MVCfans.com - Valley Award Winners

[MVCfans]

First, the results for the pre-season awards as voted on by the users:

Order of Finish
1. Wichita State
2. Missouri State
3. Creighton
4. Northern Iowa
5. Bradley
6. Indiana State
7. Illinois State
8. Drake
9. Southern Illinois
10. Evansville

Coach of the Year
Gregg Marshall - Wichita State

Newcomer of the Year
Gregory Echenique - Creighton

Freshman of the Year
Rayvonte Rice - Drake

All Missouri Valley Conference Players
Kyle Weems - Missouri State (POY)
Toure Murry - Wichita State
Kenny Lawson Jr - Creighton
Garrett Stutz - Wichita State
Kwadzo Ahelegbe - Northern Iowa

Below are my end of season selections for MVC awards:

Coach of the Year - Cuonzo Martin, Missouri St

Newcomer of the Year - Doug McDermott, Creighton

Freshman of the Year - Doug McDermott, Creighton

All Missouri Valley Conference Players:
Kyle Weems, Missouri State (POY)
J.T. Durley, Wichita State
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa
Andrew Warren, Bradley
Doug McDermott, Creighton

[beatingrillz]

I would say you nailed it I really don't see it any other way.

[ISUBBallfan]

I don't like the coach of the year. We have a first year coach in Greg Lansing with a team that wasn't supposed to be anything this year and we have proved that wrong in a big way. This guy put his heart and sole into this program this year and I think that he deserves the award. But if everyone wants to keep bashing Indiana State the way they do, then he would never stand a chance. I can't stand that ISU never gets recognition. I don't mean to rant, but it's no wonder that none of us like The MVC that much. it's just not any fun to get bashed for everything that happens here.

And Jake Odum needs to be clearly looked at for FOY. I don't care what anybody says. He deserves to be recognized for his accomplishments. I know that none of the other fans or teams want to see him twice a year playing against their team.

[MVCfans]

I don't like the coach of the year. We have a first year coach in Greg Lansing with a team that wasn't supposed to be anything this year and we have proved that wrong in a big way. This guy put his heart and sole into this program this year and I think that he deserves the award. But if everyone wants to keep bashing Indiana State the way they do, then he would never stand a chance. I can't stand that ISU never gets recognition. I don't mean to rant, but it's no wonder that none of us like The MVC that much. it's just not any fun to get bashed for everything that happens here.

And Jake Odum needs to be clearly looked at for FOY. I don't care what anybody says. He deserves to be recognized for his accomplishments. I know that none of the other fans or teams want to see him twice a year playing against their team.

I'm pretty sure when I gave my mid-season awards that I chose Lansing and it cannot be argued that he exceeded expectations. However, Martin should win the award in my opinion. As for Odum, I think it's clear that he is one of the best freshmen in the MVC and he certainly deserves consideration. Again, however, I would be surprised if McDermott does not win the award.

Please don't take my selections as a slap in the face to Indiana State as they are not intended to be. They are simply my choices for who should win the awards. Others may have a different opinion and you are free to share them here.

[bleach]

I would say you nailed it I really don't see it any other way.

Agreed, however after todays performance I might consider David Kyles for MVP!

[ISUBBallfan]

It's cool man. I wasn't complaining about you at all. It's the others that constantly slap ISU in the face with complete disrespect.

McDermott will most likely win the award for FOY. Odum hopefully has three more years for Player Of The Year anyways. Lol.

Martin is a great coach. There is no doubt about it. But for some reason (and I am not trying to be biased or anything) I think that Lansing deserves it more. He got thrown into the position after McKenna left for Oregon and didn't really have any hope for the season. He has proven that very wrong, and after watching almost every home game this season and an away game against Purdue, the man can coach the living daylights out of a team. I am very envious and wish I had the Basketball intelligence that Greg Lansing has gained over the years.

And lastly, I really am glad that this forum was set up. It is nice to be able to connect with other MVC people.

[bleach]

No one says Odum and Lansing shouldn't be in the discussion but, it would be a short discussion. McDermot is the clear winner and Martin took a play in team to Champs.

[8ball]

I'm putting together my awards articles for Examiner.com -- I'm interested to know who you guys think was the Defensive POY... there are a few options, as far as I'm concerned.

[wildjays]

Would I look pretty homerish if I took Ahelegbe out and put Antoine Young in? I know it is not right to have two players on the first team all-valley when they finished 4th in the conference, but for what they meant to their team and their consistency throughout the season, it is really tough to just decide between McDermott and Young which one deserves to be on the first team.

It is tough to pick a Shocker because they were all so balanced all season and even tough to pick Ahelegbe because he was somewhat inconsistent during the season. Even Weems was a little invisible at times, but you have to have someone from the conference champs in the first team. And for what he did, he probably does deserve Player of the Year honors.

Andrew Warren because he pretty much dominated in scoring because he had to for Bradley and no one could really stop him.

Antoine Young was in the top 15 in six different league categories and the amount of minutes he played speak for themselves and how important he was to the Bluejays. McDermott dominated in a lot of areas throughout the season and as a freshman did a lot of things that have not happened in a long time. Without him, who knows how many games Creighton would have actually won. He was in the top 15 in six different league categories for the season as well.

So I know I am a homer, but Young and McDermott belong on the Valley first team. I am probably wrong, but what constitutes to being All-Valley? Maybe I'm looking at a different set of criteria.

[give me heart]

Would I look pretty homerish if I took Ahelegbe out and put Antoine Young in? I know it is not right to have two players on the first team all-valley when they finished 4th in the conference, but for what they meant to their team and their consistency throughout the season, it is really tough to just decide between McDermott and Young which one deserves to be on the first team.

It is tough to pick a Shocker because they were all so balanced all season and even tough to pick Ahelegbe because he was somewhat inconsistent during the season. Even Weems was a little invisible at times, but you have to have someone from the conference champs in the first team. And for what he did, he probably does deserve Player of the Year honors.

Andrew Warren because he pretty much dominated in scoring because he had to for Bradley and no one could really stop him.

Antoine Young was in the top 15 in six different league categories and the amount of minutes he played speak for themselves and how important he was to the Bluejays. McDermott dominated in a lot of areas throughout the season and as a freshman did a lot of things that have not happened in a long time. Without him, who knows how many games Creighton would have actually won. He was in the top 15 in six different league categories for the season as well.

So I know I am a homer, but Young and McDermott belong on the Valley first team. I am probably wrong, but what constitutes to being All-Valley? Maybe I'm looking at a different set of criteria.

As mentioned AY and DMc did a lot for their teams who know how they would have done without them....both of them where in the top 15 in six different league catagories....Jake Odum was in the top 15 in seven catagories. Go look it up. Where does he belong?