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If I'm being fully transparent. I think Jake Diebler checks all boxes for a head coach candidate.

-Young rising star in the coaching ranks.
-experience recruit with Valpo facilities and resources
-knows first hand the challenges the athletics department and the university faces.
-has been an associate HC and filled in for the HC and been the guy at the top seat.
-proven track record in player development
-recruiting ties to the area
-played at the university
-beloved by the fan

Evaluate thoroughly, then execute quickly. Think this through and take time as needed, it is an important decision for the long term, not just for recruiting this year.

It took Valpo 3 weeks after the end of the season to fire Lottich, why would they want to hire a new coach within a week?

Keep all options open, whether or not candidates have Valpo roots. It should not have relevance in making the right decision.

I really wonder why it took 3 weeks. This will never be mentioned publicly but if had to guess it had to do with securing funding for the buyout.

If Coach Gore comes back, I could see Zane giving Valpo a shot.

But that is totally dependent on the new HC. A head coach will not make an assistant coach hire based on one recruit.

1051 transfers in and (knock on wood) Valpo, at two, is doing better than many in the Valley.   Evansville is in free fall with 8, while Belmont and UIC sit with 4.  Only SIU is doing better with only one while 5 other teams have 3.  I noticed that even Bryce losses key guys as a kid who scored 16 against Gonzaga is now in the portal.

The amount of talent overhaul we need, is stark. Personally I never want people to transfer, but guys C Barret & others are borderline or questionable MVC caliber talent. I wouldn't mind seeing some of the less talented guys leave for the portal.

Obviously you want to keep some glue guys and there is a need for role players, but I'm not opposed the coaches getting grad transfers to fill out the roster for this upcoming season.

I was against the Lottich termination.

We have likely lost Krikke and a top recruit as a result of this move.

Coach Lottich had more than his fair share of bad luck, and his hiring coincided with the move to a much, much tougher conference - a factor much overlooked IMO in assessing the job he did here. He also upheld the integrity and character of the program, two factors that were, again, not given enough weight in judging his overall performance.  And you couldn't ask for a better representative of this university.

Paul

The band aid needed to ripped off. We had an all-conference level player and we're still a bottom dweller in the MVC. If Krikke returned and we lost Kobe, did you expect different results.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Bad luck can hold up as an excuse for 1-2 seasons, maybe 3 but the proof was in the pudding. 7 years is enough of a sample size to know he wasn't up to the job or ready for the job when he got it.

At the game on Saturday, there were a half dozen Power 5 conference Head Coaches at the game. ESPN has Bigunda rated 4th in the 2024 recruiting class. I didn't see the game, but the stats suggest that he is every bit as good as Bigunda. I am sure he will be going to Power 5 conference instead.

Zane Doughty is not as good as Flory Bidunga. C'mon.

I have to second AK here. Zane has a very bright future, stats never tell the whole story.

Zane plays a physical brand of basketball could use a lot of polish in college. It makes more sense for him to play at the mid-major level where he'll get more early playing time and be able to get in game experience quicker.

If Coach Gore stays on staff, there is a chance he stays with Valpo and a very outside chance, Krikke as well.

Jake Diebler makes a lot of sense. But my gut says Dr. Small will want to get away from the Valpo Coaching Tree.

Something to keep in mind. If the next HC is Jake Diebler or Roger Powell, I think the chances of Coach Gore staying we Valpo rises. Coach Gore is a very good assistant Coach and an excellent Big Man coach! Not only that but he provides a connection to Valpo Basketball Alums for the past +20 years. He's more than an assistant coach. I really hope Coach Gore stays with the program somehow.

https://twitter.com/toddickow/status/1640193799451295745?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Does Zane stay? Will he win Indiana Mr. Basketball 2023? I like champions.

Considering he just updated his Twitter profile to erase Valpo Basketball commit and put his recruiter contact info and highlights video as his link... I'd say he's as good as gone at this point...

Bakari played a selfish brand of basketball and often tried to play "hero ball" in iso situations against the Coaching staffs will. Lottich often said we don't need "me first" players. Bakari clearly took exception to those comments.

This isn't anything new. Bakari had taken shots at Lottich in the past. Not saying Bakari is a bad guy here but the guy had quite the ego for the lack of production he brought to the table. He was also buddies with Joe Burton and Lottich cut his buddy for lack of academic performance. That whole era had a tumultuous exit with Lottich if you guys remember. Bakari, Joe Burton, Golder, & Nick Robinson. Lottich is a no bs guy and holds people to high standards. That style ruffled some feathers. Ultimately that was on Lottich and the staff for not vetting players better to be the proper culture fit for the school. 

He's taking shots on Lottich's way out. It is what it is.

https://twitter.com/bakari_evelyn11/status/1639038108682571781?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

https://twitter.com/bakari_evelyn11/status/1639038526066130945?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

I'm happily eating crow tonight 

Hats off to Dr. Small and President Padilla!

Well Krikke is for sure transferring now with the Matt Lottich firing.

https://twitter.com/mattnorlander/status/1639017076982714369?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

https://twitter.com/tvboren/status/1639019115448012800?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

You can make a strong argument that if Krikke decides to stay in College that Valpo is a pretty good spot for him.

Hear me out.

Hands down, Ben will the feature and center piece of the Team next season. If he were to transfer, especially to a power 5 program, that likely would not be the case for him. As he has pro potential in Every league other than the NBA it's extremely important to show case ever aspect of his game.

He's familiar with his teammates and he knows how the coaching staff will use him. No where else can offer that.

Additionally, say what you will about Lottich, but Coach Gore is undeniably a hell of a big man Coach. Coach Gore is proven Coach at Developing Big Men and their game.

I think the best situation is if a higher major hires Matt as an assistant coach and he leaves voluntary.  I don't think he will be offered a head job at this point.  And Valpo can't afford to terminate his contract.   Best future bet for Matt is to find a position as a high level assistant.

He definitely is not leaving a HC position to become an assistant at a P5. A) that's not in his nature to quit, B) he might not make the same money as an assistant Coach. Everyone assumes all big school assistants make hundreds of thousands of dollars but from my understanding it varies greatly between programs.

Maybe it's because Valpo has been stung by the transfer bug the last few years, but it's a little surprising to see only one player entering the transfer portal from Valpo's 22-23 Team.

Fingers crossed Krikke stays. I'm wondering when his decision will be finalized and announced. I'm sure he is getting flooding with Coaches trying to contact him through indirect channels behind the scenes trying to recruit him right now.

It'd be nice if Valpo could stop being such a punchline in its own conference.

https://twitter.com/iammattruss/status/1636917628957519872?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Well, I for one have my mind changed now! We're for sure progressing nicely with this BIG TIME news.

I have no insider knowledge, but my gut says no changes are coming... the AD needs to make some kind of indirect comment. If they are sticking with ML, give some kind of signal to fans about the future

Not the staff shake ups many were looking for...

https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1636367389154590721?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

I'm not going to lie, I'm really surprised Cam's never took off at Valpo. There was a lot of hype when he came in. Wouldn't shock me if he really had a great college career in a new environment.

https://twitter.com/tvboren/status/1635835598706450434?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Love the shot, but it's time for the school and program to make new memories. We've had memories in the Lottich era, but not good ones...

https://twitter.com/joeyteeple/status/1635277149937750017?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

UNI lands a former Valpo recruit. Transferring from Loyola

https://twitter.com/jacobhutsonn/status/1635652626179149828?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Judging how we're actively recruiting the transfer market apparently, it sounds more and more like Lottich is coming back.

Paul, said wait until we get closer to the Final 4 for more potential news.

https://twitter.com/theportalreport/status/1634967265971146752?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw