Valparaiso Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Crusaders

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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 07: De’Aaron Fox #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats and Max Joseph #3 of the Valparaiso Crusadersreach for a loose ball during the game at Rupp Arena on December 7, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Projected Starters

Ryan Fazekas (Senior – G/F)

Injuries derailed a success first season with Valpo for Fazekas last season. The three-point specialist averaged 11.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg but missed 13 games, mostly in conference play, last season. He made 43% of his long-range shots and his absence killed the Crusaders outside shooting last year. Getting Fazekas back healthy is necessary for this team to succeed.

Javon Freeman-Liberty (Sophomore – G)

An impressive freshman campaign earned Freeman-Liberty a spot on the MVC All-Freshman team after averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg last season. Freeman-Liberty flirted with transferring from Valpo before announcing his return. He’s the best returning player on this roster and should take a big step forward in his sophomore season.

Mileek McMillan (Junior – F)

With the departure of Smits and Sorolla to transfer, McMillan suddenly becomes the experienced big man on the roster, and that’s not a good thing. He averaged a paltry 2.8 ppg and 1.5 rpg last season, though he’ll play much more than 8 minutes a game this year. His outside shooting is very solid and that’s certainly something this team can exploit.

Nick Robinson (Junior – G)

After sitting out last season, expect Robinson to play a significant role for Valpo after transferring from Saint Joseph’s. His role slowly grew with the Hawks and he was a double-digit scorer by the end of the 2017-18 season. If his improvement continues, he could become a key scorer and rebounder for this team.

Daniel Sackey (Sophomore – G)

A speedy Canadian freshman, Sackey’s stats weren’t exactly impressive (4.1 ppg, 1.8 apg), but his leadership on this team, even as a sophomore, cannot be understated. His defense has also been impressive, giving him the skillset of a sneaky quick point guard who can hopefully cut down on the turnovers.