Busting Brackets
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MVC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose

Feb 1, 2014; Wichita, KS, USA; Wichita State Shockers players Ron Baker (31), Fred VanVleet (23) and Nick Wiggins (15) walk off the court during a time-out against the Evansville Aces during the second half at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers won 81-67. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2014; Wichita, KS, USA; Wichita State Shockers players Ron Baker (31), Fred VanVleet (23) and Nick Wiggins (15) walk off the court during a time-out against the Evansville Aces during the second half at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers won 81-67. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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MVC Basketball Drake Bulldogs guard Roman Penn MVC Basketball Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
MVC Basketball Drake Bulldogs guard Roman Penn MVC Basketball Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

17. Roman Penn

A 6’0 guard from Chicago, Penn began his career back in 2017 at Siena, though he’d spend just a single season in the MAAC with those Saints. He transferred to Drake, joining Darian DeVries’ program as their star point guard, and would play a significant role in the Bulldogs’ rise in recent years.

In his first year at Drake, he helped the Bulldogs win 20 games in the pandemic-shortened season, averaging 12.0 points and 5.6 assists per game. He was a major factor in Drake earning an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, though he missed the final weeks of the season with injury. He had similar numbers throughout his time with the Bulldogs but might have peaked this past season. Penn led the Bulldogs back to the Big Dance with the MVC Tournament title, averaging 12.6 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Penn led the MVC in assists in three of those four seasons, claiming First Team All-MVC honors in two seasons and the Third Team nod in the other two. Not only was he the rare 4-time All-MVC honoree, but he played a significant role as a leader and orchestrator of the Drake offensive and defensive attack. Drake’s turnaround these last few seasons has been significant and Penn is a major reason due to his hard work.