Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball: 10 biggest impact transfers midway through 2021-22

By Harry Schroeder

Bradley's Terry Roberts (0) moves the ball past Maine's Maks Klanjscek in the first half Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Black Bears 71-39.
Bradley's Terry Roberts (0) moves the ball past Maine's Maks Klanjscek in the first half Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Black Bears 71-39. /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Indiana State Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Valley Basketball Indiana State Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 – Xavier Bledson – Indiana State

Eyebrows were raised when first-year coach Josh Schertz brought three of his former Division 2 players with him to Indiana State (6-6). Those cynical opinions are all gone. Xavier Bledson, Cameron Henry, and Simon Wilbar are proving they belong in Division 1.

Bledson is the team’s third-leading scorer (12.1) and leads the team in assists (4.7 per game) and grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest. He has earned an .861 free-throw percentage and is playing nearly 31 minutes per game. The Sycamores have won three of their last four games and two-in-a-row. During those last two games, Bledson handed out ten assists in one game and scored a career-high 21 points in the other.

No. 7 – Trevor Anderson – Valparaiso

Valpo head coach Matt Lottich rebuilt his roster in the image of a Big Ten team. He signed four Big Ten transfers and one Division 2 star. Wisconsin transfer Trevor Anderson has not disappointed. His role is slightly different than expected but the 6’3 guard has been productive. Lottich and Beacons’ teammates expected Anderson to be the quintessential point guard.

While Anderson leads the team in assists at 2.4 per game, it is his scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (five per game) where he is making his mark. He is solid from deep (.395) but exceptional for the charity stripe (.885). His assist-to-turnover ratio is 2.9 to one. His veteran presence steadies the remade Beacons (6-6) who have won three of their last four games.