Messages

Indiana St 82
Valparaiso 67

This is Earnest's final year, I believe.  The extra COVID year was for 2019-2020, I believe, and she didn't start until 2020-2021. 

The extra COVID year was for 2020-21. She has an additional year of eligibility and I believe she will be taking it. She is the only senior without a banner up in the arena.

2020-21 was the season where players competed without fans. Valley schools played a strange schedule.

I am pleased to say Leah plans to return and play at Valpo next year as a graduate student. I was lucky to get to know Leah starting with her first semester on campus, and I realized even then that she was the kind of student/athlete who would make Valparaiso proud. 

Family!
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Let's hope today's big win over Purdue gives Jake Diebler the head coaching position permanently and he schedules Coach Powell's Valpo team sometime in the future.
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Despite getting an admirable 18 offensive rebounds, somehow Valpo lost points in the paint by a 46-32 margin and shot 15 fewer free throws. Nevertheless, the team played well a majority of the game, which makes the choking at the end even harder to accept.

Valparaiso 66
Mo. State  77

Coach Powell has repeatedly declared he will be bringing extraordinary stud players to Valpo next season through the portal. Therefore, this promise has consciously raised expectations to very high levels he now will need to meet.

The attendance has to be under a 1000. I've never seen such a poor turn out.

The official attendance is generously listed at 1031.

Another blowout, this time at the hands of a team without its leading scorer. There weren't high expectations for this season, only that the team would be competitive and show improvement as the season moved forward, as a result the ARC attendance would grow in numbers and enthusiasm. However, during the past seven straight losses even those low bars have been too difficult to achieve as the team seems to be deteriorating rather than improving, and in the last three games Valpo has not even been competitive. 

Congratulations, Jake!
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Not sure where to put this but The University of New Hampshire closed its Art Museum as part of cost cutting measures.

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2024/01/23/univefrsity-of-new-hampshire-museum-of-art-closes/72313414007/

This situation seems a bit muddled. The good news is that no artworks will be sold, and they will continue to be exhibited elsewhere on campus. Also, the museum space will not be re-purposed but will remain for art-related activities. It seems the building needed a new HVAC system to satisfy accreditation requirements for safely storing paintings, and construction was about to begin, but the university wanted to avoid that cost. The only change appears to be the museum designation and perhaps a discontinuation of associated expenses, including some staff. Unfortunately, this removes internship opportunities and work-study positions for students, as well. However, I would think displaying valuable artworks outside the centralized security of a museum building would create greater insurance costs and other overhead expenses.

Thanks for all your good work, 04!

Incompetency in the federal government, specifically the Department of Education, is harming recruiting for the upcoming year, especially by Valparaiso and other tuition-driven private universities. The FAFSA financial aid form, usually available to students by October 1, was postponed until December 31. Then, delay of the release was extended again until sometime in March because of glitches or errors in its content and process. As a result, the university cannot confirm financial aid for students, who are required to complete the federal form first. Therefore, applicants are in a limbo state of confusion and uncertainty about whether or not they will be able to afford a private school education, and it is impossible for many of them to make deposits. Consequently, some prospective students likely will simply play it safe and opt for less expensive state schools. A number of universities are now stretching their decision deadline date from March 1 to May 1 or June 1. Apparently, a couple of private universities have already completely eliminated the commitment deadline. This is not good for enrollment numbers at places like Valparaiso University.

U.N.I. 75

Valpo  68

IMO, our kids have hit the proverbial wall. They've given all they have and have  just run our of energy reserves.  They've played 25 games and have 6 left before Arch Madness with no gas left in the tank. Simple as that.

I am not buying this. These are superb athletes roughly between 18-22 years old with finely tuned bodies who are coached and closely guided on health, strength conditioning, and nutrition. "They've played 25 games" but in 100 days. They play two games a week in which only two team members are averaging more than 30 minutes, and in between they are trained to maintain peak performance ability. They "have 6 left before Arch Madness"; however, that is about 4 weeks away and should not be a burden. On top of that, the biggest problem with falling behind the opposition usually occurs in the opening segment of a game when all should be fully energized and prepared to play. If they have hit a wall, it is because they are facing the reality that they aren't as good yet as they had hoped. The expected evidence of progress has been lacking in recent games with a demoralizing six straight losses and the last two opponents scoring a total of 197 points!   

I called Coach Powell's initial technical foul just a couple minutes before it happened. Thus far, today's first-half performance tested the limit to how much even the composed coach or the team's most understanding fans are willing to endure or tolerate in the name of patience.

We are just not big enough.  We get pounded down low and killed on rebounds. 

Maybe, but as of right now at the 4-minute mark left in the first half Valpo is down by 18 points at the 3-point line (8-2). Size has nothing to do with that fact. [Update: At halftime it is a 24-point deficit from the 3-point line (10-2).]

And, for those not following along on Facebook.  New Student Incentive starts Saturday.   

$1 for every student in the student section goes into a pot.

One student will be chosen at random to take a half-court shot.  If it goes in, they win the pot.  If it doesn't.  the money rolls over. to the next game on Valentine's day against UNI.

I like the intentions of this promotion, but I hope the process is flexible or tweaked. If a student chosen at random is a diminutive and less athletic girl or boy (not to be sexist), maybe even physically handicapped, that individual should be permitted some kind of alternative, perhaps allowed to select a designated half-court shooter from among others in the stands with whom they can share the winnings if successful.

Belmont    76
Valparaiso 72

Even though out rebounded by 21, we had 10 offensive rebounds to their 8! 

Could be because we had 48 missed field goals to rebound and they only had 24. 

Searching for something positive, anything! Sepp finally remembered he could play offense and shoot the basketball.

Valparaiso 64
Indiana St 84

[outstanding careers in athletics-related fields after leaving Valpo.]

yes but coached at Valpo for 2 years and was a huge gamechanger and influencer in American sports. Valpo needs to recognize this, and it is really sad he does not get considered.

Maybe some type of Distinguished Alumni HoF, if it doesn't already exist?  I get what you are saying on impact, but as a former VU athlete, I see the Athletics HoF as needing to be tied to accomplishments on the field/court or coaching/administering Valpo athletes in an exceptional way.

Guidelines for Hall of Fame nominations seem to allow consideration of off the court post-graduation achievements:

Former athletes, coaches, administrators and support personnel at Valparaiso University are eligible for nomination to the Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as former students who have had outstanding careers in athletics-related fields after leaving Valpo.

Lots of enthusiasm from the coach but 3 FTs at a home game? That's embarrassing. Complete lack of aggression.

After the last game, I wrote about "the weakness of our softer inside game, as we've seen in the past two games, losing on rebounds 96-66 and points in the paint 74-38!" Again against Evansville Valpo lost in rebounding (36-29) and points in the paint (30-24) as well as at free throw attempts (15-3). These are all indicators of aggression and toughness inside or, in this case, a lack of it.

I like Coach Powell, but the last thing I expected from one of his teams was softness in the paint. Part of it lies in the fact that Sepp and Schwieger are freshmen and need time to build strength, but doesn't explain Palm. The three combined for only 5 rebounds in 50 minutes of play. For the third time in four games Sepp had 0 points, and I believe his only shot was blocked. However, I am assuming when the Rev repeatedly declares, as he did in the postgame conference, he'll be bringing in transfer dudes to complement the freshmen next year, he means tough bigs.

Evansville:  72
Valparaiso:  71