LaVoy, a junior guard/forward from Oregon, Wis., was one of two Lawrence players selected to the all-conference team. Senior guard Nate Leverence received honorable mention.
"I think Adam became more consistent this year. That was the most obvious difference from last year to this year," Lawrence coach John Tharp said.
"This year he was so much more steady and consistent. I think he had a mission to get this team to the conference tournament."
LaVoy led the conference in scoring at 22.7 points per game and finished the season at 20.3 points per game. LaVoy shot 51.7 percent (182 of 352) from the floor, 34.9 percent (30 of 86) on 3-pointers, and 75.2 percent (94 of 125) from the free-throw line.
LaVoy averaged 4.9 rebounds (second on the team), 1.95 steals, and 1.87 assists per game. LaVoy showed a plethora of offensive skills. From hitting a key 3-pointer to taking the ball to the basket, LaVoy was, at times, simply unstoppable.
"He scored in a variety of different ways this year," Tharp said. "That's what separated him from other guys in the league. He has a complete offensive game.
"Everyone was keying on Adam, and he still did it with everyone keying on him. He likes the ball in his hands, and we like giving it to him."
LaVoy had some big games for the Vikings, led by a 41-point outburst at Grinnell on Jan. 29. LaVoy scored 30 points against Monmouth (Jan. 22), 29 at St. Norbert (Feb. 16), and 27 apiece against Lake Forest (Feb. 1) and at Loyola (La.) University (Dec. 19). The 41 points ties LaVoy for the third-highest single game total in school history.
The scary part for the rest of the teams in the conference is that LaVoy will be back next year. "That's the most exciting thing about it from my standpoint as a coach. We've got the player of the year back," Tharp said.
"He and I have already talked, and we talked about building on this for next year rather than relying on this accomplishment."
Leverence, a native of Mukwonago, Wis., was 14th in the conference in scoring at 13.5 points per game and averaged 13.4 on the season. Leverence led Lawrence into the MWC Tournament Championship game after pouring in a career-high 36 points in a 67-61 semifinal win over Lake Forest. Leverence hit 12 of 12 free-throw attempts, tying for the second-best single game total in school history, on his way to 30 points in a win over Grinnell on Jan. 29.
"At times, (Leverence) put on his back as well. I'm just excited for him because he took a year off," said Tharp, referring to the year Leverence spent doing research in Costa Rica.
A biology major, Leverence was a force for the Vikings both on and off the court.
"Nate took great pride in being a senior and showing leadership," Tharp said. "He did whatever he thought we needed scoring, leadership, defense."
Lake Forest's Chris Conger was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Foresters to their first MWC men's basketball title since they tied with Ripon in 1977-78.
ALL-MIDWEST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL
First Team
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown
Adam LaVoy Jr. G/F Lawrence Oregon, Wis.
J.R. Jurecko Jr. C Lake Forest Libertyville, Ill.
Will Davis So. G/F Carroll Milwaukee, Wis.
Kent Froebe Sr. F Monmouth Tremont, Ill.
Steve Kohl So. G Ripon Muskego, Wis.
Second Team
Josh Glocke So G Ripon Berlin, Wis.
Kevin Geraghty Sr. G Knox Antioch, Ill.
Henry Grant So. F Beloit Chicago, Ill.
Brian Bruha So. G Lake Forest Hillsboro, Wis.
Jeff Stenoish So. F Monmouth Peoria, Ill.
Honorable Mention
Fred Bell Fr. G Lake Forest Mequon, Wis.
Nate Leverence Sr. G Lawrence Mukwonago, Wis.
Jason Hanson So. G/F Beloit Marengo, Ill.
Steve Cottrell Jr. C Knox Moline, Ill.
Jeff Massen Sr. C Ripon Adams, Wis.
Matt Espenscheid Jr F Illinois Coll. Petersburg, Ill.
Chris Zais Jr. G St. Norbert Shawano, Wis.
Steve Glasgow So. G Monmouth Galesburg, Ill.Player of the Year Adam LaVoy, Lawrence
Coach of the Year
Chris Conger, Lake Forest