MVC Preview - Top Shooters, Big Men, Newcomers, etc..

[tornado]

FWIW - I sure doubt a few of these picks....but here they are...

Top Five returning Players in the MVC: #1 Marcus Marshall (Missouri State), #2 Fred Van Vleet (Wichita), #3 DJ Balentine (Evansville), #4 Anthony Beane (SIU), and #5 Ron Baker (Wichita)

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/04/15/top-5-returning-players-in-missouri-valley-basketball-in-2014/#slide2

The Top Five Big Men: #1 Egidijus Mockevicius (Evansville), #2 Reggie Lynch (ISU), #3 Josh Cunningham (Bradley), #4 Bola Olaniyan (SIU), #5 Christian Thomas (Loyola)

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/06/08/missouri-valley-basketball-top-5-post-players-for-2014-15-college-basketball-season/#slide2

The Top Five Shooters are #1 Matt Bohannon (UNI), #2 Austin Ruder (Missouri St.), #3 DJ Balentine (Evansville), #4 Devon Turk (Loyola), #5 Nate Buss (UNI)

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/06/08/top-5-shooters-in-the-missouri-valley-conference-for-2014-15-college-basketball-season/

Top five incoming FRESHMEN in the MVC: #1 Josh Cunningham (Bradley), #2 Zach Brown (Wichita), #3 Jordan Caroline (SIU), #4 Rashard Kelly (Wichita), #5 Wyatt Lohaus (UNI)

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/05/19/top-5-incoming-missouri-valley-basketball-freshmen/#slide2

Evansville's DJ Balentine will win the MVC Player of the Year

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/04/24/evansville-basketball-d-j-balentine-will-win-larry-bird-trophy-in-2014/?utm_source=RantSports&utm_medium=HUBRecirculation&utm_term=NCAA%20BasketballMissouri%20Valley%20BasketballGrid

[ihatetea]

How can they disrespect suth Tuttle so much?! I might accept an argument for him not being top five overall player in the league but there is no way he isn't the best big man.


I just got to the best shooters part. They think Tuttle graduated. This writer is truly ignorant when it comes to the valley.

[tornado]

I agree and Wichita won't be weak in the paint - and I don't think Thomas will be better than Tuttle, nor Olaniyan - who averaged 3 ppg, 5 rpg

[mexicobufan]

I find it hard to believe that at this point Josh would be on the list of top 5 post players ahead of Shaw? I agree with the number 1 recruit coming into the MVC.

[amckillip]

How can they disrespect suth Tuttle so much?! I might accept an argument for him not being top five overall player in the league but there is no way he isn't the best big man.


I just got to the best shooters part. They think Tuttle graduated. This writer is truly ignorant when it comes to the valley.

Agreed, I'm very glad we got JC, but no way he is a top 3 big man at this point.

[Da Coach]

Preview of a couple newcomers at ISU-

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-state/mcintosh-hawkins-on-court-with-isu/article_102ed164-b33b-50b8-ba25-646f548e103e.html

You may need to answer a question from an advertiser before seeing the article, but it's harmless.

[tornado]

all three (Hawkins, McIntosh, Banyard) sound like somewhat similar players - sort of the next generation of John Wilkins - the "stretch four" - which McIntosh calls himself in that link and Hawkins calls himself here
...big guys who want to be wing players, show off their "ballhandling skills and perimeter shots", and shoot from the arc

once they are all eligible they'll have a lot of stretch four's - although it is confusing whether Hawkins can play this year against the Shockers
Several places on the official ISU Redbird site - including Hawkins' bio page state he is NOT eligible to play against Wichita,
but one tweet by the ISU beat writer says otherwise - LINK