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Missouri Valley Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview

By Harry Schroeder

Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23
Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23 /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers guard AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers guard AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Key players for Missouri Valley Basketball Tournament

A.J. Green – Northern Iowa

Green, Isaiah Mosley and Lucas Williamson were finalists for the league’s player of the year award. His ability to come back from surgeries on both hips and to play at an elite level has been nearly miraculous. He is stronger and added to his vertical game. Green’s biggest games have been against the best competition.

The 6’4 junior scored 35 points against nationally-ranked St. Bonaventure, 33 against second-seeded Missouri State, 27 against Drake, and 32 during UNI’s championship-clinching game with Loyola last Saturday.

Isaiah Mosley – Missouri State

Mosley led the league in scoring last year and finished second this season (20.0 ppg) and is an elite-level shooter. The 6’5 guard finished the season shooting better than 50% from the field, over 40% from three-point distance and over 90% from the free-throw line. Mosley topped the 30-point mark six times, including an early stretch of five games where he did it four times. The Missouri native scored 43 in on game against Northern Iowa and dropped 40 on Loyola.

Lucas Williamson – Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Williamson is the heart and soul of the Rambler program. The lone holdover from the 2018 Final Four team, the fifth-year senior leads LUC in scoring (14.1 ppg), rebounding (4.8), made free-throws and three-pointers, steals and is second in assists. He is the team’s emotional leader and was even better during Valley play, where he averaged 16.3 points per game.

Williamson is the league’s defending, defensive player of the year and is among the league’s best all-time defenders.

Gaige Prim – Missouri State

Prim is the Valley’s best big man and according to Missouri State coach Dana Ford, everything they accomplish offensively is because of ‘the big fella’. Teams have to account for the league’s fourth-leading scorer (16.3 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (7.7). Prim is a physical presence on both ends of the floor and draws an abundance of fouls. The 6’8, 235-pound center makes four, free-throws per game.