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Week 3 MVC Power Poll (22 votes)
1 - Northern Iowa (18 ) - 213 pts 6-0 (15-1)
The only thing that makes you scratch your head about the Panthers – How in the heck do they lose to DePaul?! That is the real question that needs answered as UNI heads closer to their 2nd straight MVC Championship. That being said, the point is that they may be 15-1 yes, BUT they like anyone else can lose on any given night if they don’t bring their A game. Everyone should grab a snack, a drink, and sit back and turn the TV on Tuesday Jan 19 because the game of the year – IT’S ON! UNI travels to Wichita, Kansas in what could mean the difference between 1st and 2nd in the conference. If the Panthers do win that game, it may be time to start polishing up the championship trophy for them.
MOP: Jordan Eglseder 13.8 PPG; 9.7 RPG
2 - Wichita State (4) - 195 pts 5-1 (16-2)
This will be the BIGGEST week under Greg Marshall in Shockerland. The Shox travel to Omaha and Des Moines, and even bigger, host the Panthers in a possible battle for 1st and an obvious standing room only Koch Arena. Without spending too much time on this team, they are physical, they shoot the ball well, and they have a point guard that does an outstanding job in running Marshall’s system. Minus laying an opening egg at Illinois State, the Shox have been stellar, even winning at Missouri State, and holding the Drake Bulldogs to 38 points. The Shox may have the best backcourt tandem in the league in Hannah and Murry, and they have a big chance to prove they belong in the thick of things. At this point, they are my early pick to win the MVC Tournament and strong play from Hannah, Murry, and Durley, and added depth from Stutz, Blair, Kyles, and Hatch rounding out their main rotation have given the Shox multiple options in breaking down teams, and the team continues to jell. We will see just how much on Tuesday on ESPNU.
MOP: Clevin Hannah 13.7 PPG; 3.0 RPG; 4.5 APG
3T - Illinois State - 166 pts 4-2 (13-4)
The ISU Redbirds are a strange group and interesting team in the Valley this year. They are 4-2, yet still haven’t played as a unit or played their best basketball as of yet. This could be construed as they are inconsistent OR this could be a scary thought for those ahead on the schedule. The Birds beat the Shox from pillar to post at the beginning of their Valley schedule and then held Missouri State close in Springfield before succumbing to the deeper Bears. The head scratching event was their victory over SIU at home. Granted they did win the game, however, they had SIU completely overmatched the entire contest, yet they let them stay in the game near to the end. ISU has two roads games this week against Drake and SIU, while hosting Creighton in between. The Birds could run the table and go to 7-2 in the conference, but if they lay an egg, they really fall back into the pack. They will need a much better effort from preseason POY Osiris Eldridge if they hope to still contend for the title.
MOP: Dinma Odiakosa 11.5 PPG; 8.4 RPG
3T - Missouri State - 166 pts 3-3 (13-4)
The Bears are now considered competition for top 3 as they have inherited some talented transfers in Leonard and Mallett, while gaining momentum on the continued success of star Kyle Weems. Even at 3-3, this season is already considered much of a success under rising coach Cuonzo Martin. The Bears are very competitive already in the coach’s 2nd season, and there is belief that if he stays at the helm, the Bears will win more than one title. Their week ahead looks like a week that will tell just how for real they are. They head to Peoria and Omaha with a home game in between with Indiana State. 2-1 or 3-0 and the Bears are right in the mix for a good seed come Arch Madness. Their week will be defined by strong rebounding and good shooting from Weems, Mallett, Leonard, and emerging 6th man Nafis Ricks.
MOP: Kyle Weems 16.7 PPG; 7.0 RPG
5 - Southern Illinois - 113 pts 2-4 (9-6)
The Salukis are on yet another up and down campaign that is riddled with as many questions as it is answers. They defeat Indiana State easily at home and then beat Bradley in Peoria in a game they were down 15 for quite a bit of the game. Then here’s where it got interesting. They blow a chance to take ISU down at Redbird Arena, and then go home and get waxed by UNI and outplayed by a Drake team that had yet to win a game. Which team that shows up on a given night for the Salukis is unknown, and until they have complementary players that consistently show up next to Dillard and Freeman, they still hold a decent likelihood of playing on Thu in St. Louis. At Evansville and home to both Bradley and ISU, SIU can push their way into the mix and out of the play-in danger zone. A bad week and the team from Carbondale will be closer to the brink of disaster, and the fan base that much closer to lynching Chris Lowery.
MOP: Kevin Dillard 12.7 PPG; 3.2 RPG; 5.2 APG
6 - Creighton - 100 pts 3-3 (8-9)
Creighton had a rough start to the conference season and has opened with their first losing season this late in the year since 1997. They have battled back even from an 1-3 start to even up at 3-3 and clearly are a team to watch as you just never know what you’ll get from the inconsistent Jays. They have Wichita State and Missouri State at home in the next week, and also go to ISU in Normal so we will see just exactly what the Jays are made of. They are continuing to get consistent play from my MOP Kenny Lawson, but will need their veteran guards Stinnett and Witter to step it up, while trying to find someone to fill in at their most consistent position under Dana Altman, the point guard slot. Did you know that Creighton had 3 consistent point guards during their 12 season run of postseason play – Ryan Sears, Tyler McKinney, and Josh Dotzler. Someone needs to step into that role for Creighton to bounce back, but not necessarily avoid Thu night in St. Louis.
MOP: Kenny Lawson 13.0 PPG; 8.0 RPG
7 - Bradley - 98 pts 2-4 (7-9)
MOP: Andrew Warren 18.8 PPG; 5.8 RPG
8 - Indiana State - 85 pts 3-3 (11-6)
The Sycamores have fallen on hard times lately given the season ending injury to Jake Kelly and the bad break with the game ending injury to Dwayne Lathan in the Bradley game that seems monumental for both clubs at this point and may seem even more so in the future. Although this is the case, the team from Terre Haute is actually in much better standing than they have been the last few seasons and it looks as though the program may finally be starting to turn the corner back to the days of Green and Menser. Unfortunately for the Sycs, they could really fall back in that their next three games are what I like to call the “Legion of Doom” in that they travel to Cedar Falls and Springfield, and then face UNI at home as well in their next 3. Expect the Trees to drop 2 and more likely 3 to fall to 3-6 in conference play. IF Indiana State can pull out just 1 victory, they should feel accomplished going through that mess at 4-5. That being said, they will need to shoot the lights out to get a win at either of those two places. Good luck!
MOP: Harry Marshall 16.5 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 4.0 APG
9 - Drake - 41 pts 2-4 (7-11)
The Drake Bulldogs looked like one of the two certainties to play Thu night in St. Louis. That was before they went down to Carbondale and returned home with a 70-65 victory and then rode that momentum into a butt kicking of the Missouri State Bears. The Bulldogs have received more consistent shooting out of their guards and have shot the 3 at over 45% in their 2 wins including a ridiculous 65% at home against the Bears. The Bulldogs have Illinois State and Wichita State at home this week, and go to Evansville in what I consider a must win. A 2-1 week and Drake should feel very lucky to escape AND like their chances headed down the stretch at 4-5 to maybe just maybe get out of Thu night in the STL. As stated, their guards Young and Wedel need to continue to shoot the ball well and thread the needle, and the MOP Templeton needs to continue his hard work and efforts to become that all-around player they desperately need with the graduation of Jonathan Cox.
MOP: Adam Templeton 11.2 PPG; 6.5 RPG
10 - Evansville - 34 pts 0-6 (6-10)
What more is there to say about the Aces. They play close in 1st halves of games, and then they fall apart. IF they had a chance at winning a game in the near future, it was against Drake this coming week. One problem there, Drake is now winning and playing much better. At least Colt Ryan is shooting the ball well…With games against SIU and Drake at home, and then Bradley on the road, maybe the Aces get off the schnide somewhere this week…Lets move on to the next poll....
MOP: Colt Ryan 15.0 PPG; 4.5 RPG
Back again in the next couple weeks, and once again thanks for voting guys!
The only thing that makes you scratch your head about the Panthers – How in the heck do they lose to DePaul?! That is the real question that needs answered as UNI heads closer to their 2nd straight MVC Championship. That being said, the point is that they may be 15-1 yes, BUT they like anyone else can lose on any given night if they don’t bring their A game. Everyone should grab a snack, a drink, and sit back and turn the TV on Tuesday Jan 19 because the game of the year – IT’S ON! UNI travels to Wichita, Kansas in what could mean the difference between 1st and 2nd in the conference. If the Panthers do win that game, it may be time to start polishing up the championship trophy for them.
MOP: Jordan Eglseder 13.8 PPG; 9.7 RPG
2 - Wichita State (4) - 195 pts 5-1 (16-2)
This will be the BIGGEST week under Greg Marshall in Shockerland. The Shox travel to Omaha and Des Moines, and even bigger, host the Panthers in a possible battle for 1st and an obvious standing room only Koch Arena. Without spending too much time on this team, they are physical, they shoot the ball well, and they have a point guard that does an outstanding job in running Marshall’s system. Minus laying an opening egg at Illinois State, the Shox have been stellar, even winning at Missouri State, and holding the Drake Bulldogs to 38 points. The Shox may have the best backcourt tandem in the league in Hannah and Murry, and they have a big chance to prove they belong in the thick of things. At this point, they are my early pick to win the MVC Tournament and strong play from Hannah, Murry, and Durley, and added depth from Stutz, Blair, Kyles, and Hatch rounding out their main rotation have given the Shox multiple options in breaking down teams, and the team continues to jell. We will see just how much on Tuesday on ESPNU.
MOP: Clevin Hannah 13.7 PPG; 3.0 RPG; 4.5 APG
3T - Illinois State - 166 pts 4-2 (13-4)
The ISU Redbirds are a strange group and interesting team in the Valley this year. They are 4-2, yet still haven’t played as a unit or played their best basketball as of yet. This could be construed as they are inconsistent OR this could be a scary thought for those ahead on the schedule. The Birds beat the Shox from pillar to post at the beginning of their Valley schedule and then held Missouri State close in Springfield before succumbing to the deeper Bears. The head scratching event was their victory over SIU at home. Granted they did win the game, however, they had SIU completely overmatched the entire contest, yet they let them stay in the game near to the end. ISU has two roads games this week against Drake and SIU, while hosting Creighton in between. The Birds could run the table and go to 7-2 in the conference, but if they lay an egg, they really fall back into the pack. They will need a much better effort from preseason POY Osiris Eldridge if they hope to still contend for the title.
MOP: Dinma Odiakosa 11.5 PPG; 8.4 RPG
3T - Missouri State - 166 pts 3-3 (13-4)
The Bears are now considered competition for top 3 as they have inherited some talented transfers in Leonard and Mallett, while gaining momentum on the continued success of star Kyle Weems. Even at 3-3, this season is already considered much of a success under rising coach Cuonzo Martin. The Bears are very competitive already in the coach’s 2nd season, and there is belief that if he stays at the helm, the Bears will win more than one title. Their week ahead looks like a week that will tell just how for real they are. They head to Peoria and Omaha with a home game in between with Indiana State. 2-1 or 3-0 and the Bears are right in the mix for a good seed come Arch Madness. Their week will be defined by strong rebounding and good shooting from Weems, Mallett, Leonard, and emerging 6th man Nafis Ricks.
MOP: Kyle Weems 16.7 PPG; 7.0 RPG
5 - Southern Illinois - 113 pts 2-4 (9-6)
The Salukis are on yet another up and down campaign that is riddled with as many questions as it is answers. They defeat Indiana State easily at home and then beat Bradley in Peoria in a game they were down 15 for quite a bit of the game. Then here’s where it got interesting. They blow a chance to take ISU down at Redbird Arena, and then go home and get waxed by UNI and outplayed by a Drake team that had yet to win a game. Which team that shows up on a given night for the Salukis is unknown, and until they have complementary players that consistently show up next to Dillard and Freeman, they still hold a decent likelihood of playing on Thu in St. Louis. At Evansville and home to both Bradley and ISU, SIU can push their way into the mix and out of the play-in danger zone. A bad week and the team from Carbondale will be closer to the brink of disaster, and the fan base that much closer to lynching Chris Lowery.
MOP: Kevin Dillard 12.7 PPG; 3.2 RPG; 5.2 APG
6 - Creighton - 100 pts 3-3 (8-9)
Creighton had a rough start to the conference season and has opened with their first losing season this late in the year since 1997. They have battled back even from an 1-3 start to even up at 3-3 and clearly are a team to watch as you just never know what you’ll get from the inconsistent Jays. They have Wichita State and Missouri State at home in the next week, and also go to ISU in Normal so we will see just exactly what the Jays are made of. They are continuing to get consistent play from my MOP Kenny Lawson, but will need their veteran guards Stinnett and Witter to step it up, while trying to find someone to fill in at their most consistent position under Dana Altman, the point guard slot. Did you know that Creighton had 3 consistent point guards during their 12 season run of postseason play – Ryan Sears, Tyler McKinney, and Josh Dotzler. Someone needs to step into that role for Creighton to bounce back, but not necessarily avoid Thu night in St. Louis.
MOP: Kenny Lawson 13.0 PPG; 8.0 RPG
7 - Bradley - 98 pts 2-4 (7-9)
MOP: Andrew Warren 18.8 PPG; 5.8 RPG
8 - Indiana State - 85 pts 3-3 (11-6)
The Sycamores have fallen on hard times lately given the season ending injury to Jake Kelly and the bad break with the game ending injury to Dwayne Lathan in the Bradley game that seems monumental for both clubs at this point and may seem even more so in the future. Although this is the case, the team from Terre Haute is actually in much better standing than they have been the last few seasons and it looks as though the program may finally be starting to turn the corner back to the days of Green and Menser. Unfortunately for the Sycs, they could really fall back in that their next three games are what I like to call the “Legion of Doom” in that they travel to Cedar Falls and Springfield, and then face UNI at home as well in their next 3. Expect the Trees to drop 2 and more likely 3 to fall to 3-6 in conference play. IF Indiana State can pull out just 1 victory, they should feel accomplished going through that mess at 4-5. That being said, they will need to shoot the lights out to get a win at either of those two places. Good luck!
MOP: Harry Marshall 16.5 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 4.0 APG
9 - Drake - 41 pts 2-4 (7-11)
The Drake Bulldogs looked like one of the two certainties to play Thu night in St. Louis. That was before they went down to Carbondale and returned home with a 70-65 victory and then rode that momentum into a butt kicking of the Missouri State Bears. The Bulldogs have received more consistent shooting out of their guards and have shot the 3 at over 45% in their 2 wins including a ridiculous 65% at home against the Bears. The Bulldogs have Illinois State and Wichita State at home this week, and go to Evansville in what I consider a must win. A 2-1 week and Drake should feel very lucky to escape AND like their chances headed down the stretch at 4-5 to maybe just maybe get out of Thu night in the STL. As stated, their guards Young and Wedel need to continue to shoot the ball well and thread the needle, and the MOP Templeton needs to continue his hard work and efforts to become that all-around player they desperately need with the graduation of Jonathan Cox.
MOP: Adam Templeton 11.2 PPG; 6.5 RPG
10 - Evansville - 34 pts 0-6 (6-10)
What more is there to say about the Aces. They play close in 1st halves of games, and then they fall apart. IF they had a chance at winning a game in the near future, it was against Drake this coming week. One problem there, Drake is now winning and playing much better. At least Colt Ryan is shooting the ball well…With games against SIU and Drake at home, and then Bradley on the road, maybe the Aces get off the schnide somewhere this week…Lets move on to the next poll....
MOP: Colt Ryan 15.0 PPG; 4.5 RPG
Back again in the next couple weeks, and once again thanks for voting guys!
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