Conference Preview: MAC
THE TEAMS Bettendorf (14-9): The Bulldogs finished strong last season, winning eight of their last 10 games, with the only two losses coming to Pleasant Valley. With a large chunk of that group back, expect to see Bettendorf pushing for…
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Continue ReadingTHE TEAMS
Bettendorf (14-9): The Bulldogs finished strong last season, winning eight of their last 10 games, with the only two losses coming to Pleasant Valley. With a large chunk of that group back, expect to see Bettendorf pushing for the conference title alongside North Scott and Davenport Central. This group was extremely balanced last year, with six players averaging between 6.9 and 8.4 points per game and three of those players are back in JMichael Young (8.2), Suni Lane (7.5) and Joe Martens (7.5). Cole Grothusen (3.9) gives them some size on the interior, and if they can get some production out of Ryan Fall, they’ll have plenty of size in the paint. Watch for Dylan Clearman (1.4) to have a much larger role as well, after a summer in which he routinely led the team in scoring.
Burlington (0-22): Leading scorer Keian Franklin (11.0) returns for the winless Grayhounds, as do role players Dadrian Hoambrecker (4.8) and Cameron Schroeder (3.0). Unfortunately, this is a team that struggled to score last year, shooting just 35.7% from the floor and 24.9% from the arc, and there isn’t much reason to think that those numbers will increase. They shouldn’t go winless this season, but they also won’t be a factor in the conference race.
Clinton (12-11): For the second consecutive year, the River Kings must replace a big-time player. This time around it’s Derrick Howard, who averaged 18.7 points a game. Jaden Mixon (9.0) is the leading returnee and is the only player back who scored more than 36 points last season. While Mixon is a talented player, combining quickness and scoring punch, he’ll need to get some help from others if they want to avoid falling towards the cellar this year.
Davenport Assumption (5-18): Nine of the Knights’ 18 losses last year came by single digits, and they started playing pretty good basketball late in the season. With a trio of important returnees back, look for them to be much improved. Trenton Wallace (10.8), Trent Fitzpatrick (10.9) and Ray Thrapp (6.3) give Assumption a quality core to build around with lots of versatility. Watch for Liam Robbins (4.4, 56.5 FG%) to take on a bigger role and give the Knights lots of production in the paint. They’re still below the top tier, but look for many more wins this season for Assumption.
Davenport Central (15-6): A highly athletic team that thrives in transition, the Blue Devils will be headlined by the backcourt duo of Ray Miller (15.5) and Tirique Randolph (13.2). They should be an improved team in the halfcourt as well, with Miller taking his game to another level over the summer, showing the ability to break down defenders and get to the rim. Tyrique Vesey (8.1) gives Central a solid wing defender who competes on the glass, giving the Devils a very good trio. This group should be at the top of the conference, battling it out with North Scott and Bettendorf.
Davenport North (7-15): V.J. Wilmington (13.5) will lead a Wildcats team that has a lot of confidence and should be a lot of fun to watch. Over the summer, they were pushing in transition routinely, and look for them to play an up-tempo style this year, fitting with what they’ve got on the roster. Atticus Taylor (3.3) is a long, athletic post player who runs the floor well, and they’ll be boosted by the addition of Max Taylor, who transferred from Davenport West and was ineligible to play last season. He adds the ability to shoot from the perimeter that was somewhat lacking. Tyler Josund (2.1) and Jared Beck (1.8) played roles last year, and if Beck can produce at a high level, they’ll be very dangerous. Look for North to get above .500 this season and be a dangerous out come playoff time.
Davenport West (6-17): A trio of juniors will lead the Falcons in Kenny Clay (13.5), Brett Erwin (7.0) and Trey Sampson (2.4). Clay is a lightning quick point guard who could become one of the conference’s best players if he’s able to improve on his 37.8 FG% from last season. Erwin, a 6-8 center, provides solid size in the paint and is becoming a more well-rounded offensive threat. And Sampson played well over the summer, giving West some length at 6-5 and the ability to play in and out. While the Falcons won’t challenge for the conference crown, don’t be surprised to see this group pick off a team or two that they probably shouldn’t.
Muscatine (15-8): Led by the state’s best player, the Muskies will have a chance to build upon their 15-win season as Iowa commit Joe Wieskamp (21.6) enters his junior season. The problem here is that there isn’t a whole lot of other returning experience, with Jake Mussehl (3.3), Drew Greenhaw (3.5) and Derrick Woepking (2.1) the only returnees who saw any significant playing time. Still, with Wieskamp in tow, the Muskies will be dangerous and should be just outside the elite group at the top of the league.
North Scott (15-6): The last time the Lancers returned as much as they do this year, they went out and won the title in 2015. The question remains if this group has the same chemistry and talent as that group, but they’ve got one of the state’s best coaches on the sidelines in Seamus Budde, and there is certainly no shortage of ability on the floor. Air Force signee Bailey Basala (17.8) is the leading scorer and a dangerous threat from anywhere on the floor. Corvon Seales (12.2) just keeps getting better and is a shutdown defender on the wing, while Drew Bofelli (10.6) is a tough, physical guard who does all the small things for the Lancers. Throw in Gary Morgan (7.2), Reece Sommers (2.8), Nate Wilkerson (2.5), Sam Stonskas (1.5) and Cole Rollinger (1.8), and every rotation player from last year returns. Add in Cortavius Seales and they could go nine or ten deep this winter. With 99.3% of their scoring back, they come in at No. 4 in our “Way Too Early Top 10” and project as the conference favorite.
Pleasant Valley (24-2): The Spartans have to replace five key players who helped lead Pleasant Valley to their best four-year stretch in school history, most notably Will Carius, the best player to ever go through PV. The top three scorers are gone, leaving Brian Dayman (5.1) as the top returning scorer. They do have a fairly experienced backcourt returning with Trevon Montgomery (3.6) and Alex Kitzmann (3.1) returning. They’ll both be asked to take on much bigger scoring roles. Look for Caleb Carius to take on a much larger role this season as well, and watch out to a young wing by the name of Hunter Snyder who could make a major impact this season. The Spartans will undoubtedly take a step back from where they have been, but this is a program that is always going to be tough, physical and will defend, and they’ll still finish in the upper half of the league and be tough to beat come late February.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. North Scott
2. Davenport Central
3. Bettendorf
4. Muscatine
5. Pleasant Valley
6. Davenport Assumption
7. Davenport North
8. Davenport West
9. Clinton
10. Burlington
Analysis: The race between the top three in the league should be very entertaining throughout the season, and we also think that Muscatine could potentially sneak into the mix. Each of the top eight teams look like they’ll be capable of making a run come playoff time.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Joe Wieskamp, Muscatine, 2018: 21.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.6 blocks, 53.1 FG%, 71.9 FT%
Perhaps the best player in the state, regardless of class, Wieskamp will break the school’s scoring record early in the year, and then have more than a year-and-a-half to add to it. He’s become a good defender and is one of the scariest offensive players around with his ability to score from anywhere efficiently.
BIGGEST SLEEPER
Hunter Snyder, Pleasant Valley, 2019: A long, gifted wing who can really shoot it, look for Snyder to have a big impact off the bench this season for the Spartans before taking on a staring role in his last two seasons.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joe Wieskamp, Muscatine, 2018
Ray Miller, Davenport Central, 2017
Tirique Randolph, Davenport Central, 2017
Tyrique Vesey, Davenport Central, 2017
Bailey Basala, North Scott, 2017
Corvon Seales, North Scott, 2018
Drew Bofelli, North Scott, 2017
Gary Morgan, North Scott, 2018
V.J. Wilmington, Davenport North, 2018
Max Taylor, Davenport North, 2017
Atticus Taylor, Davenport North, 2017
Trenton Wallace, Davenport Assumption, 2017
Trent Fitzpatrick, Davenport Assumption, 2018
Ray Thrapp, Davenport Assumption, 2018
JMichael Young, Bettendorf, 2017
Suni Lane, Bettendorf, 2017
Joe Martens, Bettendorf, 2017
Dylan Clearman, Bettendorf, 2017
Brian Dayman, Pleasant Valley, 2018
Trevon Montgomery, Pleasant Valley, 2017
Kenny Clay, Davenport West, 2018
Brett Erwin, Davenport West, 2018
Keian Franklin, Burlington, 2017
Jaden Mixon, Clinton, 2017