Postseason Awards Point Out the Problem

NABC All-District Teams

(St. Louis, MO) – During this postseason awards time of the basketball season, we are reminded of what might have been. Missouri Valley Conference basketball programs and their fans are wondering, ‘what if?’

The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announces all-American teams and all-district teams. A sampling of those awarded postseason awards point out the disadvantage that lower budget programs compared to their more affluent basketball cousins.

Most of the Missouri Valley Conference teams play in what the NABC calls the ‘Central District’. The coaches name a ten-player first team and a ten-player second team of each of its ten districts. That full list can be seen here.

While Murray State’s Fred Kind and Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade were each named to the Central District’s ‘second team’, five former Valley players were among the other 18 honored players. Two Former Indiana State stars Robbie Avila (Saint Louis – First) and Ryan Conwell (Louisville – Second) were honored.

First-teamers Bennett Stirtz (Drake) and former Belmont Bruin Ja’Kobi Gillespie were so honored. Stirtz plays for Drake and Gillespie for Tennessee. Second-teamer and former Bradley Brave star Rienk Mast plays for Nebraska.

The Valley landed two players on the ‘second team’ for the ‘Great Lakes District’. Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson and Illinois State’s Chase Walker received those postseason awards. They were joined on that second team by another former Belmont player and current Minnesota Gopher, Cade Tyson.

Other Players of Note

When you consider the Valley ‘refugees’ staring around the nation, one is forced to wonder how good this league could be without the incessant poaching of players.

Belmont was 26-5 this year without Tyson, Gillespie and Mississippi big man Malik Dia who averaged 14 points and six rebounds.

Drake might have been a little better with Indiana’s Tucker DeVries (14-5-3) and Auburn’s Kevin Overton (13-3).

The struggling Evansville Purple Aces might have fared better with Ben Humrichous and a pair of Nevada players on their team. Humrichous is an important part of the Fighting Illini team and Tayshawn Comer (11.4 & 3.5 apg) and Chuck Bailey (7 & 2) could have helped.

Valparaiso’s revival may have been even more impressive if All Wright, Cooper and Carson Schwieger had stuck around. Cooper averaged 5 points for Wake Forest and Carson over ten for NCAA Tournament-bound Queens. Wright averaged nearly eight points per game for Xavier.

There are other players of note, but this suffices. Valley coaches can find and develop great talent, and no two players’ reasons for leaving are the same. We find no fault with players that look for situations that seem better for them and for whatever reason.

But Valley fans are left wondering, ‘what if….?’

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