Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Media Guides 2013-14 Men's Basketball Media Guide | Page 30

2013-14 Men’s Basketball Preview
Wichita State has led the way over
the course of the past four seasons,
amassing 111 wins, which is the
most of any MVC team in a four-year
span in the history of the league.
The Valley finished eighth in the final
RPI rankings (Collegiate Basketball
News), with five MVC teams ranking
in the RPI Top 100 (Wichita State,
Creighton, Indiana State, UNI and
Evansville). Eleven wins came against
BCS football league opponents, and
four wins were against top-25 teams.
For the second consecutive year,
The Valley had two teams ranked in
the final men’s basketball poll, with
Wichita State coming in at No. 4, and
Creighton finishing at No. 21.
The MVC continues to prove why it
is one of the most consistent leagues
in the nation, perhaps evidenced
most convincingly by coaching stability. Only one head coaching change
has taken place for the 2013-14
season, as Ray Giacoletti, who spent
six seasons at as an assistant at Gonzaga, takes over at Drake.

2013-14 Preview

The most drastic shift this year,
however, stems from the makeup of
the membership itself. For first time
since 1996, The Valley has undergone
an alteration in team composition, as
Creighton has departed for the Big
East, and Loyola Chicago joins the
MVC for 2013-14 and beyond.

In 2012-13 he joined the great
Hersey Hawkins as the only player in
league history to record at least 500
points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists,
and 70 steals in one season. Lemon
Jr. will lead Tyshon Pickett, Jordan
Prosser, Ka’Darryl Bell and eight newcomers into 2013-14.
? DRAKE
u

SIU’s Desmar Jackson was on the league’s
all-Newcomer team and an honorable
mention all-conference pick in 2012-13.

Individual performers helped make
2012-13 special, and many familiar
faces will be back for this upcoming season. Thirty-six players who
averaged double-figure minutes, and
47 players who played in 25 or more
games will return to build upon their
accomplishments. Twenty-five of
those that are coming back started
10 or more games last year.
Along with the battle for the league
title, the chase for the Larry Bird
Trophy is one of the most interesting
storylines for 2013-14. Early frontrunners include seniors Walt Lemon
Jr. from Bradley, Cleanthony Early
from Wichita State and Jake Odum of
Indiana State. All three have demonstrated their phenomenal talents and
will aim to help their teams continue
the trend of improvement displayed
last year.
While preseason polls are often
unreliable, Wichita State, Indiana
State, and UNI have been tabbed
as the teams to beat in the Missouri
Valley Conference, and with Midnight
Madness and November tournaments
just around the corner, Valley teams
are preparing for what promises to
be another year of exceptional play.
? BRADLEY
u

UNI’s Seth Tuttle ranks third among active
players in the league in career scoring
(735) and rebounding (428).
28

The Braves enter the third year of
the Geno Ford era hoping to improve
upon their 18-17 (7-11 MVC) record.
Returning for his senior season is Walt
Lemon Jr., the conference’s active
leader in total points and Bradley’s
active leader in nearly every statistical
category.

Drake will begin a new era under
Coach Ray Giacolleti this season.
Three key players from last year’s 9th
place squad (15-17, 7-11 MVC) return, including starters Seth VanDeest
and Richard Carter.
The Bulldogs led the league in
three-point field goals made per game
last year with 8.7, and, along with two
other league members (Creighton,
UNI) ranked in the Top 20 in the NCAA
in three-pointers made.
Giacoletti brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Bulldogs, having
spent the last six years under the
guidance of Mark Few at Gonzaga.
Drake will hope to surprise opponents
with its blend of experience and new
talent in 2013-14.
? EVANSVILLE
u

In spite of the departure of Colt
Ryan, one of the most prolific scorers
in MVC history, the Purple Aces will be
looking to build upon their 21 victories
in 2012-13, their most since 1999.
They face the difficulty of losing four
starters, yet many experienced players return ready to take the helm.
Sophomores DJ Balentine and
Egidijus Mockevicius and juniors
Jaylon Moore and Ryan Sawvell all
saw action in 35 or more Evansville’s
contests last season, with Balentine
and Mockevicius averaging more than
five points per game. In addition,
Mockevicius brings defensive tenacity
to the table, as he tallied 64 blocks
last season, the most of any returning
player.
Coach Marty Simmons is entering
his 7th year at Evansville, and will aim
to continue the trend of improvement
that the Purple Aces have showcased
the past few seasons.
? ILLINOIS STATE
u

What the Redbirds will bring to the
table in 2013-14 is largely unknown.
All five starters are gone from last
year’s team. However, Coach Dan
M uller has proven well-equipped to