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After a crazy start, the Missouri Valley Conference basketball race returned to form. At the halfway point, No. 15 Creighton and Wichita State are leading the race and threatening to pull away. Bradley is at the bottom. In between, the unexpected reigns, with Drake and Missouri State in the upper half and Indiana State barely ahead of Bradley.
The MVC needed a good season, desperately. So far, it has delivered. Creighton and WSU are good bets to make the NCAA Tournament, even if they flop in St. Louis. Creighton and sophomore forward Doug McDermott are receiving national attention. The Shockers are due to get theirs, if they continue winning. While it is a lot to ask both to win out before their Feb. 11 meeting in Omaha, both could be nationally ranked.
The Valley isn’t as deep in talented teams as it was in 2005-06, when fifth-place Bradley joined WSU in the Sweet 16. It is improved over recent seasons and its string of one-bid NCAA seasons will end at four on March 11.
Halfway point awards:
• Player of the Year: McDermott wrapped up this award by January. He does have legitimate competition, another sign the MVC is improved. Evansville guard Colt Ryan is one of the nation’s best scorers. Missouri State forward Kyle Weems is playing well in defense of his Player of the Year award from last season. WSU center Garrett Stutz, if his back injury allows him to return soon, would be a top candidate many seasons for his production in conference games.
• Freshman of the Year: Rookies are not making a big impact, another indication of the MVC’s strength. Teams aren’t relying on freshmen to carry a big scoring load because more experienced options exist. Illinois State point guard Nic Moore handles the ball carefully and shoots well from three-point range, so he is my pick. Northern Iowa center Seth Tuttle is the only freshman to win newcomer of the week.
• Newcomer of the Year: Creighton forward Grant Gibbs is a do-everything guy for the Bluejays and one of the MVC’s best passers. Creighton isn’t in the national rankings without the contributions of Gibbs, a transfer from Gonzaga. Illinois State guard Tyler Brown, a junior-college transfer, is picking up his scoring in MVC games.
• Coach of the Year: This is the one award that doesn’t appear to be largely settled. If WSU or Creighton goes 16-2 in the MVC, the coach deserves a vote. For now, I will go with Missouri State’s Paul Lusk. He took over a team that lost four starters. The Bears thrived in the transition, played a tough non-conference schedule and are a threat to finish third in the MVC. Drake’s Mark Phelps deserves consideration for keeping the Bulldogs moving despite injuries.
Fast breaks
• The trend is good for Creighton and WSU, which tied for the MVC lead at the halfway point. Since 1991-92, all 29 teams in that position reached either the NCAA or NIT. Twenty-three of those leaders (or co-leaders) played in the NCAAs.
• Southern Illinois beat Bradley at SIU Arena on Tuesday. The road team had won five straight times in that series. SIU won at Bradley 74-65 earlier this season.
• Ryan scored 25 points in the first half of last week’s 90-67 win over Bradley. He outscored the Braves by one point at the break and finished with a career-high 39.
• Teams are in the final push to set up favorable BracketBusters matchups. The field will be announced at 5:30 p.m. Monday on ESPNU (Ch. 244).
What to watch
Northern Iowa at Missouri State, 4 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU, Ch. 244) — The Panthers, by virtue of a power rating (RPI) ranked No. 42, could push their way back into the NCAA at-large picture. It will take a long winning streak and it needs to start soon. Both teams are in the hunt to finish third.
Keep an eye on
Tuttle made 11 of 12 shots last week in games against Wichita State and Drake, averaging 14 points. Entering Wednesday’s games, Tuttle, a 6-foot-8 center, led the Valley in shooting percentage at 66.3 percent.
In their words
“We had several runouts where we turned it over. We forgot to catch the pass, dribble and make the layup. We did the run part, so we were 1 for 4.”
Bradley coach Geno Ford, in the Peoria Journal-Star, after Tuesday’s 77-60 loss to Southern Illinois.
