This means that next year Valpo will play 2 MVFC opponents in non-conference play for the second consecutive year, taking on Illinois State the week after.

Up Next: Indiana State University

2025–2026 Recap

It wasn't that long ago Indiana State was the story of the Missouri Valley Conference. Last season, however, felt much different. Unfortunately, Matthew Graves missed a large portion of the season due to a health issue, he returned to the sideline the night they traveled to Valparaiso.

The Sycamores finished just 11–21 overall and 4–16 in MVC play, ending the year in 10th place and exiting Arch Madness in the opening round. Under Matthew Graves, Year 2 never seemed to gain much traction as Indiana State struggled to establish a consistent identity on either end of the floor.

While there were flashes throughout the season, the Sycamores often found themselves caught between rebuilding and competing. They lacked the offensive firepower of recent Indiana State teams and struggled to consistently defend quality MVC opponents.

The result was a season that left plenty of questions heading into the offseason.

Offseason Turnover

Like many teams in today's MVC, Indiana State saw significant roster movement, maybe most of any team.

Departures

• Zyair Greene (Unknown)
• Jo Van Buggenhout (Sacred Heart)
• Hunter Harding (Elon)
• Camp Wagner (UC San Diego)
• Enel St. Bernard (Sam Houston)
• Bruno Alocen (Valparaiso)
• Derek Vorst (Cleveland State)
• Jayan Walker (Alcorn State)
• Caden Huttenlocker (Unknown)
• Ian Scott (Graduation)
• Sterling Young (Graduation)

That's a considerable amount of experience and minutes walking out the door.

Perhaps more importantly, Indiana State lost several players who were expected to be foundational pieces when Graves initially took over the program. This offseason felt less like tweaking a roster and more like another major reset.

What Returns?

After scouring the roster, I believe Indiana State has 1 returner from last season. Martin Kaupanger who did not see the floor, redshirting his first season in Terre Haute.

Key Additions

EJ McQuillan (Sr. 6-4 G – LSU Alexandria)

Arguably the most important addition.

McQuillan arrives after averaging over 20 points per game at the NAIA level and brings legitimate scoring production. He's capable of creating his own shot and should immediately become one of Indiana State's primary offensive options.

The question isn't whether he can score.

It's whether that production translates against MVC athletes every night.

Karmani Gregory (Sr. 6-1 G – USC Upstate)

Veteran guard who brings experience and toughness to the backcourt.

Indiana State desperately needed a stabilizing presence at point guard, and Gregory has a chance to provide exactly that. Not necessarily a star, but someone who can organize the offense and keep the team functioning.

Greyson Pritzl (Sr. 6-4 F – Lander)

Productive lower-level scorer who gives Indiana State another experienced option.

Projects as a versatile wing who can contribute offensively and provide some needed maturity to a roster filled with moving pieces.

Jackson Cooper (Sr. 6-7 F – Oregon Tech)

One of the more intriguing additions.

A highly productive scorer at Oregon Tech, Cooper averaged nearly 18 points per game and brings offensive versatility that Indiana State lacked at times last season.

If his scoring translates, he could become one of the better frontcourt additions in the Valley.

Chance Puryear (So. 6-7 SF – SMU)

Interesting upside play.

Former high-major recruit with length and athletic tools. Production hasn't caught up with the talent yet, but the ceiling is obvious.

This feels like exactly the type of transfer Indiana State needs to hit on.

Aleksa Vlajic (So. 6-9 F/C – Buffalo)

Provides size and developmental upside in the frontcourt.

The Sycamores needed bodies inside after losing Harding and Vorst, and Vlajic gives them a piece that could grow into a significant role.

Maguire Mitchell (So. 6-5 G – IU Indy)

Athletic wing with room to develop.

Could carve out a valuable rotation role if his perimeter game continues to improve.

Duce Paschal (So. 6-5 G/F – Weber State)

Another upside wing who fits the modern MVC mold.

Length, athleticism, defensive versatility, and some offensive potential.

Meechie White (Sr. 6-1 G – Eastern Illinois)

White looks like the type of veteran guard every MVC team wants.

He may not be an All-League star, but he has the tools to be a double-digit scorer and reliable backcourt piece who wins games with experience and toughness.

Alessio Calamita (Jr. 6-10 F - FC Bayern Munuch)

Calamita is a high-upside addition. If the transition from European basketball goes smoothly, he has the tools to become a versatile frontcourt contributor and difficult matchup in the Valley.

Incoming Freshman:

EJ Hazelett

Ian Thomas

Kade Speckman

What Is Indiana State This Year?

That's honestly one of the tougher questions in the league.

Unlike teams such as Valparaiso or Illinois State that have established cores returning, Indiana State is still trying to identify who its foundational pieces are. Indiana State returns 0 minutes played. Indiana State could be anything.

Key Questions

• Can EJ McQuillan become a legitimate MVC-level scorer?
• Does Indiana State make Arch Madness?
• Can Indiana State replace the production lost in the frontcourt?
• Which of the younger transfers emerge as impact players?
• Is Matthew Graves able to take a meaningful step forward in Year 3 or is he on the “Hot Seat” in 2027?

Outlook

Indiana State is a team I can’t get a read on. There are several intriguing upside pieces.

The problem is that almost every key contributor is arriving from another program and another level. The ceiling feels higher than last year's team, but the floor feels even lower if the newcomers struggle to adjust.

Projection

This feels like a team that can climb out of the Valley basement but still has a lot of work to do before becoming a serious contender.

Preseason Range: 7–10 in the Valley

If the transfers click quickly, a middle-of-the-pack finish is possible.

If they don't, Indiana State could find itself battling just to make it to St. Louis

Final Thought

Indiana State enters 2026–27 as one of the MVC's biggest questions.

The Sycamores have enough new talent to look significantly different than the team that finished 10th a year ago, but almost everything hinges on transfer evaluation and player development. There is reason for optimism in Terre Haute, but until this group proves it can win consistently at the Valley level, it's hard to project them anywhere but the back half of the conference.

This feels like a season where progress matters as much as wins. If Graves can establish a clear identity and turn this collection of newcomers into a competitive MVC team, the foundation may finally start pointing back in the right direction.

Illinois State 2026-27 Season Preview

Up Next: Illinois State Redbirds

2025-26 Recap

Illinois State entered last season carrying the weight of expectations. The Redbirds returned much of their core, opened the year as the Missouri Valley Conference favorite, and were viewed by some as one of the top mid-major programs in the country. While they ultimately fell short of those lofty expectations, the season was far from a disappointment.

Illinois State finished 23-13 overall and 12-8 in MVC play, good for a third-place finish in a tightly packed league race where the gap between second and sixth was razor thin. The Redbirds improved their KenPom ranking from a preseason mark of 121 to a final ranking of 97, giving them a Top-100 finish nationally and validating their status as one of the stronger mid-major programs in the country.

The season ended on a sour note in St. Louis as Illinois State was bounced from Arch Madness in its opening game by eventual champion Northern Iowa. However, the Redbirds rebounded with a deep NIT run that carried them all the way to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Auburn. Individually, Chase Walker earned First Team All-MVC honors as one of the conference's premier big men.

Statistically, Illinois State was a solid but somewhat flawed team. The defense routinely carried the weight while the offense struggled at times with turnovers and a lack of free-throw generation. Experience helped the Redbirds survive close games, but they rarely felt dominant and often played below the ceiling many expected entering the year.

Offseason Turnover

At first glance, Illinois State appears to have undergone significant roster turnover. In reality, the Redbirds retained the two most important pieces on the roster while replacing much of the supporting cast through the transfer portal.

Departures

• Jack Daugherty (Northern Illinois)
• Ty'Reek Coleman (Iowa)
• Ty Pence (Akron)
• Cameron Barnes (Cal State Bakersfield)
• Landon Moore (Graduation)
• Landon Wolf (Graduation)
• Brandon Lieb (Graduation)
• Boden Skunberg (Graduation)

The losses of Skunberg, Moore, Lieb, and Wolf represent a significant hit to last season's production, but the right pieces are returning to Illinois State.

Returning Core

Chase Walker

Walker returns as one of the MVC's best post players and arguably the most important player on Illinois State's roster. His ability to score on the block, rebound, and anchor the interior gives the Redbirds a foundation most MVC teams would gladly trade for.

Johnny Kinziger

Kinziger is no longer a breakout candidate—he's an established MVC staple who was all Valley two seasons ago.

Other Returners

• Mason Klabo
• Isaac Ericksen
• Nick Allen
• Ty Blake

Returning Minutes by Position

The takeaway is clear: Illinois State returns the bulk of its backcourt but must completely rebuild both forward positions.

Key Additions

Illinois State attacked the portal with a clear purpose. Rather than simply accumulating talent, Ryan Pedon targeted players that fit specific needs.

Demarion Burch – Bradley

At Illinois State, Burch won’t be asked to be “the guy”—but he doesn’t need to be. His path to impact is clear: defend, run, and attack the rim. If his jumper comes around, he has a real chance to evolve from a rotation piece into one of Illinois State’s most important two-way players this season.

Noah Cleveland - Illinois Wesleyan

Noah Cleveland isn’t a high-variance, boom-or-bust prospect—he’s a steady, fundamentally sound player whose value comes from doing multiple things well. The swing factor is how his skill set holds up athletically. If it translates, he’s a useful, system-friendly forward who can contribute in a variety of ways. If not, he becomes more of a depth option.

Zaxton King – Missouri State

Illinois State will rely on him to generate offense when structure breaks down, and he should have the freedom to do it. If he proves efficient and buys in defensively, he has a real path to becoming one of the more impactful scoring guards in the MVC this season.

Deng Garang - Le Moyne

If his defense translates and he provides even average shooting, he has a real chance to become a high-minute, two-way contributor who helps Illinois State win games in the margins—rebounding, defending, and cleaning up possessions around higher-usage scorers.

Louie Semona – Western Kentucky

If healthy, I’d project him as a high-minute rotation forward with starter upside. His best role is as a stretch 4 who spaces the floor, moves the ball, and provides efficient secondary scoring. For a Redbird team adding athletic guards and wings, Semona could be the piece that helps the offense breathe.

Incoming Freshmen

• Leyton Wolf
• Matthew Szafoni
• Jordan Williams

As is often the case in the MVC, expecting major freshman contributions can be dangerous. Any production from this group should be viewed as a bonus.

Key Questions

Can Illinois State solidify the forward spots?

Can Chase Walker stay healthy?

Is Johnny Kinziger going to return to an all-Valley team?

Can the transfers mesh quickly?

Does Mason Klabo become a bigger contributor?

Outlook

Illinois State enters 2026-27 with something many MVC teams are searching for: proven star power.

While much of the supporting cast has changed, the Redbirds avoided the complete roster reset that impacted many conference rivals by retaining both Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger. Those two provide one of the MVC's best inside-out combinations and give Illinois State a foundation capable of competing near the top of the standings.

The transfer portal additions also appear to complement existing strengths rather than overlap them. King adds shot creation. Burch and Garang bring athleticism and defensive versatility. Semona provides shooting and spacing. Collectively, they address many of the weaknesses that surfaced during last season.

The biggest strength of this roster is balance:

• Proven star power
• Improved wing athleticism
• Additional shot creation
• Better lineup flexibility
• Increased positional versatility

The biggest concern is cohesion. Illinois State has upgraded talent in several areas, but integrating multiple transfers into meaningful roles is rarely seamless.

If the pieces fit, this roster has the potential to contend for a top-four finish and make another postseason run.

Projection

MVC Finish: 1st–4th

Expect Illinois State to be one of the more dangerous teams in the league this year.

Final Thought

Walker and Kinziger give Illinois State one of the conference's best star combinations, while the newcomers appear to fit naturally around them. The Redbirds are not rebuilding—they are retooling.

Illinois State looks like a legitimate Top-5 MVC team entering 2026-27, with a realistic path to finishing in the conference's top tier if the transfer additions perform as expected.

Evansville 2026–2027 Season Preview

Up Next: Evansville

2025–2026 Recap

Last season was flat-out painful for Evansville—and there’s no need to sugarcoat it. The Aces finished 7–25 overall and 3–17 in MVC play, landing in last place. Expectations were higher entering the year, but injuries—most notably to Connor Turnbull—combined with a lack of MVC-caliber depth derailed the season quickly.

The numbers back it up. Evansville opened at No. 248 in KenPom and slid to 312 by season’s end, placing them among the bottom tier of Division I. They struggled on both ends, finishing near the bottom of the Valley in most offensive and defensive metrics. The few bright spots: strong free throw shooting (75.7%, 2nd in MVC) and leading the league in offensive block percentage.

Offseason Turnover

There’s no way around it, I believe most Aces fans seen this coming. While I’m not sure they lost the most in the Valley, they were certainly close. I also believe that most Aces fans were probably okay with that considering last season's woes.

Departures (10 total):

• Weston Aigner (Utah State)
• Dakota Candler (Unknown)
• Leo Amari (Unknown)
• Leif Moller (UTEP)
• Connor Turnbull (Utah State)
• Marlon Barnes (Unknown)
• Kaia Berridge (Unknown)
• Joshua Hughes (USC)
• Alex Hemenway (graduation)
• Trent Hundley (graduation)

Evansville lost its top interior presence, multiple rotation guards, and the bulk of last year’s production.

Returning Core

• AJ Casey – Best returning player; frontcourt anchor
• Bryce Quinet – Primary ball handler last season
• James Dyson Merwe – Reserve minutes
• Aaron Gutman – Redshirted

Returning Minutes by Position:

• PG – 75%
• SG – 0%
• SF – 0%
• PF – 77%
• C – 23%

Takeaway: Evansville returns nearly all of its point guard and power forward minutes—but zero wing production. Perimeter scoring, shooting, and defensive versatility will depend almost entirely on newcomers.

Key Additions (Transfers In)

Makuei Reik (F, Salt Lake CC)
Athletic, defensive-minded forward with physical tools that translate immediately. Projects as a rotation piece with upside to grow into a larger role if his offense develops.

Luke Ellspermann (G/F, Wabash)
Highly productive D3 wing with a versatile scoring profile. Brings size, toughness, and motor, but the jump to MVC athleticism is the key question. Developmental piece with rotation potential.

Max Langenfeld (C, FAU)
True interior presence. Finishes, rebounds, sets screens, and plays within structure. Limited offensive range but provides needed size and stability inside.

Gustav Winther (F, Northern Illinois)
Skilled, steady forward who can space the floor and keep the ball moving. Not a primary scorer, but a reliable system piece who should carve out consistent minutes.

Incoming Freshmen

Rafayel Masumyann
Junior Kemm
David Nejezchleb
Jake Genschaw
Cayden Symons
Bryce Renn

David Ragland brings in a big class as he looks to develop within his system (Depth group—any contribution here is a bonus early.)

Key Questions

• Who replaces 0% returning production on the wing?
• Can AJ Casey become the reliable go-to scorer?
• Will Quinet stabilize guard play and limit turnovers?
• Do the transfers provide enough shooting to fix scoring droughts?
• How quickly can new pieces adjust to MVC physicality?

Outlook

This is a prove-it year for David Ragland.

Evansville should be more balanced, but proven production is limited—especially on the perimeter. Expect a team that leans into physicality, half-court execution, and defensive effort to stay competitive. The swing factor is simple: offensive consistency.

If the Aces can find reliable scoring—whether from Casey inside or new shooters on the wing—they’ll be competitive most nights. If not, the same scoring droughts that defined last year will return quickly.

Projection

• MVC Finish: 9th–11th

Evansville should play plenty of close games. They’re not at the level of the league’s upper half though, they have enough structure and toughness to pull off a few upsets—especially at the Ford Center.

Final Thought

Evansville isn’t there yet—but this roster reset gives them a path forward.

They should be more organized, more competitive, and could be harder to play against. The next step is turning effort into results for Raglans bunch. Until they prove they can score consistently and close games, the Aces remain a step behind. 

For members of the Valpo Fan Zone Forum, Valparaiso University invites you to a special conversation with Reverend Brian Konkol, the 20th President of Valparaiso University. This is an opportunity to hear directly from Rev. Konkol about his vision for Valpo and to share your questions!

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CT

Event location: Zoom 

RSVP is required by July 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT

Please use the following link for registration: https://giveto.valpo.edu/register/FanZoneWebinar26

Once registered, you will receive instructions on how to access the event. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@valpo.edu or 219.464.5142.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CT

Event location: Zoom 

RSVP is required by July 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT

Please use the following link for registration: https://giveto.valpo.edu/register/FanZoneWebinar26

Once registered, you will receive instructions on how to access the event. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@valpo.edu or 219.464.5142.

Drake 2026–2027 Season Preview

Next up: Drake

2025–2026 Recap

Outside of a surprise run to the Arch Madness semifinals, last season was one most Drake fans would probably like to forget.

In Eric Henderson’s first year, the Bulldogs finished just 14–20 overall, including a brutal stretch where they lost 9 straight games heading into the conference tournament. That marked their lowest win total since 2017 and resulted in a 9th-place finish in the Valley. Nationally, they finished around 205 in KenPom, which reflects how much they struggled to find consistency on both ends.

The numbers weren’t pretty. Offensively, Drake ranked near the bottom of the conference in:

• Effective FG%
• 3PT%
• FT%

And defensively, things were arguably worse:

• Bottom tier in efficiency
• Struggled to defend the three
• Limited disruption (low steal/block rates)

Jalen Quinn carried a heavy load and earned First Team All-MVC honors, clearly their most impactful player—but there wasn’t enough around him to elevate the group.

Onward to 2026–2027

Drake hit the retool button instead of experiencing a full-on reset.

Departures

• Wilguens Jr. Exacte → Mount St. Mary’s
• Heri Bukinga → Omaha
• Okku Federiko → Northwestern
• Braden Appelhans → Xavier

Plus key graduations:

• Jalen Quinn
• Isaiah Carr
• Jaehshon Thomas

That’s a significant loss of production and leadership.

What Returns

To their credit, Drake didn’t lose everything.

They bring back a solid core of contributors, including:

• Owen Larson (10 PPG, 23 starts) – likely the top returning piece
• Eli Shetler (9.1 PPG, 21 starts) – steady wing production
• Andrew Alia (7.0 PPG, 32 starts) – experienced presence
• Griffen Goodbary – reserve minutes

Along with redshirts:

• LJ Rush
• Bryson Bahl

By today’s standards, this is actually decent continuity:

• 86% of PG minutes
• 0% of SG minutes
• 70% of SF minutes
• 73% of PF minutes
• 36% of C minutes

That’s not nothing—and gives Henderson at least a functional base to build from in Year 2.

Key Incoming Transfers

Dre Kindell (Sr. 6-1, G – Wichita State)
Quick, downhill scoring guard who thrives off the bounce. Brings energy and shot creation, but efficiency and decision-making will determine impact. Could be a spark-plug scorer.

Jon Carroll (Sr. 6-7, F – Morehead State)
Tough, physical wing who plays through contact and rebounds well. Not a knockdown shooter, but adds grit and versatility. Classic glue guy with scoring bursts.

Justin Burns (Jr. 6-6, F – NW Florida State)
Strong interior presence who finishes around the rim and rebounds. Not a spacer, but brings toughness and physicality to the frontcourt.

Gabe Oldham (Sr. 6-8, PF – Denver)
One of the more intriguing adds. Skilled forward who can stretch the floor and play within structure. If he’s consistent, he fits nicely into a system offense.

Incoming Freshmen

• Dothan Ijadimbola (6-6 F)
• Mason Matulis (6-5 G)
• Miles Flemons (6-7 C)
• Gio Quiles (6-4 G, walk-on)

What Is Drake This Year?

That’s where things get interesting.

Year two under Henderson should bring more structure, but the roster is still a mix of:

• Returning role players
• Transfer additions
• Unproven upside pieces

Unlike Bradley, Drake wants to play with more pace and offensive flow—but last year showed they didn’t quite have the personnel to execute it consistently.

This year’s group feels more balanced, but still lacks a proven star. I still am questioning who will replace Quinns production from last season, and have concerns with their frontcourt size and depth next season.

Outlook

Drake’s outlook really hinges on two things:

1. Offensive Efficiency Can’t Be Bottom Tier Again

They don’t need to be elite—but they have to be:

• More efficient shooting
• Better spacing
• More consistent scoring options

Kindell and Oldham will be key here.

2. Defensive Competency

Last year’s defensive numbers were a problem.

They need to:

• Defend the perimeter better
• Generate more disruption
• Be at least middle-of-the-pack defensively

The Positive

• Returning experience matters
• Henderson gets a Year 2 bump
• Portal additions fit better stylistically

The Concern

• No proven All-MVC-level player
• Still a projection-heavy roster
• Could struggle closing games

Projection

Drake feels like a bounce-back candidate—but with a capped ceiling, there is just a lot of questions that are not addressed it seems to me.

There’s enough returning production and added pieces to improve from last year’s 9th-place finish, but it’s hard to see them jumping into the top half of the league without a true go-to player emerging.

Preseason range: 6–10 in the Valley

Final Thought

This feels like a stabilization year for Drake.

They should be better—more cohesive, more competitive, and harder to beat night-to-night—but whether that translates into real movement up the standings depends on whether someone steps up as a consistent offensive leader.

Right now, it looks like a team that’s trending the right direction…just not there yet.

1. Moving the Women’s tournament to St. Louis.

2. Double Bye for the top two teams.

3. only the top 10 teams make the tournament.

I like the idea of both Women’s and Men’s tournaments running simultaneously. We had this back when we were in Mid-Con. Valpo was a much more competitive team in the Mid-Con, but are ended up going to more regular season Women’s games because of the combined tournament.

The double bye scares me because of the last time we had the double bye in Conference tournament in Horizon League we lost with maybe our best team ever. Of course our NIT run that year was a lot of fun.

I have no problem with only taking the top ten teams to the MVC tournament.

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/changes-coming-for-arch-madness