Valley Freshmen

[tornado]

With 5 Valley games left to make an impact, here's an updated list of the MVC freshmen who may have a shot at post-season honors...


Tywhon Pickford (UNI) 10.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg in 29.9 minutes per game (.257 3-pt shooting in 109 attempts) but plays on a bottom dweller team so that may hirt his chances
Tyreke Key (InSU) 8.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg in 27.1 minutes per game (.281 3-pt shooting in 57 attempts)
Cameron Krutwig (Loyola) 10.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg in 24.4 minutes per game
Elijah Childs 8.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 20.6 minutes per game (.292 3-pt shooting in 24 attempts)
Noah Frederking (Evansville) 5.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, in 20.5 min per game (.423 3-pt shooting in 52 attempts)
Taylor Bruninga (ISU) 5.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg in 18.8 minutes per game (.348 3-pt shooting in 92 attempts)
Lucas Williamson (Loyola) 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg in 22.1 minutes per game (.481 3-pt shooting in 52 attempts)

I think, barring an unexpected collapse, the top 4 are locks for the All Freshman Team but the remaining spot is up for grabs..
The last 3 on the list have nearly identical stats but since the Loyola guy is helping his team in 1st place, I wonder if he'll get the nod
However, Frederking is coming on strong lately, has been playing 30 min per game over the past 4-5 games, while the other two have seen their minutes cut significantly of late.

If Elijah Childs is All Freshman, that will mean Bradley will have five players on the roster who have that honor on their resumes - Childs, Bar, Brown, DLO & van Bree

[tornado]

I think we are at the point now where we can rank the MVC freshman since there's little chance that anything anyone does now is going to change much...

I am just one observer and I don't have a vote but here's my thoughts..
the top five are the All-Freshman Team in my view.

#1 Cameron Krutwig - I thought the kid would need a year or two to become a solid contributor - kind of like what happened to UNI's Jordan Eglseder or ISU's Dinma Odiakosa, but Krutwig has proven me wrong. He is consistent and he is a big part of the best team in the Valley, so he is the MVC Freshman of the Year in my opinion.

#2 & #3 tie...
Elijah Childs - like Krutwig, has quickly become a key part of a team that is going to finish better in the standings that predicted.

..and Tywhon Pickford - who plays for a very under-performing team but whose scoring and rebounding are among the best. I would have ranked him above Childs except for the fact that UNI probably would have had the same number of MVC wins even without him!

#4 Tyreke Key - scoring numbers are good but really takes a lot of shots and shooting percentages are low

#5 Lucas Williamson - numbers weren't overwhelming but on this team (Loyola)
they didn't have to be. His athleticism, defense and 46% 3-pt shooting made him perhaps the top sub in the league.

#6 Noah Frederking - Evansville desperately needs another shooter & scorer to draw the defenses away from Ryan Taylor, so Frederking was given a great opportunity to step up and be that player. But even with 21 minutes per game and a solid chance to start- he only averaged 5.6 ppg and 38% from 3-pt

#7 Taylor Bruninga - likewise was given a HUGE chance since ISU had nobody else - so Bruninga got to play a bunch even in prime time and logged several starts. He is a good 3-pt shooter but you can't just be one-dimensional. His rebounding, assists, defense and other stats were less than hoped for.

#8 Ryan Stipanovich - didn't get a lot of opportunity but definitely helped us win games
#9 Mustapha Lawrence - came on strong in latter half of MVC season & led them in scoring in 2 of their last 4 games. Hits 45% from 3-pt
#10 Austin Phyfe- shoots 63% from the floor, maybe should have played more!
#11 Noah Thomas- way too many turnovers for playing 12 min per game
#12 Jalen Gibbs
#13 Mileek McMillan
#14 Clayton Hughes
#15 Isaac Gassman
#16 Elijah Clarance
#17 John Hall
#18 Evan Kuhlman
#19 Christian Negron
#20 Ross Owens
#21 Brendan Gooch very disappointing considering he's already redshirted and Hon Mention AP All State in 2016

The next tier are kid who played so little and minimal contributions - so they are lumped together as #22-30
Samm Jones, Antonio Pilipovic, Luke Litwiller, Daniel Huenermann, Matt Deady, Ethan Claycomb, Dylan Boehm, Parker Hazen, Marten Linssen

These freshmen are lumped together as #31-34 and only Lohaus played but they are all redshirting
Connor Gholson, Greg Williams, Darian Scott, Tanner Lohaus



The other top Newcomers who are not freshmen (jucos & transfers) are Kavion Pippen, Milik Yarbrough, Tevonn Walker & Bakari Evelyn (new to MVC),
Dainius Chatkevicius, Reggie Scurry, Qiydar Davis, Marcus Bartley, William Tinsley

[Da Coach]

Pickford's offensive production had tailed off in recent games, while Childs' production has been boosted by moving into the starting lineup and playing more.

Here is the game log for Tywhon Pickford. He has scored no more than 6 points in any of his last 5 games. And in his last 8 games, he is shooting just 15 for his last 64 overall (23%), and just 1 for his last 23 on three pointers (4%).-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4279167/tywhon-pickford

But many of the people doing the voting may have already made up their minds.

[tornado]

I think the top five freshmen in the MVC - based on more than just stats - but how well they helped their teams finish...and how their roles got far bigger and expanded as the Valley season wore on..

#1- Cameron Krutwig 10.8 ppg/6.5 rpg - I would give him the Freshman of the Year, best stats on the best team...
#2- Elijah Childs 8.6 ppg/6.2 rpg
#3- Tywhon Pickford 9.5 ppg/8.0
#4- Tyreke Key 8.4 ppg/4.3 rpg

and #5 = 4-way tie- Lucas Williamson (4.7/1.9), Noah Frederking (5.4/1.7), Mustpha Lawrence (4.7/1.1), Ryan Stipanovich (cuz I am biased and he hits 52% of his 3-pointers!)

[Chico]

I think the top five freshmen in the MVC - based on more than just stats - but how well they helped their teams finish...and how their roles got far bigger and expanded as the Valley season wore on..

#1- Cameron Krutwig 10.8 ppg/6.5 rpg - I would give him the Freshman of the Year, best stats on the best team...
#2- Elijah Childs 8.6 ppg/6.2 rpg
33- Tywhon Pickford 9.5 ppg/8.0
#4- Tyreke Key 8.4 ppg/4.3 rpg

and 4-way tie- Lucas Williamson (4.7/1.9), Noah Frederking (5.4/1.7), Mustpha Lawrence (4.7/1.1), Ryan Stipanovich (cuz I am biased and he hits 52% of his 3-pointers!)

I like Ryan also. Wish he could play more, so he could shoot more.