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We have two local papers that do a fine job of covering VU basketball.

But, sometimes it does feel like we lag behind a bit, at least on the web pages: buried behind a raft of AP stories, etc.

It was great to see this one on the front page of the website!

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/vu-nwi-officials-prep-for-economic-jolt-from-horizon-league/article_c7bd55e7-cb1a-5cad-8d52-d19143ad199f.html

VU, NWI officials prep for economic jolt from Horizon League tourney

Sent out Feb 21 PM (after Valpo clinched) by the alumni association:

Valpo Men Clinch #1 Seed - Host Horizon League Basketball Tournament

LET'S GO VALPO!!

The Valparaiso University men's basketball team's win over Loyola Tuesday night solidified its place as Horizon League regular season champions. The victory earned the team a #1 seed in the upcoming Horizon League Tournament, which will be hosted by Valpo.

Be a part of Valpo history -- participate in the tournament games and events!

The tournament begins Tuesday, Feb. 28 with games at local sites featuring the third through tenth seeds. The tournament comes to Valpo Friday, March 2 for round two. The Crusaders will first play Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the tournament semifinals. The championship game will take place Tuesday, March 6 at 8 p.m. All times are Central.
TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 22. For more information call 1-877-MY-VU-TIX or visit valpoathletics.com.

ALUMNI AND FAN RECEPTION AND PEP RALLY
Get pumped for the games at the official pre-game receptions. Wear your brown and gold and be sure to brush up on the Valpo Fight Song lyrics before shouting them along with the Crusaderettes and Cheerleaders as the Crusader Pep Band plays.

Saturday, March 3 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Gather in Hilltop Gym inside the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC). The reception menu includes creamy cole slaw, garden salad with ranch and Italian dressing, mac and white cheddar cheese, corn bake, potato skins with cheese and fixings, Southern fried chicken, BBQ pork rib-lets, corn cobbettes, Hoosier sugar cream pie and chocolate silk pie. Advanced registration is required. Wristbands will be issued to all registrants. Register online now. Call 800-833-6792, ext. 23 with questions. Reception passes are $10 per adult, $5 per child 10 and younger, and free for children two and younger. (Details on the reception to take place before the championship game on Tuesday, March 6 will be released following a March 3 Valpo win. Check your email or the alumni events page for more information!)

PARKING
Campus parking lots close to the ARC will be restricted for the tournament. Fans are encouraged to park in other lots on campus (view a Valpo campus map). Parking is also available on Lincolnway across from Horizon Bank (902 East Lincolnway) and the Uptown East Apartments.

TELEVISION AND WATCH PARTIES
Valpo's appearance in the semifinal round on Saturday, March 3 will be shown live on ESPNU starting at 7:30 p.m. The championship game will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 6. All times are Central. Game "watch parties" may be planned in your part of the country. Visit valpo.edu/alumni/events  throughout the week as more information becomes available. If you are interested in organizing a watch party in your city, please send an email to alumni@valpo.edu.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE TOURNAMENT!

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Updated info from a visit to the ticket office, February 22, 14:00 PM.

They're taking ticket pre-orders by fax, in-person, or by phone - with a credit card.  Pick a category of seat (General admission for the Friday second round is $10; Semifinals is two games on one ticket, $30 chairbacks, $20 bleachers, $10 HL students; Finals are the same price for one game.  Discounts available for groups of 10+).

With Green Bay's loss yesterday, it's clear that we've clinched a home game in the tournament (or, OK, a double bye and a semi-final berth in Cleveland or somewhere).   Of course, we'd very much prefer that game was in the semi-finals!

Maybe that (the 6th seed) was already mathematically certain - I didn't look into the who-plays-who in enough detail to be sure.

It's entirely possible that we've already clinched 5th, or even higher.  But, it gets a bit murky if e.g. both we and Cleveland State lose a couple more games.

It takes us at least two more losses to lose the double bye.

Keep the wheels on this wagon, boys!

I've not even been reading the Mid-Major Top 25.  Too caught up in the soccer season, perhaps.

I notice that Cleveland State got a bunch of votes (effectively #29) in the AP Top 25 last week, with Butler getting a few, and both teams getting some in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll as well.

Even Akron got a vote in the AP poll.  (If Duquesne and we weren't enough, they get Detroit next, and Cleveland State soon.)

In last week's mid-major poll (no A10), CSU's 4th (with a first place vote), Butler 9th, Detroit 16th.  Green Bay got 4 votes, and Milwaukee and Valpo one a piece.  More than sixty teams got at least one vote.

Akron's 12th, with a first place vote.  Oaklands' 24th.

Anyone making the trip down from the Valpo area?

I'm tempted... I've never been to Hinkle.  I'd be more tempted if it was a week later.

The cheap seats are $20?

With a particular shout-out to SectionEE, the Beyond the Arc guys, and others who are already writing game reports.

Many of you know of Kyle Whelliston over at http://www.midmajority.com/ .  Wandering bard of mid-major basketball, and a fan of the ARC.  His site has been one of the best places on the web, for years, to read about mid-major basketball (and, so long as you don't miss the BCS conferences, basketball in general).

In honor of Season 8, and as a metamorphosis of his website, he's gone crowd sourcing.  He's soliciting mid-major game reports from any and all, aiming for 800 this season. 

I don't know what will come of it, but it's a cute idea.  I wrote one up myself for a Cal - Austin Peay game last night.

Butler and Wright State are getting a certain amount of love - Valpo could use some more.  Or, whatever mid-major might be geographically close to you (he's asking for in-person reports).

I'd encourage you to give it a try.  And, especially, for those who are already writing game reports to consider also submitting one or more at http://www.midmajority.com/.  Presumably you can even plug your own site in the report, and it'd be good publicity for Valpo, for the Horizon League, and for mid-major basketball.

One warning: you do need to sign up for a game before it happens (or, latest, midnight central time the day of the game?).  So, if you want to submit your Akron report, now's the time to register and sign up for the game.

Replying to my own off comment post on the GA State Thread:

I've forgotten, does Pomeroy mean much of anything at this point?  I think he does pre-populate with something, but is it last season's results?  Or something else?

(Detroit's #2, so maybe it is something a bit meaningful.)

Anyhow, I think they'll mean a lot _more_ in three-four weeks.  And more yet when conference play gets going.

Also, I notice he's going pay!  Not for the main ratings page.  But, for details.  Not yet clear to me which details will cost $$.

Do you guys know Ken Pomeroy?  If not, here's a good starting point http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/51551812-183/pomeroy-hayward-basketball-teams.html.csp
(Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens know him)

He's had one of the best sites for basketball stats and computer predictions.  And, now his paywall's in full force.  It's a high wall!  His main ratings page is free, but it looks like everything else (schedules, stats, predictions, etc.) is pay.

$20/year.  So, if I have money to pay for basketball stats (some years yes, some years no), there's a new dilemma.  Does it go to Kyle Whelliston, or to Ken Pomeroy?

Do any of the Valpo-area television options carry WNDY?

That is, WNDY, the Indianapolis station with all the Butler games.

So, ESPN3 users, help me out.

I don't have the correct Comcast Tier to get ESPNU at home.  Can I watch the Arizona game on ESPN3?  Live?   Archived?
I'm fairly sure I have ESPN3 access, I'm just not familiar with what content shows up, and when.

Alternately, in the Valpo area, where's a good place to watch live?  Do they do anything on campus?  Or, I'm not opposed to watching a game with some liquid refreshment available for sale.  Is there some place guaranteed to have the game as the main event, with audible sound?  I'd prefer not to have competition from Monday night football, etc.

Well done with the new banner!

http://www.valpofanzone.com/banners/valpofanzone5.jpg

Well deserved.

It was asked about over in the Basketball thread, so I thought I'd post a new thread over here.

Rise & Shine: The Jay Demerit Story is indeed opening tomorrow, November 3, in limited release (~100 theaters, most places just one or two showings).

One of the more inspiring stories in sports in recent years.  From Green Bay to UIC, to being passed on by MLS, to the pub leagues in England... on the Premiership (top professional soccer in the world?) and playing every minute in the World Cup.

I'm looking forward to it!

http://jaydemeritstory.com/ for more info, with (partial?) theater listings at http://jaydemeritstory.com/find-a-screening-2/ (including a Nov 3 screening in Forth Worth).

All funded via Kickstarter (crowd sourcing, basically: lots of small contributions from the general public).

From their web site:

The true story of a young American's impossible journey – a journey never experienced or heard of in the soccer world. After college, Jay's dream of playing pro soccer in Europe seemed unreachable. Sleeping in an attic, painting houses and eating beans and toast to survive, Jay took the most unlikely route to the top. After not making the professional leagues in the U.S., Jay left for Europe at the age of 21 without any professional experience – only a passport, $1500 and a backpack full of dreams. The film documents Jay's journey from the bottom – playing in Sunday park leagues and lower level division London clubs earning 40 pounds a week – to playing in the English Premier League – to starting in the 2010 World Cup. The Jay DeMerit Story is a story of perseverance, hard work and relentless belief in a dream... It is a story that needs to be told.
THE POOREST MAN IS NOT WITHOUT A CENT, BUT WITHOUT A DREAM...

A couple of refreshes of
http://www.midmajority.com/season8/ballz
turned up good Horizon League representation.

At least one each from Valpo
http://www.midmajority.com/img8/ballz/+picbig.php?pic=_VALP1.JPG
Loyola, Milwaukee, Wright State, and a _bunch_ from Butler (4+?).

$70 for the Season 8 (last?!) membership package
http://www.midmajority.com/support#S8

Tempting....

I wouldn't know whether to get a Valpo Ballz, or a #tigerballz.

I do love me some Bally...

It looks like women's soccer kicks off the festivities this year.  With their first exhibitions this weekend, and their first proper game at home against Morehead State next Friday.

Anyone know anything about this year's team?  Picked 7th in the Horizon League poll.  Probably it didn't go down exactly like that, but their 24 points in the poll is what they'd get if _everybody_ picked them 7th.

"Fourth-year head coach John Marovich returns 19 letterwinners, including 10 starters from last year's 5-8-5 team, which posted a 1-5-2 mark in conference action, finishing in a tie for seventh in the Horizon League standings."

And, no, I'm not looking for a way to justify the Bender helmet.

My four-year-old son and I were having a conversation this morning, in our usual free-ranging style, talking about knights and basketball mascots, and such things.  He asked, "What's a crusader?".

How would you explain to a four year old what a crusader is, and why he acts as the mascot?

This forum used to be such a calm, peaceful place!

I think I'd prefer to have jj back, over the current climate of "a little bit of sniping, and a little bit of over-sensitivity".

Surely we can disagree with each other without making personal attacks, and even if we feel like we're being attacked we can try to put the best construction on the posts of the "attacker".  (Stl, is it time for a quote from the catechism?)

The Horizon League posted an update of the 2010-2011 McCafferty Trophy standings
http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/butler-continues-to-lead-mccafferty-trophy-standings.html
reflecting team performance in all horizon league sports, now including the results of all the winter seasons.

Valpo... doesn't look so great.  (10th overall; tied for 9th in mens' sports, 8th in womens').

As an example, students must now have a minimum of a B average to even apply.  The class will be larger also.  What the exact numbers are I don't know, but they should be released shortly I would think.

Interesting!  I guess the deadline for accepting financial aid is May 1. Even if there still is rolling admissions after that.  So, I suppose we might see some numbers in a few weeks.

Trolling around the admissions site, I didn't see anything about a B average requirement - I'd be curious to know what the story was there.  I think I'd oppose a hard cut there, but would be happy to hear that e.g. average GPA was high, or rising, etc.

Has the connection between the Post Tribune and the Sun Times been changing at all in, say, the last twelve months?

Wikipedia claims that Hollinger/Sun Times took over the paper in 1998.  And that it's been printed in Chicago (instead of in Gary) since 2007.  But, this year, I've noticed the domain name changing (posttrib.suntimes.com) and now I notice the masthead on the web page mentions the Sun Times (Post-Tribune: An edition of the Chicago Sun-Times).

Is any of this recent?  Or am I just noticing it recently?  Has it had an impact on staffing or reporting?

http://blogs.post-trib.com/lazerus/2011/03/on-horizon-league-scheduling-t.html

Drew said he believes the BracketBuster -- which was wedged in to that final stretch of games -- is no longer worth screwing up the schedule so badly that late in the year. He wants out, but that will be a league decision.

"It hurt us this year because of all the games we had in that period of time," Drew said. "I think the BracketBuster was really good, and the intent was really good -- to get top mid-major college teams playing against one another and get them exposure on TV. But I think, with all the TV exposure we receive now, I don't think it's as needed as it was."

When I asked about moving the BracketBuster to November or December -- a chance to spice up a normally dull non-conference season without interrupting league play -- he was much more agreeable to the concept.

"I think that would be a very good idea," he said. "That'd be a lot better. With 10 teams in the Horizon, and as challenging and difficult as our league is, two games a week in conference is just the right amount. You don't want three or four in a week with the competition and intensity and physicality of our league."

Maybe only a couple of polls left in the 2010-2011 season.  But, let's go ahead and keep the thread going.

The old table format still seems to work here. So, I'll go ahead and add the same placeholder table, in case I, or someone else, wants to come back and put together some nice summary of the season.  For now the results in the table are all 2009-2010.

	Nov 2	16	23	30	Dec 7	14	21	28	Jan 4	11	18	25	Feb 1	Feb 8	Feb 15	Feb 22	Mar 1	8
-
Butler	1	1	1	2	1	2	1	3	3	3	3	2
Wright State	9	14	13	20	14	18	19	18	18	20	RV	RV
Detroit	RV	RV	20	22	17	21	22	23	24	25	RV	RV
Green Bay	RV	RV	RV	RV	25	23	20	22	22	RV	RV	24

also received votes at least once: Cleveland State, Milwaukee, Loyola (Chicago)

A nice piece on Johnson in a Duluth paper

Published March 15, 2011, 12:00 AM
Duluth's Cory Johnson found a home at Valparaiso
By: Jon Nowacki, Duluth News Tribune
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/193871/group/sports/

No post-season for the Baylor Bears!

Shall we assumed that they turned down a CBI bid?

One projection I saw had them a few rungs higher up than Valpo on the "almost in the NIT" ladder.

The AD tweeted last night
http://twitter.com/#!/ValpoAD/status/45287057437896704

Post season play coming for Men's Basketball. More opportunities to see Cory, Howard & Mike in a Valpo uniform. Watch for the announcement

I suppose this is likely just confidence?  That there will be post-season play somewhere?

Or... can something have already been decided?  In the past the CBI and CIT have talked about competing with the other tournaments for teams.  Is it possible that one of them has already made Valpo such an attractive offer that they agreed to sign in advance, and pass on any NIT possibilities?  Seems unlikely, but the wording of the tweet makes me wonder.

In any case, nice to hear from the top that there is a plan!

If any of you are flying United or Continental this month, check out the "We All Shine On" piece in the in-flight Hemispheres magazine.
It's also up at http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2011/03/01/we-all-shine-on/

Sort of a "where are they now" of past NCAA greats including Bryce, Christian Laettner, etc.  It includes a photo of Bryce in a Hornets uniform.

Here's the Bryce-specific bit,

BRYCE DREW

SHINING MOMENT: Every college basketball fan has a special place in his heart for Cinderellas, those plucky teams that make improbably deep runs into the tournament. In 1998, Valparaiso was the lucky lady, thanks in large part to head coach Homer Drew's son Bryce and the three- pointer he nailed to lift his 13th-seeded Crusaders over the fourth-seeded University of Mississippi Rebels in the first round. Drew's shot, which some Indiana natives claim is the real "The Shot," combined the two things college basketball fans love most—buzzer- beaters and underdogs—in one of the tournament's shiniest moments ever.

WHERE HE IS NOW: After teaching the country that Valpo is a college in Indiana and not a brand of dog food, Drew became the school's first-ever first-round pick in the NBA draft. During his six years in the NBA, he jumped between the Rockets, Bulls and Hornets, filling the three-point- specialist role for each. In 2004 his NBA career came to an end, and, like any good coach's son, he jumped into coaching himself. Six years later, Drew is still at Valpo, where he's been honored as one of the 150 Most Influential Persons in the university's history. That's the power of a "shot."

I suppose Bryce still comes up all over the place in March.  But, it was a pleasant surprise to see it in an unexpected context!

Do we have a thread somewhere for general chatter about the new board?
If not, I guess this could be it.