Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) was already a high-level player prior to the 2022-23 season, but this year his play reached a whole new level for the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team.

By virtue of making another giant step forward, Krikke was tabbed to the Missouri Valley Conference Most-Improved Team for the second time in his career as that squad was released by the league office on Tuesday. This came a day after the 6-foot-9 forward was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team for the third consecutive season.

Entering the State Farm MVC Tournament, Krikke boasts a league-leading scoring average of 19.6 points per game overall. In league play, he finished as the MVC scoring king at 21.0 ppg.

Krikke, who was previously tabbed to the Most-Improved Team following the 2020-21 campaign, was also recently named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District for the second time in his career. His long list of honors also includes All-MVC Third Team accolades each of the last two seasons. He ranks eighth on the program’s all-time scoring list and also sits in eighth place on the program’s single-season scoring list. Twice this season he earned MVC Player of the Week accolades.

Krikke increased his scoring average by 5.4 points per game from last season while upping his rebounding average by 1.4 boards per contest and has 20 more assists in just two more games. He also improved his field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage, offensive rebound total, and blocked shot total from last year.

Krikke increased his conference-only scoring average by 6.4 points per game as well. He is set to become just the third MVC player since 2005 to average at least 17 points and five boards while shooting better than 75 percent from the line and 50 percent from the floor, joining Missouri State’s Isiaih Mosley and Creighton’s Doug McDermott.

This is the fifth straight season that Valpo has boasted at least one member of the MVC Most-Improved Team, with the Beacons notching five honorees in that span – Derrik Smits (2018-19), Javon Freeman-Liberty (2019-20), Mileek McMillan (2019-20), Krikke (2020-21), Sheldon Edwards (2021-22) and Krikke (2022-23). Krikke becomes Valpo’s first two-time MVC Most-Improved Team recipient.

The all-conference teams and other league awards will be announced at Wednesday night’s awards banquet in St. Louis. The Beacons will begin the conference tournament on Thursday night at 6 p.m. vs. Murray State.

MVC All-Bench Team

Ja’Shon Henry, Bradley (captain)

Sardaar Calhoun, Drake

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Belmont

Chance Moore, Missouri State

Landon Wolf, UNI

MVC Most-Improved Team

Tytan Anderson, UNI (captain)

Darnell Brodie, Drake

Ben Krikke, Valparaiso

Malevy Leons, Bradley

Zek Montgomery, Bradley