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 Evansville Aces center Egidijus Mockevicius Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
MVC Basketball Evansville Aces center Egidijus Mockevicius Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Egidijus Mockevicius

A 6’10 center from Vilnius, Lithuania, Mockevicius came to the United States in 2012, landing in the MVC at Evansville. We’re focusing today on his last three seasons, though he was a frontcourt menace for the Purple Aces throughout his time in Indiana. He was also a significant contributor on some of Evansville’s finest seasons in recent memory.

The team struggled in his sophomore season, but Mockevicius averaged 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game and showed plenty of potential. He was a double-double machine throughout his upperclassmen seasons and set a career-high with 27 points against Northern Arizona as a junior. That performance came en route to a CIT title for the Purple Aces. His numbers as a senior were extraordinary, averaging 15.7 points and 13.9 rebounds and getting Evansville so close to the NCAA Tournament during a 25-win season.

Considering that he led the entire nation in rebounding as a senior and was tops in the MVC in field goal percentage and blocks, it’s not surprising to hear he was named First Team All-MVC (for a second time) and also the Defensive Player of the Year. Looking back, Mockevicius was a major factor in Evansville’s most recent basketball success and truly was a monster weapon in the frontcourt. The Lithuanian big man certainly secured his place in Purple Aces history.