Finished Mag

Valley Sports Insider
March 2020 Edition
$4.50
Volume 1
Issue 1
March Sadness

Letter from the Editor
March 2020
Welcome to the Valley Sports Insider. A one
stop-shop for all things Missouri and Ohio Valley
Sports.
Built with a talented staff of writers, editors and
photographers our magazine aims to provide
you with the best sports coverage of your teams
in the United States and a specific spotlight on
smaller colleges that aren’t always in the national
news.
Valley Sports Insider
3 5
The Sports World Stops
Spring Sports Canceled Amidst Concerns of COVID-19
Bradley Goes Back-to-Back
9 10
7
Ja Morant Takes Flight
This month we bring you inside some of the Valley’s
biggest storylines.
This includes the COVID-19 crisis and the halting
of sporting events indefinetly, the Bradley
Braves capturing a second consecutive MVC
title, Ja Morant’s rise to NBA Rookie of the Year
and many other stories and features about the
Valley’s talented student-athletes.
Every month you can expect the best writing,
sharpest photos and most engaging physical and
digital content surrounding your favorite sports
teams and athletes.
We strive to provide you specific and excellent
coverage that isn’t found anywhere else for
some of the best teams and dedicated coaches
and athletes around the country.
From our newsroom to the palm of your hand,
my hope is this isssue provides you everything
you’re looking for in Valley sports coverage for
the month of March.
Valley Sports Insider
Jeremy Chinn Makes History
Standouts Around the Valley
TE
- Tim Edmonds
Editor-in-Chief

Spring Sports, Competitions Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
1983
Our writers break down March Madness’
cancellation and what it means for spring sport athletes.
Credit: Keystone Sports Podcast
By Dan Gavitt
“The world is experiencing a challenging health crisis with
the coronavirus pandemic. It is an unsettling and concerning
time in our history. For those of us who love and treasure college
basketball, it has resulted in the cancellation of NCAA
basketball championships and an empty month that otherwise
would be filled with tremendous excitement. The disappointment
and heartbreak we all feel for student-athletes unable
to compete is significant, yet nothing is ever more important
than the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and
fans.
When NCAA winter and spring championships were cancelled
Thursday afternoon, the women’s basketball committee
had yet to even commence their selection meeting, and
the men’s basketball committee had only just begun their
selection process. There were 19 men’s and 18 women’s conference
tournaments that had yet to be completed when the
NCAA championships were cancelled. A total of 132 men’s
games and 81 women’s games were never played, resulting in
those automatic qualifiers not being determined on the court.
The important work of the basketball committees is to set
up competitively-balanced brackets to determine national
champions. I don’t believe it’s responsible or fair to do that
with incomplete seasons – especially for tournaments that
unfortunately won’t be played. Therefore there will not be
any NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball championship
selection shows or tournament brackets released this
year.
Spring Sport Athletes Remain Unaware if Additional Eligibility will be Granted
Players and coaches want to see their school name on the bracket.Members of
the media want to dissect matchups. Bracketologists want to compare the work
of the committees versus what they’ve predicted. Fans are curious for those
same reasons. All of us want something to fill the void we’re feeling.
However, anything less than a credible process is inconsistent with the tradition
of the NCAA basketball championships. Brackets based on hypotheticals can’t
substitute for a complete selection, seeding and bracketing process. There will
always be an asterisk next to the 2020 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball
championships regardless if brackets are released. There is not an authentic way
to produce tournament fields and brackets at this point without speculating and
that isn’t fair to the teams that would be positively or negatively impacted by
manufacturing March Madness.
More importantly, in light of this global health crisis, I believe we need to keep
college basketball in perspective.
To be clear, this is my decision. The basketball committees support and concur.
Basketball family, please stay safe and I pray for the health of you and your
loved ones. We will get through this pandemic and disappointing month of
March together.”
Dan Gavitt
NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball
1999
2012
2017
48 Years
90 Calories
Same Great Beer
I have heard from many coaches and athletics directors who
are trusted colleagues and friends that would like to see
brackets released to recognize the successful seasons of their
teams and student-athletes and to see who and where they
would have played.

ack-2-
ack
Braves Down
Valpo, Secure
Second
Valparaiso (19-16) led 48-42 before the
Braves took charge. Tahvanainen hit a big
3-pointer to cap a 7-0 run that put the Braves
ahead for good 56-51.
Bradley rallied from an 18-point second-half
deficit to beat Northern Iowa 57-54 in last
year’s MVC final. The six-point hole Sunday
was nothing for the Braves, who have won
eight of their last 10.
Back for More
2018-19 2019-20
20-15 (9-9, 5th in MVC) 23-11 (11-7, 3rd in MVC
PS/G: 66.5 (312th of 353) PS/G: 71.7 (156th of 353)
PA/G: 65.3 (35th of 353) PA/G: 65.9 (75th of 353
SRS: -0.08 (157th of 353) SRS: 5.33 (107th of 353)
SOS: 0.33 (138th of 353) SOS: -0.90 (168th of 353)
Consecutive Bid to
Bradley guard Darrell Brown was not
happy with his selection to the Missouri
Valley’s all-conference second team earlier
in the week.
He displayed his displeasure in a big way
Sunday.
Brown scored 21 points and Elijah Childs
added 17 to lead fourth-seeded Bradley to
its 10th NCAA
Tournament with an 80-66 win over
seventh-seeded
Valparaiso in the MVC championship
game.
Ja’Shon Henry scored 16 points for the
Braves, Nate
Kennell had 14 points and Ville Tahvanainen
added 10.
Javon Freeman-Liberty paced Valparaiso
with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Bradley (23-11) claimed its fourth MVC
Tournament title and became the ninth
team in conference history to defend its
tournament crown.
It’s the first time the Braves have
qualified for back-to-back NCAA Tournaments
since 1954 and ’55.
Brown, who came into the game averaging
15.3 points, was certain he deserved
first-team all-conference honors.
NCAA
By Steve O’Berbey
The perceived snub bothered him.
Bradley coach Brian Wardle made sure
to keep Brown properly
motivated. He jokingly called Brown
“Second Team” at every opportunity.
“In the hotel he kept calling me that,”
Brown said. “I thought it was funny. But
I’m a self-driven person.
He really didn’t have to do that.
I felt disrespected. So I took it upon myself
to prove everybody wrong.”
Wardle’s actions paid off.
“He came in with a chip on his
shoulder and he proved it,” Wardle said.
“There’s nothing better than when you
see true hard work pay off. He let everyone
see what he was made of — it was
great.”
Brown hit 6 of 14 shots,
including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and
kick-started a 38-18 run over
the final 12 minutes, 2 seconds with a
jumper that tied the score at 49.
His 3-pointer pushed the lead to 62-52.
He also had nine assists.
“He can carry us when he gets hot like
that,“ Childs said.
“It’s one possession at a time and everyone
contributing,” Brown said. “It’s not like we
panic when we get down. We knew what we
had to do and we did it.“
Valparaiso used a 9-2 blitz over the last 3:37
of the first half to take a 38-36 lead into the
break.
“We’ve got a locker room full of guys that just
laid it out on the line,” Crusaders coach Matt
Lottich said. “When you give your hearts into
something and it doesn’t work out, it hurts.”
Valparaiso played its fourth game in as many
days for the first time in its postseason tournament
history.
“I wouldn’t blame it all on fatigue,“ Freeman-Liberty
said.
The Braves seem to thrive in the underdog
role. They were seeded fifth when they upset
Northern Iowa in last year’s championship
game.
“We like it better when no one expects anything
from us,” Childs said.
Bradley’s 23 victories are the program’s most
since the 1993-94 team went 23-8 under
coach Jim Molinari.
The Braves were a No. 15 seed in last year’s
NCAA Tournament and lost to Michigan
State 76-65 in the first round.
“I already told the guys, this is the year we
want to go make some noise,” Wardle said.
March 2020 5

Former Player of the Year Claims Rookie of the Year
By: Tim Bontemps
L ike almost everything else in the world, the conclusion of the 2019-2020 NBA season is still an uncertainty that may not have a
resolution for months as the globe waits for the COVID-19 Pandemic to run its course. However, though the games have come to
a halt, debates and discussions concerning the season so far are certainly
still ongoing.
Morant Takes Flight
One of the most popular discussions as the season entered March for the playoff push was the NBA Rookie of the Year race.
Since Zion Williamson had returned and immediately displayed one stellar performance after another, along with the New Orleans
Pelicans chasing the Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the West, many felt he could emerge as a true challenger
to Ja Morant’s firm grasp on the award.
However, according to a straw poll released by ESPN today, while the “race” for the award may be fun to discuss, it seems that
there is clearly nothing further to debate.
Secondly, the voting for this straw poll was setup to mimic the voting of the actual NBA Rookie of the Year award. If Morant
were to have a clean sweep of first place votes when the real award is presented, he would join top current NBA names Damian
Lillard, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Blake Griffin as the only players to ever win the Rookie of the Year award unanimously.
Though the fact that Morant is clearly on his way to becoming the first Grizzlies player to win Rookie of the Year since Pau Gasol
is certainly something to celebrate, the bigger point of pride may be how highly regarded Morant is both domestically and internationally.
Rookie of the Year
Memphis Grizzlies #12 Point Guard
2019 NBA Draft Round 1, Pick #2
Both Morant and Williamson, along with Luka Doncic, Trae Young and others who have entered the league over the past few
years, have created an amazing group of young talent that has allowed the NBA to have a future to look forward too. As a result,
for Grizzlies fans, this is simply more validation that the best is yet to come for one of the most exciting franchises in the NBA.
Among 70 voters who cover the NBA on various levels, Morant was voted
unanimously as the Rookie of the Year. His amazing individual play, durability,
and efforts in making the Grizzlies one of the biggest surprise successes of the
season all contributed to the voting results.
Though Williamson has clearly played at a higher level, the fact that he missed
more than half a season of play was too much to overcome.
Though this poll is unofficial, there are two reasons why its results should be
considered significant. For one, the cast of voters were comprised of local,
national, and international media members and reporters.
17.6 PPG
3.5 RPG
This shows that the impact and appeal Morant has created this year extends
across the entire league, a good sign that he is well on his way to becoming the
first true superstar to play for the Grizzlies franchise.
7
6.9 APG
18.02 PER
DOB: August 10, 1999
POB: Dalville, SC
High School: Crestwood (Sumerton, SC)
Fun Fact: Offered Baseball scholarship to
University of South Carolina.
2017-18
12.7 PPG
6.5 RPG
6.3 APG
45.9% FG%
2018-19
24.5 PPG
5.6 RPG
10.0 APG
49.9 FG%
Accolades
• All-Time Assist Leader (Murray State)
• First CBB Player to average a Double-Double
since 2001
• Jersey retired in 2019 at Murray St.
• Rookie of the Month x4 winner

Height: 6’3
Weight: 212 lbs
College: SIU
From: Fishers, Ind.
2019 Statistics
Consensus All-American
1st Team All-MVFC
71 tackles
4 interceptions
2 sacks
Program Leader In:
• Tackles
• Interceptions
• Forced Fumbles
Chinn Makes History
Former Saluki Safety Heads
to Buffalo at 41st Overall
Spring Standouts Around the Valley
Cameron Krutwig Center, Loyola-Chicago Class: Junior
15.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 56.3 FG%
Finished second in the voting for Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year … Was a First Team All-MVC pick after earning MVC Preseason
Player of the Year plaudits … Captured National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 16 First Team recognition for the second
straight year … Put up 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, hitting 56.3 percent (201-for-357) of his field goal
attempts … Became the first player in the storied history of The Valley top rank in the top five in the league in scoring, rebounding, assists and
field goal percentage.
Terry Taylor Guard Austin Peay University Class: Junior
21.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 56.3 FG%
Special talent took a big step forward in his second season... led seven Govs in double figures with 21 points and 9 rebounds to begin sophomore
campaign against Oakland City... posted career’s 13th double-double with 15 points and 10 boards against 18th-ranked Mississippi State...
another day, another double-double with 21 points and 12 boards to kick off the Jamaica Classic at USF... en route to yet another double-double,
pulled down 17 rebounds to go with 21 points against Central Connecticut... finished Jamaica stay with 17 points and 10 boards against
Campbell, helping him earn all-tournament honors for the island portion of the event.
Chelsey Perry Forward, University of Tennessee-Martin Class : Senior
23.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 38.5 FG%
Selected to WBCA Coaches’ All-American honorable mention team…Named finalist for Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year…Tabbed
regional finalist for WBCA All-American honors…Named OVC Player of the Year…Selected to All-OVC first team…Named to OVC Basketball
Championship All-Tournament squad…Claimed an OVC record eight player of the week honors Tabbed College Sports Madness National
Mid-Major Player of the Week (Jan. 21)…Selected to Preseason All-OVC squad…Ranked first nationally in field goal made (286), second in total
points (740) and third in both points per game (23.1) and field goal attempts (386)
Becca Hittner Guard, Drake University Class: Senior
18.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44.3 FG%
CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team selection ... Jackie Stiles Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year for third-consecutive
season ... just one of three MVC players to win top MVC award three times ... selected to the All-MVC First Team for fourth-straight season ...
one of just eight MVC players to accomplish that feat ... picked to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team for third-straight year ... named to the
Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 ... selected to the WBCA Preseason and Midseason Wade Trophy watch lists ... named MVC Preseason Player
of the Year .. selected to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Preseason Watch List for the nation’s top shooting guard ... CoSIDA Academic All-District 6
team member ... named MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 10.
By: Joel A. Ericksen
INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremy
Chinn’s family had the biggest
night of his life all planned, set it
up back in February.
A room at the Ironworks Hotel
on the north side of Indianapolis,
packed with food and family,
friends from his days at Fishers
High School, plus his Southern
Illinois coaches and teammates.
A draft party, ready to celebrate
as soon as Chinn got a phone
call from a team and watched his
name flash across the NFL Draft
broadcast.
The coronavirus pandemic
changed those plans. Chinn will
now watch the draft at home.
His mom, her boyfriend, his sister,
his grandmother, and a bunch of little
cousins the family has been watching
at times during the past month and a
half will be there.
Not exactly what he’d expected. But it’s
not enough of a change to ruin one of
the biggest nights of his life.
“I don’t think I lost the experience,”
Chinn said. “Obviously, growing up,
the draft party or walking across the
stage is a dream, but I’m very blessed
to be in the position that I’m in.”
The pandemic has driven the spectacle
of this weekend’s NFL Draft indoors,
into the homes of Roger Goodell,
coaches, general managers and the
prospects themselves.
The pomp and circumstance, the
grand plans to row draft picks to a
stage in front of the Bellagio Fountains
in Las Vegas, that was all erased as the
NFL shut down its face-to-face communication.
But the league plans to do its best to
give players their moment, even if it
has to happen in their living rooms
instead of bear-hugging Goodell on
stage in front of thousands. Fifty-eight
players, guys like Notre Dame’s Chase
Claypool and Cole Kmet will participate
virtually instead, thanks to cameras
in their homes and a joint ESPN/
NFL Network broadcast that will doubattling
the effects the coronavirus
has inflicted on all walks of
society.
“Conducting this event virtually,
and taking all necessary precautions
while doing so, underscores
the importance of staying
home and staying strong during
this unprecedented moment in
our history,” Goodell said in a
statement.
For the players, staying home
has changed everything the last
couple of months.
Team to watch in the
Missouri Valley Conference
(MVC) Next Season?
Will Spring athletes
get another year of eligibility?
Our Writers Answer
James Roberts, Staff Writer
My money has to be on Loyola-Chicago, returning
their entire team from last season with other
contenders all taking significant losses.
Joel A Ericksen, Staff Writer
Internal NCAA discussions have made it seem more
than likely. Enough traction makes this seem like a
true possibility. Any decision will need to be delivered
soon though.
Ryan Smith, Football Editor
With or without a vaccine, I believe the NCAA
will find a way to ‘get the season started on
time. That being said Spring football isn’t out of
the question.
Christina Jones, Editor
Will College Football
be played this fall?
Would UNI have
gotten an at-large bid?
UNI’s loss to Drake more than likely took them
out of the conversation for an at-large bid. The
team’s resume was excellent, but with the place that
mid-majors are at it was not likely. 10