Just Missing The Cut

Last week the League office released the ten names on the League's 1st and 2nd teams. The top eight returning scorers all made the list and the other two are the best big men in the league (Holman and Howard). But who came in 11th in voting or 12th and so on? Here's the list of the next six players in order of votes:

Ray McCallum, Detroit (43 points)

Bryquis Perine, Green Bay (37)

Ronald Nored (32)

Jeremy Montgomery, Cleveland State (14)

Tone Boyle, Milwaukee (14)

Anthony Hill, Milwaukee (14)

Ray McCallum is the most interesting name on this list because nobody has seen him play a collegiate game yet. That's a lot of respect for the highest-rated recruit in the history of the Horizon League. If he's as good as advertised he'll be moving up this list on the post-season ballot.

Perine is the highest-scoring returning player to not make the first or second team. Perine averaged 13.4 ppg last season for the Phoenix. If Green Bay has a good year Perine will be a big reason why.

Ronald Nored's placement on the 'third team' is a little bit of an enigma. Coaches preach defense all day every day and Nored is hands down the best defender in the league. Perhaps his contributions are harder to quantify because of his perceived lack of offense but he was good enough to earn co-defensive player of the year last season and it would be shocking if he didn't win it the next two years.

A three-way tie for the last spot on this team is shared by Jeremy Montgomery, Tone Boyle, and Anthony Hill. Montgomery is a big reason why the Vikings were picked to finish third in the league. He's played well in big moments including 11 points off the bench his freshman year against Butler in the Horizon League Championship game. Hill came on strong at the end of last season scoring in double figures in each of his last six games. Hill's teammate Tone Boyle sat out last season with a back injury and will have to earn his minutes in what could be a crowded backcourt for coach Jeter and the Panthers. Boyle and Hill's place on this list highlights what could be a really deep Milwaukee team.

For the record, here are the first and second teams:

1st Team

Shelvin Mack (player of the year)

Norris Cole

Matt Howard

Rahmon Fletcher

Brandon Wood

2nd Team

Vaughn Duggins

Eli Holman

Cory Johnson

Chase Simon

Robo Kreps