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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Drake
- Loyola Chicago
- Northern Iowa
- Missouri State
- Southern Illinois
- Bradley
- Valparaiso
- Evansville
- Indiana State
- Illinois State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE 1ST TEAM:
-AJ Green – JR, G – Northern Iowa
-Tyreke Key – SR, G – Indiana State
-Isiaih Mosley – JR, G – Missouri State
-Roman Penn – SR, G – Drake
-Gaige Prim – SR, F – Missouri State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE 2ND TEAM:
-Marcus Domask – JR, F – Southern Illinois
-ShanQuan Hemphill – Sr, F -Drake
-Ben Krikke – Jr, F – Valparaiso
-Austin Phyfe – Jr, F – Northern Iowa
-Lucas Williamson, – SR, G – Loyola Chicago
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE 3RD TEAM:
-Shamar Givance – SR, G – Evansville
-Ja’Shon Henry – SR, F – Bradley
-Lance Jones – JR, G – Southern Illinois
-Rienk Mast – SO, F – Bradley
-Braden Norris – JR, G – Loyola Chicago
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-I will start with this. This league sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament last year and I think it could get as many as three teams in this year. We normally classify this as an “Under the Radar” league but the top of this league is VERY good.
-Last year Drake won 26 games and made the NCAA Tournament. All five starters are back this year. Darian Devries has done an unbelievable job since taking over as head coach and should be able to put together the program’s fourth straight 20-win season and land them back inside the bubble. They have balance, depth, and are a good defensive team.
-Loyola Chicago also won 26 games a year ago, also made the NCAA Tournament, and pulled off a major upset against top-seeded Illinois in the Round of 32 to make the Sweet Sixteen. Four starters are back from that team. They may not just be good enough to land inside the bubble, but it wouldn’t shock me at all to see Loyola in the top-25 before the year is over. They do have a new coach this year in Drew Valentine, which could be an adjustment, and if they have a weak spot it is probably in the frontcourt since they lost a key big man in Cameron Krutwig, but this is still a team with a ton of potential.
-Northern Iowa was actually a team we were really big on heading into last season, but it just seemed like they could never get a full-strength team on the floor. This year, they have a lot of experience and some key players that once again look to be healthy. I know it may sound nuts to look at a team that won just ten games a year ago and say that you feel they have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament, but…I kinda do think they have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament.
-Missouri State is a team that returns all five starters from a year ago. They also played really well down the stretch winning eight of their last ten, with the last loss being a nail-biter to Drake in the conference semifinals. This is another really good team. This is another team that may be good enough to end up inside the bubble and make the NCAA Tournament. They’ve got good shooters, depth, and are really strong in the post.
-Like a lot of teams in the Valley, Southern Illinois returns a lot of experienced players. All five starters are back and the experience alone should make them better than they were a year ago. I don’t think they’re quite good enough to have a legit shot at landing inside the bubble, but they’re certainly good enough to compete with some of the top teams in this league on any given night.
-The media doesn’t seem to be all that big on Indiana State when it comes to the preseason poll, but with three starters back, including two of their top three scorers, I don’t see them finishing at the bottom of the conference.
-Evansville won just nine games a year ago but they’ve got four starters back and should improve with that experience. However, seeing as how they completely went into the tank down the stretch, they definitely have work to do.
-Bradley had a rough season last year and are sort of in reset mode. It could be a year where the Braves experience quite a bit of growing pains.
-Valpo won just ten games a year ago and is down some key players, so they’re also sort of in reset mode. Ben Krikke is a solid player in the frontcourt, but I have more questions than answers when it comes to their success.
-Illinois State won just seven games a year ago and could be in for another long season this year.