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??? Sam Maniscalco, Bradley: The junior guard is one of the more overlooked players in the Missouri Valley. He has averaged 10.1 points in his two-year career, but has played in 74 games, tying him for the most games played in a two-year span by any MVC player. The 6-foot combo guard is already 10th in school history with 126 3s made. He'll once again be a big factor for the Braves, who spent 10 days in Brazil in August, going 4-1 on the trip.
Creighton
You can never go wrong with picking the Bluejays to get to the postseason and this year is no exception. Creighton should be in any Missouri Valley title discussion alongside reigning champ Northern Iowa, along with Illinois State and an improved Southern Illinois. Dana Altman's team returns three starters from a 27-win team that won the MVC's regular-season title. Junior guard P'Allen Stinnett is ready to develop into one of the league's best players.
You can never go wrong with picking the Bluejays to get to the postseason and this year is no exception. Creighton should be in any Missouri Valley title discussion alongside reigning champ Northern Iowa, along with Illinois State and an improved Southern Illinois. Dana Altman's team returns three starters from a 27-win team that won the MVC's regular-season title. Junior guard P'Allen Stinnett is ready to develop into one of the league's best players.
Northern Iowa
The Panthers don't seem to get the national love, but have consistently been the best team in the state of Iowa the past few seasons. UNI tied for first with Creighton in the Valley last season and returns the core of its team with Adam Koch, Ali Farokhmanesh, Jordan Eglseder and Adam Rodenberg leading the way. The Panthers gave Purdue fits in the first round of the NCAA tournament and that experience should serve them well in what could be a return engagement. Their game against Siena this season is one to keep an eye on.
The Panthers don't seem to get the national love, but have consistently been the best team in the state of Iowa the past few seasons. UNI tied for first with Creighton in the Valley last season and returns the core of its team with Adam Koch, Ali Farokhmanesh, Jordan Eglseder and Adam Rodenberg leading the way. The Panthers gave Purdue fits in the first round of the NCAA tournament and that experience should serve them well in what could be a return engagement. Their game against Siena this season is one to keep an eye on.
Wichita State
Gregg Marshall just needed time to put his imprint on the Shockers. He did a season ago as Wichita State was tied with Evansville and Southern Illinois at 8-10 and a respectable 17-17 mark overall. WSU has a chance to shock the establishment early in the CBE in Kansas City with a semifinal game against rebuilding Pitt. The Panthers weren't thrilled to draw that game and would have rather seen Iowa. Wichita State, in Kansas City, is clearly the home team and no one should be shocked if WSU is able to advance to the final and likely play Texas.
Gregg Marshall just needed time to put his imprint on the Shockers. He did a season ago as Wichita State was tied with Evansville and Southern Illinois at 8-10 and a respectable 17-17 mark overall. WSU has a chance to shock the establishment early in the CBE in Kansas City with a semifinal game against rebuilding Pitt. The Panthers weren't thrilled to draw that game and would have rather seen Iowa. Wichita State, in Kansas City, is clearly the home team and no one should be shocked if WSU is able to advance to the final and likely play Texas.
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