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Michael Finke from Illinois is set to transfer.

If anyone is familiar with Naperville, Illinois you'll know how much it has grown in the past 20-30 years. Moser's ancestors were some of the original settlers of that area and bought up tons of farmland. Porter has bucks. He lives and breathes Loyola so for him it's not a money issue. For him it'll be how much he wants to stay close to his roots, which I hear is a lot. I hope he stays, if's he wants bigger pastures to hone his craft so be it but I hope he stays because he and Loyola will make this a better conference and help collective and conference RPI.

He was a solid hard worker. We are from NW Indiana / Southside of Chicago, we love and root for hard workers. I made it to only 3 games this year and he seemed he was out of his element a bit. Not surprising. Would've loved to see him develop but numbers sometimes go against you. We are in the MVC with a conference brother staring at a Sweet 16 bid and more if they can get by Nevada. It's a top 10 conference and a big boy one at that.

What I love most about the recruiting is these guys are recruiting "winners". Talent gets you far but when you recruit those that are used to winning it feeds off the rest. Losing gracefully is an art and should be perfected by all but when you win, it changes the mentality. Plus the talent quotient cannot be overlooked!!!

Javon is a special player. We will enjoy his time in NW Indiana!!!

https://mobile.twitter.com/Givemeliberty30/status/974853047477264384/photo/1

Valpopal, this link is for you!!!

While Marcus might not be in Chicago any longer, his nephew will keep him tied here. He has good connections still and while he may not be able to "steer"kids here per se, his endorsement of Valpo will go a long way. The Dildy connection is STRONG and why such a shrewd hire by Matt. Even before Javon committed and had us in his top 5 I felt good about landing him. The CPS is a fraternity and they trust those thst went before and accomplished much. A guy like Marcus played in a Final Four and played in the league. Kids listen.

Plus he loves Valpo and our coaching staff. He played a big part in Javon's recruitment and thinks Javon will do well here.

To put things in perspective Javon is 1st Team, Zion Griffin is a beast and a big body but he was 2nd team and is going to Northwestern. What I can say seeing Javon firsthand (and my judgement skewed) is he is a superior athlete, has a long wingspan and is very active with thst wingspan in the passing lanes which leads to steals. I think skills like this translate nicely to the next level. Quite frankly, expectations tempered, he is a steal for us. He will struggle I'm sure but we as a collective will be happy when his career is done and culminates with multiple NCAA appearances and a degree for him.

Went to the Supersectional and saw Marcus and caught up. We have a couple mutual friends as we both graduated in 1987 and lived on the Southern Side of Chicago. Needless to say he's proud of his 'phew and very happy he chose Valpo. We will probably see him at a few games next year as well. Valpo May lead the league on former NBA players in the stands!!! Keep it coming Matt!!!

2017-18: Rebuild
2018-2019: Reload
2019-2020: Reclaim

Exactly!!!

And just like that up by 2 in a 2 minute span.

On pace for 25 turnovers. That's insane and usually a prelude to a blowout. The issue is so many unforced. Down 9 with 3:36 left in half number 1...focus and come out firing in the second.

The biggest thing when we play these P5 schools is turnovers and many unforced. We had 21 to NU's 7. You ain't winning many basketball games with that kind of ratio. It hurt without Tevonn but we have players and they didn't perform.

Our front court, despite its size is SOFT. Sorolla tried to soft touch some shots rather than attaching the rim...as its too. I say give Linssen more minute and send a message to these two that if you are not going to use what you were given you are replaced. Hell, go with Golder if need be as he at least played aggressive and attacked when given the opportunity.

Plus, as has been mentioned, our perimeter D sucked tonight. This is a good outside shooting team and they exploited us. I love Lottich and company but we didn't come into this game as prepared defensively as I had hoped.

On the flip side JD24, the Loyola win stands and Egbunu coming back makes them stronger going into their conference which will have a positive impact on that win and RPI / KenPom overall. It's up to Valpo to capitalize on that. Good showing against Purdue and beat NU and maybe we have an at large resume. A big IF and probably out of the realm of possibility but hopefully their win lite the MVC on the map.

Playing in this conference will only pay dividends as we would not have a conference win like that unless we took the bull by the horns.

WOW!!! Pal, great win for the Ramblers from Rogers Park!!!

Goodie, true that but it's also rare a recruit backs out of NLI without a coaching change. My take is we have nothing to worry about. I think he is fine and safe with his commitment and everything I've heard about this young man is he wants to prove his detractors wrong. What better place than that sleeping giant nestled in the crescent of NW Indiana. Look at want happened to Alec Peters when he committed and didn't waiver. Valpo is a special place and I get more convinced of that every time I step on campus.

While not teams we play, teams our opponents will play at least twice (Purdue and Northwestern)...Wisconsin loses to Temple 59-54 and Illinois losing at half to Austin Peay 28-26...and Illinois hasn't looked good at all this game in particular.

Most up to date KenPom has us at 81 and Purdue at 9 so spread by Vegas is on par. Let's make a good showing in West Lafayette tomorrow. I hope Matt and company treat this like a post season game and play their butts off. Purdue has size but we got moxie. Here's hoping moxie wins out.i

As a reminder, we are on FS1 tomorrow so national exposure. I think everyone has access to FS1

If you look at how bad UIC has underachieved yet this far and how we are 8-0 I'd like to think Javon isn't regretting his college choice.

McClain, good recruiter...bad in game coach. Plus he has his uncle giving him guidance as well. And if you don't think Marcus status, even so many years ago, doesn't resonate with his nephew, you're terribly mistaken. Plus Marcus, via Twitter, was a fan of his signing. Not only that, he's a NLI signee so for him to change direction will cause him to lose a year. He is totally a Valpo kid.

A Kent State showing will definitely help but watching this game I see X blowing the doors off the Cimtas Center.

After seeing us in person against Utah State, for us to win in Mackey, we need out mid range game to fluoirish. We need Smits and Sorolla to attack the rim like Linssen did against u St. We need to both defend the perimeter and score form the wings/perimeter to have a chance. They will work that ball down low against us, how we defend and answer will have a big outcome on this game. Honestly, this a potential Sweet 16 dark horse FF contender. Stay in the game with them and come out better than we did against Kentucky last year. We win, awesome. We don't but gave them fits all night still a win.

What an awesome shot by an awesome kid. Great for Lexus and Boise State.

Valpo2014' while it's wrong, we all know the Committee will make it right with their selections. I really and truly hate the selection committee because they care more about "brand" than substance. Valpo gives them substance. We have, the past 2 years.

They should look at teams that are afraid to play us in the barn known as the ARC and pit them against them in a true home game scenario.

I'll never forget being at the NIT games against Texas State, and then P5 Florida State followed by St. Mary's where we took care of all of them in a semi packed to packed to the rafters gym.

Guys, not to rehash this stuff as it only angers me, especially with respect to Jubril. ..but heard Brian Bowen COULD possibly play this year and I want to absolutely hurt someone in NCAA administration. Why??? Because this kid knew his family was getting paid 6 figures and played along. Well...the FBI and their investigation is concluding that the family got money but he "possibly (or they can't prove)" didn't know anything about it. Now he technically isn't suspended or illegible by the NCAA but I know that Louisville is holding back as its really"a BAD PR problem should he play this close to the season beginning (not to make light of situations but more of public perception, had they only known Weinstein, Spacey, Moore, etc...) Bowen would be playing now.

But word has it Louisville wants to part ways and he wants to transfer and wherever he goes, supposedly Tyger Campbell, will follow. That's why Tyger has reopened hasn't committed as of yet and reopened his recruitment as he committed to DePaul in May and Bowen and the FBI BS didn't happen until June so Tyger went back and wanted closer to Bowen money. He didn't get it so he bailed. Again, his decommitment was after he knew what Bowen got and prior to the FBI. We'll see...

All I can say as a DePaul alum, we have no business being in this. DePaul played ND tough in the opener...for a while and lack of depth set in. ValpoSparty, MSU is going to evisorate them...honestly. The only reason they got in was Georgetown backed out as Ewing didn't want to challenge a new situation too soon against that type of competition. What is sad guys is Valpo would represent this corridor of the country well but again...P5-P6 conferences win.

Valpotx, being a college hoops junkie since the late '70's and with this being "Maui" time, I always wanted to go and told my wife, if we ever get to Hawaii, we are going in late November...don't ask!!!

So glad you shared experience. If I never make it, I know I lived vicariously through a brother on the board.

2 things that hurt GCSU is they are for profit University and do not have the endowments and 2 they can try and get into bigger conferences but have no football. Football as we know it today rules the roost.