There is an argument to be made that the Missouri Valley Conference has been the more consistently dangerous of all mid-major conferences over the past four seasons. Much of that is due to its two top kingpins.
Led by the strength of Wichita State, the MVC again looks more than formidable this year. Here is our MVC preview.
MVC Champion: Wichita State Wheat Shockers
Do you really need any explanation here? One of the best teams in the country.
MVC Runner-up: Illinois State Redbirds
Late season momentum? Check. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell? Check. This team seems primed to rebound from graduation and transfer losses and continue what they started at the end of last year.
MVC Sleeper: Evansville Aces
They’ve got scoring for days, but do they have the defensive make up to go a whole season on the road without dropping more than they should? That’s the question with the Aces.
MVC Player of the Year: Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker
We shouldn’t, but we will anyway. How do you choose between these two? The answer is, you don’t. They’re two of the best players the conference has ever seen, and should be remembered as such by sharing this honor.
MVC Defensive Player of the Year: Fred Van Vleet, Wichita State
He’s the anchor, the heart of this WSU defense. We won’t get too dramatic here, but he’s the man.
MVC Rookie of the Year: Landry Shamet, Wichita State
A four-star recruit out of Kansas City, Shamet has a chance to give the Shockers a lot of scoring off the bench.
MVC Coach of the Year: Gregg Marshall
I mean…seriously. Domination.
