Okay, so we have now gone through all ten MVC teams. There will be more student-athletes added and subtracted as the months go on, but we have to stop somewhere in order to evaluate the teams.
Let's look at who returns the most minutes. Kwadzo's minutes are used in this comparison as he is the only player to sit out this year for a MVC team after playing the year before. Illinois State's Bobby Hill went to ILSU as a freshman, then a JC as a sophomore, and is now back at ILSU, but he has not been added to this conversation. Kwadzo's impact is seen as the higher of the two percentages listed.:
So, what does this tell us? Evansville, a team that finished last in the MVC returns a high percentage of minutes. It could be a "well, the good news is the majority of the team returns. And, the bad news is the majority of the team returns!" Evansville also returns their point guard, which is always a good thing.
Creighton, hands down the deepest team in the MVC this past year, returns not just quantity, but quality. You can expect the Jays to be the pre-season pick to win the Valley.
Indiana State and UNI are the next two teams on the list with 60%+ of their minutes returning (with and without Kwadzo's numbers added). Indiana State will probably start three guys who spent most of the year as starters. In addition, they will probably bring talented sophomore Isaiah Martin into the starting lineup to contend as front court mates with senior Jay Tunnell. However, outside of the projected starting five, only one player returns with Division I experience, with that athlete being senior Adam Arnold.
UNI on the other hand is in a different situation. Similar to Indiana State, UNI will bring back four full to half-time starters in sophomore Kerwin Dunham, juniors Koch and Eglseder, and senior Travis Brown. It's probable that either Carlton Reed or Travis Brown will receive the nod at the starting shooting guard spot. What differentiates UNI from Indiana State is that their bench is deep and experienced. UNI will return eight players with at least ten minutes/game of D1 experience, in addition to Brian Haak's 8.7 minutes/game. Where UNI's depth will be challenged is at the point guard position, as it will probably be a three man race between freshman John Moran, junior college All-American Ali Farokhmanesh, and redshirt sophomore Kwadzo Ahelegbe. Whoever emerges as the starter will have little to no point guard experience at the division one level.
Bradley is the next team with 60% of their minutes returning. They return five players with at least ten minutes/game of D1 experience (six if Dodie Dunson's Iowa State minutes are included). They also return veteran post players Sam Singh and David Collins who average around 9 minutes/game. Bradley also returns Sam Maniscalco who spot started at PG for Daniel Ruffin, who was injured and suspended at times throughout the year. Bradley will also usher in Chris Roberts, a junior college wing guard.
Southern Illinois, Drake, and Illinois State return the next most minutes, with all three being in the low to mid-50% range. Drake, the returning MVC champs will be without several key players from this past year will usher in a new point guard, with Josh Parker. Even with the departures, Drake may just start three seniors and a junior...all with double digit minutes per game. The questions will be who can step in for sharp shooting Klayton Korver's offense stretching deep three point threats. That may come from UC-Irvine transfer Adam Templeton, who was a coveted high school recruit from South Dakota. Outside of the starting five, only one name will probably echo any memories, and that being senior Jacob Baryenbruch. SIU will lose two of their most recognizable players in recent history with Randal Falker and Matt Shaw using up their eligibility. Their possible starting five will still include double digit minutes/game contributors, but beyond that, the bench will be both young and talented. SIU's freshman class may very well be the best the Valley has ever seen, however, there is something to be said about experience. Look for SIU to struggle at times early on, but continue to dominate at home and be slightly inconsistent on the road. Having senior point guard, and defending conference Defensive POY, Bryan Mullins back will be a luxury most teams don't have. Illinois State rounds out this group with major defections in the front and backcourts. However, they return MVC POY candidate Osiris Eldridge. Including the starting five (which my projections are definitely arguable, especially at the point guard spot), only five players return with ten minutes/game or more experience (with an exception being former ISU guard Bobby Hill who returns). Illinois State will probably start alot of upper-classmen which may keep them from falling too far in the standings from this past year.
Missouri State and Wichita State return the last two minutes in regards to minutes/game. MSU and WSU both return 42% of their minutes. For two teams who played on Thursday night in St. Louis this is just the opposite of Evansville. They both lose a ton of experience from both the front and back courts, but Wichita State has what some are saying a very nice recruiting class. WSU will probably start a junior college point guard, with numerous juniors and seniors dotting their roster. Six athletes return with more than ten minutes per game of experience. That could be enough to help bump Wichita State into a higher place than this past year. However, they have no experience returning at the point guard position, as both Matt Braeuer and Gal Mekel are no longer in the program. This is a key position in the Valley, and will be one to watch. Missouri State loses 112 of their 165 starts from this past year. Only Justin Fuehrmeyer and Shane Laurie bring back double digit starts. Of their returners, only four played double digit minutes. The positions that MSU will have to immediately improve upon is in the post, as Drew Richards, Deven Mitchell, and Dale Lamberth graduate.
So, as you can see, if based on minutes returning, what we as Panther fans are concerned about in regards to the number of minutes lost in our three seniors, we are not alone. In fact, as compared to the rest of the Valley, we may return more than we think.
Let's look at who returns the most minutes. Kwadzo's minutes are used in this comparison as he is the only player to sit out this year for a MVC team after playing the year before. Illinois State's Bobby Hill went to ILSU as a freshman, then a JC as a sophomore, and is now back at ILSU, but he has not been added to this conversation. Kwadzo's impact is seen as the higher of the two percentages listed.:
Code:
Minutes Returning Last Year Finish 1. Evansville 83% 10 2. Creighton 71% 4 3. Indiana State 66% T7 4. Northern Iowa 62%/69% T5 5. Bradley 60% T5 6. Southern Illinois 56% 3 7. Drake 55% 1 8. Illinois State 51% 2 9t. Missouri State 42% T7 9t. Wichita State 42% 9
Creighton, hands down the deepest team in the MVC this past year, returns not just quantity, but quality. You can expect the Jays to be the pre-season pick to win the Valley.
Indiana State and UNI are the next two teams on the list with 60%+ of their minutes returning (with and without Kwadzo's numbers added). Indiana State will probably start three guys who spent most of the year as starters. In addition, they will probably bring talented sophomore Isaiah Martin into the starting lineup to contend as front court mates with senior Jay Tunnell. However, outside of the projected starting five, only one player returns with Division I experience, with that athlete being senior Adam Arnold.
UNI on the other hand is in a different situation. Similar to Indiana State, UNI will bring back four full to half-time starters in sophomore Kerwin Dunham, juniors Koch and Eglseder, and senior Travis Brown. It's probable that either Carlton Reed or Travis Brown will receive the nod at the starting shooting guard spot. What differentiates UNI from Indiana State is that their bench is deep and experienced. UNI will return eight players with at least ten minutes/game of D1 experience, in addition to Brian Haak's 8.7 minutes/game. Where UNI's depth will be challenged is at the point guard position, as it will probably be a three man race between freshman John Moran, junior college All-American Ali Farokhmanesh, and redshirt sophomore Kwadzo Ahelegbe. Whoever emerges as the starter will have little to no point guard experience at the division one level.
Bradley is the next team with 60% of their minutes returning. They return five players with at least ten minutes/game of D1 experience (six if Dodie Dunson's Iowa State minutes are included). They also return veteran post players Sam Singh and David Collins who average around 9 minutes/game. Bradley also returns Sam Maniscalco who spot started at PG for Daniel Ruffin, who was injured and suspended at times throughout the year. Bradley will also usher in Chris Roberts, a junior college wing guard.
Southern Illinois, Drake, and Illinois State return the next most minutes, with all three being in the low to mid-50% range. Drake, the returning MVC champs will be without several key players from this past year will usher in a new point guard, with Josh Parker. Even with the departures, Drake may just start three seniors and a junior...all with double digit minutes per game. The questions will be who can step in for sharp shooting Klayton Korver's offense stretching deep three point threats. That may come from UC-Irvine transfer Adam Templeton, who was a coveted high school recruit from South Dakota. Outside of the starting five, only one name will probably echo any memories, and that being senior Jacob Baryenbruch. SIU will lose two of their most recognizable players in recent history with Randal Falker and Matt Shaw using up their eligibility. Their possible starting five will still include double digit minutes/game contributors, but beyond that, the bench will be both young and talented. SIU's freshman class may very well be the best the Valley has ever seen, however, there is something to be said about experience. Look for SIU to struggle at times early on, but continue to dominate at home and be slightly inconsistent on the road. Having senior point guard, and defending conference Defensive POY, Bryan Mullins back will be a luxury most teams don't have. Illinois State rounds out this group with major defections in the front and backcourts. However, they return MVC POY candidate Osiris Eldridge. Including the starting five (which my projections are definitely arguable, especially at the point guard spot), only five players return with ten minutes/game or more experience (with an exception being former ISU guard Bobby Hill who returns). Illinois State will probably start alot of upper-classmen which may keep them from falling too far in the standings from this past year.
Missouri State and Wichita State return the last two minutes in regards to minutes/game. MSU and WSU both return 42% of their minutes. For two teams who played on Thursday night in St. Louis this is just the opposite of Evansville. They both lose a ton of experience from both the front and back courts, but Wichita State has what some are saying a very nice recruiting class. WSU will probably start a junior college point guard, with numerous juniors and seniors dotting their roster. Six athletes return with more than ten minutes per game of experience. That could be enough to help bump Wichita State into a higher place than this past year. However, they have no experience returning at the point guard position, as both Matt Braeuer and Gal Mekel are no longer in the program. This is a key position in the Valley, and will be one to watch. Missouri State loses 112 of their 165 starts from this past year. Only Justin Fuehrmeyer and Shane Laurie bring back double digit starts. Of their returners, only four played double digit minutes. The positions that MSU will have to immediately improve upon is in the post, as Drew Richards, Deven Mitchell, and Dale Lamberth graduate.
So, as you can see, if based on minutes returning, what we as Panther fans are concerned about in regards to the number of minutes lost in our three seniors, we are not alone. In fact, as compared to the rest of the Valley, we may return more than we think.
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