In the past, I have derided the Missouri Valley as the least favorite of the Tier 2 conferences in terms of fantasy talent. The league does tend to play a slower pace, which reduces fantasy appeal. While the defensive orientation hasn't changed much, this year's version of the Valley has piqued my interest. There are plenty of serviceable big men, including Kenny Lawson Jr. and Gregory Echenique (when he becomes eligible in December) at Creighton, Garrett Stutz at Wichita State, and Will Creekmore at Missouri State. All of these players qualify at center, which makes them good gets.
Bradley Braves
While the Braves strength is on the perimeter, even Bradley has a center worth noting. With 6-foot-9 Will Egolf, Bradley has a player who can rebound. He isn't the star of the team, but he could be a guy who makes some fantasy waves. The bigger splashes will come from guards Andrew Warren and Sam Maniscalco as well as forward Taylor Brown. Warren led the team with 14.4 points and hit 39.6% of his three-pointers. Maniscalco averaged more than three assists for the third year in a row and improved his scoring average to 13.2 points. He had 31 points in the Valley tournament to help oust Creighton. Brown brought 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds from the frontcourt. The 6-foot-6 junior also hit 47.2% of his shots from the field.
Creighton Bluejays
Greg McDermott makes his return to the Valley after four years as the coach of Iowa State. The former Northern Iowa leader did not reach the promise land with the Cyclones, but Dana Altman (who went to clean up the mess in Oregon) left plenty in the cupboard. Things should start with Lawson Jr. who averaged a team-leading 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. The fifth-year senior had seven double-doubles. Lawson Jr. should be even more effective when Echenique becomes eligible. The 6-foot-9 Venezuelan was effective at Rutgers. In seven games last year, he averaged 12.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. Antoine Young should run the point and provided 3.1 assists last year. Although Young only averaged 7.1 points, he scored in double-digits in five of the Bluejays' last eight games.
Drake Bulldogs
Drake's magical season of 2007-08 when Keno Davis led them to the NCAA Tournament seems like light years ago. The Bulldogs have fallen into the nether regions of the Valley. They were a very young team last year, so hope springs eternal. Arkansas State transfer Ryan Wedel is the top returning scorer at 11.1 points. The 5-foot-11 guard will need to take on more accountability in his senior year. Seth VanDeest is the Bulldogs' big man. The 6-foot-11 center provided 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman last year. Coach Marc Phelps also has three promising recruits in wings Jeremy Jeffers and Rayvonte Rice, and point guard Karl Madison.
Evansville Aces
Colt Ryan is the reigning Freshman of the Year in the Valley and he should take on an even bigger role in his sophomore year. Ryan averaged 14.5 points for the Aces who won just three conference games. He averaged two three-pointers per game and scorched Creighton for 31 points on Feb. 6. Denver Holmes will also provide shooting help. He averaged 10.7 points as a sophomore. Like every other team in the conference, the Aces have their own center in Pieter van Tongeren, who averaged just three points last season. The 6-foot-10 Dutchman has enough size to counter Valley opponents, but he has seen his scoring average dip in each of his three years in Evansville.
Illinois State Redbirds
The Redbirds enter the season with the most question marks. After a successful three-year run, their seniors have moved on. Jackie Carmichael has the most potential of the returning players. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds and had a pair of double-doubles in non-conference play. He faded into the background during his freshman season during conference play, but he won't be able to do that in 2010-11. The majority of the guard play will come from junior college transfer Austin Hill who averaged 6.7 points last year as a junior. He will be supplemented by this year's group, which includes point guards Anthony Cousin and Kenyon Smith. Another player to keep an eye on is Fordham transfer Trey Blue, who averaged 8.2 points as a freshman for the Rams.
Indiana State Sycamores
When a team promotes a coach from the assistant ranks, you can usually expect a continuity of style. This is the case with Indiana State as Greg Lansing who takes over for Kevin McKenna, who joined Altman's staff in Oregon. Perhaps the best bet for fantasy prominence is Jake Kelly. The former Iowa guard averaged nine points before tearing both the MCL and ACL in his left knee. Kelly has reportedly responded well to rehab and will hope to have a strong senior season. He will be flanked by Dwayne Lathan and Carl Richard. Lathan averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 games in his first season after transferring from Louisiana Tech. Richard provided 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Missouri State Bears
All five starters return for the Bears, so they should be set to have a strong season. Burly forward Kyle Weems led the team in scoring (13.2 points) and rebounding (6.2 rebounds). He had three double-doubles in a four-game span in conference play and hit 47.5% of his shots from the field. The aforementioned Creekmore is a 6-foot-9 center who provided 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He finished the season with double-digit scoring in his last four games. Adam Leonard and Jermaine Mallett patrol the perimeter. Leonard hit three-pointers in all but two games (a mid-January slump) and Mallett provided 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in his first year with the Bears.
Northern Iowa Panthers
The Panthers provided the signature moment of the 2010 NCAA tournament (well, except for that half court heave from Gordon Hayward). Knocking off Kansas will likely be the signature moment for the Panther program. Now, the team has to start rebuilding behind guards Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Johnny Moran. Ahelegbe led the team with 2.8 assists and showed he could call his own number with 32 points in an early season game against BC and 24 points in the MVC tournament final. Moran had a horrible shooting year (33.1% from the field) but he will likely bounce back. In the frontcourt, the Panthers have two-time Sixth Man of the Conference Lucas O'Rear, who averaged 4.4 points and 4.1 rebounds last year.
Southern Illinois Salukis
When the Salukis raised their national profile with consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, it seemed like they were on their way to Tier 2 prominence. Unfortunately, being able to get higher caliber talent has caused problems with jiving with the defensive orientation of coach Chris Lowery. The Salukis are starting over. They still have forward Carlton Fay, guard Justin Bocot, and center Gene Teague. Fay averaged 12 points last year, but had the game of his life in the Bracket Busters. He had 38 points in a win over Western Michigan. Bocot came to SIU with a fine reputation but has not been able to produce. He averaged 9.1 points as a junior and hit 37.4% of his three-pointers. Teague is a 6-foot-9, 260 lb load. He provided 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds as a freshman, including three double-doubles in conference play.
Wichita State Shockers
The Shockers seem like the consensus preseason pick to take the Valley. They have plenty of returning talent. Guard Toure' Murry seems ready to become a star. The 6-foot-4 guard provided 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists a sophomore. He'll need to improve his 33.1% on threes. Wichita State has a pair of big men to pound the competition. The aforementioned Stutz is a seven-footer and J.T. Durley is a wide body. Durley averaged 11.2 points as a junior, while Stutz scored 7.8 points in just 16.5 minutes. Stutz scored in double-figures in seven of his last ten games. Swingman Graham Hatch provides some perimeter power and hit 37.3% of his three-pointers.