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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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 5: Head coach Sanford of the Indiana State Sycamores looks on during a game against the Evansville Aces during MVC Basketball Tournament Semifinals at the Scottrade center on March 5, 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Indiana State Sycamores – Brenton Scott

An interesting note to think about is that the teams with the highest individual scorers finished towards the bottom of the conference, while the Shockers and Redbirds had more balanced scoring. It doesn’t matter how talented a player you have, but rather the talent of the overall roster.

This is true in the case of senior Brenton Scott, and who averaged 15.9 ppg a night while adding five rebounds as well. The main issue for him and the Sycamores was the defense which was the finished in the same spot as their overall place, ninth.

With the next two highest scorers graduating in Matt Van Scyoc and Everett Clemons, this could get ugly. Their 20 points and nine rebounds also go away, leaving Scott responsible for filling those voids as well. Of course, unless the defensive issues aren’t cleaned up for next year, it won’t matter how much the team scores.

Despite the problems, there’s still a tremendous opportunity for everyone involved. Wichita State is gone and the Redbirds lose their best players. Even though Valparaiso is coming in, they too lose their best players coming in the first season of the conference. There aren’t any heavy favorites, and conference finishes determine individual awards.

If Brenton Scott improves his game both offensively and defensively and the team as a whole does well, the top honor could be his.