Game 3 should be an opportunity to get some of our bench guys valuable playing time. As much as I'd like to win by 20+, I think getting Emil, Max, Cam, Darius, Connor etc some extended run would be great. Chicago State is 1-2,ranked 352/363 teams by Massey with loses to NW by 31 and St Thomas(brand new to D1) by 18. They did beat IUPUI by 10 which isn't saying much considering the mass exodus of players two years ago. Hopefully we don't come out flat and give them a chance!
Valpo 76
Chicago St 62
Valpo 82
Chicago State 65
No ghost of Deji Akindele here...
Quote from: valpotx on November 15, 2022, 07:16:47 PMDeji Akindele
From wikipedia:
QuoteAkindele chose Chicago State over Rutgers, St. Peters and St. Marys. During Akindele's first season in Chicago, the 7'1" center averaged 7.1 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 1.94 blocks per game.[1] In his second season, Akindele improved his block total by 8 in 4 fewer games (2.50 bpg), as well as improving his scoring average to 12 ppg.[2] His best game, statistically, was when he registered 28 points (10-for-13 field goals), 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 79–71 loss to Green Bay on December 1, 2004.[3] He was also named the Mid-Continent Conference defensive player of the year for 2004–2005.
Akindele left Chicago State after his sophomore year, declaring himself eligible for the 2005 NBA draft. Going unselected in 2005, he had a short stint with the NBA team Golden State Warriors. Akindele was then selected in the fourth round of the Development League's Draft by the Fort Worth Flyers.[4]
In December 2010 he signed with Montepaschi Siena until the end of the 2010–11 season.[5] In August 2011 he returned to Russia to play for Spartak Primorye.[6] In February 2012, he signed in Iran with Petrochimi Bandar Imam.[7] In August 2012, he signed with Juvecaserta Basket.[8] In April 2013, he left them and signed with Champville in Lebanon.[9]
In August 2013, he signed with Budućnost Podgorica.[10] Once the Adriatic League regular season finished, in April 2014 Akindele signed for Gran Canaria until the end of the 2013–14 season.[11]
In September 2014, he signed with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada of Spain for the 2014–15 ACB season.[12] He won the ACB Player of the Month Award in January 2015.[13]
On June 11, 2015, he signed with Yeşilgiresun Belediye of the Turkish Basketball League for the 2015–16 season.[14] On June 27, 2015, he signed a short-term deal with Vaqueros de Bayamón of Puerto Rico for the rest of the 2015 BSN season.[15] In July 2015, he joined the Metros de Santiago of Dominican Republic for the rest of the 2015 LNB season.[16]
In October 2016, Akindele signed with Fuerza Regia of the Mexican LNBP.[17] On April 5, 2017, he re-joined the Vaqueros de Bayamón.[18]
In December 2017, Akindele signed with Yalova Group BelediyeSpor of the Turkish Basketball First League.[19] On April 10, 2018, he returned to Puerto Rico with Capitanes de Arecibo.[20] Akindele rejoined Vaqueros de Bayamón on February 26, 2020, replacing the injured Greg Smith.[21]
Deji has played in the USA, Russia, Italy, Iran, Lebanon, Montenegro, Spain, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico and his home country of Nigeria. That has to be close to some kind of record for numbers of countries that a professional basketball player has played.
Deji had a longer pro career than Greg Oden...and might have a longer career than Chet Holmgren, and he might have been amazing for Chicago State's record and history books, if he had stayed 4 years.
I'm not paying to watch this game. Will be nice to listen to Todd and Brandon calling this one.
I can't watch the game anyway tonight, but I really want to know how much money companies like FloHoops are making from games like this. What is the benefit to buying the rights to this game? How many people do they think are going to pay to watch a game between Valparaiso and Chicago State?
Quote from: vok22 on November 16, 2022, 09:39:06 AMI can't watch the game anyway tonight, but I really want to know how much money companies like FloHoops are making from games like this. What is the benefit to buying the rights to this game? How many people do they think are going to pay to watch a game between Valparaiso and Chicago State?
Idk , definitely annoying , but I paid. Just money 🤣 Ughhh slow start, down 8-2
Quote from: vok22 on November 16, 2022, 09:39:06 AM
I can't watch the game anyway tonight, but I really want to know how much money companies like FloHoops are making from games like this. What is the benefit to buying the rights to this game? How many people do they think are going to pay to watch a game between Valparaiso and Chicago State?
FloHoops uses this as a fundraising source for both themselves and the schools they cover, but I'm not interested in spending about $30 for one game online, even if I get a full month's access. I don't need to spend that much for this game.
Quote from: VUSWIM08-12 on November 16, 2022, 06:53:07 PM
Quote from: vok22 on November 16, 2022, 09:39:06 AMI can't watch the game anyway tonight, but I really want to know how much money companies like FloHoops are making from games like this. What is the benefit to buying the rights to this game? How many people do they think are going to pay to watch a game between Valparaiso and Chicago State?
Idk , definitely annoying , but I paid. Just money 🤣 Ughhh slow start, down 8-2
You are my eyes and ears keep posting!
Absolute dog shat so far , down 15-8, after under 12 timeout , no clock on the feed !
Is anyone else severely annoyed about us entering into a home and home with Chicago state and they broadcast on flow hoops. Like no one is lining up to play them we are doing them a favor. Put it in the contact it's espn+ or streamed on a free service they arnt gonna say no... I understand flow for MTEs not this.
Down 20-8, if we lose fire Lottich at 10pm tonight
Going to need King to get it going. And everyone needs to step up on perimeter defense! CSU is shooting hot, and this would be an embarassing loss.
Any guesses on attendance? I'm sure the announced number will be inflated a bit but there'll be a lot of empty seats.
Never hop over to this side but a loss to Chicago State would be absolutely unacceptable.
Does Lottich have a large buyout? What am I missing?
Fire Lottich , worst half I've seen in 15 yrs of Valpo basketball . Down 34-14, just a fawkin joke and embarrassment!
Chicago State 18-119 last 5 years
How has Chicago State made 12 shots in a row??
Wow , I'm at a loss , down 43-21. 2:30 left in first half
They are playing as an independent, and we can't hit the broad side of the rim, or the officials don't even care, since Chicago St. is playing just for the hell of it these days. They LEFT the WAC, and don't have a conference for most of their sports...WHAT THE F!!! WHY are we playing this game, other than CSU just needs games? Do these count against us in the NET or whatever metrics the NCAA uses for tournament seeding these days?
For anyone watching the game, are they making contested shots, or are all of these wide open? Does Chicago State realize that they are Chicago State?
Is this a "buy game" for the Cougars? Hah
50/50 a good amount of open 3s
No they don't realize who they are and that's why they are crushing us, confident play. Like 70% from 3 I think. Makes no difference if it's a buy or not. Come out and play. I'll be leaving a message for Dr. Small this evening. Ughhhhhhhhhh, Fuc, Fuc, Fuk. Down 49-24 at half...
They are a D1 team so it is a countable game. But how can anyone be thinking about tournament seeding at a time like this? We're lucky every MVC team gets invited to Arch Madness. If that weren't the case the team that showed up to play this game tonight would be staying home. I can't even fathom a Lottich coached team making the NCAA Tournament at this point. Like that's not even a distant dream right now. This is absolutely unacceptable. How can we not make a coaching change after this? I can't even remember the last time we lost to Chicago State. I can't even remember the last time it was even close. Unless we have a furious second half rally Lottich must be fired immediately. There's no going back from this. An absolute low point for this once-proud program. Maybe do a national search next time so we can actually attract a good candidate (assuming any decent candidate even wants this job at this point. Hopefully the MVC affiliation is attractive enough to lure a hungry up and comer but I don't know. And people think Lottich would still be successful even if we had stayed in the Horizon? The problem isn't our conference it's our coach. Full stop. Fix that and Valpo will be just fine in the MVC.
CSU actually won their last game, beating IUPUI 68-58 on Monday. So they're looking at the possibility of a D-1 winning streak and playing with confidence I bet that program hasn't had in a while. Good for them.
In more distant history, 2013 to be exact, the Valpo football team lost 72-12 to Butler, and I seem to recall MLB making an in-season change.
We're in the MVC, why are we playing a game like this...
At their place...
..and losing by 25 at halftime.
When will this nightmare end. Even the pro-Lottich/its-the-2nd-game-of-the-season crowd can't defend this. Hell, I'll coach this team at my current salary for the rest of the year if thats what it takes.
IUPUI went 3-26 last season. Only 1 D1 win.
Even if Valpo plays out of their minds I am very pessimistic about a second half rally. Last major rally I remember was at Detroit (2013 - 2014?) led by Capobianco.
This needs to be it. This needs to be the loss that finally gets Lottich fired. He has little support amongst the fanbase, the community is mostly apathetic, and students do not care about the program. Where is the upside of keeping Lame-Duck Lottich around?
I'd be very happy for Chicago State. If this wasn't happening against my alma mater and favorite team. I want to celebrate their success--God knows they deserve some good things happening to them and they should enjoy them--but why against us? This program has fallen so far so fast under Lottich. Will we ever get back to where we were under Bryce?
Quote from: VUSERF on November 16, 2022, 07:57:38 PM
Even if Valpo plays out of their minds I am very pessimistic about a second half rally. Last major rally I remember was at Detroit (2013 - 2014?) led by Capobianco.
This needs to be it. This needs to be the loss that finally gets Lottich fired. He has little support amongst the fanbase, the community is mostly apathetic, and students do not care about the program. Where is the upside of keeping Lame-Duck Lottich around?
The only thing I can think of is the (I believe 2+ years left on his deal at God knows how much for a buyout... Can Valpo really afford to swallow that right now even if it's the right thing to do? Or are we stuck until the contract finally mercifully ends which I believe is in (sigh) 2025...
11-2 run in 2.5 minutes by Valpo to start the 2nd half, down 16...
There is no defending this performance. Matt Lottich is a nice guy, but he's not cut out for this. Absolutely pathetic performance.
Green picks up his 4th foul for Valpo on a 3 :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:, down 19 now
Wow, Green fouled out with 11 minutes of game action, and 15 minutes left in the game
WTF??
Maybe Connor Barrett steps up big tonight with his shooting?
We last lost to the Cougars in 2006. This doesn't even make sense to play this game. Who thought this was a good idea?
If you are in the financial position to do it, donate money to athletics earmarked for MBB ASAP. The faster everyone does it, the faster the contract's bought out.
Dr. Small won't make a move this quickly, but we will see what happens after this season for sure.
I know firing a coach causes short term instability for a program but would it honestly be any worse than where we are right now? Could we really fall any lower than this? I almost feel like I'm tempting fate by even asking these questions and I'm honestly more than a little afraid of the answers. Still it has to be done and we must take the risk. The bottom line is that where we presently are is wholly unacceptable. Full stop.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on November 16, 2022, 08:35:00 PM
I know firing a coach causes short term instability for a program but would it honestly be any worse than where we are right now? Could we really fall any lower than this? I almost feel like I'm tempting fate by even asking these questions and I'm honestly more than a little afraid of the answers.
Not arguing your point, but would Dr. Small have enough sample size from his time watching Valpo basketball to make the switch right now? I would understand firing him after the season, or later in this season, but what do we know? Maybe the team was overconfident or had other things going on this week in preparing for this game that took them out of it?
Didn't pay to watch this mess. How can we not be ready for Chicago State. This is an embarrassment. Something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If Dr. Small can't look at the results since Alec Peters left campus and realize that a change needs to be made, then Valpo hired the wrong athletic director.
It seems pretty simple to me. Chicago State, year in and year out, is the worst program in D1. Men's basketball is Valpo's marquee sport. Losing by 25 at the half and double digits late in the game cannot be acceptable.
I am sure that it is not acceptable to Matt Lottich and, by any account, he is a good guy - but this performance cannot be tolerated. Since the head coach is responsible for darn near everything in college basketball, his performance specifically cannot be tolerated. There may be no point in dismissing him now, but he cannot continue after this season unless there is some staggering turnaround.
One thing that Todd has been mentioning a lot is that the clock operator seems to not be paying attention to the clock at all. They haven't stopped it much at all.
Quote from: valporun on November 16, 2022, 08:41:05 PMQuote from: VUGrad1314 on November 16, 2022, 08:35:00 PMI know firing a coach causes short term instability for a program but would it honestly be any worse than where we are right now? Could we really fall any lower than this? I almost feel like I'm tempting fate by even asking these questions and I'm honestly more than a little afraid of the answers.
Not arguing your point, but would Dr. Small have enough sample size from his time watching Valpo basketball to make the switch right now? I would understand firing him after the season, or later in this season, but what do we know? Maybe the team was overconfident or had other things going on this week in preparing for this game that took them out of it?
With all due respect what more sample size do we need? Barely squeaked by a D2 in an exhibition, got drubbed by Toledo, beat Western Michigan, got hammered by Chicago State. Overconfident? I would have hoped after Krikke's comments post Toledo that would not have been an issue but apparently it still is. Respectfully, what has this program done in the past several years to be walking around overconfident in any game? I know I obviously was overconfident going into this game, but I am not a player and have the benefit of having watched them play and beat Chicago State numerous times). I'm sorry. When your other results have been far from stellar and you lose by double digits to Chicago State there really shouldn't be any wait and see. If it's not with this loss where does it end?
Quote from: valporun on November 16, 2022, 08:41:05 PM
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on November 16, 2022, 08:35:00 PM
I know firing a coach causes short term instability for a program but would it honestly be any worse than where we are right now? Could we really fall any lower than this? I almost feel like I'm tempting fate by even asking these questions and I'm honestly more than a little afraid of the answers.
Not arguing your point, but would Dr. Small have enough sample size from his time watching Valpo basketball to make the switch right now? I would understand firing him after the season, or later in this season, but what do we know? Maybe the team was overconfident or had other things going on this week in preparing for this game that took them out of it?
The sample size is six seasons. Dr. Small cannot just evaluate any coach's performance since he stated as AD.
I know that Chicago State shot out of this world in the first half, and was 27/28 from the FT line, but losing to Chicago State is inexcusable. Add 1 to the Fire Lottich crowd.
Quote from: covufan on November 16, 2022, 08:42:30 PM
Didn't pay to watch this mess. How can we not be ready for Chicago State. This is an embarrassment. Something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dr. CHARLES SMALL
ValpoAD@valpo.eduFor those who feel the need to take it to the top.
If Padilla and Small want to keep all their eggs in the basketball basket then the situation needs to be corrected before it deteriorates anymore.
I saw someone mention tournament , let's finish first in the MVC first.
In terms of putting all their financial eggs in basketballs pockets..... I think it was smart with the Valpo based Drew's. Not sure the crowds are there anymore and the alumni base is as lucrative
Dr. Small should be on the phone with Jake Diebler right now.
Quote from: VALPO LI on November 16, 2022, 08:52:17 PM
Quote from: covufan on November 16, 2022, 08:42:30 PM
Didn't pay to watch this mess. How can we not be ready for Chicago State. This is an embarrassment. Something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dr. CHARLES SMALL
ValpoAD@valpo.edu
For those who feel the need to take it to the top.
The apathy of this board over the last 6 years should be enough.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: valporun on November 16, 2022, 08:32:06 PM
Dr. Small won't make a move this quickly, but we will see what happens after this season for sure.
True, it is difficult to believe Small will fire Lottich this soon. However, now is the time that he must assert himself as the Athletic Director and
publicly make a statement that Valpo's tradition means success is expected from its basketball program and neither failure nor even mediocrity is acceptable. Someone needs to be the alpha male in the Athletics department right now, and it would be beneficial if Small quickly asserts himself. This team has had three poor outings already: a 15-point loss to Toledo, a 13-point loss to Chicago State, and almost a loss (a nearly made 3-pointer at the end of the game would have given them the win) to non-D1 Cedarville in the exhibition game. If Small isn't going to fire Lottich, he needs to set a fire that gets some attention. Fans need to know something is being done.
Lottich should have been let go several years ago when the writing was on the wall. He has run the program into the ground. I just checked the ESPN app and couldn't believe my eyes that we lost to chicago state
Quote from: valpopal on November 16, 2022, 09:01:48 PM
Quote from: valporun on November 16, 2022, 08:32:06 PM
Dr. Small won't make a move this quickly, but we will see what happens after this season for sure.
True, it is difficult to believe Small will fire Lottich this soon. However, now is the time that he must assert himself as the Athletic Director and publicly make a statement that Valpo's tradition means success is expected from its basketball program and neither failure nor even mediocrity is acceptable. Someone needs to be the alpha male in the Athletics department right now, and it would be beneficial if Small quickly asserts himself. This team has had three poor outings already: a 15-point loss to Toledo, a 13-point loss to Chicago State, and almost a loss (a nearly made 3-pointer at the end of the game would have given them the win) to non-D1 Cedarville in the exhibition game. If Small isn't going to fire Lottich, he needs to set a fire that gets some attention. Fans need to know something is being done.
This.
Quote from: rogerwilco on November 16, 2022, 08:55:31 PM
Dr. Small should be on the phone with Jake Diebler right now.
Do you honestly think he'd want to come clean up this mess? Surely Dielber can get a better job than this. He'd likely be an awesome hire though!
QuoteI just checked the ESPN app and couldn't believe my eyes that we lost to chicago state
And we didn't just lose to Chicago St - we got blown out of the building to the point we were down 25 at halftime.
Roger Powell would get my vote
Midwest ties, Valpo ties, Successful Mid major in Gonzaga.
Quote from: valpofb16 on November 16, 2022, 09:10:04 PMRoger Powell would get my vote Midwest ties, Valpo ties, Successful Mid major in Gonzaga.
He already turned us down once. And we were a much better program back then. He's got his eyes on a better job and I don't blame him. Would take him in an instant if he'd say yes to coaching here but I know it's not happening.
Did not know he turned us down.
Rick Pitino from Iona, half tongue in cheek. Half.
Quote from: valpofb16 on November 16, 2022, 09:16:10 PMDid not know he turned us down. Rick Pitino from Iona, half tongue in cheek. Half.
At least that was the rumor when Bryce left for Vanderbilt. He was supposedly Valpo's first choice and was even offered the job. He chose to follow Bryce to Nashville instead and later as we all know ended up in Spokane learning under Mark Few. I think he's going to be an amazing coach someday and whatever program that gets him is going to be so lucky. He's learning from one of the best to ever do it right now.
What's most concerning is that this team came out of the gates completely flat. Normally hope springs eternal at the beginning of the season, but that was over before the end of the first preseason game.
I've said it a million times but Lottich needs to go. His teams are unprepared. It's not as though we're losing despite playing tough. We're getting run out of the building from the jump.
This is a coaching issue rather than a talent issue. How many more games are we going to let this go on?
Without a doubt, today is the darkest day in my 26 years of being a Valpo basketball fan. Is this what rock bottom feels like?
Seriously everyone. Gut check. We are at rock bottom. With our facilities and lack of commitment, who are we getting in our current state to make immediate improvements with instant transfers. This is bad, and I dont have an idea to improve it. Do we fall into despair until a Drew or Alec Peters tries to save us sometime down the line? I hate to be melodramatic, but the last few years have been bad and now we've hit a new rock bottom. I dont see a fix in the short or long term future in the current climate of college basketball. And it didn't have to be this way. We will forever chase the Bryce Drew days.
Quote from: hailcrusaders on November 16, 2022, 07:47:50 PMCSU actually won their last game, beating IUPUI 68-58 on Monday. So they're looking at the possibility of a D-1 winning streak and playing with confidence I bet that program hasn't had in a while. Good for them. In more distant history, 2013 to be exact, the Valpo football team lost 72-12 to Butler, and I seem to recall MLB making an in-season change.
IIRC that was for just one game.
Quote from: mj on November 16, 2022, 10:02:55 PMWhat's most concerning is that this team came out of the gates completely flat.
For the second time in 3 games.
I had a post pulled from the recruiting thread because I cautioned against paying too much attention to the current recruits(now signees) because there was a good chance they'll be a new coach next season which could make the commitments (at the time) meaningless.
Lottich's not going anywhere until after the season or late in the season at best. Whatever Lottich brings it isn't working.
As to the roster, it seems the team is completely dependent upon 2 or 3 guys to score. The bench is giving very little in terms of points. Still can't defend the 3. Big Bugaboo over the Lottich years.
As an alumnus, the basketball team was a point of pride. Something of which excited school spirit within me.
Let's live in the year 2022. Why would you not pull the trigger? School are dismissing coaches early and often during the season, and for recruiting and engagement with the alums and community it should be considered. Lottich is a great guy, but 6 seasons is a long time window to evaluate. No need to delay if this isn't going to work long term.
Well, our Volleyball team is killing the Cougars when it comes to attendance! The Volleyball team drew 345 while the Cougars only had 155 at the Valpo game. It's always bad when a coach has to whisper instructions for fear of the other team hearing from 50 feet away. Jeez. how pathetic.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 17, 2022, 07:09:40 AM
Let's live in the year 2022. Why would you not pull the trigger? School are dismissing coaches early and often during the season, and for recruiting and engagement with the alums and community it should be considered. Lottich is a great guy, but 6 seasons is a long time window to evaluate. No need to delay if this isn't going to work long term.
I understand the sentiment, but 99.9% of the coaches that Valpo would want to hire are currently employed as head coaches or assistants elsewhere. The only option if the coach is dismissed would be to appoint a current Valpo assistant as an interim. Not really sure if there is anything to gain with that option, since a new coach hired after the season is very likely going to replace most or all of the coaching staff and alums/community are not going to suddenly be excited by having an interim coach who had been an assistant on a poorly performing program.
I assume that if an in-season coaching change was made, one of the current assistants would be the interim. I don't know the assistants nearly as well as some of the folks here, so just wondering: Who would be the best candidate and what impact would that choice be on the program?
Agree that this is an awfully tough situation for a new AD, at a university that has already done painful belt-tightening by letting go of good employees. Also wondering if Coach Lottich would consider stepping down. He strikes me as being a man of character; perhaps he might step away with an appropriate severance.
vu84v2 - making the change now and having an interim coach makes a clear statement that the program wants to move in a new direction. USC football did it after firing Helton after the second game, knowing the current situation was not working. You are delaying the inevitable, recruiting, etc. if you become passive.
rogerwilco, you weren't around in 1983-84 with the Rob Harden experience and Tom Smith's ever effective 13 minute stalls. That year was a mess and an embarrassment to Valpo.
I am curious about what fans thought back a number of years ago when I think it was Bethel College beat us in a preseason exhibition game and then we finished the year going to the Sweet 16. I believe Bethel is either a D-3 or NAIA member.
Quote from: valpo64 on November 17, 2022, 12:00:45 PM
I am curious about what fans thought back a number of years ago when I think it was Bethel College beat us in a preseason exhibition game and then we finished the year going to the Sweet 16. I believe Bethel is either a D-3 or NAIA member.
There was substantial credibility for the program at that time. Valpo had been to the NCAA tournament the prior two years, had played BC tough in the 1997 tournament, and the coach (Homer) had build the program from nothing. I perceived it as a blip (especially since Bryce was injured for the first several games that season).
Quote from: valpo64 on November 17, 2022, 12:00:45 PM
I am curious about what fans thought back a number of years ago when I think it was Bethel College beat us in a preseason exhibition game and then we finished the year going to the Sweet 16. I believe Bethel is either a D-3 or NAIA member.
Valparaiso had made the NCAA Tournament the previous two seasons and clearly had a reason for optimism moving forward. Now, Valparaiso has had one winning season in the past six seasons (and they lost two exhibitions to non-D1 programs and nearly lost another one this season).
please Don't include the exhibition games in the conversion as they don't count. That being said, a commitment to mediocrity in our flagship sport has to end
KenPom's current projection for Valpo is a 12-19 record and 7-13 in the Valley. Should something close to that be reality, I cannot fathom how Padilla and Small could allow this to continue into 2023-24. At some point, you're either committed to being competitive or you're not.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 17, 2022, 07:09:40 AMLet's live in the year 2022. Why would you not pull the trigger? School are dismissing coaches early and often during the season, and for recruiting and engagement with the alums and community it should be considered. Lottich is a great guy, but 6 seasons is a long time window to evaluate. No need to delay if this isn't going to work long term.
What would a change accomplish at this point unless the replacement is a current assistant? There's no one, likely, available at the moment because the candidates are 3 games into their current season.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 17, 2022, 11:22:10 AMvu84v2 - making the change now and having an interim coach makes a clear statement that the program wants to move in a new direction. USC football did it after firing Helton after the second game, knowing the current situation was not working. You are delaying the inevitable, recruiting, etc. if you become passive.
A change now would kill recruiting. Again...who are you bringing in at this point?
I didn't watch the game, just saw the box score.
Chicago State shooting 60+% from three. Bad defense or just a good shooting night?
CSU, 28 free throws and only 1 miss. I doubt they are ever that good.
Another REALLY slow start to the game. One of my main critiques of Lottich has always been these dry spells that we get every game. I don't know what it is but its nearly constant. Hard to win like that.
I'm not happy about losing, especially to Chicago State of all teams, but damn calm down everyone. Acting like good teams never lose to bad teams (BTW, I am not saying we are a good team, but just that games like this happen all the time to programs WAY better than us).
Lottich is not getting fired 3 games into the season, nor should he. If the season continues to look like last night, then I HOPE to see a move at the end of the year (I think it would have to be really ugly to have it happen sooner, and no one lose to Chicago State does not qualify for that).
This is Chicago State's entire home slate:
IUPUI
Valpo
University of Southern Indiana (1st year D1)
East West University
Aurora University
St. Xavier University
Calumet College of St. Joseph
Hartford (Final year of D1 and with an interim coach)
Exactly 4 D1 home games, with two of those being in a transition year.
You are who you surround yourself with.
Im still astounded that we agreed to play them, agreed to play them there, and got destroyed by them. As Jon Rothstein says, the epitome of brutality.
I would think that the Associate Head Coach Luke Gore would be the interim Head Coach if Matt stepped down. I also doubt that he is fired during the season.
Quote from: elephtheria47 on November 17, 2022, 03:27:59 PMUniversity of Southern Indiana (1st year D1)
East West University
Southern Indian beat Southern Illinois 71-53
Some of you act like big upset games like this never happen...SIU gets beat, Louisville loses 3 in a row, a few years ago Indiana gets whipped 2 years in a row by IPFW. Settle down a little. Games like this happen every year but it really hurts when it involves us. Many years ago, we bounced back after being whipped by tiny Bether College of Mishawaka. Not many teams can beat a team that shoots 68% in the 1st half including 75% of 3"s (9 of 12). And for the game, 28 of 29 free throws when they average a little over 60%. The sky hasn't fallen yet (but keep your eyes to the sky) :)
Pretty sure All those coaches got fired....
Quote from: valpo64 on November 17, 2022, 04:17:28 PM
Some of you act like big upset games like this never happen...SIU gets beat, Louisville loses 3 in a row, a few years ago Indiana gets whipped 2 years in a row by IPFW. Settle down a little. Games like this happen every year but it really hurts when it involves us. Many years ago, we bounced back after being whipped by tiny Bether College of Mishawaka. Not many teams can beat a team that shoots 68% in the 1st half including 75% of 3"s (9 of 12). And for the game, 28 of 29 free throws when they average a little over 60%. The sky hasn't fallen yet (but keep your eyes to the sky) :)
It's not the one game, but what the game represents and how it seems to symbolize a breaking point for some. The Bethel loss, as someone else has pointed out, has no relevance. That was a Valpo team that had credibility and enjoyed confidence from fans. This Valpo team is now entering its sixth year of (to be kind) less than mediocre records, and it has lost all trust from many fans.
JD24- on the other hand, keeping the coach may hurt recruiting knowing the situation is status quo and that Valpo stays committed to mediocrity. A lot schools now are firing coaches early and having an interim if it makes sense.
Summarize the current state of the program in one sentence:
"Murray State, yet to play its first MVC game, upsets a top-25 team while Valpo, in its 6th year at the MVC, is upset by a team ranked #360."
This wasnt a blip on the radar. This is becoming the new norm..every year we seem to go lower and lower on what is acceptable as a fan base. Recruiting and positive momentum was hard enough already. If we want to be the best we need to get some of the best talent in the league, and what exactly are we selling them? What have we done as a program since 2004 if we are recruiting 18 year olds that makes us relevant? Probably more so since they've been a teenager, so the last 6 years?
Not directed at anyone here because we are all here and talking about the games. But having fans be upset is a good thing. It means people still care. Much better than being indifferent, which seems a large portion of the fan base has fallen into.
I still care right now but I am getting dangerously close to falling into that indifferent category. I'm already less passionate and engaged than I used to be and losses like this will only continue that trend. I hope this isn't the new normal for Valpo basketball and that all we have is a Lottich problem but I don't know for sure and I'm very nervous that this really is going to be where we are going forward. I mean Murray State beating a top 25 team before they even play an MVC game just shows us that it's not the transition that was the problem (as much as we all wanted to use that to give Lottich grace the first few years in the MVC). Good coaches find ways to win even when they shouldn't. Matt does not demonstrate that ability on anything remotely resembling a consistent basis. If anything he demonstrates the opposite: finding ways to lose even when he shouldn't. Matt has had some high points on his resume but at this point they appear to be the blips that mask an overall trend of mediocre to bad results. This is not the 1998 team. This loss is not the Bethel loss. This program is not in the same place. We are in year 7 of Matt Lottich's tenure and we can honestly say the program is in a decidedly worse place than it was when he was hired. We used to beat MVC teams regularly. Now we're lucky to stay out of the bottom 4 against them. Better league or not, that is a stinging indictment of Lottich as a coach and these facts tell me everything I need to know. They all point in one direction: a change of leadership is sorely needed and I'm not sure if there is anything this team can do over the course of the rest of the year to change my position on that.
Conference transition was way over blown. It's not like Valpo joined the Big10
They went from big fish in small Major to mid Major.
Quote from: JD24 on November 17, 2022, 02:00:46 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 17, 2022, 07:09:40 AMLet's live in the year 2022. Why would you not pull the trigger? School are dismissing coaches early and often during the season, and for recruiting and engagement with the alums and community it should be considered. Lottich is a great guy, but 6 seasons is a long time window to evaluate. No need to delay if this isn't going to work long term.
What would a change accomplish at this point unless the replacement is a current assistant? There's no one, likely, available at the moment because the candidates are 3 games into their current season.
It's a forward looking move. It would be the beginning of the healing process. It would send a message that Valpo isn't going to accept mediocrity any longer.
Let Luke Gore run the team the rest of the season. Maybe letting Lottich go inspires the team the team to come together and we squeeze a few more wins out of the season. If we're worried that firing Lottich will somehow hurt the program, well...take a look at this program. We're approaching Evansville territory.
I'm seeing posts blowing this off as upsets always happen.
Yes, upsets always happen.
This was getting absolutely destroyed by the single worst program in the 365-school Division I over the past decade. They have won 5 league games since 2015 - and they were beating us by 25 at halftime!
Murray St lost all but 1 player with a whole new staff and they dominated a top-25 team in their 3rd game tonight. We're in Year 7 after inheriting a superstar from a top-50 team in Year 1, and we're trailing Chicago St by 25 at halftime.
More commentary on the messages boards when we loose games than when we win. Unless they are consistently getting blown out and or he completely looses the locker room he's here the whole year. Highest paid employee on campus and several smaller university's have had issues with enrollment during covid times. Budgets are already tight across the board. The university can't afford to eat his contract at this time. I understand the frustration of everyone. Teams do get upset, even good ones. Last night was bad loss and not just the loss but how they lost. Bad defense and Cougars couldn't miss. Not too long ago we were a play or foul call away from upsetting the Terps in Columbus. We had a nice run under the Drew's, but the Sky is not falling so lets see how we do by the end of December. We have put up much better offensive numbers already this season and Krikke will be borderline XBOX 360 many games this year. How do you think the Butler fan base is feeling the last few years?
Quote from: AB on November 17, 2022, 09:50:33 PM
More commentary on the messages boards when we loose games than when we win. Unless they are consistently getting blown out and or he completely looses the locker room he's here the whole year. Highest paid employee on campus and several smaller university's have had issues with enrollment during covid times. Budgets are already tight across the board. The university can't afford to eat his contract at this time. I understand the frustration of everyone. Teams do get upset, even good ones. Last night was bad loss and not just the loss but how they lost. Bad defense and Cougars couldn't miss. Not too long ago we were a play or foul call away from upsetting the Terps in Columbus. We had a nice run under the Drew's, but the Sky is not falling so lets see how we do by the end of December. We have put up much better offensive numbers already this season and Krikke will be borderline XBOX 360 many games this year. How do you think the Butler fan base is feeling the last few years?
The mens basketball program is one of the most important assets of the university. If Lottich's continued involvement with the program harms that asset, then he needs to be let go. Eating his contract makes more financial sense in the long run.
The Maryland game was 7 years ago. Some of our players were in middle school when that game occurred. NCAA basketball has changed during that time. And we've been left behind.
Before we anoint Murray State as ready to instantly compete for MVC titles, let's remember that we started 10-0 over our non-conference games in our first year in the MVC. No, we didn't beat a ranked team, but I remember that we had really high hopes at that time, after we started that way. We finished 6-12 in the MVC, which is an every game grind, versus just getting up for a ranked team. The following year? We start 4-0 in the MVC, and people are saying that Valpo can compete, but how do we finish? 7-11. It's a grind, folks.
Recent Valpo commitment of being mediocre and not acknowledging there's a problem.
Quote from: AB on November 17, 2022, 09:50:33 PM
More commentary on the messages boards when we loose games than when we win. Unless they are consistently getting blown out and or he completely looses the locker room he's here the whole year. Highest paid employee on campus and several smaller university's have had issues with enrollment during covid times. Budgets are already tight across the board. The university can't afford to eat his contract at this time. I understand the frustration of everyone. Teams do get upset, even good ones. Last night was bad loss and not just the loss but how they lost. Bad defense and Cougars couldn't miss. Not too long ago we were a play or foul call away from upsetting the Terps in Columbus. We had a nice run under the Drew's, but the Sky is not falling so lets see how we do by the end of December. We have put up much better offensive numbers already this season and Krikke will be borderline XBOX 360 many games this year. How do you think the Butler fan base is feeling the last few years?
I think the Butler fan base is feeling optimistic about the future, because they fired LaVall Jordan when it was clear that he wasn't the guy. You're right that the sky isn't falling, as it's just basketball, but it's painfully clear that Matt Lottich isn't the guy to turn this around. Outside of a four day stretch in March 2020, when has it ever looked like the program was headed in the right direction under him?
Should Lottich have been fired that night? Absolutely. But that, unfortunately, is not an option for Valpo. And that is understandable. I will be highly surprised if he is here next year. And I am sure he can't sleep at night knowing this loss will haunt him for years to come. We want to say this was a bad loss, and it should have been, but I am not really sure that the way the program has progressed that it is. Chicago State has some talent on that team. And maybe they are going to have a highly successful season. But bottomline, our team was not prepared. They were not competitive. This is becoming a pattern. We need a change to get some optimism back because right now, I can't seem to find any. This isn't three games in.....this is seven season in.
Now that I think about it - with no money, crappy athletic facilities and recent school apathy, this problem will not be solved simply with a coaching change. Against WMU, 1500 attended. That's unacceptable.
However, a 6 year window is more than enough to make a change now. Matt is a nice person, a good representative at Valpo. but in Div 1 basketball you have to have results meeting the needs of the stakeholders.
A plausible scenario if this team continues to significantly underperform: A negotiated mid-season resignation and buyout that allows (1) Coach Lottich to have some flexibility and consider his options for the next year and a half, and (2) the MBB to start planning its future.
I don't know if Coach Gore is a viable contender to become head coach, but if so, this would be a great trial run.
Recall that President Padilla has a background in law, including University general counsel, so such negotiations are hardly new to him.
Quote from: David81 on November 18, 2022, 11:05:51 AM
A plausible scenario if this team continues to significantly underperform: A negotiated mid-season resignation and buyout that allows (1) Coach Lottich to have some flexibility and consider his options for the next year and a half, and (2) the MBB to start planning its future.
I don't know if Coach Gore is a viable contender to become head coach, but if so, this would be a great trial run.
Recall that President Padilla has a background in law, including University general counsel, so such negotiations are hardly new to him.
"Coach Gore is a viable contender"
I know everyone loves Gore as he is a holdout from the Bryce and Homer era. But I don't know why he gets a pass on team success/failure? He has a lot of coaching power within the program as the top assistant, top recruiter, most experience, etc. If we see Lottich as a failure I think we also have to see Gore as a failure, do we not?
If things don't turn around by the end of the season it is probably time for Lottich to go, but that means its time for Gore to go too.
Quote from: SanityLost17 on November 18, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Quote from: David81 on November 18, 2022, 11:05:51 AM
A plausible scenario if this team continues to significantly underperform: A negotiated mid-season resignation and buyout that allows (1) Coach Lottich to have some flexibility and consider his options for the next year and a half, and (2) the MBB to start planning its future.
I don't know if Coach Gore is a viable contender to become head coach, but if so, this would be a great trial run.
Recall that President Padilla has a background in law, including University general counsel, so such negotiations are hardly new to him.
"Coach Gore is a viable contender"
I know everyone loves Gore as he is a holdout from the Bryce and Homer era. But I don't know why he gets a pass on team success/failure? He has a lot of coaching power within the program as the top assistant, top recruiter, most experience, etc. If we see Lottich as a failure I think we also have to see Gore as a failure, do we not?
If things don't turn around by the end of the season it is probably time for Lottich to go, but that means its time for Gore to go too.
That's why I said "
if Coach Gore is a viable contender...." I'm happy to defer to others with a closer eye on this team. Nowhere did I suggest a "free pass" for anyone.
That said, if there's a coaching change in mid-season, from discussions here it appears that Coach Gore would be the most likely interim, regardless of whether he's considered for the permanent job.
As many on this board will attest, I can be a very fierce critic of the university's priorities. But in the case of Lottich, I really do struggle to gather the pitchforks and rush the Schrage Wing. He is a Stanford alum, a high character guy, and has solid European experience. Yes, the W-L record is not what we want.
You can throw out the 3 game win streak to the MVC finals game in St. Louis in March 2020 if you want. But why would you? The next year faced the deflating CoVID crap.
You can disregard the home win over Western Michigan just a week ago. But why would you? As noted, just 1500 showed up for the first home game of the year. Even weekenders could have come back into town on a late Sunday afternoon. Students have no-showed even for good games in our good years. The NIT crowds were an aberration. Will they flock back to a team led by Gore or by a new coach in a re-building. I think the kids are just screen-addicted now and they like the live games they can take or leave moment to moment while they surf dumb stuff.
I just about gagged up my dinner when I saw the Chicago State score. But one game, however, embarrassing, is not a season. Homer lost to CSU in the conference tournament played in KC in 2003. We had a 7-footer and an Oppland.
Quote from: SanityLost17 on November 18, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Quote from: David81 on November 18, 2022, 11:05:51 AM
A plausible scenario if this team continues to significantly underperform: A negotiated mid-season resignation and buyout that allows (1) Coach Lottich to have some flexibility and consider his options for the next year and a half, and (2) the MBB to start planning its future.
I don't know if Coach Gore is a viable contender to become head coach, but if so, this would be a great trial run.
Recall that President Padilla has a background in law, including University general counsel, so such negotiations are hardly new to him.
"Coach Gore is a viable contender"
I know everyone loves Gore as he is a holdout from the Bryce and Homer era. But I don't know why he gets a pass on team success/failure? He has a lot of coaching power within the program as the top assistant, top recruiter, most experience, etc. If we see Lottich as a failure I think we also have to see Gore as a failure, do we not?
If things don't turn around by the end of the season it is probably time for Lottich to go, but that means its time for Gore to go too.
Sorry. I miss read your message. But in general I don't see a lot of Gore criticism. If most have decided against Lottich, my point stands that we must decide against Gore as well. If a change is made it needs to be a whole sale change.
I'm against mid-season changes. Lottich has until the end of the year but I need to see something.
I should be getting excited about this loss but I can't. I guess that shows just how far my expectations have fallen. All else being equal any sign of snow, icy roads or cold weather will keep me home and safely distanced from the ARC.
Maybe some day that can change?
we need money, buy-in from leadership and engagement from all stakeholders to make it happen. It will take more than a coaching change to enable success.
I am going to preface this by saying, and I know this may be a shock to some of you, that something is wrong with the program, but lets be factual. Matt's first year he did a masterful job of coaching despite some real adversity. Some even argued that it was better than Bryce (much better use of timeouts etc.). Yes, these were Bryce's recruits, but coaching did not appear to be a problem. Carter lost his bid for eligibility weeks before the start of the season, Jubril played only 9 games and yet the team was 23-6 before Alec went down with the stress fracture. The guy was 32-9 coaching in his first 41 games and that included 3 loses with Alec Peters sitting on the bench. Bryce was 27-14 in his first 41 games with what I think is pretty comparable talent. Bryce didn't really kill it that next year after Broekhoff and Van Wijk left, but overall he certainly had more success getting, maintaining, and motivating talent.
Since the Burton debacle Matt has had problems with consistency, whether it be the roster (injuries or transfers), scoring droughts, defensive intensity and general moral. Even with these problems I have no doubt that the "19-20" team could have been 24-9 if Fazekas had been healthy all year, skipped the MVC tournament play-in game, and won the tournament... and if ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a successful season.
The Covid years certainly didn't help, but still doesn't completely explain all of this inconsistency, other coaches did a better job. I had hoped that Vijay Blackmon would solve the constant injury issues, but once again we have guys out or playing limited minutes early in the season.
He still wants to run the 5 out and 4 out action offenses which I don't particularly like (even though everyone is running them). I don't know if we have really had the shooters other than Fazekas to run this chuck it up offense. I think it is stupid to pass the ball to the trailing 5 to initiate the offense. Palm has turned it over at least once because of this stupid way to start the offenses motion, he is not the only one in all the past years to have problems. In my opinion giving the ball to a 5 24' from the basket is rarely a good idea unless he can truly stretch the offense like Jacob Ognacevic (what happened to him and why isn't he here? Inquiring minds want to know).
But he is really not doing anything terrible or unusual, the teams have flashes that make you hope for the best. I love the Christian integrity that permeates the program and because of that I will wait to call for a change until this season plays out. I honestly see no real reason why this team can't be successful so the onus is squarely on Matt's shoulders.
For the people saying its early in the season and only one game, as we sit here today, what needs to happen the remainder of this season to retain Lottich? Is that attainable? If not, why keep paying the highest paid employee of the university just to can him at the end of the season? Granted there very well may be deadlines/dates/performances in the contract related to buyouts, but other than that...? Attendance is down. Fandom is down. Expectations are low. I used to attend 5-10 games a season. I dont even think about making the 5 min drive to campus for a single game now.
Quote from: elephtheria47 on November 18, 2022, 04:06:32 PM
For the people saying its early in the season and only one game....
I understand Valpo won't make a change until the end of the season. Matt is a great guy, loaded with inegrity. But this program in several perspectives is in a downturn, and I am not sure there is commitment to improve the situation. Athletically, the university wants to commit to mediocrity. Not Padilla, not Small, but the university in general. It sad to see where the program is going.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 19, 2022, 06:41:48 AM
I understand Valpo won't make a change until the end of the season. Matt is a great guy, loaded with inegrity. But this program in several perspectives is in a downturn, and I am not sure there is commitment to improve the situation. Athletically, the university wants to commit to mediocrity. Not Padilla, not Small, but the university in general. It sad to see where the program is going.
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Not sure where you are seeing or reading this. As is the case with universities across the nation, Valpo has struggled financially mainly do to Covid. However, in the one plus years that Padilla has been in charge, the Board has UNANAMOUSLY approved a plan which includes a new/not refurbished, basketball arena. I doubt they would make that commitment planning on having a coach mired in mediocrity. We'll just have to see...
First, the university has had financial struggles due to COVID and the declining population of students graduating from high school (due to lower birth rates years ago).
While the board unanimously approved a plan for a new basketball arena, a plan is nearly useless if it is not funded or if there is not a sincere effort to raise substantial funds. There may be a sincere effort to raise funds for a new arena, but I have some idea of what is going on at Valpo and I am not aware of any sincere effort.
With that said, Valpo is not USC or Texas or ______ with seemingly infinite resources available...and it probably never will be. Valpo can't just decide to throw money at everything - not only a basketball arena, but a new business building, new nursing building, etc., etc. It has to be judicious. Now Valpo is facing a scenario of needing to dismiss a coach (and yes, I do hope that there is some amazing turnaround and, from what I know, feel that Matt Lottich is a great person - I just don't see that turnaround happening). It is likely that Valpo will need to write a six figure check for severance and will need to pay a new coach as much as Matt Lottich makes now. There will be other initiatives, etc. that will end up paying for that. I wish that weren't true, but it would be financially irresponsible otherwise.
The other option that will be considered, whether people here like it or not, is that the cost of releasing a coach is too high and that they'll try really hard to find ways to improve during Matt Lottich's tenure. While again, I hope that I am wrong, if that option is pursued I think the program will range between poor and mediocre for the foreseeable future.
72 - when do they plan to build this new arena? I have not heard anything regarding this.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 19, 2022, 12:28:43 PM
72 - when do they plan to build this new arena? I have not heard anything regarding this.
The question was in the resolve of the University. Making a public statement announcement says a lot. As for when, it has been posted that President Padilla has already been out meeting with large donors.
Add insult to injury Kent State 88- 59 over Chicago State. CSU 28 turnovers.
Quote from: vu72 on November 19, 2022, 12:47:21 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 19, 2022, 12:28:43 PM
72 - when do they plan to build this new arena? I have not heard anything regarding this.
The question was in the resolve of the University. Making a public statement announcement says a lot. As for when, it has been posted that President Padilla has already been out meeting with large donors.
I may have missed something, but I have never seen an announcement. If it is embedded, in some way, in the "strategic plan" - there are several initiatives in that plan that will never happen. And the term "out meeting with donors" can be an extensive and focused effort or mentioning it among many initiatives in which Valpo seeks funds from donors. I would like to be wrong, but I have not seen any meaningful effort.
At this point, if Lottich was fired, I think Matt Bowen becomes the interim head coach, as he was a previous head coach at the college ranks. Luke Gore has been a 20+ year assistant coach from the graduate ranks to his current position at Valpo. To go 20+ years over 4 head coaches says something about his staying power as an assistant, and maybe that's where he feels most comfortable/effective as a coach. Once Lottich is let go, the rest of the coaching staff will also be gone. There is nothing about this coaching staff that I would keep as the future of the program. Even if it means we have to go 5-6 more years of rebuilding to get a new Valpo Basketball map drawn.
Quote from: vu84v2 on November 19, 2022, 04:14:24 PM
Quote from: vu72 on November 19, 2022, 12:47:21 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 19, 2022, 12:28:43 PM
72 - when do they plan to build this new arena? I have not heard anything regarding this.
The question was in the resolve of the University. Making a public statement announcement says a lot. As for when, it has been posted that President Padilla has already been out meeting with large donors.
I may have missed something, but I have never seen an announcement. If it is embedded, in some way, in the "strategic plan" - there are several initiatives in that plan that will never happen. And the term "out meeting with donors" can be an extensive and focused effort or mentioning it among many initiatives in which Valpo seeks funds from donors. I would like to be wrong, but I have not seen any meaningful effort.
I believe if I recall correctly on Paul Owen's first podcast this year, where President Padilla was a guest, the discussion was had about renovating the ARC vs building a new arena. President Padilla prefers a new arena, as well as another turf field. He mentioned a firm from Columbus, Ohio was working on designs at various costs to show what can be done at each cost level. This firm he said had designed arenas and stadiums around the country. That podcast interview by Paul and President Padilla left me hopeful we might progress beyond just talking about it.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
I would love to see trend lines across all measures of team performance (WL%, conf. W/L%, Athlete GPA, national rankings (RPI, KenPom, etc.), attendance, etc.). Some of those trend lines may be up or down, but so would be the national average (e.g., attendance, number of transfers, etc.). In those cases, it might be informative to compare to the national average as a baseline.
After we have all of the trend lines, and compared with relative base lines, then determine whether the program over Lottich's tenure is trending in the right direction. I tend to think that it's not, but haven't seen any comprehensive study. (No reason for me to see it, as I'm nobody important.). My simple way of doing that is to do a linear extrapolation.
If the trends are mostly good, then no reason to change. If not good, then there should be a change. Frankly, I don't see a reason to wait. Budget issues would get worse with waiting longer. Bad news does not age well when trend lines point down. The only argument for not making a change in case of poor trending would be that the trends are acceptable to the University board because it no longer values MBB the way that it was valued in the past.
Those trends, if evaluated correctly, would account for things such as one bad loss and COVID.
If these studies have been collected and presented, apologies for missing.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on November 17, 2022, 07:04:58 PMThis program is not in the same place. We are in year 7 of Matt Lottich's tenure and we can honestly say the program is in a decidedly worse place than it was when he was hired. We used to beat MVC teams regularly. Now we're lucky to stay out of the bottom 4 against them. Better league or not, that is a stinging indictment of Lottich as a coach and these facts tell me everything I need to know. They all point in one direction: a change of leadership is sorely needed and I'm not sure if there is anything this team can do over the course of the rest of the year to change my position on that.
I know there are many that have stated virtually the same thing but how many other MVC teams would have fired Lottich by now if he had produced the same results at their school as he has done at Valpo in 6 years? Just a reminder that many coaches are gone from the MVC ranks (Lansing at IN State, Muller at IL State, Lickliter at Evansville, etc.)
Since beating Valpo, Chicago State has lost 3 straight games--Kent State 88-59, Marshall 82-70 & Cleveland State 77-63. Granted they were all on the road but all were double digit losses.
IMO - Any other MVC teams would have fired him by now. I understand why Valpo hasn't yet, but I will be very disappointed if there isn't a change at the end of year. We need new blood, an actual system, and someone we can believe in.
Valpo deserves better.
I understand that USC regarding athletics is at a different level than Valpo. In 2021 USC football fired Helton after the second game, knowing that Helton was not the right dude for the job and assuring that a change was required. This was during the season and made a strong statement that change will happen.
If Matt Lottich is not the right coach and the higher ups are certain of that, change should be made now. You are doing any favors to anyone. If you keep it status quo, you leave uncertainly for the future, and if Valpo wins a few games or go on a short streak, false hope results leading to the same mediocre situation.
The reason Valpo can't fire Matt now is money. They have to pay him regardless so they might as well can see what he can do. He knows his job is on the line. That should be more motivation to try and get this right, or who else will hire him? Regardless if the season turns around or not, we have to try something different.
chgo - so my guess is that the administration still want to give him a chance to succeed and does not want to pull the trigger. If they did pull the trigger, how much money would Valpo have to pay out? Is it the rest of the season? Several years?
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 02, 2022, 11:15:58 AM
chgo - so my guess is that the administration still want to give him a chance to succeed and does not want to pull the trigger. If they did pull the trigger, how much money would Valpo have to pay out? Is it the rest of the season? Several years?
Probably not a lot of people know the specifics of his contract let alone the buyout clause. I would be shocked if it wasn't at least one years salary, but it is probably more with some potential negotiation points.
Check out this website Basketball coaches salary and buyout database (https://watchstadium.com/college-basketball-coaching-salary-and-buyout-database-for-2019-20-season-10-24-2019/) there are several MVC coaches listed in the database. Buyouts vary greatly between coach's contracts.
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 02, 2022, 06:18:38 AMI understand that USC regarding athletics is at a different level than Valpo. In 2021 USC football fired Helton after the second game, knowing that Helton was not the right dude for the job and assuring that a change was required. This was during the season and made a strong statement that change will happen. If Matt Lottich is not the right coach and the higher ups are certain of that, change should be made now. You are doing any favors to anyone. If you keep it status quo, you leave uncertainly for the future, and if Valpo wins a few games or go on a short streak, false hope results leading to the same mediocre situation.
It also didn't work the previous 2 times USC changed coaches mid-season. Apparently statements only are made a third of the time.
I mean, how good of terms do you really think ML negotiated? 3rd AC with no HC experience? I would have signed something that said I could be fired for free after 6 seasons, as that meant my first gig was 6 seaons which should mean its successful. Small is still new and will witness it in person this year. Lottich is gone after the season and to be honest, we may as well let ML finish the season anyhow and use those savings to get a better coach next go around.
JD24 - true, but they were on an unjust probation period during that time, and one coach had a drug related issue. All I'm saying is if you believe Lottich is not the guy, make the change now instead of dragging it on. Right now this team is on below mediocre cruise mode and there's apathy.
Matt's agent negotiated a solid contract. If Matt had panned out, Valpo would have had a great coach at an "affordable" price. But unfortunately for Valpo that proved not to be the case and the buyout was expensive.
How do you know the terms of Lottichs contract and what is the buy out? His contract was extended when it should've never been extended in the first place. I'd hope the university made it favorable to them at that point but maybe not.
As much as some may be in favor of firing coach Lottich, it seems unlikely this will happen mid-season for two reasons. First, as mentioned, it is not likely that under current financial constraints, the university will be paying an individual NOT to be the head coach. Second, VU has a long history of sticking with coaches longer than may seem advisable: I can think of calls to fire Homer Drew after his first few years, or keeping Stacy Adams or Dale Carlson after it was clear neither of those two were effective head coaches.
Naturally we fans may want to see a change when things are not going well. Yet from a hiring perspective, whoever is next knows that he/she will get a longer opportunity to make an improvement. This means that there is less need for a longer contract or large buyout. I'm guessing that both of these factors argue in favor of retaining Coach Lottich through the end of the year. If the season turns out poorly, even Coach Lottich would know that he had a long hook, with ample opportunity to be successful.
I wonder if the FBS pay game we took at New Mexico State is going to help us in our coaching search. Does anyone know how much we got and how much of that will actually go to the department instead of being eaten up by travel food and lodging?
NMSU payed Valpo $425,000 to play this last football game.
https://news.yahoo.com/amphtml/mexico-state-beats-valparaiso-close-232754040.html
If it's any consolation, Chicago State was up 22 on Murray State--at Murray--before a furious second half comeback and Murray win on a last second shot.