Sports > Basketball > College Basketball '09-'10

Posted on Sat, Nov. 07, 2009

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The Missouri Valley runway

The Eagle's Paul Suellentrop looks at the conference, in predicted order of finish

1. Northern Iowa

Head fashionista: Ben Jacobson (third season, 59-38)

That is so last year: 23-11, 14-4 MVC, NCAA first round

On the catwalk: F Adam Koch (12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), G Kwadzo Ahelegbe (11.8 ppg, 3.1 apg), C Jordan Eglseder (10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Marc Sonnen, a freshman from St. Paul, Minn., gives the Panthers more depth in the backcourt, even if they don't need it. He can defend bigger guards or small forwards.

Looking all GQ if: Koch and Eglseder continue to improve. Eglseder played 19.3 minutes a game. If he can improve his stamina, he can add more minutes and be more effective. The big men need to come up big in non-conference games, an area the Panthers flubbed last season.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: The Panthers are stuck in last season. The Valley is improved and better prepared for UNI. The Panthers could use newcomers to add a jolt of quickness and athletic ability.

In or out: Anything less than the NCAA Tournament is an unforgivable faux pas for the dependable, durable Carhartt coats of the MVC. It's time to win a game or two before returning to Cedar Falls.

2. Creighton

Head fashionista: Dana Altman (16th season, 309-160)

That is so last year: 27-8, 14-4 MVC, NIT second round

On the catwalk: G P'Allen Stinnett (12.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), F Justin Carter (8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), C Kenny Lawson (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: F Wayne Runnels, a 6-foot-6 juco transfer is supposed to rebound, rebound, rebound. The Jays need all they can get.

Looking all GQ if: Lawson follows the Anthony Tolliver path and blooms as an All-MVC big man. With little depth, Creighton can't afford inconsistency or foul trouble from him.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: No inside players emerge to help Lawson. Senior Chad Millard gets one chance to redeem an injury-riddled career.

In or out: A third straight NIT berth would be a disappointment. Can you believe Creighton last won an NCAA game in 2002? The Bluejays are in danger of becoming the MVC's version of a padded bra, promising more than they deliver.

3. Southern Illinois

Head fashionista: Chris Lowery (fifth season, 109-59)

That is so last year: 13-18, 8-10 MVC

On the catwalk: G Kevin Dillard (12.2 ppg, 4.1 apg), F Carlton Fay (10.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg), F Anthony Booker (3.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Tony Freeman, a one-season transfer from Iowa, relieves the pressure on Dillard with his maturity and scoring.

Looking all GQ if: Lowery can rid his team of drama. Injuries, suspensions and departures occupy too much of his time. The Salukis need a smooth ride to return to the top of the MVC.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: Booker fails to justify his hype out of high school. He played less than 14 minutes a game last season. Most pegged him as the MVC's best incoming freshman.

In or out: An easy non-conference schedule should secure the Salukis an NIT berth as a minimum. Sweater coats, skinny jeans and polka-dot dresses are back in style. So might be the Salukis.

4. Wichita State

Head fashionista: Gregg Marshall (third season, 28-37)

That is so last year: 17-17, 8-10 MVC, CBI second round

On the catwalk: G Toure Murry (11.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Clevin Hannah (11.2 ppg, 4.3 apg), F J.T. Durley (8.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: F Gabe Blair, a 6-8 transfer from East Carolina, watched Ramon Clemente rebound like a demon last season. He needs to duplicate that effort.

Looking all GQ if: Durley improves his defense and C Garrett Stutz plays 20 minutes a game. Those two offer the potential to cause major problems for opposing defenses.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: Shooting problems continue to plague WSU. The Shockers bricked too many shots from the field and the line last season.

In or out: Teams with one senior are often hard-pressed to make postseason play. The Shockers are talented enough to disprove that theory. WSU is the MVC's olive suit _ it can work if accessorized properly in the right situation. Or it can be a disappointment.

5. Illinois State

Head fashionista: Tim Jankovich (third season, 49-20)

That is so last year: 24-10, 11-7 MVC, NIT first round

On the catwalk: G Osiris Eldridge (14.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), C Dinma Odiakosa (8.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg), G Lloyd Phillips (10.6 ppg, 3.6 apg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Austin Hill needs to adjust quickly after transferring from junior college. The Redbirds need him to continue playing their style of spreading the court, driving and dishing. He is a physical defender, also in the style of recent Redbird guards.

Looking all GQ if: Odiakosa improves his scoring. The Redbirds lost leading scorer Champ Oguchi. They need people to take the pressure off Eldridge.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: No backups emerge for Odiakosa. Juco transfer Tony Lewis and returners Jeremy Robinson and Kellen Thornton must help out in the lane. Jackie Carmichael, from Manhattan, is another big body.

In or out: The Redbirds are the guy who wears a ski jacket over his suit and tie. Good talent, but something's wrong. Oh yeah, it's the non-conference schedule.

6. Bradley

Head fashionista: Jim Les (eighth season, 126-105)

That is so last year: 21-15, 10-8 MVC, CIT final

On the catwalk: G Sam Maniscalco (12.6 ppg, 3.1 apg), G Dodie Dunson (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Chris Roberts (8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Andrew Warren sat out last season with a broken foot. He gives the Braves an All-MVC talent to blend in. Warren averaged 13.2 points as a sophomore.

Looking all GQ if: The Bradley big men rebound and play defense. Sophomore F Taylor Brown averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds during a five-game trip to Brazil in August.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: The Braves can't rebound. They ranked seventh in the MVC last season in rebound margin and lost leading rebounder Theron Wilson.

In or out: Bradley finished fourth or fifth in the MVC the past four seasons. That's a navy blue sport coat. Solid. Classic. Sometimes you like to mix in a little more daring. Maybe a pocket square. Or a bow tie.

7. Indiana State

Head fashionista: Kevin McKenna (third season, 26-37)

That is so last year: 11-21, 7-11 MVC

On the catwalk: G Harry Marshall (13.6 ppg, 4.3 apg), G Rashad Reed (11.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), F Carl Richard (6.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Jake Kelly is a 6-foot-6 passer and shooter who transferred after two seasons at Iowa. He makes the Sycamores a threat to move into the top half of the MVC for the first time since 2001.

Looking all GQ if: McKenna can get the Sycamores to play like Creighton, where he was an assistant to Dana Altman. He is getting closer to accumulating the depth and talent needed to press.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: Centers Isiah Martin and Josh Crawford don't pick it up. Neither played more than 15 minutes a game last season.

In or out: Mesh trucker caps faded so out they practically disappeared. Then skaters brought them back. Then Ashton Kutcher ruined them for skaters. In or out? Hard to tell. Same thing with the Sycamores.

8. Missouri State

Head fashionista: Cuonzo Martin (second season, 11-20)

That is so last year: 11-20, 3-15 MVC

On the catwalk: F Kris Weems (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), F Will Creekmore (7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), G Justin Fuehrmeyer (4.7 ppg, 2.8 apg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Adam Leonard averaged 12.2 points in two seasons at Eastern Kentucky. He made 39.1 percent of his threes, a skill the Bears desperately need.

Looking all GQ if: Caleb Patterson, a transfer from Colorado, gives the Bears a legit inside scorer. His numbers with the Buffs aren't encouraging — 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: Blending in two four-year transfers, two juco transfers and three freshmen is a chore.

In or out: White bucks after Labor Day. It's just not time. But that time is coming.

9. Drake

Head fashionista: Mark Phelps (second season, 17-16)

That is so last year: 17-16, 7-11 MVC, CIT first round

On the catwalk: G Josh Young (15.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Craig Stanley (7.9 ppg, 3.8 apg), F Adam Templeton (5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: G Ryan Wedel, from Minneapolis, can give Young relief. Defenses ganged up on him last season and his shooting percentages dropped to career lows. Wedel, a transfer from Arkansas State, averaged 15.1 points and led the Sun Belt Conference with 90 three-pointers in 2008.

Looking all GQ if: Somebody rebounds. The Bulldogs lost leading rebounder Jonathan Cox. The five tallest Bulldogs are freshmen.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: Defenses are free to rough up Young and Wedel and ignore everyone else.

In or out: Crocs jumped off shelves as a must-wear for a summer or two. Now we're not sure why. Styles change fast and it's hard to keep up.

10. Evansville

Head fashionista: Marty Simmons (third season, 26-35)

That is so last year: 17-14, 8-10 MVC, CIT first round

On the catwalk: C Pieter van Tongeren (4.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), F James Haarsma (5.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), G Kavon Lacey (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)

Pret-a-Porter: F Bryan Bouchie scored 20 points against Washington in the College Basketball Invitational while a freshman at Valparaiso. The Aces need that kind of production on a nightly basis from the transfer.

Looking all GQ if: The Aces stick together and play hard all season. It's going to be tough after losing four starters. Their one senior played in seven games in 2008-09.

Wearing jean shorts in March if: The Valley beats down the newcomers and takes their confidence. It won't be easy with six freshmen and three sophomores.

In or out: Out like jerseys with sleeves. The sleeves used to be an Evansville tradition. Good enough for Don Buse, Jerry Sloan and Simmons himself during his playing days. Now they're a recruiting liability. Fashion is cruel.