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Starting a thread for the Tourney and our new BFFs Loyola and Drake.  Good news for Loyola overnight as Moses Wright, ACC POY, will not be available for the Loyola game.  Should help open up the middle for Krutwig.  Big impact to my NCAA Players Draft, too.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2936821-georgia-techs-moses-wright-out-for-1st-2nd-round-games-of-2021-ncaa-tournament

So, awhile back, I started scribbling down possible new mascot/nickname for Valpo.  I found the post-it tonight. (I am strongly opposed to changing it, but I thought I might be able to make $250,000 as the consultant for coming up with a new name.  Therefore, I have copyrighted/trademarked all of these and would be happy to license any one of them to Valpo (every lemon can become lemonade).  I set it up for 3 votes for each board member so that you can pick more than one.  Maybe we narrow to 3-4 choices for a second poll if Valpo goes through with their intended action.  Vote early, vote often (max 3).

Saw this over the weekend, but not sure I saw anyone post this. 

http://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=35a1b195-a149-42cd-8e64-88955a90ec3b


John MacLeod, former ND (and Phoenix Suns) coach passed away.  John was an excellent coach and teacher.  However, Valpo beat his ND team at ND on March 3, 1993, 80-66.  I have a VHS of that somewhere.  Valpo would play at ND the next year, and then in 99-00 season at ND before the famous January 4, 2003 game at the United Center when ND was #5.  Valpo lost a heartbreaker with a chance to tie at buzzer (was it Tonagel with the last opportunity at a couple of medical redshirt years) 55-53.  And, there hasn't been another match since that I can recall. 

Small trivia point MacLeod recruited and coached Doug Gottlieb in his infamous only year at ND.

New Thread....

A year ago, Tevonn had entered the NBA draft evaluation period and then withdrew.  There were expectations entering the season that Tevonn might have a chance for the NBA depending on improvement in certain areas.  A year later, is there any word on the street that Tevonn might go late in 2d round or sign with an NBA summer league team, or is he headed to Europe? 

Additionally, where does Alize Johnson go in the draft tonight?

A year ago it was Alec Peters times.

Quick Poll before tonight's NBA draft.

An article on YSU and Jim Tressel's plans to heighten the reputation of that university.  They have had extreme budgetary issues and needed to be on an austerity kick.  Tressel has helped bring the budget down by $5 million and enrollment up.  No discussion of improving athletic facilities. inserting

For those who have heard my reviews of it before, it is a typical MAC level older gymnasium with chairbacks on lower level, benches on all four sides.  It is similar to Kent and Akron's JAR. Universities are facing severe challenges, including enrollment, competition from alternative learning models, tightening state education budgets, etc. 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170211/NEWS/170219960/jim-tressel-tackles-youngstown-states-problems-with-grit#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccl-akronmorning&utm_campaign=ccl-akronmorning-20170215&email_realestate

So in OT, this Louisville player is going nuts. Walk-on frosh year.  Announcer mentions his Dad played at Valpo.  Ville player is Ryan McMahon.  Dad's name is Dave.  I don't recall a Dave McMahon would have been late 80s-early 90s? Anyone recall him?

http://www.gocards.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6473

Coach Lottich named on this list!!

http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/the-eight-most-impressive-first-year-coaches-in-college-basketball-this-season/

The Athletics Department announced today on twitter that Lubos Barton has been named to the VU Athletics HOF.  Congrats to Lubos. So many memories of his setting the bar for SFs at Valpo, which has been raised even farther by Ryan Broekhoff and Alec Peters.  His Frosh debut at the Hoosier/RCA Dome (for us older timers) set the stage for a 4-year run of Valpo hoops greatness following the Bryce Drew years.  Valpo beat South Carolina and Seton Hall that weekend and Lubos, by recollection had over 20 each game.

https://twitter.com/valpoathletics

In the below Paul Oren article, Paul discusses that Skara has the potential to be the best International player we have had.  He then lists many former international players, omitting I'm sure by accident possibly the best Lubos Barton.  Paul may have been trolling this board or merely setting up an excellent discussion question -- who is the best?  The 3 I would put into the discussion are: Lubos, Raitis and Ryan.  I would probably put them in that order if pressed.  Lubos all-around game from day 1 (the Hoosier Dome Classic vs Seton Hall and South Carolina) showed the potential and the skill sets.  Raitis was maybe the most consistent for four years. And, Ryan made the most progression from very good to potential NBA talent.  As an aside, Tony Falu may have had the most talent and best 8 game stretch of anyone .  Let the discussion begin.

That said, I am pleased to hear it begins a four-year series with Indiana State.

http://m.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/inside-vu-sports/breaking-down-valparaiso-vs-belmont/article_136f01fe-9862-11e5-b42a-cb96923fbbc5.html

Interesting piece about the apathy of CSU constituencies to its sports and men's basketball team. Those who were at the Valpo-CSU game for all the HL marbles last year know that Valpo fans turned out, but CSU fans don't. It's a sad situation and short of a merger with KSU or Ohio Polytechnical err Akron U, it won't get any better. Plus the play in the white elephant known as the Wolstein.

http://cleveland.morethanafan.net/2015/state-of-the-cleveland-state-fandom-2015-is-it-really-the-worst-ever/

Quick Q&A with Scott for upcoming Baylor Kansas tilt. A few interesting bits on Homer and on Bryce's dive after the Shot.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/coachspeak150107/baylor-bears-scott-drew-hopeful-second-consecutive-ncaa-tournament-appearance

Good, positive article on Keifer Sykes from ESPN.com. As I tweeted last January: "Keifer Sykes is really elevating his game. pardon the pun. #HLMBB"

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12129685/green-bay-keifer-sykes-playing-just-father-taught-him

Valpo receives a vote in AP Top 25. We come in at #42: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

Leave for the historians the last time we received a vote in the AP?

OK, I looked up half-heartedly and it looks like November 2012 when we received 3 votes according to this:

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/mens-basketball-notebook-nov-12.html

SI is ranking teams from 1-351. Guessing hard to really differentiate this early in the season from say 125-225, but hey it doesn't really mean anything til March so have fun with these: Valpo 152, UWM 167, Detroit 179, WSU 197, Oakland 201, YSU 221, UIC 279. Guess that leaves CSU and UWGB for the top 150....

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/10/30/college-basketball-preview-teams-ranked

The Boomers beat Finland today or yesterday (or maybe it was tomorrow). Anyway, Basketball Australia Facebook has pictures up and an interview with Assistant Coach and former NBA Champion with da Bulls Luc Longley. Couple shots of Rowdy and I think one of Huff on D. Couldn't find any stats on the interwebs yet.

Here's Cleveland Plain Dealer's story on CSU's start in conference play.

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2014/01/akron_cleveland_state_kent_sta_1.html

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2013/08/summer_hoops_travels_for_cleve.html

Preview before their overseas trip.

To this class of seniors -- Broekhoff, Boggs, Bogan, Buggs, Kenney, Kurth, and Van Wijk -- congratulations on graduating from dear ol Valpo. Welcome to each of you as a fellow alumni and we hope you all treasure your diplomas and time at Valpo as we did. We thank you for your dedication on the court, off the court, and in the classroom. We thank you for the NIT and for the NCAA, for buzzer-beaters and heart-breakers. We thank you for your families (and remember to thank them too) for agreeing to send you to Valpo, in some cases thousands and thousands of miles from family, friends and fellow alums. Thank you for demonstrating proper attitude and integrity, team work and class. For being personable and friendly even when you lost or were suffering from injuries, or when you wanted to talk to your friends, fellow teammates, family or girlfriends. Your drive and perseverence are enviable both for playing basketball and for life skills. When we were thousands of miles away from Valpo (for most of your time at Valpo), we could turn on the HLN on are computers/ipads anywhere in Asia and watch a game (whether on a Saturday or Sunday morning) or to fight jet lag in a hotel in Malaysia in the middle of the night. A win at 5 am is as good as a win at 9 pm.

Most important, though, you earned your degrees because of the same hard work and determination, and the symbol of that will hang on your walls too. Be proud of that and enjoy that "cutting down the nets-type" ceremony this weekend.

From the any pub is good pub department--

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/03/20/Obama-Submits-NCAA-Bracket-but-Not-Federal-Budget

SBN article on The Shot. Valpo players, Coach, Todd and Ole Miss player and fans.

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/3/19/4119040/march-madness-valparaiso-ole-miss-buzzer-beater-history

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2013/01/for_cleveland_state_vikings_me.html#incart_river

Good review of what Gary believes he is building for 2013-14 and next few years.

Although not making Andy Katz' very early preseason poll, Valpo is listed as a "Don't Sleep on Team."

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7801992/indiana-hoosiers-lead-revised-top-25-plenty-changes-elsewhere

Our thoughts and prayers to the Charlie Spoonhour family. He was a great coach and always had a story. He coached Southwest Missouri State (n/k/a Missouri State) back in Valpo's AMCU-8 (Association of Mid-Continent Universities, later Mid-Con Conference, later Summit) days. His teams were the toughest in the League back in the 1980s and early 1990s until the Tony Bennett led UWGB teams, and if I recall correctly, both were in the Dance one year.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7528630/former-longtime-coach-charlie-spoonhour-dies-72

About time to start thinking about the Bracketbuster game. This link gives a good sense of the range of potential games based on RPIs.

This will be an away game for us, with a pick up home game usually for the next year. We have a visit to Missouri State at some point from last year's. So a good opponent helps the schedule strength in future years.

George Mason, Kent State, Manhattan, Utah State and Illinois State would be all good from match-up/return game as well as some are good for marketing (GMU and Manhattan). A few more wins (without bad losses) could help to reach the TV games.

Annoucements of pairings will be January 30.

http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889

We better take advantage of Butler now. They struggled to a close win (again) over a team they should have handled tonight, Gardner-Webb. They were down big at the half. Stigell finally knocked down some shots and Chrishawn carried them. Their offensive flow is really rough especially starting games, and their defense is keeping them in games late, but that's been against directional and hyphenated schools. We need to jump out early and then put the pedal down. Stevens will get them playing 40 minutes, but they're having some tough games. UIC clipped Evansville tonight. But what is even better is the Butler Nation is not even talking about us but worried about X, IU and Purdue.

goodmanonfox twitter is reporting:

"Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter, according to sources, meeting with new Miami AD Shawn Eichorst tonight in Wisconsin."

Not sure what Miami is trying to do with this hire as they have not looked at Miami native Frank Martin and are looking at other big names. But if Jeter goes to Miami, maybe Valpo can have a new Florida trip as Rob loves us so. (SI)

Horizon League 1 bid Butler and now backtoback Final Fours. BigLeast 11 bids.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/03/loyola-fires-basketball-coach-whitesell.html

New arena coming right? Need to attract interest and attention? Pat Knight is available.