By Bryan Bloodworth
NORMAL – Illinois State’s MiKyle McIntosh and Nick Banyard earned Specialty Awards for their play during the Missouri Valley Conference season, the league office announced Wednesday.
McIntosh, a sophomore forward, was named the captain of the most improved team while redshirt junior Nick Banyard was named to the all-bench team.
The teams, which were selected by the league’s newspaper beat writers, are comprised of a minimum of five student-athletes (top five vote-getters, plus ties) on each squad. McIntosh became the fourth player in Redbird history and the first since Levi Dyer in 2007 to earn the most improved team captain designation.
McIntosh has played in 30 of 31 games, with 26 starts in 2015-16, compared to starting 17 of 35 games in 2014-15. He ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game, which is a 4.8-point increase from his average of 5.8 points per game as a freshman.
He is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game compared to 4.2 per contest in 2014-15. Additionally, all of his shooting percentages have increased comparatively: 43.2 percent from the field vs. 35.0 percent; 36.7 percent from beyond the arc vs. 20 percent; 67 percent at the free throw line vs. 55.7 percent.
McIntosh has recorded 16 blocks and 20 steals, compared to eight blocks and nine steals in 2014-15. The Pickering, Ontario, native has netted a career-best 25 points on two occasions, surpassing his 2014-15 career high of 18 points.
Banyard has played in all 31 games with seven starts. He has been ISU’s first player off the bench in nine games, averaging 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Banyard was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week once.
Over the last eight games, he has averaged 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds. The Flower Mound, Texas, native has reached double-digit scoring three times, including a career-high 18 points in the win at Evansville. Banyard also collected a career-best 11 rebounds in the win over Tennessee State.
ALL-BENCH TEAM
Nick Banyard, Illinois State, Jr., F
Mislav Brzoja, Evansville, Jr., G
Klint Carlson, UNI, So., F
Anton Grady, Wichita State, Sr., F
Markis McDuffie, Wichita State, Fr., F
Leo Vincent, Southern Illinois, Jr., G
MOST IMPROVED TEAM
Jaylon Brown, Evansville, Jr., G
Chris Kendrix, Missouri State, So., G/F
Bennett Koch, UNI, So., F
MiKyle McIntosh, Illinois State, So., F
Bola Olaniyan, Southern Illinois, Jr., C
Donte Thomas, Bradley, So., F
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
