Missouri Valley Basketball: Predicting stars for each team in 2017-18

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 5: Members of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship against the Illinois State Redbirds at the Scottrade Center on March 5, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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EVANSVILLE, IN – FEBRUARY 16: Evansville Purple Aces fans cheer against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half of the game at Ford Center on February 16, 2014 in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Evansville Purple Aces – Ryan Taylor

With all the problems the conference had in scoring, Jaylon Brown individually did not. He was the only player to average more than 20 a game and would’ve garnered Player of the Year votes if it wasn’t for their eighth-place finish in the standings. Unfortunately for the Purple Aces, he was a senior last year and will not be returning this upcoming year.

The good news is that they already have a capable replacement in upcoming junior Ryan Taylor, who was top ten in the conference in scoring in his own right with 14 ppg a game.

The 6’6″ transfer from Ohio is a difficult matchup for most defenders, either bigger than the guards or faster than the bigs depending on where he’s placed on the floor.

The problem for Evansville as a whole is that besides Brown and Taylor, they got next to nothing from anyone else on the roster besides Duane Gibson who led the league in assists amongst returning players.

A concern for Ryan this upcoming year will be whether he can replace what Brown did last year. Not only will he have to increase his workload, but do it against the opposing teams best defenders, whose gameplans will involve shutting him down.