Team Profiles

[BEARZ77]

Probably a few weeks away from our annual conference pick-em countdown, so I thought as a prelude it would be fun to get a poster from each school to post a team profile to aid us all in our knowledge of each team before we pick. I think using a similar format would give us all the same basic info to compare, and it might be good if we could limit discussion about each teams profile until we get all[ or at least most] profiles up. I'll start off with the Bears in my next post. Be succinct as possible, but don't shy from being bold about your team. Let's have fun and learn about all these great MVC programs.

[BEARZ77]

MISSOURI STATE BEARS

Overview: With a new HC [Dana Ford] and staff, 7 players who didn't see the floor for the Bears last year, and a very limited active roster [ 11 players including a walkon] because of 3 transfers sitting out a rs year, the Bears margin for success is thin. There is however, enough talent to be competitive and with a few breaks make a run at a top half Valley finish. We have 3 solid veterans [ Dixon/Church/Kreklow], 3 top level jucos[ Mohammed #31, Cook #76, and Webster, top juco pg in 2017 per 247 sports] 3- 6'10 plus freshman, and a potential star/ all -league type guy[Ridder] to build around. No doubt we get considerably stronger next year with a year under Ford, the additions of the transfer/rs and a talented 2019 recruiting class so far, but this year could prove very interesting if we stay healthy.


Projected starters/rotation:
PG 6'4 Josh Webster, jr
SG 6'4 Jarred Dixon , sr
SF 6'5 Keandre Cook , jr
PF 6'7 Jared Ridder, fr[rs]
C 6'8 Obediah Church, sr

Bench: Ryan Kreklow 6'4 sr, Kabir Mohammed, 6'5 jr, S Wojcik, 6'10 fr, J. Wojcik, 6'10, fr, Darrian Scott 6'11 fr[rs], Ross Owens 6'4 jr[wo]

Bears can win if: they can stay healthy, Ridder emerges quickly as an impact scorer, and one of the freshman bigs [ most likely S. Wojcik] makes significant contributions especially offensively.

Player to watch: Jared Ridder . Missouri player of the year his senior year , the 6'7 Springfield native and Xavier transfer has an offensive game most similar to former MVC/Creighton star Doug McDermott. He combines a deadly outside stroke with surprising athleticism and a crafty skill set for being able to score around the basket and in the lane.

Projected finish: 5th place

[ACECARD]

It all depends on who posts on the Aces. We have a guy who says we are going to beat Illinois, but most of us believe that we will be a better team than last year, but with all the Freshmen, new players, and Walters new system it's impossible to say what their record will be until we see them play a game. I'm not going to go into a detailed account of every player, as I'm sure others will do. I will say that I don't think they will finish last, but to escape Thursday will be a minor miracle. There is MVC caliber talent on this team, but as others have said about their teams, next year should be the year the Aces will contend for the big dance.

[jackwagon]

Ah gotta love mid September. The time of year everyone is seeing rainbows and unicorns. Good post from the Missouri state fan though. I think they have a chance to not suck this year and be dangerous in the future

[Redhawk]

Solid post on MSU by BEARZ77. Dana Ford is off to an impressive start.

Calling on ADunk to provide a detailed ISUr profile.

[Adunk33]

Illinois State Redbirds:

13 future first round NBA draft picks. The over/under for arrests this season is 3.5. Undefeated in the regular season. Misses NCAA Tournament when they lose Sunday in Saint Louis.




I'll do a real breakdown this afternoon.

[tribecalledquest]

It all depends on who posts on the Aces. We have a guy who says we are going to beat Illinois, but most of us believe that we will be a better team than last year, but with all the Freshmen, new players, and Walters new system it's impossible to say what their record will be until we see them play a game. I'm not going to go into a detailed account of every player, as I'm sure others will do. I will say that I don't think they will finish last, but to escape Thursday will be a minor miracle. There is MVC caliber talent on this team, but as others have said about their teams, next year should be the year the Aces will contend for the big dance.

If Evansville contends for the league title/NCAA in year two under McCarthy he would be the greatest hire in college basketball history.

[tribecalledquest]

Ah gotta love mid September. The time of year everyone is seeing rainbows and unicorns. Good post from the Missouri state fan though. I think they have a chance to not suck this year and be dangerous in the future

September - no team finishes below 5th and every team ties for the best recruiting class in the league

[Blers]

Loyola

The starters:
Loyola returns a strong core as they return the former player of the year in Custer, Freshman of the year in Krutwig, along with standout guard Marques Townes and defensive ace Lucas Williamson. Those four will likely all start. Williamson in particular I expect to slide right in to the role Ben Richardson filled last season defending opponents best player; he was a big 3 and D guy last season and word is he worked a lot on his dribble drive game to become a more complete player. The fifth spot in the line up will be filled up with Aher Uguak who redshirted last season; midway through last season buzz started to build that he was an impact player. Richardson was recently on a podcast and stated that Uguak would make him look silly as he defended him in practice. He expects him to take many by surprise. He's got a similar build to Ingram, just a bit bigger; but there isn't much tape on him coming from Canada and not playing much at New Mexico. Moser's done great with redshirts though in years past; the last 3 to do so are: Doyle, Custer, and Townes.

The Bench
What will make or break this team down the stretch is the bench. While the starting 5 are somewhat sure things the team will need to find at least 2-3 players to come off the bench and provide impact. ESPN 4 star forward Christian Negron is back and healthy after an ACL injury; if he can return to form he can be a great energy guy off the bench catching lobs and tip dunks as well as blocking shots. Bruno Skokna has flashed a few times in his career but i'm not sure if the Ramblers can expect much more than that. That leaves 3 freshman in Cooper Kaifes, Isaiah Bujdoso, and Frank Agunanne. Kaifes is my pick for the impact freshman from this team. He's an athletic guard that can really shoot it, played in the same program as Richardson and Custer. Bujdoso played at Sunrise Christian so is ready for tough competition; playing point guard he'll mainly be used to give Custer a breather or allow him to play off ball and get some open looks. He's got a smooth game but playing point as a freshman is always an adjustment. Agunanne is 6'9 but a long 6'9. He's got the build of a pro; excellent shot blocker and rebounder. Probably a bit raw when is back is to the basket though. Played for La Lumiere and won the Dicks National Championship in 2016.

Ramblers can win if
They stay healthy; the Ramblers only have 10 eligible scholarship players this season following Tykei Greene's departure (too far from home). They have closers in Custer, Townes, Krut, and Williamson; but you'd like to see them all at or under the 30 mpg mark like most were last season; tired legs killed the Ramblers in the 2016 season.

Projected Finish: Top 3

[BCPanther]

UNI--

OVERVIEW-- There is renewed optimism in Cedar Falls as an underachieving senior class is gone and a new injection of talent has given the program the refreshing that, frankly, it needed after back to back .500 seasons and the first below .500 league season and play in game since 2003. UNI will rely on younger players more than in the past but those players are more talented than the players they've replaced and just need the experience to match.

GONE- *C Bennett Kock 12 ppg, 4 rpg. *F Klint Carlson 8 ppg, 5 rpg. C Ted Friedman 1 ppg 1 rpg. G Juwan McCloud (transfer to DII Minnesota State) 6 ppg 2 apg. *G Hunter Rhodes. F Adam McDermott (transfer to DIII Coe College) F Tanner Lohaus (transfer to NAIA Mount Mercy to play baseball)

RETURNING STARTERS- So. G Tywhon Pickford 9.1 ppg 7.8 rpg Jr. G Isaiah Brown 6.2 ppg 3 rpg

OTHER RETURNERS-
Sr. G Wyatt Lohaus 9.3 ppg 45% 3Pt%
So C Austin Phyfe 4 ppg 2 rpg
Jr G Spencer Haldeman 6 ppg 41% 3Pt%
Jr F Luke McDonnell Jr C Justin Dahl Sr G Miles Wentzien Jr F Lincoln Conrey

NEWCOMERS-
6-4 PG AJ Green- Consensus 4-star and Top 100 Recruit.
6-5 SG Trae Berhow- Transfer from Pepperdine, Immediately eligible. WCC All Freshman team 10ppg 6 rpg
6-10 F Shandon 'Biggie' Goldman (JUCO) 10 ppg 42% 3Pt%, working on getting 3rd year back
6-1 PG Tray Croft (JUCO) 22 ppg 4 apg DII JUCO Rawlings National Player of the Year at Iowa Central CC--Will Redshirt in 2018-19

Projected Starters-
PG- AJ Green
SG- Tywhon Pickford--Limited until mid-November after dislocating ankle in summer workouts
WG- Isaiah Brown
PF- Biggie Goldman
C- Austin Phyfe

OUTLOOK- This team goes as far as the young guys take it. If AJ Green is as good as advertised, and there isn't any reason to believe he isn't, this team has enough pieces around him to improve on last year's disappointing record. Tywhon Pickford had a very good Freshman year and Isaiah Brown showed real growth during league play last year and Austin Phyfe showed flashes of the player he has the potential to be.

Offensively, this team is going to look a lot more like UNI teams of the past as Goldman and Phyfe are able to step away from the paint and be credible threats to score away from the basket. Defenses won't be able to swarm the paint the way they have the last couple of years. UNI will always play a slower tempo but this team may play faster, relatively, to UNI teams of the past. Defense is never a concern with a Ben Jacobson team and you'll see the same modified pack line you always do and opponents will have to make jump shots to beat UNI.

This year's version isn't experienced enough to compete for a league title this year but will be much improved over last year's team. The ceiling is probably 3rd place if everything breaks right. UNI will again face another challenging non-conference schedule that will have them well prepared. The early league slump CAN NOT happen again.

PROJECTED FINISH--3rd-7th