Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Media Guides 2013-14 Men's Basketball Media Guide | Page 31

2013-14 Men’s Basketball Preview
deal with difficult circumstances, as
his 2012-13 squad bounced back from
an 0-6 start in league play to finish
sixth in the conference. Sophomores
Nick Zeisloft and Kaza Keane return
after appearing in the vast majority of
Illinois State’s tilts last season as well,
providing needed experience.
While the arrival multiple newcomers will make for a challenging adjustment, Illinois State will hope to
surprise league foes with youth and
never-before-seen talent.
? INDIANA STATE
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The Indiana State Sycamores are
one of the early favorites to contend
for the MVC Championship. After
spending a large part of the 2012-13
season on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Sycamores bring back veteran
leadership and depth, including Larry
Bird Trophy candidate Jake Odum. As
a junior, Odum averaged 13.6 points
per game and tallied the most assists
of any returning player in The Valley.
Indiana State will aim to make
an NCAA Tournament appearance
this season, and the high expectations surrounding the Sycamores are
predicated upon a recent history of
post-season ventures. Coach Greg
Lansing’s team has participated in a
post-season tournament each of the
last four years, and will try to make
sure that appearance number five is
announced on Selection Sunday.

? MISSOURI STATE
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The Bears bring back an experienced squad for 2013-14 thanks in
large part to the exciting announcement of the return of Keith Pickens.
Senior Jarmar Gulley, too, is back
after missing all of last year with an
injury. He was a starter two seasons
ago. After finishing with 11-22 record
overall and 7-11 mark in conference
play last year, the Bears look primed
to make a significant step forward.
Paul Lusk enters his third year at
the helm and has nine letterwinners back, including five with starting
experience. Marcus Marshall was the
MVC Freshman of the Year, the first
MSU player to earn that since 2004.
? NORTHERN IOWA
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Ben Jacobson’s Panthers bring back
two starters and a host of letterwinners for 2013-14 and appear to
be one of the early frontrunners to
contend for the MVC title. The fashion
in which the 2012-13 season ended
gives the Panthers great cause for
hope going forward, as they reached
the semifinals of the CIT and completed their fifth-straight 20-win season.
Juniors Seth Tuttle and Deon Mitchell will lead the way as UNI aims to
make their first NCAA Tournament
appearance since 2010.

stArters returning/Lost
Team

Returning

Bradley
Drake
Evansville
Illinois State
Indiana State
Loyola
Missouri State
Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Wichita State
MVC TOTAL*

Lost

2
2
2
0
4
2
5
2
2
3

3
3
3
5
1
3
2
3
3
4

22

27

MVC 2012-13
33
19
MVC 2011-12
29
21
MVC 2010-11
31
19
MVC 2009-10
30
20
MVC 2008-09
23
27
*does not reflect Loyola’s figures

? SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
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Entering their second season under
Head Coach Barry Hinson, the Salukis
appear ready to continue their journey back to prominence in the MVC.
During the final stretch of the 201213 slate, SIU was one of the hottest
teams in The Valley, winning six of
their final eight regular-season games.
Starters Desmar Jackson (15.1 PPG)
and Anthony Beane Jr. join four other
2012-13 letterwinners that will comprise the core for this year’s team.
? WICHITA STATE
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Newcomer Loyola Chicago adds a
variable to The Valley equation, and it
comes at a perfect time for the Ramblers. Bringing back what was one of
the youngest squads in the nation last
year, the Ramblers are led by junior
Joe Crisman, junior Christian Thomas,
and sophomore Devon Turk.
Head Coach Porter Moser will no
doubt be prepared for the increased
challenge of battling Valley competition, having spent four seasons as the
coach of Illinois State
The Ramblers program owns several historic accomplishments, most
notably their 1963 NCAA title. Loyola
will prove to be a difficult foe for its
new opponents as their youth and
emerging leadership carry them into
2013-14.

2013-14 Preview

The team to beat in the MVC this
year is undoubtedly the Shockers of
Wichita State. Coming off of their
Final Four appearance, the Shockers
are led by Larry Bird Trophy favorite
Cleanthony Early, who enters his second year at Wichita State, sophomore
sharpshooter Ron Baker, and junior
Tekele Cotton. Wichita State brings
back a total of eight letterwinners.
Head Coach Gregg Marshall has
built a new national power, and there
is no doubt the rest of the conference
will be taking aim at their prominent
position.
After setting a school record with
30 victories, excitement in Wichita is
at an all-time high, and the Shockers
look to prove that last year was only
the beginning.

? LOYOLA
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Christian Thomas is one of two returning
starters for Loyola. He averaged 12.1
points and 6.5 rebounds while starting all
31 games last year for the Ramblers.
29