Early Looks at MVC Players

[DUBulldog]

It's too early to start all the POY/NOY projections, and as we all know, summer can change things due to injury, academics, late defections/additions. But in general we now know who the Valley is for 2017-18, and what the rosters look like for the most part. I'd be interested in someone from each University to give a snap shot of what their team looks like and some of the players they see as impacting things that might not be so obvious. We all know the top level returnees, but what I'd like to hear are the following:

1] Projected starters and top 8-10 rotation
2] A previous roster guy who was not a star but may be ready to take a leap forward
3] Under the radar recruit who might surprise, if not immediately, then as he develops
4] Most important addition and why
5] Most important subtraction and why[ doesn't have to be too brutal ]

1] Projected starters and top 8-10 rotation

5- Nick McGlynn, 6'8" Jr
4- Casey Schlatter 6'10" Jr
3- Ore Arogundade 6'3" Sr
2- Reed Timmer 6'1" Sr
1- De'Tae McMurray 6'2" Sr

Key reserves:

Kory Kuenstling 6'11" Jr
CJ Rivers 6'2" Sr
Jalen Gibbs 6'2" Fr
Graham Woodward 6'0" Sr
Antonio Pilopovic 6'7" Fr
Noah Thomas 6'1" Fr

2] A previous roster guy who was not a star but may be ready to take a leap forward

Nick McGlynn. He's really bulked up, and at the same time has improved his outside shooting.


3] Under the radar recruit who might surprise, if not immediately, then as he develops:

Jalen Gibbs. Late spring pick-up who averaged about 30 ppg in the Washington DC area. Have heard from the coaches that he will be hard to keep out of the line-up, despite Drake having 5 senior guards. Can shoot it and is pretty athletic....a few days ago he won the dunk contest in the Capital City League (summer league with Drake and Iowa State players plus a bunch of junior college and D2 players plus former college players)


4] Most important addition and why

New coaching staff. Looking at the record of the old coaching staff, this is pretty self-explanatory.


5] Most important subtraction and why (doesn't have to be too brutal)

Probably losing Billy Wampler. Previous staff did a terrible job recruiting guys between 6'4" and 6'7" (the heart of most good college teams). Wampler was the only returnee to fit into that range.

[underdawg]

Here is a picture gallery of SIU players for 2017-18 from yesterday's summer practice session

www.siusalukis.com/galleries/?gallery=2053

[BEARZ77]

Bears had an open workout/scrimmage on Tuesday night. Nothing earth shattering in the way of developments to really report, but got a better feel for some of the newcomers seeing them against like competition/other D-1 athletes. Everyone here and healthy except for Greg Williams and the late juco walk-on Byrd. Williams was present but still recovering post another round of clean-up surgery on a hernia. He's lost a lot of weight and his status for the upcoming year[ and career in general] remains uncertain. Feel for the kid, 6'5-6'6 guard and very talented who has had almost 2 years running of complications. Byrd no one has commented on but my guess is he's completing summer course work at his juco and will report in fall. He's mostly a depth/insurance add at pg in case freshman Mustafa Lawrence isn't ready to backup Rousseau, although we also can slide Dixon over there as well.

Lawrence actually looks pretty solid, 6'0 and built like a defensive back. He's pretty confident, brash, and physically can compete at this level. I like his demeanor although I'm sure it will irritate some as well.

Two seniors , A. Johnson and J. Rhodes look really ready to lead the offense. Johnson is just in beast mode, while Rhodes, who quietly had a solid 1st year as juco transfer last year, is really shooting the ball confidently. At 6'6 with a very high release he can really spot up at the trey line and knock down shots.

Reggie Scurry, a juco transfer is shorter than we had hoped coming in about 6'5 -6'6, but he has extremely long arms, and is a very quick riser and will be a significant addition off the bench at the forwards.

Lot of solid veteran contributors in Dixon, Church, Kreklow, and the two grad transfers JD Miller a 6'2 guard who averaged 15 ppg at Howard last year, and the 7'1 Bhullar from New Mexico State.

And then we have Ronnie Rousseau back at pg who most of us would have picked as our best player heading into last year. Looked a little rusty with a 9 month layoff, but he's just so talented at 5'10 . With Alize gives us two of the best in the league at what they do.

And then there's CPL...... pretty much sums it up.

[underdawg]

SIU 2017-18 returners Thik Bol and Armon Fletcher in last year dunkathon video

https://twitter.com/SIUSalukis/status/8 ... 1341391874