CHICAGO (October 17, 2019) – Cameron Krutwig (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs), a junior center at Loyola University Chicago, has been tabbed Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year according to a poll of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. In addition, classmate
Lucas Williamson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) was a MVC Preseason Third Team pick.
The 6-foot-9 Krutwig has established himself as one of the top big men not only in the region, but also the nation. A 2018 First Team All-MVC honoree and 2017 MVC Freshman of the Year selection, Krutwig finished third in the MVC Player of the Year voting last winter after averaging 14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while leading the league and ranking ninth in NCAA Division I with a .629 percent field goal percentage.
Should Krutwig win the MVC Player of the Year award when it is handed out in March, it would mark the first time in the league's storied history that three different players from the same team earned the honor in three straight seasons.
Krutwig was joined on the MVC Preseason First Team by Darrell Brown (Bradley), Tulio Da Silva (Missouri State), AJ Green (UNI) and Tyreke Key (Indiana State). Second team recognition was handed out to Jordan Barnes (Indiana State), Elijah Childs (Bradley), Keandre Cook (Missouri State), Ryan Fazekas (Valparaiso) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valparaiso).
Meanwhile, Williamson, who has blossomed into arguably the top defensive player in the Valley, was a preseason third team designee. Last season, the 6-foot-4 guard battled his way through injuries but still managed to put up 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, connecting on 41.3 percent (26-for-63) of his three-point tries in 16 appearances.
He was joined on the third team by Zach Copeland (Illinois State), Gaige Prim (Missouri State), Lamont West (Missouri State), D.J. Wilkins (Drake) and DeAndre Williams (Evansville).
As a team, Loyola, which has won at least a share of each of the last two MVC regular-season crowns, was picked fourth, receiving six first-place votes., the second-highest total among the league's 10 teams. Missouri State collected 29 first-place votes and was the choice to win the title, followed by Bradley and UNI.
Loyola and Drake, which was slotted fifth in the preseason poll, are the only Valley teams to have played in the postseason in each of the last two years.
The Ramblers officially open the 2019-20 campaign November 5 when they host UC Davis. Fans will get an opportunity to catch Loyola in action October 29 when it welcomes Indianapolis to Gentile Arena for an exhibition contest.
The entire MVC Preseason Poll and preseason all-conference teams follow.
MVC Preseason Poll
- Missouri State (29 first-place votes) – 410 points
- Bradley (5) – 368 points
- UNI (3) – 343 points
- Loyola (6) – 340 points
- Drake – 243 points
- Indiana State – 210 points
- Illinois State (1) – 193 points
- Evansville – 132 points
- Valparaiso – 98 points
- Southern Illinois – 83 points
MVC Preseason First Team
Darrell Brown, Bradley
Tulio Da Silva, Missouri State
AJ Green, UNI
Tyreke Key, Indiana State
Cameron Krutwig, Loyola
MVC Preseason Second Team
Jordan Barnes, Indiana State
Elijah Childs, Bradley
Keandre Cook, Missouri State
Ryan Fazekas, Valparaiso
Javon Freeman-Liberty, Valparaiso
MVC Preseason Third Team
Zach Copeland, Illinois State
Gaige Prim, Missouri State
Lamont West, Missouri State
D.J. Wilkins, Drake
DeAndre Williams, Evansville
Lucas Williamson, Loyola
