04-10-2014, 03:01 PM
The following is a list of players who will not be returning to their respective teams for the '14-'15 campaign.
Bradley
6'2" SR G - Mason Alwan (walk-on)
6'6" FR G - Jordan Swopshire
6'6" SR F - Tyshon Pickett
6'3" SR G - Walt Lemon Jr
6'6" FR G - Stefan Zecevic
6'8" SR C - Jordan Prosser
Swopshire had potential but I've heard he was difficult and perhaps didn't want to put in the work. Pickett was a solid big that they'll miss. Prosser was serviceable but never did develop. Lemon gets a lot of accolades but I think it's addition by subtraction with him.
Drake
*6'1" SR G - Gary Ricks
5'11" SR G - Richard Carter
6'10" SO C - Robert Puleikis
6'8" SR F - Aaron Hawley
6'11" SR C - Seth VanDeest
6'6" SO F - Daddy Ugbede
*Ricks should receive a medical RS and be able to return, but you never know with the NCAA. He's a hell of a player so for Drakes sake, I hope he gets it. Carter was a valuable and quick guard for them as well. They'll need someone to step up in his absense. Hawley was a hell of a shooter and gave them a terrific threat from outside. I feel bad for SVD as he looked good a few years ago but injuries really hampered the big fellow. They do have a young big that looked good this year but Drake needs depth. Still probably a couple years away from making a move up the conference ladder.
**Daddy was a guy a lot of Drake fans liked and thought was underused. He appeared to be solid but never got a lot of PT. Thought he'd get a lot more PT next season.
Evansville
6'8" JR F - Ryan Sawvell
6'3" FR G - Tyler Ptacek
I haven't heard of any other transfers at the moment. Sawvell was run off early in the season and is a big loss for the Aces. They lack depth at the PF/C positions and Ryan was a solid player. But Evansville doesn't really use their bigs well anyway so maybe it doesn't matter. Unless they find depth for this team somewhere, they're a Thursday night team.
*Little used FR sharpshooter Ptacek is gone.
Illinois State
6'9" JR F - Michael Middlebrooks
6'1" SO G - Kaza Keane
6'4" SO G - Zach Lofton
6'4" SO G - Nick Zeisloft
Middlebrooks was kicked off the team during the season. Keane didn't play much but could have been a decent backup G. Lofton was the most talented guy on the team but a headcase. Zeisloft was a solid contributor and one of their better shooters. Zeisloft will probably be the biggest loss here even though they need size. A lot of turnover for the Redbirds the last couple of years and that could hurt them in the coming season where they won't benefit from most of the other teams being young as well. They have some talent coming in if they can keep it on the court they could be a factor in two years.
Indiana State
6'3" SR G - Lucas Eitel
6'5" SR G - Manny Arop
6'3" SR G - Dawon Cummings
6'4" SR G - Jake Odum
6'7" JR F - Demetrius Moore
It seems like they have a transfer to two I'll need to look up. But they're losing their entire backcourt and are going to take a hit this coming season. Could fall into Thursday unless young guys can step up. Some decent inside guys return but that's nothing without guards. Fifth place at best this next season. Odum was their leader. Eitel was their outside threat. Arop was an athlete that could create. Big losses.
*Moore is the transfer and he's a loss. Was a big strong guy who could bang inside a bit. They don't have a lot of post depth.
Loyola
6'10" SO C - Cody Johnson
6'0" FR G - Jordan Pickett
6'3" SR G - Derrick Boone (Walk-on)
6'4" SR G - Bill Clark (Walk-on)
6'4" SR G - Tony Nixon (Walk-on?)
6'8" SO F - Matt O'Leary
6'10" FR C - Jeremy King
6'8" SO F - Nick Osborne
A young team with some really good returners. Johnson is one of two losses here as he appeared to be a pretty solid big. The other is recently departed Matt O'Leary who started much of the season. Moser kept a short bench all year and didn't give any of his young bigs much chance to develop. But they could make a push to escape Thursday this coming year.
*I take back my previous comment about Thursday. This team is now destined to finish 9th or 10th this coming season as they've lost all of their bigs outside of 6'8" Nick Osborne. Moser will get canned after this coming season.
**I somehow missed that Nick Osborne was transferring as well. All 4 big men on the roster are gone.
Missouri State
6'4" SR G - Keith Pickens
6'5" SR G - Jamar Gulley
6'8" SR F - Emmanuel Addo
6'5" SR G - Nathan Sheer
6'10" SO C - Bruce Marshall
6'6" SO G - Michael Simpson
Really not as bad as it looks. Pickens was a solid defender when healthy. Gulley wasn't quite the same coming back from the knee injury, but was still a solid player. The others were just taking up space. The Bears return a lot of young talent and could challenge for a top 3 spot.
Northern Iowa
6'6" SR F - Chip Rank
6'0" SR G - Matt Morrison
Rank was a solid big that threw his body around and hit some shots but he's not a huge loss. UNI should be a threat for a top 3 spot this year as they return nearly everyone and have some solid young talent and promising recruits.
Southern Illinois
6'5" SR G - Desmar Jackson
6'9" SR C - Devonte Drinkard
6'0" SR G - Colby Long (Walk-on)
6'6" SR F - Bronson Verhines
6'2" JR G - Mike Bologun
6'1" SO G - Marcus Fillyaw
Jackson is the only significant loss although I think they'll be a better team without him. Drinkard was most of their size, but injuries prevented him from playing for long periods of time. SIU got better as the year went on and could move up a few spots in conference. Adding a big Illinois transfer will help them inside. Still a couple more years before they could really be a threat.
*Updated with transfers. Fillyaw had some potential to be a decent role player. Not a huge loss though for a rebuilding program.
Wichita State
6'9" SR F - Chadrack Lufile
6'7" FR F - Derail Green
6'6" SR G - Nick Wiggins
6'9" SR C - Kadeem Coleby
*6'2" FR G - DJ Bowles
6'8" SR F - Cleanthony Early
Lufile and Coleby were two-thirds of the three headed dragon inside. Early was arguably the best player on the team and in the conference and was a 2nd team All-American. Wiggins never reached his ceiling but gave the Shox a long and athletic wing. Green was a tweaner that never really developed the strength to play inside or quickness to play outside. *DJ has a heart condition and technically died during a pickup game before the season. He remains with the team but his basketball playing days are done. Wichita still returns a lot and should win the conference again.
Bradley
6'2" SR G - Mason Alwan (walk-on)
6'6" FR G - Jordan Swopshire
6'6" SR F - Tyshon Pickett
6'3" SR G - Walt Lemon Jr
6'6" FR G - Stefan Zecevic
6'8" SR C - Jordan Prosser
Swopshire had potential but I've heard he was difficult and perhaps didn't want to put in the work. Pickett was a solid big that they'll miss. Prosser was serviceable but never did develop. Lemon gets a lot of accolades but I think it's addition by subtraction with him.
Drake
*6'1" SR G - Gary Ricks
5'11" SR G - Richard Carter
6'10" SO C - Robert Puleikis
6'8" SR F - Aaron Hawley
6'11" SR C - Seth VanDeest
6'6" SO F - Daddy Ugbede
*Ricks should receive a medical RS and be able to return, but you never know with the NCAA. He's a hell of a player so for Drakes sake, I hope he gets it. Carter was a valuable and quick guard for them as well. They'll need someone to step up in his absense. Hawley was a hell of a shooter and gave them a terrific threat from outside. I feel bad for SVD as he looked good a few years ago but injuries really hampered the big fellow. They do have a young big that looked good this year but Drake needs depth. Still probably a couple years away from making a move up the conference ladder.
**Daddy was a guy a lot of Drake fans liked and thought was underused. He appeared to be solid but never got a lot of PT. Thought he'd get a lot more PT next season.
Evansville
6'8" JR F - Ryan Sawvell
6'3" FR G - Tyler Ptacek
I haven't heard of any other transfers at the moment. Sawvell was run off early in the season and is a big loss for the Aces. They lack depth at the PF/C positions and Ryan was a solid player. But Evansville doesn't really use their bigs well anyway so maybe it doesn't matter. Unless they find depth for this team somewhere, they're a Thursday night team.
*Little used FR sharpshooter Ptacek is gone.
Illinois State
6'9" JR F - Michael Middlebrooks
6'1" SO G - Kaza Keane
6'4" SO G - Zach Lofton
6'4" SO G - Nick Zeisloft
Middlebrooks was kicked off the team during the season. Keane didn't play much but could have been a decent backup G. Lofton was the most talented guy on the team but a headcase. Zeisloft was a solid contributor and one of their better shooters. Zeisloft will probably be the biggest loss here even though they need size. A lot of turnover for the Redbirds the last couple of years and that could hurt them in the coming season where they won't benefit from most of the other teams being young as well. They have some talent coming in if they can keep it on the court they could be a factor in two years.
Indiana State
6'3" SR G - Lucas Eitel
6'5" SR G - Manny Arop
6'3" SR G - Dawon Cummings
6'4" SR G - Jake Odum
6'7" JR F - Demetrius Moore
It seems like they have a transfer to two I'll need to look up. But they're losing their entire backcourt and are going to take a hit this coming season. Could fall into Thursday unless young guys can step up. Some decent inside guys return but that's nothing without guards. Fifth place at best this next season. Odum was their leader. Eitel was their outside threat. Arop was an athlete that could create. Big losses.
*Moore is the transfer and he's a loss. Was a big strong guy who could bang inside a bit. They don't have a lot of post depth.
Loyola
6'10" SO C - Cody Johnson
6'0" FR G - Jordan Pickett
6'3" SR G - Derrick Boone (Walk-on)
6'4" SR G - Bill Clark (Walk-on)
6'4" SR G - Tony Nixon (Walk-on?)
6'8" SO F - Matt O'Leary
6'10" FR C - Jeremy King
6'8" SO F - Nick Osborne
A young team with some really good returners. Johnson is one of two losses here as he appeared to be a pretty solid big. The other is recently departed Matt O'Leary who started much of the season. Moser kept a short bench all year and didn't give any of his young bigs much chance to develop. But they could make a push to escape Thursday this coming year.
*I take back my previous comment about Thursday. This team is now destined to finish 9th or 10th this coming season as they've lost all of their bigs outside of 6'8" Nick Osborne. Moser will get canned after this coming season.
**I somehow missed that Nick Osborne was transferring as well. All 4 big men on the roster are gone.
Missouri State
6'4" SR G - Keith Pickens
6'5" SR G - Jamar Gulley
6'8" SR F - Emmanuel Addo
6'5" SR G - Nathan Sheer
6'10" SO C - Bruce Marshall
6'6" SO G - Michael Simpson
Really not as bad as it looks. Pickens was a solid defender when healthy. Gulley wasn't quite the same coming back from the knee injury, but was still a solid player. The others were just taking up space. The Bears return a lot of young talent and could challenge for a top 3 spot.
Northern Iowa
6'6" SR F - Chip Rank
6'0" SR G - Matt Morrison
Rank was a solid big that threw his body around and hit some shots but he's not a huge loss. UNI should be a threat for a top 3 spot this year as they return nearly everyone and have some solid young talent and promising recruits.
Southern Illinois
6'5" SR G - Desmar Jackson
6'9" SR C - Devonte Drinkard
6'0" SR G - Colby Long (Walk-on)
6'6" SR F - Bronson Verhines
6'2" JR G - Mike Bologun
6'1" SO G - Marcus Fillyaw
Jackson is the only significant loss although I think they'll be a better team without him. Drinkard was most of their size, but injuries prevented him from playing for long periods of time. SIU got better as the year went on and could move up a few spots in conference. Adding a big Illinois transfer will help them inside. Still a couple more years before they could really be a threat.
*Updated with transfers. Fillyaw had some potential to be a decent role player. Not a huge loss though for a rebuilding program.
Wichita State
6'9" SR F - Chadrack Lufile
6'7" FR F - Derail Green
6'6" SR G - Nick Wiggins
6'9" SR C - Kadeem Coleby
*6'2" FR G - DJ Bowles
6'8" SR F - Cleanthony Early
Lufile and Coleby were two-thirds of the three headed dragon inside. Early was arguably the best player on the team and in the conference and was a 2nd team All-American. Wiggins never reached his ceiling but gave the Shox a long and athletic wing. Green was a tweaner that never really developed the strength to play inside or quickness to play outside. *DJ has a heart condition and technically died during a pickup game before the season. He remains with the team but his basketball playing days are done. Wichita still returns a lot and should win the conference again.