Messages

1)  Keith Carter:  3.7 apg- UNDER

2)  EV Nickerson:  15 mpg- OVER

3)  Tevonn Walker:  4.1 gs- OVER

4)  Max Joseph:  1.0 spg- UNDER

5)  Darien Walker:  78% FT%- OVER

6)  David Skara:  49% 2FG%- UNDER

7)  Vashil Fernandez:  2.0 bpg- OVER

8)  Nick Davidson:  45% FG%- OVER

10)  Jubril Adekoya:  4.9 rpg- OVER

11)  Alec Peters:  16.9 ppg- OVER

12)  David Chadwick:  35% 3FG%- UNDER

13)  Team:  20 wins- UNDER

14)  Tie-breaker--team points per game, to 3 sig figs- 62.3

What will make the difference from last season? Pluses seem even with minuses. Hope is the only thing. We get that every year and yet never really materializes in a positive way, just up and down.

A much-improved Alec Peters...

It should probably be noted that we have benefited more often than not by our coach (and staff)'s connection to evangelical sects--we've gotten some faith-filled people that might not have played here otherwise.  And I'm sure Bryce represents (and probably believes, else he wouldn't work there) to recruits that this is a Christian institution.

I don't think there's much question that Bethel has a more "spiritual" campus environment than Valpo. It's basically 4 more years of going to a private Evangelical high school, other than you're no longer living with mom and dad. For example, the last thing schools like Bethel, Huntington, Taylor, Anderson, and Goshen are interested in is "broadening" their students horizons by welcoming students of other religions like Islam on campus, providing meeting facilities for them, etc. Not criticizing anyone, just saying it's a different business model.

I agree.  "Evangelicals", other wise known as "Bible" Christians, otherwise known as Baptists, have their own narrow view which, as Apostle points out, doesn't include folks like Lutherans.

This is just as bad as evangelicals who believe that only they are Christians.  There are plenty of evangelicals who a) are not Baptists and b) include Lutherans/Catholics etc within the body of Christ.

I'm sure he meant evangelical.

Nope, I'm pretty sure he said what he meant.  You have to realize how evangelical Protestants regard mainline Protestants.  (The former either don't realize or don't accept that they even are Protestant.)

I've been hearing that sentiment expressed by 'Christians' recruited to VU for at least 15 years.

(Of course, I've also heard on campus that Christ came and died for the Missouri Synod too, so it's a two-way street.)

Right.  Which is what I said.  In his mind, evangelical=Christian. 

Well there you have it.  Clay wanted to play at a "Christian" college.  Makes perfect sense.   

I'm sure he meant evangelical.  Some pretty huge differences between VU and Bethel.

Looks like another year of getting beat up in the paint for the ladies...I think the Dorow experiment may be on its last leg.

I think that Nashville group is perfect:  Drake, Murray State and the other one.     

Mid-range RPI schools are great for non-conference.    What do we learn by playing Top 20 stud teams like Duke, Ohio State, Arizona and Michigan State and then mix in doormats like Chicago State, Savannah State and some D3s.  That is how we used to roll.   

We schedule much smarter now and we cut back the travel costs too.   Nashville is a great change of pace and drivable for fans.  Smart!!

Or we could shoot for more of the mid-level Big 10/Big 12 type teams...we don't have to play top 10 teams or bottom 10 teams...why not Northwestern, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas State, etc. New Mexico is exactly the kind of team we need to play.

Granted I understand it takes both schools being interested...but it is not as if the only two choices are powerhouse+doormats vs. meh mid majors.

While that is not an awful slate, Murray State had the best RPI of the bunch this year---and that was 111.  Portland's 178 and Drake's 164 don't do much for me.  I do love Nashville, though.

New Mexico message boarders confirm the Lobos are coming to us this year.

Justin will be a tremendous addition to the staff, especially in terms of recruiting.  This guy is special and really is the piece the staff has been missing (no offense to Helm...he's a super guy).

Old news now, but check out the video for the stadium plans...

http://www.uicflames.com/facilities/les.html

Why can't we have the cool toys too? 

2015 Maui Invitational- Indiana, Kansas, UNLV, UCLA, St. John's, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Chaminade

2015 Great Alaska Shooutout- Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado St, Mercer, Missouri St, Pacific, Rice, UC Santa Barbara, Washington St

And a good link that has more info than I want to type out...no Valpo though...

http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2013/12/2/5166354/2014-15-college-basketball-early-season-tournaments-events-MTE

Pretty neat site ranks  professional and college stadiums including the ARC


www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/athletics-recreation-center-s789

That article has got to be pretty old.

Butler loses yet another one...

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10805630/elijah-brown-becomes-fourth-butler-bulldogs-player-transfer

SIAP

Moving on, any publication that has us at 6th in the preseason poll has lost all credibility.

Let me try this again...if NEXT YEAR, Milwaukee is good (i.e. a top 50 team), a win over them would carry some weight.  Even a loss to them would be considered a good loss.

Valpo's RPI was 192, so no the win didn't help.  If Valpo was a top 50-60 team coming off a tourney berth, then I think it would have been perceived as a pretty good win.

Personally, I could care less what Milwaukee is ranked.  In fact, they shouldn't even be ranked at all. They can't participate in post season play thanks to their systemic APR failure, so what good are they?  Every win they get in conference play takes away from someone else's record, RPI and chance for postseason play.  Their will add no value to the league whatsoever.

If Milwaukee ends up being really good and plays a good schedule, couldn't a loss to them actually improve a team's RPI?  Additionally, if they end up being good (let's 50-100 RPI), any win against them could be help to the resume, especially since they are coming off a tourney appearance. 

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/bryce-drew-to-remain-with-crusaders-putting-to-rest-interview/article_5dae86a6-db2c-5613-a93c-c7593770d42a.html

End of thread.
Good job Paul Oren.

If it wasn't Bryce saying it, I would just assume the quotes were typical coach-speak.  He never flat out says, "I'm not leaving."

(I doubt he's leaving.)

Nice article from one of our very own...

"Thanks for all of your examples, but none of those count."

Craig Neal- New Mexico
Scott Drew- Baylor
Josh Pastner- Memphis
Chris Collins- Northwestern
Kevin Ollie- UCONN (National champs, I think)
Frank Martin- Kansas State (since moved on)
Danny Manning- Tulsa (we know his deal)

Anyways...enough on this topic...but that's a list of high D1 jobs that recently went to coaches with no tourney run or even head coaching experience.

Obviously a tourney run doesn't hurt in getting some recognition and is a "proof" of success...but as was said earlier, it is one of many factors.

Josh Pastner of Memphis also comes to mind.