So once again Valpo loses at home by 22 to a team picked something like 10th in the Ohio Valley I think. Coach Evans tells us we have lots of talent and needs to "tighten up" a few areas before the next game. Tighten up? We lost by 22!
We, once again, are playing a five out scheme with a lack of height. We get outrebounded and if the 3's aren't falling we get smacked. If Evans is around next year I'll be shocked.
In 15 years in the Mid-Con, we had 14 winning seasons. Since then, we've had one winning season in the Horizon, and one in what will be seven years in the MVC. Something needs to change.
We need someone to come in and evaluate our program, and evaluate what it takes to be successful in the MVC. Facilities, people, living conditions, majors available, coaching pay, etc.
We should strive to be better
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Uh, two things.
Why isn't this in the basketball thread and, more importantly, would someone please tell me why the coach with the most VU WBB wins, Keith Freeman, got fired — which led to this situation?
Our current AD seems to have a better handle on acquiring talented coaches(Powell) than previous
Just another area needed to be cleaned up
Valpo had to take care of the Big stone, I.e., men's basketballl, before taking on the smaller stones, especially with the limited funds. If Valpo had revenue Evans likely would have been canned.
Quote from: VULB#62 on November 18, 2023, 09:37:02 PM
Uh, two things.
Why isn't this in the basketball thread and, more importantly, would someone please tell me why the coach with the most VU WBB wins, Keith Freeman, got fired — which led to this situation?
Freeman's last three years had wins of 7, 9 and 10 with nothing in the pipeline. His dismissal was warranted. Dorow was a disaster, however, she understood you needed height. Evans had one winning season and that was with Dorow's recruits. She has never recruited a player over 6-1 and has had one at 6-1. We have a team full of wings yet she is always surprised we don't rebound.
At least this year she recruited taller wings so that is something.
We have one shooter in Brown and through 2 games we can't get her shots.
We just lost one of only 2 home games in the pre-conference. It could be a long season.
I do think this freshman class has potential for the next staff.
Tough OT loss at Western Michigan, after leading by 3 in the waning seconds of the second half, only to have a banked 3 pointer go in at the buzzer for WMU, from straight on (not intended at all). This was after two pretty solid losses at Southern Miss and UAB. I like that we aren't just chucking up 3's at this point, like we have in prior seasons. There seems to be a concerted effort to get the ball inside.
Quote from: valpotx on November 29, 2023, 08:30:09 PM
Tough OT loss at Western Michigan, after leading by 3 in the waning seconds of the second half, only to have a banked 3 pointer go in at the buzzer for WMU, from straight on (not intended at all). This was after two pretty solid losses at Southern Miss and UAB. I like that we aren't just chucking up 3's at this point, like we have in prior seasons. There seems to be a concerted effort to get the ball inside.
The classic do you foul before a 3 is shot.
They aren't winning but there is hope.
Where was Harris, she has been pretty solid. Without her we still could/should have won.
finally won a game-albeit an exhibition(shows in the win column which is weird) but...looks to be a long year for the ladies
Quote from: Valpo14 on December 08, 2023, 08:58:58 AM
finally won a game-albeit an exhibition(shows in the win column which is weird) but...looks to be a long year for the ladies
OMG, that was really hard to watch. What has happened to players and their inability to shoot free throws? Valpo was
10 for30!!! and IUNW was 9 for 15. We are going to get killed in The Valley.
Free Throws
Quote from: vu72 on December 08, 2023, 09:21:34 AMValpo was 10 for30!!!
A conspiracy theorist might say that their political stances might have effected their straight shooting. Cause we know all these students are being polluted by their professors and university presidents. It's a true epidemic.
Obviously time for a new coach
Wow, we lost 61-35 to Bethune Cookman, and went 2/23 from 3, while 11/49 overall. How can you claim to have an offense that wants to shoot, when you have no shooters? It's the same problem we have on the men's side currently, except that Coach Evans has had more time to recruit players that fit her style. We were spoiled in having Grace White, Carrie Weinman and Shay Frederick during the 'better years' of Evans' tenure, which were really more mediocre in actual standings. If the twins stay after this season, I think that they have a lot of potential, but I am not sure that Evans can survive another sub-10 win season.
I expected the Bethune Cookman loss, looking at their schedule they looked pretty good. 35 points I am sure had SID's researching the last time we scored that little. A Quick Look's says 2005 or so we scored 31.
I thought Stetson was beatable but no go.
Not sure what is going on. Harris has missed a bunch of games with an undisclosed injury. Johnson disappeared from the roster.
They signed 2 players for next year...no mention.
I'm afraid it's another nail in the coffin of Mary Evans time at Valpo.
There is some talent there that needs a head coach that can mold them into a winner and bring in some of that head coach's own pieces.
The sooner Valpo removes Evans, assigns an interim and moves on the better for all. The team is not growing and in a wrong direction.
I agree.If we get an interim perhaps we can wait til a new coach is hired to recruit-I would hate to think we have this current staff continue to offer scholarships -unless we are bound financially ?
Ya know, the fact that this post was placed in "Other Sports" tells you something, doesn't it. In previous seasons, WBB and MBB always shared the Basketball string. Not this year.
Valpo athletics tend to be overly patient in decision making and there is no justification for sustaining this decaying insanity of a program. Time to show competence, pull the plug now and move on.
Time to fix this and bring WBB back to the basketball forum? MVC play starts Saturday.
Positive note: Freshman Raeven Raye-Redmond leads the MVC in steals per game (2.8) despite playing just 16.1 minutes per game off the bench. This freshman class is talented, just needs development.
Women get boat-raced by 28 having made a couple of free throws with no time left. Embarrassing.
Quote from: vu72 on December 30, 2023, 08:15:36 PM
Women get boat-raced by 28 having made a couple of free throws with no time left. Embarrassing.
The women have only one win, against Chicago State, an independent team with the worst record in Div. 1: 0-20!
On probably the only positive note: two of the top three VU scorers were first years. And a great angle is that those two are identical twins! From Ft. Wayne even.
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 30, 2023, 11:14:44 PM
On probably the only positive note: two of the top three VU scorers were first years. And a great angle is that those two are identical twins! From Ft. Wayne even.
Perhaps, but, unlike the men, who have zero seniors contributing anything, the women have team members who have been starters for a couple of years and a total of six seniors, three of which are fifth year players. Evans is playing with the people she recruited years ago. Talented freshman to be sure. Can we give a few more years to turn it around? I think not.
It's past the holidays. Time to make unfriendly but correct decisions. Make the decision now to leave no doubt.
It's even worse for the women when they have ZERO radio coverage from WVUR...it's all ESPN+/3, or opponent's radio coverage. I mean even if the only one on the radio was Aaron Leavitt for the road games, at least it's something...this is bad.
The level of interest in the Women's team has dropped off the cliff. Attendance so far this season is averaging a little over 300 while Volleyball drew an average of a little over 500. That's all about winning, or at least putting a competitive product on the floor.
Right now our "five out" strategy is getting out-rebounded by 10 a game and our 3 point shooting stands at 29%. It's not going to work.
I am guessing whoever was responsible for the women's team coverage was coaching the bowling team. We signed 2 HS Seniors that were never announced.
Quote from: vu72 on January 02, 2024, 11:10:32 AM
The level of interest in the Women's team has dropped off the cliff. Attendance so far this season is averaging a little over 300 while Volleyball drew an average of a little over 500. That's all about winning, or at least putting a competitive product on the floor.
Right now our "five out" strategy is getting out-rebounded by 10 a game and our 3 point shooting stands at 29%. It's not going to work.
Hard to gauge attendance thus far. The team has played two regular-season home games. One of them came during Thanksgiving break and the other came on Reading Day. The team will have played 10 of their first 12 games away from home. Then four straight home games.
The Jackson twins are legit dawgs. I hope they stick around in a potential coaching change, as they have a bright future. Both of them remind me of Jenna Stangler from my time on campus, as being very lanky/still getting used to their longer limbs, but very skilled at their current age. If they stick around for 4 years, Valpo will do well in years 3 and 4. Raeven Raye-Redmond has some potential, as well, since she has a nose for finding the ball on defense. I don't quite understand her lack of play for the bulk of the season (maybe lacking a consistent shot at this time), as she is definitely a spark plug when inserted into the lineup. When Jill Harris was healthy, we were fairly competitive, so I look forward to her return, if she will do so this year?
We have no offense tonight
Quote from: Valpofamfan on January 04, 2024, 06:48:04 PM
We have no offense tonight
Oddly, I find their play offensive every night. ;)
Quote from: valpotx on January 02, 2024, 09:41:42 PM
The Jackson twins are legit dawgs. I hope they stick around in a potential coaching change, as they have a bright future. Both of them remind me of Jenna Stangler from my time on campus, as being very lanky/still getting used to their longer limbs, but very skilled at their current age. If they stick around for 4 years, Valpo will do well in years 3 and 4. Raeven Raye-Redmond has some potential, as well, since she has a nose for finding the ball on defense. I don't quite understand her lack of play for the bulk of the season (maybe lacking a consistent shot at this time), as she is definitely a spark plug when inserted into the lineup. When Jill Harris was healthy, we were fairly competitive, so I look forward to her return, if she will do so this year?
And remember that Layla Gold was an Indiana All-Star yet Evans is getting very little from her. The big blow is if Liv Brown is done for a long time. The ankle injury looked pretty bad. Without her, well you know.
Quote from: vu72 on January 05, 2024, 08:40:23 AM
Quote from: valpotx on January 02, 2024, 09:41:42 PM
The Jackson twins are legit dawgs. I hope they stick around in a potential coaching change, as they have a bright future. Both of them remind me of Jenna Stangler from my time on campus, as being very lanky/still getting used to their longer limbs, but very skilled at their current age. If they stick around for 4 years, Valpo will do well in years 3 and 4. Raeven Raye-Redmond has some potential, as well, since she has a nose for finding the ball on defense. I don't quite understand her lack of play for the bulk of the season (maybe lacking a consistent shot at this time), as she is definitely a spark plug when inserted into the lineup. When Jill Harris was healthy, we were fairly competitive, so I look forward to her return, if she will do so this year?
And remember that Layla Gold was an Indiana All-Star yet Evans is getting very little from her. The big blow is if Liv Brown is done for a long time. The ankle injury looked pretty bad. Without her, well you know.
When did she get hurt, I was long gone early last night
Quote from: IndyValpo on January 05, 2024, 09:54:44 AMWhen did she get hurt, I was long gone early last night
Looks like with 4:15 to go in the fourth.
Quote from: Pgmado on January 02, 2024, 04:49:17 PM
Quote from: vu72 on January 02, 2024, 11:10:32 AM
The level of interest in the Women's team has dropped off the cliff. Attendance so far this season is averaging a little over 300 while Volleyball drew an average of a little over 500. That's all about winning, or at least putting a competitive product on the floor.
Right now our "five out" strategy is getting out-rebounded by 10 a game and our 3 point shooting stands at 29%. It's not going to work.
Hard to gauge attendance thus far. The team has played two regular-season home games. One of them came during Thanksgiving break and the other came on Reading Day. The team will have played 10 of their first 12 games away from home. Then four straight home games.
Fair enough, though last year we averaged 353 over 15 home games.
The team made a valiant effort after adding Brown to the injured list. Still lost but it looked like a blow out was coming.
Van Weedlin who had made 7 3's in a year and a half at under a 20% success rate made 4 of 6.
Embarrassing to lose by 30 at home. Obviously some eggs need to be broken now, and I just don't understand why Small and others allow this performance to sustain.
At our mid-major level, I do not think making a coaching change in mid-season is a good move. Change is needed but not now.
Disagree, it is just sustaining with embarrassing, terrible results, and you have to wonder what recruits are thinking. No reason to keep this situation - hire the assistant as an interim and move on if you know a change is needed.
This is typical Valparaiso leadership being overly passive.
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 13, 2024, 08:26:18 AM
Disagree, it is just sustaining with embarrassing, terrible results, and you have to wonder what recruits are thinking. No reason to keep this situation - hire the assistant as an interim and move on if you know a change is needed.
This is typical Valparaiso leadership being overly passive.
I have come around to your way of thinking. 2 more blow outs. Watch the press conferences Evans is clueless. Drake runs something unique on offense that our freshmen haven't seen. Evans has for 5 years. Perhaps prepare! UNI hit us with a zone. It was like we had never seen one or thought to prepare for one. Sad.
As promising it is to see the men's hoops team grow, the opposite is seen the women's hoop team. Lost by 24 to 3-9 team at home. Dr. Small must address this now, as it is depressing and embarrassing.
A better performance against Illinois State. In the next 7 games we play 2 games against Bradley who we have beaten 4 times in a row. 2 against Evansville who appear to be worse than us. 2 against Indiana State who aren't very good and UIC who is just average. Some wins perhaps.
Quote from: IndyValpo on January 20, 2024, 02:35:25 PM
A better performance against Illinois State. In the next 7 games we play 2 games against Bradley who we have beaten 4 times in a row. 2 against Evansville who appear to be worse than us. 2 against Indiana State who aren't every good and UIC who is just average. Some wins perhaps.
The ISU game was overall a good game (especially Nevaeh Jackson who's really starting to break out) but it once again showed that we don't have enough size and experience. Experience is obvious with Harris and Brown out and three freshman starters but we were just dominated by DeAnna Wilson in the paint. Outrebounded 37-27. We have six players 6' or taller yet we still lack someone strong down low other than Earnest.
But you're right about the next month or so, the schedule is very kind to us. Bradley has a similar problem with size so this is a huge chance for a win.
Solid win against Bradley today, and we have favorable games over the next 5, so it will be interesting to see how they turn out.
We have beaten Bradley 5 times in a row. Their coach was suspended earlier in the year for some transgression. The good news is we get them again soon.
Well that was as bad a half as possible.
Yeah, I had hope over the next 5 games, but the first one was not good.
Out of all the sports that we have in the MVC -Women's Basketball is one of the 2 that actually are playing easier teams than the Horizon (if you believe the Massey ratings etc)
With that said this program is in complete free fall
Jill Harris is finally back, so we are back at a full strength squad (except it seems like Harris and Brown may still be on limited minutes, or at least they are not starting). Time to see what this team has that they haven't been able to put on the floor much this year.
We got the expected win against Evansville, so we will see how the next few go!
Combined record of both teams is an astounding 5-33. The bottom feeders of the MVC are brutally awful. With the investment spent on scholarships and the like, I would hope the athletic program is taking a hard look at this program. It is unacceptable.
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 29, 2024, 05:57:31 AM
Combined record of both teams is an astounding 5-33. The bottom feeders of the MVC are brutally awful. With the investment spent on scholarships and the like, I would hope the athletic program is taking a hard look at this program. It is unacceptable.
The reality is Dr. Small came into a real athletic mess. It's not just the basketball teams but baseball and softball and women's golf have all been bottom feeders. We've got a respectable volleyball team and very good soccer and men's golf team as well as bowling. But, that's about it.
Remember that we got rid of successful Men's Tennis and Soccer programs under the prior regime, as well. The MVC does sponsor Soccer, but not Tennis, so I can somewhat understand that decision
Mismanagement from prior administration and President put us in this mess
Baseball and Softball competed very well in Horizon now no chance
Mens basketball is young and we have a new lease with Powell
Womens team is abysmal-and seem to get worse
Would the Horizon take us back? Has any one ever done that? Gone back to a conference they left?
Quote from: Valpo2015 on January 29, 2024, 04:42:10 PM
Mismanagement from prior administration and President put us in this mess
Baseball and Softball competed very well in Horizon now no chance
Mens basketball is young and we have a new lease with Powell
Womens team is abysmal-and seem to get worse
Would the Horizon take us back? Has any one ever done that? Gone back to a conference they left?
Yes, UMKC and Oral Roberts came back to the Summit
FYI
Just an aside to how this string has recently skewed: UWGB MBB, a team our youngsters beat earlier in the season, is now on top in the Horizon after beating Oakland. And, of course, the Lady Phoenix are also leading the league.
Valpo can be successful in the MVC, it will take solid leadership and decision making on identify and carry out their strengths. Valpo also has to acknowledge that continuous suckage is unacceptable and need to be stop being passive in decision making. Evans should have been dismissed weeks ago and this program is going through the motions to finish the season.
Women's basketball isn't known for replacing a head coach during the season, unless some transgression has been made that requires termination. I also believe that Evans wasn't replaced at the same time as Lottich because of buyouts. We couldn't pay two coaches to not work, while paying two coaches to work. I don't see any of our assistant coaches being strong interim choices, as the women's coaches have been rather inconsistent in staying for more than a season or two, and not having a lot of experience on their resumes.
The next 5 games favor Valpo, but then we get the brunt of the top of the standings to end the season, so while we look promising now, we have to get things together to make any surprises/upsets going into Hoops In The Heartland, and maybe get a chance to win a Thursday game against Evansville or Bradley, to face one of the top seeds.
I do see we'll have radio coverage today, probably because the team was bussing in today, or the university could have the radio group drive up this morning on their own, getting mileage and gas money/perdiem for the travel.
We control our record, but Illinois St. just beat our next opponent, Indiana St., 64-59 on the road. We're down 8, 32-24 at UIC right now, but the way the game has been going, we're looking tough defensively, but making mistakes all over the place, like normal. These 5 games will test our mindset about getting wins. We win these next 5, and we go to 6-7 in conference, and could move up a couple spots, plus the middle teams losing games to keep the middle of the pack tight, and giving us a chance to take out 1 or 2 of the games that finish out our conference schedule.
Impressive comeback on the road to beat a 12-win UIC capped off by Leah Earnest's buzzer beater. This is a team that will live and die by the 3, and today shooting 14-29 from downtown combined with real leadership from the seniors made a huge win possible. There is a clear path now to at least the 8 seed in the MVC tournament, nothing overly impressive about that in itself but there does seem to be some improvement with Brown and Harris back, Earnest looking like one of the best players in the conference, and Nevaeh Jackson in particular getting comfortable in college basketball.
Yes, shooting a smidge over 50% from 3, with our 14-29, helped. We definitely needed Earnest to play a little smarter. She made some ball handling mistakes. Had the Harris 3 to end the half that didn't count because Earnest held on to the ball a little too long. The Jackson twins are definitely showing their growths. Just needed a few of the others to do things to help the women make some separation in the score. It is a good step, having a 2-game winning streak going. We have the next four games mostly in our favor. We just need to play with better control, and basketball IQ about moving the ball and moving without the ball.
Another loss, at home, that was in reach. Clearly better than the folding of our tent at their place. Nonetheless, it was a matter of make threes or lose, and, we lost.
I think that it was already a foregone conclusion after this season, but today's loss against Evansville has to cement a new coach moving forward. You can't lose to Evansville and their program over the last few seasons. They are just so bad, it should not happen. Living and dying by the 3 has not worked for Valpo over the last few seasons.
valpotx - agreed, I would presume a change will be made after the tournament and a Remax sign will be placed at her house, if not already. Their preparation is unacceptable
Disappointing weekend to say the least. Especially considering that there had been signs of progress recently and these two winnable games just flopped. Have to rebound this week or else we'll just be limping to the conference tournament.
As for Evans, it doesn't look good, which is a real shame because she does at least seem to have built a decent culture in the team. Perhaps it's a different story if we have consistent 3 point shooting but this weekend showed we don't. The only thing I worry about if Evans is fired is if that makes Leah Earnest leave for her last year of eligibility. I'd hope Earnest stays to mentor the younger players, but I'm not sure about that.
Quote from: SPEEDYPITCHER37 on February 12, 2024, 11:09:57 AM
Disappointing weekend to say the least. Especially considering that there had been signs of progress recently and these two winnable games just flopped. Have to rebound this week or else we'll just be limping to the conference tournament.
As for Evans, it doesn't look good, which is a real shame because she does at least seem to have built a decent culture in the team. Perhaps it's a different story if we have consistent 3 point shooting but this weekend showed we don't. The only thing I worry about if Evans is fired is if that makes Leah Earnest leave for her last year of eligibility. I'd hope Earnest stays to mentor the younger players, but I'm not sure about that.
I think the larger risk, and one I think needs to be taken, is that her departure will lead to several of our promising freshman to hit the portal as well. The good news here is that women don't seem to hit the portal like the men and, although it was six years ago, prior to all the portal stuff, when Dorrow left she had a simliar situation, with seven players either as red-shirt freshman or true freshman. Six of those plyers stayed to play for Evans.
Quote from: vu72 on February 12, 2024, 12:14:02 PM
Quote from: SPEEDYPITCHER37 on February 12, 2024, 11:09:57 AM
Disappointing weekend to say the least. Especially considering that there had been signs of progress recently and these two winnable games just flopped. Have to rebound this week or else we'll just be limping to the conference tournament.
As for Evans, it doesn't look good, which is a real shame because she does at least seem to have built a decent culture in the team. Perhaps it's a different story if we have consistent 3 point shooting but this weekend showed we don't. The only thing I worry about if Evans is fired is if that makes Leah Earnest leave for her last year of eligibility. I'd hope Earnest stays to mentor the younger players, but I'm not sure about that.
I think the larger risk, and one I think needs to be taken, is that her departure will lead to several of our promising freshman to hit the portal as well. The good news here is that women don't seem to hit the portal like the men and, although it was six years ago, prior to all the portal stuff, when Dorrow left she had a simliar situation, with seven players either as red-shirt freshman or true freshman. Six of those plyers stayed to play for Evans.
We do not keep Evans under any circumstances.
Look at the record.
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.
Quote from: valpotx on February 12, 2024, 11:42:47 PM
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.
Fair enough. I would assume that if she graduates, she would take a GT elsewhere. She is too good to experience another year of what we are seeing.
After the men's choke job today, our women decide to say, 'hold our beers,' as they led by 5 with 5:00 left, and summarily let ISUr go on a 20-0 run to take a commanding lead. This was after Valpo led for all but around 2 minutes of today's game, until this point in the 4th...
Of note, Evans decided to take a technical when we were down by 2 during this run by ISUr, probably thinking that it would drive her team, but her team continued to let the Redbirds run with another 10+ points before we scored again.
Quote from: Pgmado on February 14, 2024, 04:42:55 PM
Quote from: valpotx on February 12, 2024, 11:42:47 PM
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.
That would be a pleasant surprise, especially if/when a coaching change occurs. She can definitely play at a higher level, similar to Shay Frederick