The All-MVC team was released today.
Tried to post a link … it didn’t take. Cut-and-paste the following address and check it out at: mvc-sports.com
Just for full disclosure, here’s my All-MVC ballot.
Here’s the rules. I couldn’t vote for any ISU players in any category, except Coach of the Year, Most Improved and All-Bench. Coaches vote for the defensive categories, which is why it’s omitted here.
Here goes …
All-MVC First Team
Adam Emmenecker, Drake
Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
Jonathan Cox, Drake
Josh Young, Drake
Daniel Ruffin, Bradley
Second Team
Jeremy Crouch, Bradley
Randal Falker, Southern Illinois
Eric Coleman, Northern Iowa
Dale Lamberth, Missouri State
Leonard Houston, Drake
Explanation: Ruffin was the player that was most vexing for voters around the conference. Frankly, I’m really surprised he’s only honorable mention, because his impact on the Valley season was much greater than that.
Why did he drop? He missed six conference games due to injury, and of course, missed two more (one nonconference game, one conference game) late due to legal troubles. Both influenced where voters put him.
In my mind, Bradley’s dramatic improvement with Ruffin in the lineup warranted All-MVC selection. If anything, his injury magnifies that, Bradley was 2-5 in the conference when he returned to action from a sports hernia in late January. Once he came back, Bradley rapidly rose to the top half of the league.
I admit, I am conflicted by the way Bradley is handling the legal travails (on one hand, he should play based on due process, on the other, Bradley is taking a big gamble by letting someone with an assault charge hanging over him represent their university), and Ruffin’s troubles gave me a brief bit of pause with my ballot. I ultimately decided that what we know about what Ruffin accomplished this season trumps what he might have done. Perhaps I’ll wish I had that decision back come mid-March.
Other observations? I’m not big on Randal Falker making first team. I understand what he does for SIU, but he was inconsistent too. You could make the same case for UNI’s Eric Coleman being on Second Team, but he was one of my last in. He was instrumental in pulling UNI up by its bootstraps in the last week of the season.
My last in was Lamberth. He and Deven Mitchell were so close, I decided that whoever had the better game against ISU Saturday would sway my vote. Fair? Maybe not, but Lamberth emphatically made his case. Mitchell is probably more versatile, but Lamberth was more consistent, and was more productive in Valley games.
ISU’s Gabe Moore was honorable mention. Frankly, I can’t argue with that.
All-Newcomer
Theron Wilson, Bradley
P’Allen Stinnett, Creighton
Ramon Clemente, Wichita State
Booker Woodfox, Creighton
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley
Newcomer of the Year: Wilson
Explanation: This ballot was pretty easy. Wilson and Stinnett (the winner of the award) were very close. Can’t fault anyone for going with him. I chose Wilson because I thought he was a tad more consistent.
All-Freshman
P’Allen Stinnett, Creighton
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley
Pieter van Tongeren, Evansville
Kavon Lacey, Evansville
J.T. Durley, Wichita State
Freshman of the Year: Stinnett
Explanation: It was a weak year for freshman, especially when I can’t put ISU’s Isiah Martin on my ballot. Stinnett was a clear choice as Frosh of the Year. Frankly, Durley (who I chose over Kenny Lawson as my last in) and Lacey wouldn’t be considered in other years, but you have to name five.
Player of the Year (we rank them 1-2-3)
1. Adam Emmenecker, Drake
2. Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
3. Jonathan Cox, Drake
Explanation: Kevin McKenna is going to laugh at this. We discussed the merits of Emmenecker and Cox last week … I was arguing for Cox.
I’ve championed Cox since mid-January. I believe he is the catalyst for everything Drake does. Without Cox to spread the floor, to shoot three’s, to draw the defense, and rebound at the level one expects out of a “post”, even if he’s on the arc, Emmenecker doesn’t have space to do what he can do. Shots don’t come as easy for Josh Young and Leonard Houston without Emmenecker doing his thing.
Then I thought about it in a different light … Cox is the equivalent of a really good fullback who helps a stud halfback gain 1,800 yards. Cox helps set the table, but Emmenecker (”the halfback”) still has to do it. Emmenecker took maximum advantage of what Keno Davis’ offense gave him, and that can’t be ignored.
Then it came down to Emmenecker vs. Eldridge. I think Eldridge is the best pure player in the conference, he has a brighter basketball future than Emmenecker does. Moreover, he torched ISU both times the Sycamores played the Redbirds.
But even though the award is called a “Player of the Year” award, it has morphed into a “Most Valuable Player” concept. Drake won the league going away, and Emmenecker’s contribution to that can’t be ignored, so after some deliberation, I went with Emmenecker.
These categories haven’t been announced yet, but here’s my ballot anyway:
All-Bench
Booker Woodfox, Creighton
Cavel Witter, Creighton
Isiah Martin, Indiana State
Emmanuel Holloway, Illinois State
Darin Granger, Evansville
Sixth-Man: Woodfox (already announced, Woodfox was the winner)
Explanation: Not a sterling year for All-Bench candidates. Woodfox was an easy choice, especially considering he did much of his damage against the Sycamores, Witter’s 42-point explosion against Bradley on Saturday notwithstanding.
Most-Improved
Adam Emmencker, Drake
Leonard Houston, Drake
Shy Ely, Evansville
Andrew Warren, Bradley
Adam Koch, Northern Iowa
Team captain: Emmenecker
Explanation: Emmenecker as Most Improved is the second-biggest no-brainer I’ve had to vote for in four years of Valley voting. ISU’s Harry Marshall was my last player out, the other players had stronger years than he did, though I think Marshall improved markedly in his sophomore season.
Coach of the Year
1. Keno Davis, Drake
2. Tim Jankovich, Illinois State
3. Kevin McKenna, Indiana State
Explanation: Davis as Coach of the Year is the biggest no-brainer I’ve ever had to vote for in my four years of Valley voting. If anyone other than Davis doesn’t for him as Coach of the Year, they need to have their head examined.
As for second, I seriously considered McKenna over Jankovich for second, but it’s easy to forget that Illinois State improved more dramatically than Indiana State did this season, even if the Redbirds were expected before the season began to make a jump. Hard to argue with second place.
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