They could go winless. Embarrassing. That’s actually hard to do.
They could go winless. Embarrassing. That’s actually hard to do.
Yes, embarrassing. It should not be hard to recruit and retain very good women players receiving a scholarship at a quality university with high academic standing, a reputation for building students' character and spiritual strength, offering strong majors in fields normally appealing to females, and located in a safe pleasant community. Certainly, unlike the men, mid-major women athletes are not as susceptible to the lure of NIL money elsewhere, and they are not seeking possible pro careers. Why can't VU women get the best local talent like Valparaiso High's Lilian Barnes, the school's all-time leading scorer who is committed to Ball State instead?
The following needs an answer: how and why did this program sink to such a low level over the last 20 years—now plummeting to 0-24, worst record in the nation and likely facing the ignominy of a winless season?
Why can't VU women get the best local talent like Valparaiso High's Lilian Barnes, the school's all-time leading scorer who is committed to Ball State instead?
I've heard Barnes is getting six figures to go to Ball State. There's your answer.
A full ride to Valpo is around $250k, compared to Ball State which may be half that. Throw in the 6 figure cash bonus and it is comparable.
I have no idea if Boyd is a good coach and Valpo is more patient than most. That being said, you need real D1 level players to play D1 ball. On scholarship alone, the program costs at least 900k annually, yet the result has been poor. A lot of time and money is spent on this program, and Hosmer and others need to analyze why this failure persists.
They could go winless. Embarrassing. That’s actually hard to do.
The following needs an answer: how and why did this program sink to such a low level over the last 20 years—now plummeting to 0-24, worst record in the nation and likely facing the ignominy of a winless season?
The final years of Freeman were bad. The hiring of Dorow was the real killer as she for whatever reason was way over her head. Evans was better even had a winning season with Dorow's recruits. With her own, not so much. Now it's Boyd's turn. Understand the top 7 returners either graduated, transferred or missed the season with an injury so being bad was expected though perhaps not this bad. What's next? If everyone returns we only have 2 open scholarships. The first one seems like a winner. We have several who could graduate and transfers are possible. Should be an interesting off season.
A full ride to Valpo is around $250k, compared to Ball State which may be half that. Throw in the 6 figure cash bonus and it is comparable.
I have no idea if Boyd is a good coach and Valpo is more patient than most. That being said, you need real D1 level players to play D1 ball. On scholarship alone, the program costs at least 900k annually, yet the result has been poor. A lot of time and money is spent on this program, and Hosmer and others need to analyze why this failure persists.
The Barnes family house burned down last summer. I imagine getting six figures cash from Ball State is incredibly helpful. Hard to pass that up.
The Ball St girls now have a NET of 68 which is best in the MAC vs VU at 359. The MAC conference NET also now stands well above the Valley at positions 12 and 18. The Valley NET has steeply fallen in recent years and the departure of Missouri St to CUSA didn't help.
I don't blame Barnes for accepting the money, nor do I fault any other player, male or female. Good for them! I would do the same. However, it has been difficult enough to see player after player leave the men's team in recent years for more lucrative opportunities; now, if Ball State is paying a Valpo high school girl not yet tested by college play six figures to commit, then I give up any lingering hope I had for VU, and I'm convinced at this point that the system cannot be fixed.
@valpopal - in women’s college hoops, there is a big gap between the haves and have nots.
so let’s say a scholarship at Valpo is 70k, and there are 15 scholarships. A million spent annually just on scholarships, and Valpo is 0-24. That’s inexcusable. Hosmer better pay attention to this failure.
I've heard Barnes is getting six figures to go to Ball State
Over 4 years or per year? WBNA rookie contracts start at $80K per year.
Lilly was originally going to commit to Minnesota. She instead committed to ball state because of proximity to home as well as the ball state women's program being really good for the past few years. A damn good ball player. One that VU franky can't afford as her buying price was mostly 6 figured based on her other offers. Don't have the exact # but can confirm it was indeed 6 figured
Last night at Murray, a good first half followed by giving up 40 in the 3rd. Is this a record?
I will never understand being down 30 after 3 and we have 3 subs who played only the last 3 minutes.i assume we are trying to look respectable but what's the difference between 25 and 40.
i know it is one year, and the talent level is very subpar, but this is embarrassing at a national level., and Hosmer has some decisions to make.
@usc4valpo I would pump the breaks. Hiring a coach as late as Boyd was hired was bound to cause major issues
@rez - agreed. At the end of the season or even right now, I would presume Boyd and Hosmer are strategizing to clean up this mess. Sometimes in life you have to respect and experience the pain before healing and recovering. I agree that the talent level is bare, and Valpo has a lot to attract quality D1 student athletes. Recruit and hit the protocol hard.
