaniyan, K.C Goodwin, Ibby Djimde
Key losses:
Recruits:
Outlook: Southern Illinois brings back every single guy that had any value this year. The only senior they had played 7 mpg. Half their team are freshmen this year. Beane and Caroline are both good players. They don’t have a single recruit. So basically they will have the same exact team next year. Look for them to take a couple steps forward based purely off bringing everyone back. They still will have a hard time getting out of the bottom third of the league next year.
Bradley
Key returners: Warren Jones, Tramique Sutherland, Josh Cunningham, Omari Grier, Ka'Darryl Bell, Xzavier Taylor, Nate Wells, Jermaine Morgan, Donte Thomas, Mike Shaw
Key losses: Auston Barnes
Recruits:
Outlook: Bradley will be returning almost their whole team. Barnes was their 3rd leading scorer, but besides him everyone who meant something to them will be back. Look for them to take a few steps forward as a team. As of right now they do not have any recruits. They will be better, but also will have a hard time competing with the upper teams in the Valley.
Northern Iowa
Key returners: Wes Washpun, Paul Jesperson, Matt Bohannon, Jeremy Morgan, Wyatt Lohaus
Key losses: Seth Tuttle, Deon Mitchell, Nate Buss, Marvin Singleton
Recruits: NR Luke McDonnell (6’8” 200 lbs PF), NR Spencer Haldeman (6’1” apparently he has no weight PG), NR Justin Dahl (6’11” 225 lbs C), JC Aarias Austin (6’4” 180 lbs SG)
Outlook: Obviously loosing Tuttle, Mitchell, and Buss is huge. They definitely will not be as good next year, but with Waspun, Jesperson, and Bohannon returning they also definitely won’t fall off the face of the earth. None of their recruits seem like they will make an instant impact. They should be in the middle of the pack next year.
Indiana State
Key returners: Devonte Brown, Brenton Scott, Khristian Smith, Tre' Bennett, T.J. Bell, Grant Prusator, Brandon Murphy
Key losses: Justin Gant, Jake Kitchell,
Recruits: NR Bronson Kessinger (6’6” 200 lbs SF), NR Emondre Rickman (6’8” 220 PF)
Outlook: I was very surprised to see that Indiana State is returning 4 of their top 5 scorers. I for some reason was thinking they were very senior heavy. Gant and Kitchell are good pieces, but they are returning the majority of their team. None of the recruits look to factor in early. They should be an improved team next year and will be pushing the top 100 RPI.
Illinois State
Key returners: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Reggie Lynch, Deontae Hawkins, Paris Lee, MiKyle McIntosh, Tony Wills, Justin McCloud
Key losses: Daishon Knight, Bobby Hunter, John Jones
Recruits: NR Daouda Ndiaye (6’11” 205 lbs C), NR Roland Griffin (6’6” 195 lbs SG), NR Matt Hein (6’2” 170 lbs PG), NR Keyshawn Evans (5’11” 150 lbs PG)
Outlook: Another team that returns most of their key guys. Losing Knight will hurt, but they should take a pretty good step forward next year. A lot of talent returning. I don’t see any of their recruits making an impact early on. They should be in the running for #2 in the Valley next year.
Evansville
Key returners: D.J. Balentine, Egidijus Mockevicius, Mislav Brzoja, Blake Simmons, Adam Wing, Duane Gibson, Jaylon Brown, David Howard
Key losses: Jaylon Moore
Recruits: NR Harris Brown ( 5’11” PG), NR Dainius Chatkevicius (6’9” 245 lbs PF)
Outlook: Evansville returns basically their whole team. Top 7 scorers and 9 out of the top 10. They should take a big step forward. Mock and Balentines senior year. Could be a very big year for Evansville next year. Recruits don’t seem like they will factor in. Will be in the upper part of the league next year.
Loyola
Key returners: Milton Doyle, Montel James, Earl Peterson, Devon Turk, Donte Ingram, Ben Richardson, Jeff White, Jay Knuth
Key losses: Christian Thomas, Joe Crisman
Recruits: 3 star Roosevelt Smart (6’2” 170 lbs PG), JC Maurice Kirby (6’9” 230 lbs C), NR Pernell Adgei (6’7” SF)
Outlook: Loyola returns 8 of their top 9 scorers. They were very young and small this year. Look for them to take a step forward with the experienced gained. Down low they should be a little bigger and better than they were this year. Their only two players taller than 6’7” were both freshmen this year. They are also adding a 6’9” 230 lbs JC transfer to the mix. I expect them to be improved next year. They also have a 3 star PG coming in that could factor into the mix.
Drake
Key returners: Reed Timmer, Jacob Enevold Jensen, Ore Arogundade, C.J. Rivers, Kory Kuenstling
Key losses: Gary Ricks Jr., Jordan Daniels, Chris Caird, Trevor Berkeley, Karl Madison
Recruits: NR Nick McGlynn (6’8” 210 lbs PF), NR Billy Wampler (6’6” 200 SG), NR Johannes Dolven (6’8” 225 lbs PF), NR Dominik Olejniczak (7’ 230 lbs C)
Outlook: Drake has a lot of turnover from a not very good team to begin with. They have a couple good pieces in Timmer and Enevold Jensen to anchor their team next year, but they will have a hard time gathering a lot of wins in the Valley next year. I expect a slight step back from where they are this year. On a side note, they are huge down low. 3 guys over 6’10” on the roster and they are adding a 7’ to the mix. Could use that to their advantage.
Missouri State
Key returners: Camyn Boone, Austin Ruder, Dorrian Williams, Chris Kendrix, Gavin Thurman, Loomis Gerring, Tyler McCullough, Shawn Roundtree
Key losses: Marcus Marshall, Christian Kirk
Recruits: NR Jarred Dixon (6’3” 170 lbs PG), NR Zach Cameron-Chodes (6’9” 205 lbs PF), NR Obediah Church (6’8” 200 lbs SF), NR Ryan Kreklow (6’3” 185 lbs SG)
Outlook: Losing Marshall really hurts the bears. They lack that go to guy without him. If he would of stayed on the team, they might of actually had a chance to be decent next year with them returning basically every other guy that contributed this year. Still look for them to be a better team since they were so young this year and return so many parts. They will probably be an opening night team next year in the MVC tournament.
Southern Illinois
Key returners: Anthony Beane, Jordan Caroline, Sean O'Brien, Jalen Pendleton, Deion Lavender, Tyler Smithpeters, Bola Olaniyan, K.C Goodwin, Ibby Djimde
Key losses:
Recruits:
Outlook: Southern Illinois brings back every single guy that had any value this year. The only senior they had played 7 mpg. Half their team are freshmen this year. Beane and Caroline are both good players. They don’t have a single recruit. So basically they will have the same exact team next year. Look for them to take a couple steps forward based purely off bringing everyone back. They still will have a hard time getting out of the bottom third of the league next year.
Bradley
Key returners: Warren Jones, Tramique Sutherland, Josh Cunningham, Omari Grier, Ka'Darryl Bell, Xzavier Taylor, Nate Wells, Jermaine Morgan, Donte Thomas, Mike Shaw
Key losses: Auston Barnes
Recruits:
Outlook: Bradley will be returning almost their whole team. Barnes was their 3rd leading scorer, but besides him everyone who meant something to them will be back. Look for them to take a few steps forward as a team. As of right now they do not have any recruits. They will be better, but also will have a hard time competing with the upper teams in the Valley.
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