Photos. Bradley University

Last year (Dime #28) we debuted the “Player’s Ball” college hoops preview, where we went to some of the NCAA’s best players and had them preview their own conferences. This year we did it again (Dime #37), but since we didn’t have room in the mag for some of the mid-majors, we’re dropping them on DimeMag.com along with the big boys. Today, Bradley guards Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch break down the Missouri Valley:

THE EXPERTS: Daniel Ruffin, Bradley, Sr, PG; Jeremy Crouch, Bradley, Sr, SG
The MVC has put itself on the map by not only sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament in recent years, but by doing some damage once they got there. Bradley was one of those teams, knocking off Kansas and Pitt in the Dance two years ago. After losing ’06 Lottery pick Patrick O’Bryant to the pros, the Braves’ backcourt duo of Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch took the team to the NIT last year. Going into their senior years, Ruffin is the nation’s active career leader in assists (475), while Crouch is the nation’s co-leader in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting treys at a 50 percent clip. They are the Missouri Valley Conference’s top two returning scorers, each pouring in 13.8 points per game as juniors.

EXPERT OPINION: Crouch: “Our system is wide open, based slightly on the Phoenix Suns style. It really opens things up for the guards – there are a ton of driving opportunities. Daniel exploits that so well, and he’ll always find you when you’re open.”
Ruffin: “If I can get Jeremy the ball, he’s gonna give me an assist. He doesn’t just knock down shots, he makes big buckets.”

Ruffin: “We’ve got a great opportunity to be up there in the top three in the Valley. Throw Southern Illinois and Creighton in that mix for sure. SIU is famous for their hawking defense – 94 feet up and down the court.”
Crouch: “Both Randal Falker (PF, 12.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg) and Matt Shaw (SF, 11.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) will be in the Player of the Year discussion as the post players [at SIU].”

Ruffin: “I think Northern Iowa also has a chance to be pretty good. They still have Eric Coleman (C, 13.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg) inside, who is a really tough big guy, and a guard named Jared Josten (7.8 ppg) who is really solid all-around and gets in your face on D.”

Crouch: “Another team I’ve heard a couple of things about is Missouri State. Deven Mitchell (SF, 10.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.5 spg) did a lot last year with limited action. He’s a kid to watch out for.”

Player’s Ball archive
11/6 – ACC (DeMarcus Nelson, Duke)
11/5 – Mountain West (Brandon Ewing, Wyoming)
11/2 – Big 12 (A.J. Abrams, Texas)