The Valpo Fan Zone Forum - Recent Topics

Volleyball

vu72 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:12:38 +0000

What’s up with Carin Avery? She has missed the first tournament and now the Popcorn Tourney in underway and she is (as announced) “unavailable “. Hope it isn’t anything serious.

And I thought the ARC was getting air-conditioning?

Mercy Rule

vu72 — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:16:15 +0000

Here in Texas, among small schools playing 9 man football, there is something called the “mercy” rule. Essentially 50 point lead in the second half ends the game.
The NCAA needs something similar. Nothing can be gained, and only players hurt, playing in a game like Illinois State v. St. Francis , ending in a 76-0 win for the Redbirds.

Week 0: No. 368 Valparaiso vs 669 Lawrence Tech

Valpofb16 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:16:50 +0000

Here goes nothing! 6 days until Game Notes. Let’s win game one.

VU: 24

LT: 13

Conference Opponent Season Preview: The University of Illinois Chicago Flames

Bryan F. — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:25:21 +0000

UIC may be the MVC's most overlooked contender heading into 2026-27. The Flames return much of the core that won 12 conference games, reached the Arch Madness title game, and earned an NIT bid, then added former Big Ten guard Gabe Cupps and sharpshooter Asa Thomas through the portal. Can Rob Ehsan's group take the next step and become a legitimate title threat? I break down the roster, key additions, biggest questions, and where I project the Flames to finish in the Valley. Full preview below.

https://bryanfoley2.substack.com/p/mvc-conference-opponent-the-uic-flames?r=3w51dd&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

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This wraps up the season previews, I know there have been a few updates with 5th year guys getting injunctions and what not, but I don't feel the need to go back and update those as that's such a fickle part of the current NCAA situation.

Anthony Delisanti pro career

vu72 — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:41:24 +0000

Now that Anthony is a pro it seemed appropriate to give him his own page!

He is playing on the Dakota tour, the same place Caleb started. They only play a few tournaments and the payouts aren’t very large.

From what I can gather, he has had a 17th, a 14th and a tie for 4th so far. He is tied for 12th as of today’s event with two rounds to play.

Storm damage

78crusader — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:33:12 +0000

Did the campus get hit hard?

Conference Opponent Season Preview: The Southern Illinois Salukis

Bryan F. — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:25:05 +0000

Just UIC left for the MVC season opponent preview and may get that out this week rather than next week.

Baha Mar Hoops Summer League Exhibition Event Thread

Bryan F. — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:17:19 +0000

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The Baha Mar Hoops Summer League has started with Louisville crushing the Bahamas National Team on Tuesday. Attached is the schedule for this MTE. Tomorrow the event shifts into second gear.

There has been some media published if anyone wants to check it out.

Valpo weekly: Roger and Brandon sit down for an update. https://youtu.be/4Hp2AQqIozw?si=N744iLo0ZgcEzUfM

The College Sports Network: Vince Wolfram covers Valpo in the last 6 minutes of his video. https://youtu.be/7IR25OukIu4?si=conpV_NIHjsc2mEw

The Valpo Vault: The duo over at the Valpo Vault posted a piece on the trip. https://open.substack.com/pub/thevalpovault/p/valpo-basketball-returns-early?r=3w51dd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

The Beacon Brief: Posted some content regarding what to expect, and some details on the opponents Valpo has matched up with. https://open.substack.com/pub/bryanfoley2/p/basketball-on-the-beach-valpo-opens?r=3w51dd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Conference Opponent Season Preview: The Northern Iowa Panthers

Bryan F. — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:13:42 +0000

** Blurb about future content moving forward, I will finish out the season preview series on the forum. **

Forum Friends,

Over the past year, I've enjoyed contributing Valpo basketball content to the forum. At times, I've wondered if my longer posts and articles may be taking up more space than a discussion forum is really intended for. At the same time, I know many of us are hungry for Valpo basketball coverage, especially during the offseason when there are limited sources covering the program.

Outside of official University channels, there isn't a great deal of consistent coverage available. The Valpo Vault (also on Substack) has been relatively quiet this offseason, though hopefully they'll be back soon, and Paul does an excellent job with The Victory Bell and its subscription model while covering Valpo athletics more broadly.

With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to check out The Beacon Brief, my completely free Substack dedicated to all things Valpo Basketball. You'll find my season previews series already over there, and I will transition roster analysis, recruiting updates, and other in-depth coverage that doesn't always fit naturally within forum discussions. Additionally, I would like to provide even more in-depth coverage of the program if access can be obtained to bring it to our fanbase.

Going forward, I'll likely post full articles on The Beacon Brief and share links here within the discussion threads, allowing the forum to remain focused on discussion while still giving interested readers access to longer-form content.

If you'd like to follow along, you can subscribe here: https://substack.com/@thebeaconbrief

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented on, and engaged with my posts. I hope you've found the content valuable, and I look forward to continuing to cover Valpo Basketball and discussing it with all of you.

Go Beacons!

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Northern Iowa Panthers 2026–2027 Season Preview

Up Next: Northern Iowa

2025–2026 Recap

Northern Iowa once again proved that writing off Ben Jacobson is usually a bad idea.

The Panthers finished 23-13 overall and 11-9 in MVC play, good for a sixth-place finish during the regular season. They started the season winning 12 of 15 games before losing 5 straight in the heart of Valley play. While UNI's offense was often a grind, the Panthers leaned on one of the nation's best defenses, allowing just 61.8 points per game and finishing among the top defensive teams in Division I. Their season peaked at just the right time in St. Louis, where they captured the MVC Tournament championship from day 1 winning 4 games in 4 days and earned an NCAA Tournament berth before receiving a beat down via St. John's in the first round.

UNI's formula was familiar: defend at a high level, play at a controlled pace, limit mistakes, and win close games. Trey Campbell served as the offensive catalyst, while other veterans Leon Bond, Ben Schwieger, Tristan Smith, and Will Hornseth provided experience and consistency throughout the season. Campbell was named all Valley second team and all defensive team, Bond was also named all defensive team, and Hornseth was named to the most improved team.

Offseason Turnover

As is often the case following a successful season, Northern Iowa lost a significant portion of its veteran core.

Gone are several key contributors from the MVC Tournament championship team. Replacing their production and leadership will be the biggest challenge facing new first year head coach Kyle Green this season.

Departures

Ben Jacobson – New Head Coach at Utah State

Trey Campbell - Graduation

Will Hornseth – Transferred to Utah State

Leon Bond – Transferred to Iowa State

Tristan Smith – Graduation

Ben Schwieger – Graduation

Max Weisbrod – Graduation

Ismael Diouf – Unknown

RJ Taylor – Transferred to Oakland

Chase Courbat – Graduation

Hunter Jacobson - Graduation

Marino Dunravcic – Transferred to Hawaii Pacific

Returning Core

Cade Courbat (6-8, G, Jr.) Did not play last season due to injury

Levi Valdo (6-3, G, So.) – Did not play last season

Redek Born (6-3, G, Jr.) Redshirted last season

Jalen Wilson (6-8, F, So.) Redshirted last season

Kyle Pock (6-6, F, Sr.)

Pock has developed within the Panther system and will be expected to take on increased responsibilities on both ends of the floor. His experience should help anchor a younger roster. While not the star, he might be the best returning player with minutes and will be a key reserve or a standard core type of player.

Geon Hutchins (6-4, G, So.)

After gaining valuable minutes as a freshman, Hutchins enters the season as one of UNI's most important breakout candidates. The Panthers will need him to provide backcourt production and defensive versatility.

Returning Positional Minutes based on the last 5 games played:

PG 0%

SG 10%

SF 0%

PF 0%

C 0%

Key Additions

Greyson Uelmen (6-3, G, Jr.) – North Dakota

Uelmen arrives with Division I experience and gives the Panthers another capable backcourt option. His ability to handle the ball and provide a scoring punch should help fill some of the void left by Campbell's departure. He was an all-Summit League selection a season ago and will likely be the main scorer.

Tate McCubbin (6-8, G/F, Jr.) – Austin Peay

McCubbin fits the prototype of a UNI wing. He brings size, versatility, and positional flexibility that should allow him to contribute immediately.

Jules Isebaert (6-5, F, Jr.) - International

An intriguing international addition, Isebaert adds athleticism and versatility to the wing rotation. His adjustment to MVC play will be worth monitoring.

Carson Vis (6-4, G, So.) – Western Michigan

Vis gives UNI another young perimeter option with upside. He should compete for meaningful backcourt minutes early.

Isaiah Johnson-Arifu (6-7, F, Jr.) - St. Thomas

Isaiah Johnson-Arigu is a versatile 6-foot-7 combo forward who brings athleticism, defensive versatility, and efficient scoring to the floor. After beginning his career at Miami (FL) and spending time at Iowa, the Minnesota native emerged as a key contributor for St. Thomas.

Ian Smikle (6-9, F, Jr.) – Tulsa

Ian Smikle is a physical 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward who provides interior toughness, rebounding, rim protection, and high-level energy. A former AAC All-Freshman Team selection, Smikle developed into one of Tulsa's foundational frontcourt pieces thanks to his size, motor, and defensive impact, he hopes to bring this energy to UNI.

Incoming Freshmen

Northern Iowa continues to recruit and develop at a high level, bringing in another freshman class that fits the program's long-term approach.

Jaydon Kimbrough (6-3, G)
Will Gerdes (6-8, F)

As always at UNI, immediate freshman production is a bonus. The Panthers' success has historically been built on player development rather than relying heavily on first-year contributors.

Key Questions

Who replaces Trey Campbell's offensive production and leadership?
Is UNI’s lack of size and length going to be a problem in the Valley?
How quickly will the new transfers adjust to UNI's system?
Will the Panthers maintain their elite defensive identity under Kyle Green?
Does this squad have enough offensive fire power?
Is there enough talent in the backcourt?

Outlook

On one hand, the Panthers lost much of the veteran core that helped deliver a surprise MVC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. There is considerably less proven production on this roster than what Ben Jacobson enjoyed a season ago.

On the other hand, UNI has consistently been one of the league's most stable programs. The Panthers rarely beat themselves, they defend at a high level, and bring in a new head coach who is very familiar with Jacobsons style. That track record matters, or does it?

The ceiling of this team will likely depend on whether players like Born, Hutchins, Wilson, and Uelmen can step into larger offensive roles. The defense should remain strong but replacing Campbell's shot creation and late-game scoring may be easier said than done.

Biggest Strengths

Retained players from last season’s team (albeit not a ton of minutes)
Defensive identity
Player development
New head coach with multiple years of program experience

Biggest Concerns

Replacing veteran leadership
Offensive firepower
Limited returning star power
Integrating new contributors
Loss of their long-time head coach

Projection

MVC Finish: 5th–9th

The Panthers feel like a classic Northern Iowa team: tough, disciplined, and unlikely to beat themselves.

The floor remains relatively high because of the program's culture and defensive foundation. However, unlike some recent UNI teams, this roster lacks a proven star entering the season. If several young players make significant jumps, the Panthers could challenge the upper tier of the MVC. If not, they may find themselves fighting in the middle of a crowded conference race. I personally think UNI is going to be in the back half of the standing this year.

Final Thought

Betting against Northern Iowa has rarely been a profitable strategy.

The Panthers lost a substantial amount of production, and their head coach. While this year's roster may not have the proven star power of recent UNI teams, it has enough depth, and versatility they shouldn’t be overlooked in conversation. The question isn't whether Northern Iowa will be competitive—it's whether the next wave of Panthers is ready to take the next step or will this be a rebuilding year.

Paul Schrage

vu84v2 — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 18:22:29 +0000

Per the attached article, Paul Schrage passed away in January. Obviously made a major impact on Valpo but also made major contributions to McDonalds.

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