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Since I started the LaBarbara retirement thread, I guess I'll step up and start a new thread for his replacement.

The school seems to be going above and beyond promoting this hire, anyone else agree? Here's an example:

https://www.valpoathletics.com/athletics/news/2021-22/21366/media-interviews-with-dr-charles-small-to-continue-this-week/

Don't think they did much of that when Homer and Bryce were interviewed by "national" people. Maybe they didn't need to.

I will end by saying this, which got a few laughs from some of my cohorts:

The first coach that is fired by the new AD will be able to say, "You're killing me, Smalls!"

Congratulations to Mark:

https://www.valpoathletics.com/athletics/news/2021-22/21041/valparaiso-university-athletic-director-announces-retirement/

I figured it was about time someone started a Motor City Madness thread. There have been complaints and arguments for and against the tournament on various threads, so I thought let's get it done.
Plus, I wrote much of this post on a thread a few weeks ago and it was buried, so I wanted to bring it back in light of current discussions taking place.
As most of you old-timers know, I used to be a member of the local media and covered the Crusaders for many years. Now, I have "regular" job but still love most sports, in particular Valpo basketball. I go to as many home games as I can, read this board and enjoy any articles written about the team.
The Horizon League know-it-alls who moved the tournament to Detroit must have been afflicted with some sort of ailment which led to their Motor City Madness. One-site conference tournaments are not good for casual fans.
Who benefits from the tournament at one site:
1.   The Media: They get to see all the games for free. Most media members have their expenses covered by their employer. Mileage expense. Hotel. Food. They get to see all the teams in one venue. They get free meals at the arena. It's awesome. Some of my best memories are covering Mid-Continent Conference tournaments in the Quad Cities and in Kansas City.
2.   The Horizon League Staff: Same perks as the media. One site, 10 teams (or 20 with the women). The league people can mingle with all the important people from all the schools, all in one spot. And none of them have to pay anything to do so.
3.   To an extent, the players: This is a point made by Greg Kampe in Paul Oren's podcast. All the players receive gifts. They are treated well, as they should. They get to stay in, I'm sure, a very nice hotel. They get to see kids from other teams in a social setting. Maybe they will even have a banquet, which the "old" Mid-Con did one year when the tournament was at Wright State.
4.   Certain fans: For those who don't have to worry about vacation days or the expense of getting to and staying in Detroit, it's great if you want to watch a bunch of games over the course of a couple days.
Who does NOT benefit from the tournament at one site:
1.   The Average Fan: Hey, that's me now! And that's what led to my post (edited, below) from another thread.

I've had to laugh at lines from people like Kampe and LeCrone about the conference tournament attracting "fan bases" from all the schools. It's really only going to be the parents of the players and the few die-hards associated with the program. And for the bottom-feeder teams, it's going to be even worse. Except, of course Oakland and Detroit fans.

There's no way an average person would want to make the commitment to go to Detroit. And I'm not bashing just Detroit. This would be the case for me if the tournament was just about anywhere.
If Valpo earns the No. 1 seed and advances to the title game, this would be the schedule: a 5:30 p.m. game on March 4, a 7 p.m. game on March 6 and a 7 p.m. game on March 7.
March 4 is a Saturday, so I leave Valpo in the 9 a.m. range for the game at 4:30 central. Gas for the five-hour drive, maybe $30-$40?
Tickets for the game - I'm sure they aren't cheap. It looks like a floor-level seat is $40 per session.
Hotel room for Saturday night, Sunday night and Monday night - $100 minimum (I've lowered my estimate from a few weeks ago. I have to take vacation days off from work on Monday and Tuesday. The championship is at 6 Central on Tuesday, meaning the game ends at 8. A five-hour drive home puts me back in Valpo in the 1-2 a.m. range. And then I'm supposed to be at work on Wednesday at 8 a.m. so I don't have to take a third vacation day. I'm too old to do that any more.

So here's the tab: $300 for 3 nights in a hotel, $100 (at least) for food, $100 (at least) for gas, $160 for 1 ticket, 3 sessions = that is $66- for a bare bones estimate. Plus I burn two vacation days in early March and I'm dead tired when I get back on Wednesday morning. AND, this is assuming I go by myself, leaving my wife at home for 4 days with my 12-year-old son who would probably rather be with me and miss 2 days of school.

Plus, if Valpo LOSES in the first round ... do I really want to stay in Detroit another three days? Absolutely not. I hope I can get a refund on the hotel and go back to work on Monday, retaining my vacation days.

All of this for a tournament with a crappy off-campus atmosphere where they have to hide the empty seats from the ESPN cameras. And in an environment that makes it much easier for a Non-No. 1 seed to win, giving the Horizon League a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

I don't care what kind of extra entertainment the league lines up. I'm staying home and watching the games online or on TV.

The league must really hate Valpo to make this deal with Detroit. Taking away the incentive to win the league and host the tournament was a huge mistake. Thank you, Horizon League.
I'm not against Detroit. I'm against the one-site tournament, and I'm sorry if Kampe thinks this is going to "grow" the league. Not a chance.

I have it on good authority that ticket manager Cindy Eaton will be retiring soon. Here is what she posted on Facebook:

"Well Crusader fans I have printed my ticket for retirement and placed it in "Will Call" for pick up in Florida. It has been a wonderful 17 years, 500,000+ tickets, 5 NCAA appearances, several tournaments hosted, special events at the ARC, and Valpo games played at Soldier Field & the United Center. V-A-L-P-A-R-A-I-S-O Let's Go Valpo!"

Congratulations and good luck to Cindy!

Thought this deserved its own thread due to the uniqueness of the game. Just released by the school:



Crusaders Hosting Game as Part of ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon

The Valparaiso men's basketball team will host Northern Illinois at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 a.m. (CT) on ESPN as part of the fifth annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, a 24-hour marathon of basketball over the ESPN family of networks which celebrates the opening of the college basketball season.

The Crusaders' game against Northern Illinois will be the fifth of 11 contests on ESPN on the 13th, as the marathon kicks off at midnight ET (11 p.m. CT) with West Virginia at Gonzaga.  Both Valparaiso and Northern Illinois will be making their debuts in the marathon.  For the Crusaders, it continues a trend of nationally-televised games, as Valpo appeared on the ESPN family of networks a program-record six times during the 2011-2012 season, including five of its final six games.

"What a thrill to be hosting a game during ESPN's 24 hours of basketball!" said Crusader head coach Bryce Drew.  "It is always a great opportunity for our university and our basketball program to be on national television during the morning prime time hours.  We hope our fans set their alarms early that day, put some coffee on and come help pack the ARC!"

Valparaiso returns all five starters in 2012-2013 from a squad which won 22 games a season ago and captured the program's first-ever Horizon League regular season championship en route to an appearance in the NIT.

According to the Horizon League, Valpo is 17-2 over the last 20 years when trying to beat an opponent for the third time in the same season.

So all of you people who keep bringing up the "tough to beat a team three times in the same year" theory can quit bringing it up. This isn't baseball.

I just attended the Valpo High School game against Lake Central.
LC is loaded, starting with Glenn Robinson III who is going to Michigan.
But, LC also has a very good sophomore - 6-7 Tyler Wideman. The kid already weighs at least 230. He is smooth around the basket.
Bryce needs to offer him a scholarship now, if he hasn't already. But I think Purdue is after him. Wideman scored 23 against Valpo, and it could have been more if they needed him. I think the final was 62-39.

Here's the release on the ARC games for the 2K Classic. Come see the University of the District of Columbia (huh?) and IU-Kokomo!



Field Finalized For 2K Sports Classic

Akron and Duquesne, both postseason teams from a season ago, highlight the squads coming to Valparaiso as the Crusaders' men's basketball team hosts a subregional round of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Nov. 18-20.  It marks the first time Valpo has hosted part of an in-season men's basketball tournament since 1977.

The Valparaiso Subregional begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 as Duquesne faces University of the District of Columbia.  Later that night at 7:30 p.m., the Crusaders take on Akron, which won 23 games last season and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday evening's action starts at 5 p.m. as well, as Duquesne and Akron play the early game.  Valpo returns to the court at 7:30 p.m., matching up against IU Kokomo.

The Valparaiso Subregional of the 2K Sports Classic concludes on Sunday with two more games.  The Crusaders play Duquesne, which advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2011 CBI, at 3:30 p.m., with IU Kokomo and UDC closing tournament play at 6 p.m.

Valparaiso opens the 2K Sports Classic with a previously announced game at Arizona in the Tucson Regional.  The Crusaders will take on the Wildcats on Monday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. CT in a game that can be seen live nationwide on ESPNU.

Sounds like a nice replacement for Brandon, using the same rule

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/article_65a56a18-a4e5-54d4-a8f0-9ec7ba3efc24.html

Just released by the school this morning:

Dino Jakolis, a 6'7", 215 lb. forward from Split, Croatia, has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Valparaiso men's basketball program as a freshman for the 2011-2012 season.  Jakolis comes to Valpo after playing last season at LaLumiere School in nearby LaPorte, Ind.

Jakolis started all but two games last season for a 17-9 LaLumiere squad, averaging12.4 points and four rebounds per game in his only season with the Lakers.  Jakolis, who hails from the same hometown as current Crusader Hrvoje Vucic, as well as a pair of former players in Marko Punda and Ivan Vujic, brings more international experience to the Valpo squad as well, as he played for the Croatia team at the 2007 U16 European Championship, averaging 10.1 ppg and 8.5 rpg.  Two years later, he represented Croatia again at the 2009 U18 European Championship, posting 9.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg.

"We are thrilled to have Dino joining our men's basketball program," said Crusader head coach Homer Drew.  "Dino brings a wide variety of skills to our program, as he can play multiple positions.  He handles the ball well, can pass and shoot well and can help us on the boards."

Jakolis becomes the third newcomer committed to joining the Crusaders next season, joining Richie Edwards and Ben Boggs.