Does the 1st Team MVC Win the National Championship?

[Southside]

Robbie Avila C
Darnell Brodie F
Malevy F
Tucker DeVries G
Xavier Johnso G

with Duke coming off the bench

Does that team win the national championship this year?

[Peoria_bradley_fan]

No. That's a 5/6 seed at best.

Let me elaborate more. You have potentially one 2nd round pick in that bunch. Very good players, but not National title contenders. Maybe top 3/4 in the Big10/Big12/SEC. MAYBE a 4 seed team.

[BraveSince09]

I think they could be a Sweet Sixteen/Elite 8 team, but it would be interesting to see how they all blend together. Xavier Johnson was an afterthought when he played with Domask and Jones. Even if you thought he’d improve a lot, not many saw him becoming the star he did. Would be interesting to see how good he’d be with a team full of other stars.

Also, Tucker is not really a two guard. I actually suspect the lineup a coach would go with would have Brodie coming off the bench backing up Malevy and Avila with Duke at the point, Johnson at the 2 and Tucker at the 3. I think they’d compete with most teams, but I’m not sure they’d win it all.

[Fetz86]

I don’t think Brodie and Avila complement each other at all. Avila works well in the Sycamores system because he has a bunch of shooters around him and Kent running his backside off grabbing boards or getting tip outs.
I think if a good coach had his pick of guys from the 3 All Valley teams they could finish top 4 in any conference and would be expected to play past the first weekend in the tournament.

[Dub]

If they had all season together? Plus a good bench?

[Peoria_bradley_fan]

If they had all season together? Plus a good bench?

The teams that would be better than them also had the full season together and a good bench.

But I guess If you create this shuffle where for some reason they didn't, and the round of 64 was their game 1 and the MVC guys game 34's then I suppose they would have a heck of a shot winning it.

[Peoria_bradley_fan]

The real reason why they wouldn't is because of the ridiculous notion of Duke coming off the bench. If he starts, Natty for sure!!

[Tommy]

They wouldn't win. The NCAA would give them a 7 seed in the NIT.

[Bradley3342]

They wouldn't win. The NCAA would give them a 7 seed in the NIT.

Probably right Tommy!

[Classof77]

Tommy for the win!

[LittleBrave]

I don't think this 1st team stacks up anywhere close to ones that we've had in the past. Malevy is not a star on offense, but does a lot of little things well - a defensive stalwart. Duke is awesome when he's hot, but his size is a liability sometimes when he is hounded and not a stud assist man. Avila is a super sophomore and excellent b-ball IQ. He is one of the best soph's IMO we've seen in the last 10-15 yrs. Brody has weaknesses and I don't consider him one of the Top 50 MVC Big men since 2000. Xavier can score, but I'd take Domask over him for all the other things he brings that X does not.

Tucker is just amazing as a mid-major player, but he is exposed when he plays vs faster and stronger high-major teams. One of best and smoothest shooters I've seen in the Valley (since early '90s) - put him up there with D. McDermott, Marcus Wilson, Gary Collier, Blake Ahearn, and Kyle Korver, aside from his struggles in the NCAA tourney.

Just my take on the topic - take it or leave it!