2017-18 MVC Basketball Preview

[Da Coach]

Evansville has announced they plan to retire the #50 jersey of Marty Simmons, the current head coach. He played for Evansville for 2 seasons from 1986-1988, after transferring from Indiana.

https://twitter.com/UEAthletics/status/927974700055257088

He scored 1,265 points in his 2 seasons at Evansville, averaging 22.4 points per game his junior season, and 25.9 points per game his senior season.
He never played in the Missouri Valley Conference, since Evansville did not join the MVC until the 1994-95 season. They were members of the old Midwestern Collegiate Conference (forerunner of the current Horizon League).

Bradley played non-conference games against Evansville in both seasons that Marty Simmons was playing at Evansville (1986-87 season, and 1987-88 season), and the games featured 2 of the highest scoring players in the NCAA, Evansville's Marty Simmons and Bradley's Hersey Hawkins. Evansville beat Bradley in Evansville on Dec. 22, 1986, 77-68 (Hersey Hawkins 23 points), but Bradley returned the favor defeating the Aces on Dec. 22, 1987, 93-80 (Hersey Hawkins 32 points) (attendance was 9,879 for an early-season non-conference game- how things have changed thanks to JG & MC).

[tornado]

A lot of people here probably are too young to remember Marty, and you can't tell much by looking at him now...

but he was really a tremendous player and prolific scorer. If you could combine Hersey, Doug McDermott and Colt Ryan - that would be Marty...
Unfortunately - like Jimmer Fredette, Marty wasn't athletic enough and maybe not tall enough to be as successful in the NBA- but no denying it, he was a great college player...who never had the benefit of top talent alongside him on the court so he did what he did against defenses that were aimed completely at stopping him with double & triple teams

[Da Coach]

Some unpleasant news for Valparaiso and their fans-

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/928005377085538304

Valparaiso’s Jaume Sorolla and Joe Burton will both miss first two games of the year for violation of team rules.

Joe Burton is a 6'6" redshirt junior guard who transferred from Oklahoma State and was projected to be a key player and starter this season. He started both of Valparaiso's exhibition games, and scored 11 points in their blowout 117-69 win against Robert Morris and he started and had 10 points against Chicago State.

Jaume Sorolla is a 7' sophomore center who is also projected to be a key player for them this season. He was a part-time starter last season as a freshman, and started both of Valpo's exhibition games so far this season. In the game against Robert Morris he had 11 points and 5 rebounds, and in the game against Chicago State he had 6 points and 6 rebounds.

Valparaiso's first 2 regular season games (the 2 games these players will miss) are a home game Friday, Nov. 10 against Division III North Park University, and a home game Monday, Nov. 13 against NAIA Trinity Christian College. So these suspensions will not be a problem for Valpo. They will still start the season 2-0.

[Da Coach]

Evansville has announced they plan to retire the #50 jersey of Marty Simmons, the current head coach. He played for Evansville for 2 seasons from 1986-1988, after transferring from Indiana.

https://twitter.com/UEAthletics/status/927974700055257088

Evansville is planning on honoring several others this season in addition to Marty Simmons. A total of 8 former players and coaches will be honored with jerseys retired or banners hung in their rafters-

http://gopurpleaces.com/news/2017/11/7/mens-basketball-eight-to-be-honored-with-jersey-retirements.aspx

Marcus Wilson- The 1999 MVC Player of the Year will have his #5 jersey retired.

Andy Elkins- will have his #31 jersey retired

Scott Shreffler- will have his #20 jersey retired

Brad Leaf- who played for Evansville in the early 1980's, will have his #15 jersey retired

Hugh Ahlering- who played for Evansville in the 1950's will have his #20 jersey retired

Jim Crews- former Evansville head coach will also be "recognized in the rafters"

Arad McCutchan- legendary head coach from 1946-1977 will be honored in their rafters