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Mid-Continent overview

Oakland may be the best, but Valpo will dance again

Special to CNNSI.com

Homer Drew's Crusaders have won six consecutive conference titles. Todd Warshaw/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Oakland 2. Valparaiso 3. Southern Utah 4. Youngstown State 5. Missouri-Kansas City 6. IUPUI 7. Western Illinois 8. Chicago State 9. Oral Roberts

Top storylines

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies raised lots of eyebrows with an 11-5, first-place Mid-Con finish, but because they are relative Division I newcomers, they weren't yet permitted to play with the rest of the league's teams in the postseason tournament. That situation will continue through this year. Valpo captured the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament championship last year. It is the only school in the country to have won its league title the last six years, and one of just five schools in Division I history to capture six straight conference championships.

Southern Utah went from seven wins three seasons ago to being one game away from the NCAA Tournament last year. Bill Evans piloted the Thunderbirds to a second-place MCC tie and watched as they cruised through the conference tournament before finally running out of gas and falling to Valparaiso in the final.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Michael Jackson, F, UMKC • A 6-7 junior, Jackson (19.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) was almost ridiculously effective everywhere on the court last year. His .589 field-goal percentage was 13th in the country. Brad Buddenborg, G/F, Oakland • A 6-5 junior, Buddenborg (17.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was a first-team all-conference pick who also contributed 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Frederick House, F, Southern Utah • Southern Utah¹s leading scorer and rebounder was the 6-5 House (14.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), an all-conference and all-newcomer selection who led the Mid-Continent in steals, at 3.4 swipes per game, and shot .498 from the field.

Top Newcomer

Maurice Williams, G, IUPUI • Williams, a 5-11 junior from Cincinnati State Technical College, was a preseason All-America pick who lived up to the hype, securing conference player of the year honors thanks to his 18.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Homer Drew, Valparaiso • In 12 years at Valpo, Drew is 186-169 with a trip to the NCAA last year and six straight Mid-Continent Conference Tournament championships.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts • Despite having a senior-laden team last year, Oral Roberts finished fifth in the league under first-year coach Sutton. This year, the Golden Eagles are picked to finish last.

Mark Your Calendar

Jan. 18, Valparaiso at Southern Utah • A good early test for Valpo. Jan. 27, Oakland at Valparaiso • Test one for the regular-season title. Feb. 15, Valparaiso at Oakland • Step two for the regular-season title.

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