A Glance at 2000-01

This is a tough one, but we'll go out on a limb and pick Valparaiso to repeat as Mid-Con champions. For the sixth straight time. Kind of.

Oakland actually won he regular-season title last season, but since the Golden Grizzlies are not allowed into the conference tournament, the Crusaders were again the top seed.

If the 2000 Mid-Continent Conference season proved one things it's that, if anything, maybe the Crusaders are underrated. After starting Mid-Con play at 2-4 and looking downright ordinary, Homer Drew's team found itself and rolled over the rest of the league.

Southern Utah , Missouri-Kansas City, Youngstown State and Oral Roberts hung out ... and Oakland actually won the regular-season title ... but in the end it was the Crusaders who went back to the NCAA Tournament.

Again next season, several teams will have the goods to win it, but Valpo is the favorite until further notice.

The Stars

UMKC's Michael Jackson is the returning player of the year, leading the circuit in scoring (19.8 points) and field-goal percentage (59 percent).

Oakland also returns a pair of big scorers to its freak show of an offense, as Brad Buddenborg (17.4) and Jason Rozycki (15.1) come back for another go-round.