ANOTHER Winnable game... Blah Blah Blah...
They have more wins than we do overall... but we are tied in the Valley
BUT, they have lost 5 straight...
@Cincinnati 76-58
Indiana State 87-73 at Hulman Center
Murray State 81-59 at Ford Center
Bradley 86-50 at Civic Center
Missouri State 74-64 at Ford Center
In their last game, they only had 14 points in the paint, 7 bench points and 8 fast break points.
They were 9 of 35 from 2-point range, 12 of 27 from 3pt range. Rag's 5 starters all had over 30 minutes of playing time.
For the bad news, they have Joshua Hughes with 22 points, Antonio Thomas with 15 points... and Kenny Strawbridge and Yacine Toumi both with double-digit rebounds... both ended the game with 4 fouls.
Their statistical leading scorer, Ben Humrichous, 6'9 senior (16 ppg), has not played in their last 5 games.
They are averaging 4,768 at the Ford Center.
We are 25-72 against the Aces all time... despite that we have won the last 5 matches...
Well, why don't we make it six in a row against Evansville!
This team is learning how to win. Play well on both ends of the court, and for 40 minutes.
Valpo 72
E'ville 68
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hope I am wrong, but Aces are hungry for a win and will have a good crowd.
Evansville: 72
Valpo: 68
Won't this hinge on whether Humrichous plays? He's been out for five games and they've lost all five.
If their solid player is out, we win:
Valpo 72
Evansville 66
If he is playing:
Valpo 65
Evansville 72
UE supporter, general basketball fan, lacking expertise or insight:
Aces are missing Ben Humrichous, an NAIA transfer who emerged as the team's best player. He has some form of undisclosed foot injury and has been "day to day" since the first of the year. The Aces truly miss his leadership.
UE is not an untalented team and any one of 4 or 5 guys can get hot and grab the reins. Of late, they have played teams that are either a lot better or a little better but playing over their heads. Murray is one.
What flaws the Aces have are similar to all rebuilding programs -- inconsistency at unpredictable points in a game. In a home game, the advantage is not obvious. UE's success early on was measured against weaker OVC teams and some really sloppy examples of MAC programs. The 10 wins is notable considering they won 5 last year and 6 the year before.
Watching VU, if they get into foul trouble, they will probably get bonked.
I'm curious whether anyone else on this board attended the VU/Evansville game on January 8, 1966 - VU beat #1-ranked Evansville 83-73, ending UE's 25 game winning streak. I suppose anyone who did, and who can remember the game, would have to be close to my age (67).
It is hard to describe the atmosphere - Hilltop was completely jammed. There was even an extra set of bleachers set up along the south side. You could not find a seat anywhere. I sat in the second row from the top of the bleachers and they were shaking from the students down below who were swaying back and forth with arms held high in the final seconds as they chanted "Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" My brother was scared the bleachers would collapse. I was too.
At that time UE wore long satin warm up robes when they came out on the court (not sure what else to call them; sort of like what a boxer would wear when he enters the ring). They were different colors - some were purple, some were blue - as well as orange, red, and white ones. Their attire was fitting, I suppose, since they were the kings of small college basketball, having won several national championships.
Tom Smith and Dick Jones were superb in that game.
When the game ended the UE players stood around for a few seconds as if they could not believe they lost.
My brother, dad and I did not miss a game at Hilltop for 10 years. I'm kinda proud of that. We saw some good ballgames, I can tell you that.
I was 10 years old and it was an unforgettable experience. I have been to several thrilling athletic events in my life, but nothing as memorable as this game.
Paul
I was a frosh at UE that winter. We listened to all the Aces games on the radio. The robes were an Evansville trademark but the players never actually liked them. Most games, they were wadded up under the bench or flung off to the side.
The Aces were extremely difficult to beat at Roberts Stadium and the ICC games, which included Valpo, were usually quite a draw for the fans. I never saw a game in Hilltop, so that's kind of a memory I missed. I heard though that playing at St. Joe was even more difficult.
Quote from: 78crusader on January 16, 2024, 10:49:43 AM
I'm curious whether anyone else on this board attended the VU/Evansville game on January 8, 1966 - VU beat #1-ranked Evansville 83-73, ending UE's 25 game winning streak. I suppose anyone who did, and who can remember the game, would have to be close to my age (67).
It is hard to describe the atmosphere - Hilltop was completely jammed. There was even an extra set of bleachers set up along the south side. You could not find a seat anywhere. I sat in the second row from the top of the bleachers and they were shaking from the students down below who were swaying back and forth with arms held high in the final seconds as they chanted "Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" My brother was scared the bleachers would collapse. I was too.
At that time UE wore long satin warm up robes when they came out on the court (not sure what else to call them; sort of like what a boxer would wear when he enters the ring). They were different colors - some were purple, some were blue - as well as orange, red, and white ones. Their attire was fitting, I suppose, since they were the kings of small college basketball, having won several national championships.
Tom Smith and Dick Jones were superb in that game.
When the game ended the UE players stood around for a few seconds as if they could not believe they lost.
My brother, dad and I did not miss a game at Hilltop for 10 years. I'm kinda proud of that. We saw some good ballgames, I can tell you that.
I was 10 years old and it was an unforgettable experience. I have been to several thrilling athletic events in my life, but nothing as memorable as this game.
Paul
Paul, I was there. Sitting with my fraternity bros (Phi Delt) and some Phi Psis across from Gene Bartow and the bench. Starting lineup Rakow 6'6", Cook 6'2", Eynon 6'3, Smitty 5'9"ish, Jones 5'11". Vern Curtis and John Hinkey off the bench. No shot clock, no 3pt arc, but not uncommon for that team to score in the high 80s and low 90s. Yes, the pace would make Roger envious.
EU had two legit All -Americans: Jerry Sloan and Larry Humes.
Electric is an understatement. Favorite memory: With the Aces down late in the game (maybe 6 or so minutes to go). Legendary coach Arad McCutcheon figures he'd just press and get control of the game and win it going away. For the remainder of the game the laughs and giggles from the stands were clear and loud as the two AAs were left time and again with their jocks around their ankles as they clumsily tried to stop Smitty as he single-handedly dribbled around, under and through them. It's imprinted on my brain forever.
But one other memory I also had was of why Jerry Sloan was an AA and why he was such a great pro and afterward a great coach. Without fail, after every jumper he took, he aggressively followed it to the hoop (something few shooters do today). Can't remember how many rebounds or followup baskets he got off a seldomly missed shot, but it was something that stuck with me.
I am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
Quote from: valpotx on January 16, 2024, 01:40:08 PM
I am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
⬆️⬆️⬆️
THIS!
My old BB coach, Elmer Doberstein, at Concordia Prep drilled us on following our shots all the time. We'd get yelled at if we didn't. His mantra was "the shooter knows better than the other 9 on the floor what the ball is gonna do after it leaves his hand." Elmer was a math teacher and he also explained that by having a followup mindset the shooter naturally aligns on better angle toward the basket and it forces better follow-through mechanics.
At Valpo, Smith was a better player than a coach. His teams were not successful and not exciting to watch. I also understand that Valpo was taking the Kmart approach during his era. But he was a legend at Missouri Western, until they faced ... you know.
A MUCH better player.
Quote from: valpotx on January 16, 2024, 01:40:08 PM
I am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
Some fairly insightful comments on Readit about present day philosophy on following your shot.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Basketball/comments/5y5ah3/are_coaches_no_longer_teaching_basketball_players/
Paul, did that Evansville game at Hilltop have Jerry Sloan playing for the Aces? I was a Phi Delt with Dick Jones son Doug. Heard stories that Dick was quite the athlete back in the day. The Rev should
reach out to Dick and bring him back
for a game.
Tiny,
Yes. See my reply below. Paul is referring to the 65-66 season. Smitty graduated in 66. Dick then was the point guard for the 66-67 season.
Sloan was a member of the 1964-65 title teams but not a member of the 1966 team. The 1966 team included Larry Humes, Herb Williams, Sam Watkins, Ron Johnson, Rick Kingston, and a bevy of players who tried to replace Sloan. That team won the ICC and was defeated in the Regionals by SIU, which I believe lost to Ky. Wesleyan in the NCAA finals.
Evansville had won 35 straight going into the 65-66 season and lost its home opener to Iowa. It was a good but not great team. With the home stadium as its 6th man, the Aces were always highly ranked in an era when 10,000 fans was appealing to even Big 10 teams that would go there. Most College Division "gyms" were not much better than high school courts.
John — I went back to our all time results. The game in question involved our "1965 team" , which today we refer to as the 65-66 team because the season covers the winter of 65-66. The win at Hilltop was on January 8, 1966. Jerry and Humes played in that game. Sloan graduated that June leaving only Larry to lead your "1966 team" which finished the season in March of 1967. Does that make sense?
Sloan did not play 65-66 but Humes did. Either way, we have the same game. But my reference to 1966 means 1965-66. The 66-67 Aces team was brutally awful.
I have the box from the game (I hope I can insert it somehow) from the Evansville paper.
https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/420122637_7688130317881699_6989921024278117194_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=cHlqByyLLzgAX98XWfj&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDgC2fxndFrOi5SLFnmCAY1ABVynFIXQNvEgzZ1oxZ04g&oe=65ACAA4C
Quote from: valpotx on January 16, 2024, 01:40:08 PMI am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
The player is doing his job. The proliferation of 3 point shooting means many long rebounds. Long rebounds lead to run outs for the opponent. The 3 point shooter, assuming it's not from the corner, is often the first line of defense vs. a runout and his responsibility is to stop the ball if he can get into position to do so. Shots that get followed are typically 15 feet and in.
Valpo 68
Evan 74
Quote from: johnu1 on January 16, 2024, 09:03:17 PM
Sloan did not play 65-66 but Humes did. Either way, we have the same game. But my reference to 1966 means 1965-66. The 66-67 Aces team was brutally awful.
I have the box from the game (I hope I can insert it somehow) from the Evansville paper.
https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/420122637_7688130317881699_6989921024278117194_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=cHlqByyLLzgAX98XWfj&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDgC2fxndFrOi5SLFnmCAY1ABVynFIXQNvEgzZ1oxZ04g&oe=65ACAA4C
I guess ya got me with that clip, John. It still doesn't square with my recollection of a home win with Sloan on the floor. Maybe I am conflating two home games and projecting the previous year's home loss into the win game in Jan 1966.
I don't remember the game in 1966 at Hilltop because I was only 4 years & 10 months old. But I have a feeling I was at the game. Unfortunately my older brother doesn't remember it either and he was 7 years old. He thinks he might have had practice for a 2nd grade Easter program.
My prediction for the 2024 game is
E-ville 61
Valpo 60
71-64 Aces
Quote from: JD24 on January 16, 2024, 09:04:12 PM
Quote from: valpotx on January 16, 2024, 01:40:08 PMI am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
The player is doing his job. The proliferation of 3 point shooting means many long rebounds. Long rebounds lead to run outs for the opponent. The 3 point shooter, assuming it's not from the corner, is often the first line of defense vs. a runout and his responsibility is to stop the ball if he can get into position to do so. Shots that get followed are typically 15 feet and in.
The jump shots that I am speaking about, are still within the 3 point line. They start fading away without any attempt at rebounding the area near where they shot. These are often still within the 15 feet that you are speaking about.
Purple Acids 68
Beacos 62
Quote from: 78crusader on January 16, 2024, 10:49:43 AM'm curious whether anyone else on this board attended the VU/Evansville game on January 8, 1966 - VU beat #1-ranked Evansville 83-73, ending UE's 25 game winning streak. I suppose anyone who did, and who can remember the game, would have to be close to my age (67).
It is hard to describe the atmosphere - Hilltop was completely jammed. There was even an extra set of bleachers set up along the south side. You could not find a seat anywhere. I sat in the second row from the top of the bleachers and they were shaking from the students down below who were swaying back and forth with arms held high in the final seconds as they chanted "Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" My brother was scared the bleachers would collapse. I was too.
At that time UE wore long satin warm up robes when they came out on the court (not sure what else to call them; sort of like what a boxer would wear when he enters the ring). They were different colors - some were purple, some were blue - as well as orange, red, and white ones. Their attire was fitting, I suppose, since they were the kings of small college basketball, having won several national championships.
Tom Smith and Dick Jones were superb in that game.
When the game ended the UE players stood around for a few seconds as if they could not believe they lost.
My brother, dad and I did not miss a game at Hilltop for 10 years. I'm kinda proud of that. We saw some good ballgames, I can tell you that.
I was 10 years old and it was an unforgettable experience. I have been to several thrilling athletic events in my life, but nothing as memorable as this game.
Paul
I'm sure I was at the game -- I remember the robes, and I remember the temporary stands, but other than that I have no specific memories of the game. That entire era was an exciting time for Valpo basketball. The Hilltop stands were full (maybe not all the way up to the top of "Gym 2" stands) and the environment was electric.
Conflating games from 50 years ago -- nah, nobody does that! Actually there are games that were so memorable to me that I could literally write down every moment that mattered. Then somebody would ask me about it and I'd look it up only to say, "I was certain that Roberts pitched that game. He wasn't even on the team until 3 years later."
As an aside, I am told that the game is Sensory Awareness Night, a science-based social statement that will make the intros much quieter. Not sure how anyone gets much awareness from that but I get the point. Either way, it's not likely to have an effect on you if ESPN+ is your window.
I am just glad you folks haven't booted this old UE grad off your forum.
Quote from: johnu1 on January 17, 2024, 09:25:19 AMI am just glad you folks haven't booted this old UE grad off your forum.
If we get boot stomped tonight all of us might DEMAND your removal!
Thinking back I believe I did see a game during those Sloan, Humes years but it was at Saint Joe. Dad thought the Pumas could keep it close and I think it was close for the first 6 or 7 minutes.
So speaking of games from 50+ years ago, as a student I definitely recall the Evansville game at Hilltop from the 68-69 season. Those were the Bruce Lindner days. We had already beaten them at Evansville and had a one point lead with seconds to go...and then, one of their players caught the inbound pass at today would have been well past the 3 point line, turns and heaved it at the basket...well, we lost by 1.
Quote from: valpotx on January 17, 2024, 12:52:18 AMQuote from: JD24 on January 16, 2024, 09:04:12 PMQuote from: valpotx on January 16, 2024, 01:40:08 PMI am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed how little most players follow their shots nowadays. It irks the hell out of me to see our jump shooters immediately start the opposite direction of our basket after the ball leaves their hands, as if their job is done. This is all while the ball eventually lands about 2 feet from where they were previously standing.
The player is doing his job. The proliferation of 3 point shooting means many long rebounds. Long rebounds lead to run outs for the opponent. The 3 point shooter, assuming it's not from the corner, is often the first line of defense vs. a runout and his responsibility is to stop the ball if he can get into position to do so. Shots that get followed are typically 15 feet and in.
The jump shots that I am speaking about, are still within the 3 point line. They start fading away without any attempt at rebounding the area near where they shot. These are often still within the 15 feet that you are speaking about.
The way the game is played today at all levels, that's about 3-4 shots a game. ;D
One more memory from a VU/Evansville game from long ago.
I was a senior in high school in 1974, and VU was playing Evansville at Hilltop, and at one point in the second half we had a 15 point lead. Although I don't recall this specifically, I think I remember that Evansville had a really good team that year and was ranked very highly.
Anyway, sure enough Evansville stormed back and won the game, 74–73. The Evansville players gathered on the court after the game for a couple of minutes, pounding each other on the back because they could not believe they rallied to win a game that seemed all but lost.
Because the Evansville players lingered on the court after the final buzzer, I actually happened to walk out of the gym with the starting UE center right beside me. I turned him and said "you guys were lucky to win tonight" and he replied, "absolutely."
We had a lot of really close games over the years with Evansville, it seems.
Paul
The guy who made the shot in 1969 was Dave Weeks. I remember it being a boring night on campus and a bunch of us went to the airport to greet the team after they got home. There are other stories connected to this but the Aces were a so-so team and that win gave them either the ICC title or a tie. We were thinking the NCAA would give them a "bid" to the tournament, but they didn't. Good grief, why do I remember this stuff????
My first visit to the ARC (looked it up, 1987) when Marty Simmons was playing for Evansville. I had no idea what Valpo brought to the table but they literally curb-stomped the Aces by 20-some points. (80-58). A Valpo guard -- I think his name was Mike Jones -- nailed about 6 shots from out in left field.
Aces at the time were overall doing pretty well in the Jim Crews years.
Evansville favored by 6.5, the over/under is 141.5 as of 2 hours ago!
Quote from: humbleopinion on January 17, 2024, 08:51:25 AM
Quote from: 78crusader on January 16, 2024, 10:49:43 AM'm curious whether anyone else on this board attended the VU/Evansville game on January 8, 1966 - VU beat #1-ranked Evansville 83-73, ending UE's 25 game winning streak. I suppose anyone who did, and who can remember the game, would have to be close to my age (67).
It is hard to describe the atmosphere - Hilltop was completely jammed. There was even an extra set of bleachers set up along the south side. You could not find a seat anywhere. I sat in the second row from the top of the bleachers and they were shaking from the students down below who were swaying back and forth with arms held high in the final seconds as they chanted "Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" My brother was scared the bleachers would collapse. I was too.
At that time UE wore long satin warm up robes when they came out on the court (not sure what else to call them; sort of like what a boxer would wear when he enters the ring). They were different colors - some were purple, some were blue - as well as orange, red, and white ones. Their attire was fitting, I suppose, since they were the kings of small college basketball, having won several national championships.
Tom Smith and Dick Jones were superb in that game.
When the game ended the UE players stood around for a few seconds as if they could not believe they lost.
My brother, dad and I did not miss a game at Hilltop for 10 years. I'm kinda proud of that. We saw some good ballgames, I can tell you that.
I was 10 years old and it was an unforgettable experience. I have been to several thrilling athletic events in my life, but nothing as memorable as this game.
Paul
I'm sure I was at the game -- I remember the robes, and I remember the temporary stands, but other than that I have no specific memories of the game. That entire era was an exciting time for Valpo basketball. The Hilltop stands were full (maybe not all the way up to the top of "Gym 2" stands) and the environment was electric.
The stands were full clear up to and including the top row of the gym 2 stands. My evidence? I was sitting in the second row from the top and had to squeeze in to get that seat.
Humrichous is a seriously good player. Without him though, I think Evansville loses this game.
Valpo 73
"The team that wore the sleeves" - George W. Bush 68
JohnU1, yeah Harry Bell was the man with that '87 team. Played in Hungary for a vey long time. I think he still lives there. Really wish PO would do an article on him
Dick Jones someday. Jim Ford was also
Pretty good from that team. ARC was fairly new back then.
WHY IN THE NAME OF JAMES NAISMITH IS THE SHOT CLOCK NOT ON THE SCORE BUG? Fix your sh$t E-Ville!
Evansville is HUGE! They are way bigger than us. Great first half, very entertaining. Williamson WILL be a star for us if we can keep him.
Wow. Stafford playing at potential , we've got a chance ! Darius n Cooper playing decent, tied at 59 with 9:46 to go !!!
Anyone else being tortured by the same ESPN ad over and over?
I think both teams should be charged with a loss in this one.
Game effort, can't fault the effort. Team playing more connected than last year on both sides. Short bench/8 man rotation. Three things added up to a loss: Evansville's length, not stepping out/contesting three's enough, and a few careless turnovers/empty posesesions. Schweiger did a good job of letting the game come to him and not rushing things in the second half. Sepp is such an intelligent player with position defense, and tip outs. Dude lacks a lot athleticism but a smart player, with no offensive game. Credit to Stafford, excellent game, but who thinks Evansville played good defense on him? Aces and Valpo are pretty equal teams. I hope this effort carries over to Saturday for a very winnable game against UIC.
Quote from: HawaiianBroekhoff on January 17, 2024, 08:36:58 PM
Anyone else being tortured by the same ESPN ad over and over?
Annoying but worse yet was that I lost ESPN with about 7 minutes left.
Valpo went with experience tonight. Only 86 freshman minutes played in comparison with the 105 at ISU red. 45 minutes played by the sophmores, 69 by the 2 juniors and none of the 3 seniors took the floor.
I like Edwards overall, but he needs to be held to one 3 point shot each game. If he makes it, he can try another, to see if he has a hot hand. However, he is very much like Donovan Clay, where he is athletic as heck, and can shoot well from inside the 3 point line, and should live in more of the mid-range.
Quote from: valpotx on January 17, 2024, 09:38:09 PM
I like Edwards overall, but he needs to be held to one 3 point shot each game. If he makes it, he can try another, to see if he has a hot hand. However, he is very much like Donovan Clay, where he is athletic as heck, and can shoot well from inside the 3 point line, and should live in more of the mid-range.
I pretty much agree. He can defend and rebound and blocks some shots but is a marginal shooter that turns the ball over while making few assists. I want him to stay but his role on the 24-25 team should be very different resulting in less minutes.
Didn't watch game. Our defense needs to be better - 62.5% from 3 pt land and 50.9% overall FG % allowed?!? So close.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wasted Stafford's big game.
Wouldn't have minded Connor in at the end of the game to settle things down. Can shoot too.
Stats reveal the story in the past three games and the difference in scores can be attributed to a schizophrenic 3-point percent by Valpo's opponents. In the two losses, Southern Illinois (8-15) and Evansville (10-16) surprisingly shot north of 50% from the outside. Valpo (11-27, a decent 40.7%) actually made more 3-pointers than Evansville, but Evansville's percent was an incredible 62.5%! The VU victory in between happened due to Illinois State shooting an awful 1-18 from the 3-point line, a miserable 5.6%, while Valpo neared their average with a 4-12 (33%). For the season, opponents are shooting a reasonable 33.8%. In fact, although VU is shooting a lower level at the 3-point line (31.5%), the overall number of made 3-pointers is remarkably even, 125 for opponents and 123 for Valpo.
Difference in the game was Evansville having a few more FTs. Valpo had more FGs than Evansville.
The development of Darius into one of the leagues best point guards is nothing short of amazing. Last year no one bothered to guard him and now he is scoring from the 3 as well as in the lane, shooting 33% from the 3, over 80% from the line while having better than a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and currently on pace to have the third most assists in a season in Valpo history!
Quote from: JD24 on January 18, 2024, 11:21:20 AM
Difference in the game was Evansville having a few more FTs. Valpo had more FGs than Evansville.
That is misleading. Valpo had only 1 more field goal while making 10 more attempts, all outside 3-point misses where Valpo was 11-27 (41%) and Evansville was 10-16 (63%). Both teams had 17 2-point field goals. Therefore, the Evansville edge in free throws largely came from VU fouls on drives inside that likely would have been field goals, which explains not only the fewer field goals recorded for Evansville but also their higher number of free throws. The difference in the game was the percentage performance from the 3-point line: 10-16 gives an efficiency of an amazing 30 points in 16 attempts (94% in 2-point terms) while 11-27 is an efficiency of 33 points in 27 attempts (61% in 2-point terms), decent but no match.
Quote from: vu72 on January 18, 2024, 11:32:58 AM
The development of Darius into one of the leagues best point guards is nothing short of amazing. Last year no one bothered to guard him and now he is scoring from the 3 as well as in the lane, shooting 33% from the 3, over 80% from the line while having better than a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and currently on pace to have the third most assists in a season in Valpo history!
Went to the archives for TO comparisons. I thought that Deion Lavender might have a better assist to turn over ratio but he was less than 2 to 1 and was a very weak shooter from anywhere on the floor. The ratio for Lexus also trails. Trevor Anderson had great numbers but played so little from the injuries that they can't be compared. Reidinger also had a good ratio but with limited minutes and poor shooting. You have to go back to Keith Carter for great point guard number. 161 assists vs 59 turn overs his senior season! :o. BUT! He was surrounded by excellent veteran shooters and playmakers instead of a center less band of rookies who largely can't shoot.
Quote from: valpopal on January 18, 2024, 12:31:42 PMQuote from: JD24 on January 18, 2024, 11:21:20 AMDifference in the game was Evansville having a few more FTs. Valpo had more FGs than Evansville.
That is misleading. Valpo had only 1 more field goal while making 10 more attempts, all outside 3-point misses where Valpo was 11-27 (41%) and Evansville was 10-16 (63%). Both teams had 17 2-point field goals. Therefore, the Evansville edge in free throws largely came from VU fouls on drives inside that likely would have been field goals, which explains not only the fewer field goals recorded for Evansville but also their higher number of free throws. The difference in the game was the percentage performance from the 3-point line: 10-16 gives an efficiency of an amazing 30 points in 16 attempts (94% in 2-point terms) while 11-27 is an efficiency of 33 points in 27 attempts (61% in 2-point terms), decent but no match.
The assumption that the fouled shots would have created more FGs is misleading. So my analysis and your analysis fall into a to each his own way of looking at things. However, in pure numbers, it was the free throw difference which led to the difference in the score.
Darius could always play off and find shots for people reading the ball screen. Lottich's offense essentially had the point bring the ball up, feed the wing or post and then go stand in the corner. Lottich also never really inspired much confidence in Darius and frankly couldn't coach or motivate to the level of Rev. completely different approach this year with the offense and instilling confidence. Rev should be able to surround Darius and probably another young pg with some perimeter shooting next season so yes expect the assist total to grow.
Quote from: JD24 on January 18, 2024, 01:27:43 PM
Quote from: valpopal on January 18, 2024, 12:31:42 PMQuote from: JD24 on January 18, 2024, 11:21:20 AMDifference in the game was Evansville having a few more FTs. Valpo had more FGs than Evansville.
That is misleading. Valpo had only 1 more field goal while making 10 more attempts, all outside 3-point misses where Valpo was 11-27 (41%) and Evansville was 10-16 (63%). Both teams had 17 2-point field goals. Therefore, the Evansville edge in free throws largely came from VU fouls on drives inside that likely would have been field goals, which explains not only the fewer field goals recorded for Evansville but also their higher number of free throws. The difference in the game was the percentage performance from the 3-point line: 10-16 gives an efficiency of an amazing 30 points in 16 attempts (94% in 2-point terms) while 11-27 is an efficiency of 33 points in 27 attempts (61% in 2-point terms), decent but no match.
The assumption that the fouled shots would have created more FGs is misleading. So my analysis and your analysis fall into a to each his own way of looking at things. However, in pure numbers, it was the free throw difference which led to the difference in the score.
I said "likely" would have created more field goals, which is undeniable and not misleading at all, especially when the total disparity in field goals was only 1. "Pure numbers" is the misleading part, since how those numbers were attained is the most important "difference" in the flow of the game and its outcome. Similarly, if a team were to win a game by 5 points and had 6 more free throw makes, but those were in the final 30 seconds on intentional fouls by the trailing team trying to catch up, the "pure numbers" would suggest free throws were the difference, but the flow of the game that led to the outcome would be completely different.