1/3 way thru the 2015-16 season: So who will be ALL-MVC & All-Newcomer

[tornado]

All the MVC teams have played 9, 10, or 11 games, so I think we kinda see what everyone has...

So here's my thoughts on who is on track to get 1st Team & 2nd Team All-MVC
and All-Newcomer...

1st Team:
Fred Van Vleet- barring a season ending injury, he makes 'em what they are
Ron Baker - not overpowering but consistent
DJ Balentine - 21.4 ppg so far but he's averaging 35.3 minutes per game - even tho 5 of their games have been 15+ blowouts, worrisome?
Egidijus Mockevicius - talk about consistent, this guy is Mr. Double-Double & averaging 18ppg/14rpg/3bpg - my pick right now for Player of the Year
Anthony Beane - only one 1st Team spot is even debatable, but I think it's Beane's to lose- he's carrying the Salukis with 21ppg & 44% from the arc

2nd Team: (a lot will depend on whose team can finish at the top)
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell - 17 ppg but inconsistent at times
Wes Washpun - 15ppg & 6 assists per game
Reed Timmer - the fact that Drake is 4-6 against a weak slate will hurt, but he's 3rd in the MVC with 19 ppg & hitting 54.5% from the arc!
Milton Doyle - has the benefit of all the pre-season hype and he leads Loyola in scoring, 3-pt shooting, FT shooting, assists, steals, & blocks
Then- the final slot on 2nd team is a dilemma... nobody else from Wichita nor Evansville currently deserves it, so maybe Missouri State's Camyn Boone?

All Newcomer: (really hard at this point - a lot depends on consistency thru the end of the season)
Callum Barker
Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye
Obediah Church
Markis McDuffie
Kale Abrahamson

[Stickboy46]

People to watch for on WSU:

All-MVC: Zach Brown. His defense and offense have both picked up dramatically in the last 3-4 games. He's becoming a key player for WSU. If his trajectory continues, he will be all MVC

All-Newcomer: Conner Frankamp. He's struggled shooting so far. lots of nerves. After he made his first shot against Utah with a minute left, you could see him crack a grin because a weight was lifted off him. The next trip down the floor he does a little back and forth crossover and just drills a 3 in the defenders face. He just oozes talent. He will always be Fred's backup, but I can still see him being one of the best players on the team by the end of the year.

[Da Coach]

People to watch for on WSU:

...All-Newcomer: Conner Frankamp. He's struggled shooting so far. lots of nerves. After he made his first shot against Utah with a minute left, you could see him crack a grin because a weight was lifted off him. The next trip down the floor he does a little back and forth crossover and just drills a 3 in the defenders face. He just oozes talent. He will always be Fred's backup, but I can still see him being one of the best players on the team by the end of the year.

Now that I have had a chance to watch Frankamp a couple times, my early impression is that he is just not athletic enough to play point guard, even in the MVC (I am not sure why he thought he could play at Kansas). He is currently shooting 14% from three, which he excelled at in high school, and he is only 18% overall, though it's very early. Also, only 2 assists in 2 games. But regardless of the stats, he appears over-matched against quicker, more athletic opponents.
If Marshall continues to play him at point guard, he will continue to be guarded closely by far more athletic players who will hinder his scoring and passing. I suspect he'll move to the 2-guard position as the year goes on and that is where he'll end up most of the rest of his career, after Baker moves on.

[Stickboy46]

Now that I have had a chance to watch Frankamp a couple times, my early impression is that he is just not athletic enough to play point guard, even in the MVC (I am not sure why he thought he could play at Kansas). He is currently shooting 14% from three, which he excelled at in high school, and he is only 18% overall, though it's very early. Also, only 2 assists in 2 games. But regardless of the stats, he appears over-matched against quicker, more athletic opponents.
If Marshall continues to play him at point guard, he will continue to be guarded closely by far more athletic players who will hinder his scoring and passing. I suspect he'll move to the 2-guard position as the year goes on and that is where he'll end up most of the rest of his career, after Baker moves on.

I'm not sure I agree with that at all. He is having no problem getting around people in his first two games. Which happened against probably the most athletic guards he will see all year. Right now he's trying to work inside the offense and not do too much until he gets comfortable. His shooting has been horrendous, but there has been a lot of pressure. Everytime he gets put in the game he gets a huge roar from the crowd. Its a lot of pressure because he's a hometown hero. He holds the Wichita city league all time scoring record. He also was the leading scorer on his U17 team that went 8-0 and won the gold. That team also had Jahlil Okafor, Jabari Parker, and Justice Winslow. Time will tell, but for right now, he's exactly what WSU needs. Someone that can give Fred rest, run the offense with little to no turnovers, and eventually will be another outside threat besides Fred, Ron, Zach Brown and McDuffie.