While the echoes of the Victory Bell ring in our hearts...and we gather for Christmas Carols and light the Valpo Tree on Thursday... we begin to think... We are the only team with a chance to beat the #1 team in the country on their home court on Wednesday December 7th.
Opponent KY Opp Margin
SFAustin 87 64 23
Canisius 93 69 24
Mich State 69 48 21
Duquesne 93 59 34
Clev State 101 70 31
Tenn Martin 111 76 35
Arizo State 115 69 46
UCLA coming up on Saturday
That's pretty scary. So, a loss by 20 would be a significant moral victory? Talk about a game to dent your enthusiasm... Hopefully the guys learn something from it.
And, hey, it'll probably help the RPI. Maybe more than the win against Coppin State, which would be ridiculous.
And, I suppose, you never know. There's a reason they play the games...
They haven't played in any close games though, so they'll be unable to handle our late game heroics by Peters.
Except for the #19 and currently 7-0 UCLA team, we will be the highest RPI team the "Cats" will have played OOC.
I never pick Valpo to lose so I will go with a 67-63 Valpo Victory!
Kentucky 82
Valpo 67
Kentucky 78
Valpo 62
I think we hang in there, but we are overpowered in the final five minutes.
Valpo 70
Kentucky 81
Quote from: covufan on November 30, 2016, 09:56:01 AM
I think we hang in there, but we are overpowered in the final five minutes.
Valpo 70
Kentucky 81
I'd love for this to be true, and I haven't seen much of KY. But, it seems like this would take an unprecedented (this season) collapse; or just *everything* clicking on our side.
Here's hoping!
They just beat a Bobby Hurley-coached Arizona State team by 46. Granted, ASU hasn't done anything spectacular this season, but that is still a beat down of another Power 5 program. This will be an interesting game.
Quote from: valpotx on November 30, 2016, 11:21:52 AM
They just beat a Bobby Hurley-coached Arizona State team by 46. Granted, ASU hasn't done anything spectacular this season, but that is still a beat down of another Power 5 program. This will be an interesting game.
That's ok, we just beat Dan Hurley!
I hate to admit it, but I think Kentucky beats us at their place. Next year when Kentucky comes to the ARC, I have a better feeling and think we beat them. :lol:
If they don't want to commute all the way to Valpo, we can meet them half way in Indy at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Quote from: valpotx on November 30, 2016, 11:21:52 AM
They just beat a Bobby Hurley-coached Arizona State team by 46. Granted, ASU hasn't done anything spectacular this season, but that is still a beat down of another Power 5 program. This will be an interesting game.
http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article117790038.html
A very very tall order to beat UK. Someone should pack a football when we go to Lexington and hand it to the SEC officiating crew right before tip. Maybe they'll get confused and let us play with eleven on the floor.
Actually, forget it. This would only work in Tuscaloosa.
Moral victory chart for Kentucky game:
| Result | Permissible claim |
| Scored the first point | We started out on fire. |
| Had any lead change after 3 minutes of play | It was back and forth all game. |
| Had a single-digit deficit after the 1st half | It was a tale of two halves. |
| Had a single-digit lead with 10 minutes to go | That should get us some votes in the polls. |
| Lose by 30 points | We could totally whoop Arizona State. |
Quote from: Valpower on November 30, 2016, 05:44:21 PMHad a single-digit deficit in the 1st half It was a tale of two halves.
Is this like, "It always ends with a loss?" "It always starts with a tie!"
Quote from: agibson on November 30, 2016, 06:12:03 PM
Quote from: Valpower on November 30, 2016, 05:44:21 PMHad a single-digit deficit in the 1st half It was a tale of two halves.
Is this like, "It always ends with a loss?" "It always starts with a tie!"
Or, (being down 20+ at half), we told the guys in the locker room, we go back out there, it's 0-0, and we have a new ballgame.
That should have been "after" the first half.
This could be the easiest coaching job they'll have all year. 0 expectations. just go have fun, enjoy the atmosphere, and don't get hurt. no pressure. and Don't be looking forward to going to Springfield Missouri on Saturday...
Valpo keeps it close in the first half -- i.e., down by 12. We lose by 27. Not sure we can stay with them for very long, and the real story will be how Alec performs. Kentucky's guys will be his competition in the draft.
How many people will we have in Lexington? My dad and I are driving down and will be staying the night within walking distance of Rupp. It'd be cool to grab a beer or two with some of you all!
I sure hope UCLA doesn't ruin our chance to play the #1 team, as they currently seem to be on the way to doing. Oregon played out of their mind against us after they were handed their first loss and I would expect the same from Kentucky.
UCLA wins. Makes Wednesday's game even more interesting. Who comes out to play with more fire, Valpo or Kentucky? I'm sure Cal will have his guys ready. I want to see a good game on Wednesday, not just Valpo going for the paycheck.
Kentucky's (Nolan) RPI right now is at 40; Valpo is 53, Valpo's SOS is 168 which will certainly go up after Wednesday
Oregon is 42, Rhody is 48...Bruins first team to 9 wins
we have some opponents looking at up-hill games today that could help that ranking...
The Nolan "Predictor" on the game has UK 93-63 and a 99% chance of winning.
The Nolan "Predictor" had UK 99-84 winners over UCLA with an 85% chance of winning.... So THERE!
My revised prediction post-UCLA: Valpo loses by 30. It won't even be close. Kentucky will dunk on us 15 times.
Quote from: valporun on December 03, 2016, 01:53:15 PM
UCLA wins. Makes Wednesday's game even more interesting. Who comes out to play with more fire, Valpo or Kentucky? I'm sure Cal will have his guys ready. I want to see a good game on Wednesday, not just Valpo going for the paycheck.
Oh, so when the Wildcats were beating teams by 40 plus they were weren't concentrating and just on cruise control? Come on. Because they lost to UCLA they will suddenly concentrate more and beat Valpo by 60 plus? This puts doubt in their minds. Let's face it, no one was going to pick Valpo and now this makes my lone Valpo pick look so much better. Still not a great chance but if this Valpo team is close at the end I see some great termination battling to the end and chasing the boys from Lexington all the way to the finish line.
No more getting blown out this year for Valpo!
I would guess that this would be the first time Valpo has played the #1 ranked team in both men's and women's basketball in the same season, let alone the same week.
Kentucky had not played anyone with an RPI better than 87...until today (UCLA was 16)
SFAustin 295
Canisius 121
Michigan State 87
Duquesne 153
Cleveland State 182
Tennessee Martin 96
Arizona State 167
Maybe John Cal was right... "We don't know how good we are"...
Here's the UCLA Box score
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAB_20161203_UCLA@UK
Got out-rebounded, missed 9 free throws, took 80 shots from the floor...
Quote from: VU75 on December 03, 2016, 08:01:53 PMI would guess that this would be the first time Valpo has played the #1 ranked team in both men's and women's basketball in the same season, let alone the same week.
Don't think KY will hold the #1 slot...
UCLA, Baylor and Nova are still undefeated..... Florida and Kansas have the same record with better SOS.
I think Kentucky may have been looking ahead to Valpo.
Quote from: EddieCabot on December 03, 2016, 08:24:40 PM
I think Kentucky may have been looking ahead to Valpo.
😉.. $$ will be good regardless. Seriously think Kentucky wins easily. Too many athletes for us to match up with, especially with short bench we have shown. Would love to eat crow and be wrong.
With Kentucky coming off a loss I think we are going to have a pretty difficult game....
Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk
Another great moment for the Pac 12, the Conference of Champions!
What UCLA did to UK was very interesting from a VU perspective:
1. Outrebounded UK. UK had a size advantage and struggled against better rebounding position and aggressiveness by UCLA. Leaf and Welsh were able to get bounds. They also had 11 ORebs which minimized UK on the break and open floor.
2. Made UK shoot from outside. UCLA did not give up much in the interior and forced outside shooting. 41.3% w 33.3% from 3. VU has to concentrate on forcing jumpers and getting rebounds. They showed good rebounding position vs URI. Oregon not so much.
3. UCLA was on fire from outside. Ball and Leaf were fantastic. Leaf reminded me of Peters. Peters would have to have the same type of game. 7/12, 13 rebs 17 pts (Peters will need his average). Ball reminded me a bit of Tevonn and Shane. Shane has to be aggressive and score. He will need 17 for VU to have a chance. Tevonn has to hit his shots. Welsh's midrange game is what I hope Smits/Sorolla become. Jubril has to stay out of foul trouble. "Don't go in and jab around the ring to see if you belong. You're 8-0. You're playing well. Trust that you belong. Alford"
4. UCLA only played 8. Anigbogu was very impressive off the bench with Welsh in foul trouble most of the game. Sorolla/Smits give you 10 fouls and one or both need to score (and use fouls) when in there as well as rebound. They will need to combine for 20 mins of good basketball.
5. UCLA handled full court pressure most of the 2d half and benefitted from closely called perimeter. Not sure we'll see that down the middle reffing in this one.
UCLA scored 97 and still was a 1 possession game late, although surprisingly Alford missed some FTs. We would have to play out of our minds and still may not be enough. Eliminate the UK runs of 10-12 unanswered. UK is young but it is UK, Rupp and they just lost. Showcasing Peters versus top 10 ranked opponent should be interesting. Leaf was very successful so that gives me hope for Alec. We have to hit some open 3s! Not sure when the last time UK lost 2 in a row at home? Baylor was last non-conf team to beat them at home and I think that was about 2012. UK lost 2 in February 2014 at home. They have lost only 5 at home during the Calipari years. ''We didn't have the energy. I had to call a timeout a minute into the game. I mean, just wasn't the same team. There are great lessons out of this. I wish we would have come back and won. ... But sometimes you need to get hit on the chin, especially at home. Calipari''
For Valpo fans, make sure to enjoy the trip to Rupp, take in the history, maybe do a bourbon distillery visit or two, and watch 2 really good ball teams, one just happens to be ranked #6.
All the UCLA loss does is open up the truly slim.....no razor thin..chance that they could choke on the pressure if we bomb 3 points all night and hit 80% after stalling out the clock each time.f the clock.
We have the kind of athletes now who can keep us within 15-20 instead of 35-40 points but that doesn't help a lot. Just have fun guys and hope for a big shooting night.
Can anyone remember a more athletic and versatile combination of three players at Valpo than Alec, Tevonn, and Shane? Give Shane a right handed shot and no requirements to handle the ball and he would be a monster.
.
Self-made Valparaiso star who plays 'a little angry' will be next test for Kentucky
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article119061543.html#storylink=cpy
Quote from: wh on December 06, 2016, 01:21:56 AM
Self-made Valparaiso star who plays 'a little angry' will be next test for Kentucky
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article119061543.html#storylink=cpy
The embedded video is really worth watching.
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 06, 2016, 10:03:34 AMThe embedded video is really worth watching.
Thanks for pointing it out. I think someone had mentioned it earlier, but I'd never watched it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXGeEVHAT64
might be a long night for valpo and our opponents...
Wednesday WarrenNolan Predictions:
Akron by 45 at home over Coppin State
Western Michigan by 4 at Cleveland State
Butler by 6 at Indiana State
Northern Kentucky by 6 at home over Eastern Illinois
Toledo by 20 at home over Detroit-Mercy
Missouri State by 8 at SEMO
Kentucky by 30 over Valpo
Loyola-Chicago by 14 at home over Wright State
BYU by 16 at home over Weber State
*the KY-VU spread is the same as UMES @ VaTech and UTSA @ TexTech; all three of us have a 1% chance of winning.
now THERE'S motivation!
So you're saying there is a chance.
https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-basketball-john-calipari-valparaiso-live-stream
So Valpo should stay home and not get embarrassed. That is not this team they work hard they make the other team work hard. If this team plays its game they will make Kentucky work harder then they like and make a game of it. KU 89 VU 84
The spread: Kentucky -19
https://www.teamrankings.com/ncb/odds/
Quote from: talksalot on December 03, 2016, 08:08:17 PM
Quote from: VU75 on December 03, 2016, 08:01:53 PMI would guess that this would be the first time Valpo has played the #1 ranked team in both men's and women's basketball in the same season, let alone the same week.
Don't think KY will hold the #1 slot...
UCLA, Baylor and Nova are still undefeated..... Florida and Kansas have the same record with better SOS.
KY #6
Purdue just routed Arizona State just like Kentucky did. Florida Atlantic just beat the Buckeyes in OT in Columbus. Anything is possible!
Alec Peters, Valparaiso gear up for litmus test on road against No. 6 Kentucky
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-mens-basketball-valparaiso-kentucky-st-1207-20161206-story.html
Pregame 2-4-7: Kentucky/Valparaiso
http://kentucky.247sports.com/Article/Kentucky-Basketball-vs-Valparaiso-preview-time-TV-and-streaming--49602213
We are now a 20 point dog. I just looked at their stats and found that four of their top five scorers are 6'4" or less. Only Adebayo at 6'10" is taller. Obviously with their smaller lineup they will be running big time. Coach Cal has mentioned going to bigger lineup or playing two bigs at a time. That will be pretty easy as they have 3 guys 6'10", 1 at 7' and 2 at 6'9"
If they go big we will be forced to play our freshman. Let's hope we can run enough to keep their bigs off the floor. Should be a very solid test! :o
Something that would quickly turn the tide against us would be Jubril getting into early foul trouble. He has made strides in many areas, but is still prone to committing unnecessary high risk/low reward reach-in fouls. At this stage in their development, I fear that our freshmen bigs will be completely over matched every time they step on the court.
I really hope Alec Peters goes off and scores 40+, 15-20 rebounds and show NBA scouts that loyalty and work ethic trump talent. While my head says VU loses by 25, my heart says VU wins by 2, that close only because of missed free throws down the stretch.
Quote from: VUOR63 on December 07, 2016, 12:21:29 PMI really hope Alec Peters goes off and scores 40+, 15-20 rebounds and show NBA scouts that loyalty and work ethic trump talent. While my head says VU loses by 25, my heart says VU wins by 2, that close only because of missed free throws down the stretch.
I was thinking the same thing, Alec hasn't shot the ball well this season and perhaps its because he is more of a focal point but I would love to see him drain a couple threes early to get this team fired up. I somehow get the SEC Network as part of my cable package here in Vermont so of course I'll be watching!
Quote from: wh on December 07, 2016, 09:53:39 AM
Something that would quickly turn the tide against us would be Jubril getting into early foul trouble. He has made strides in many areas, but is still prone to committing unnecessary high risk/low reward reach-in fouls. At this stage in their development, I fear that our freshmen bigs will be completely over matched every time they step on the court.
I actually think it would be a good thing and interesting to see our bigs playing against people their own size. In watching Smits play it has seemed that some of his frustration has been his perception that he is getting called for things because he is much taller and larger than the opposing player. He won't have that excuse tonight.
Hmm.. I _thought_ the COMCAST Sports package that I added so easily and cheaply included SEC Network. Maybe not...
Quote from: agibson on December 07, 2016, 06:28:30 PM
Hmm.. I _thought_ the COMCAST Sports package that I added so easily and cheaply included SEC Network. Maybe not...
I always had it when I lived there. Channel 336 or 366 or something like that. I had the sports package as well.
Quote from: ValpoHoops on December 07, 2016, 06:40:06 PM
Quote from: agibson on December 07, 2016, 06:28:30 PM
Hmm.. I _thought_ the COMCAST Sports package that I added so easily and cheaply included SEC Network. Maybe not...
I always had it when I lived there. Channel 336 or 366 or something like that. I had the sports package as well.
I've found the channel - it just won't let me watch it.
I would have thought that I'd checked when I subscribed. But maybe I just looked at PAC12, and BeIN sports which I wanted more proximately to the subscription... I seem to remember some of their advertising graphics even included the SEC Network logo. But, it was and remains obvious that it's very hard to get a list...
Seems like in Valpo I'd have to subscribe to the "Digital Preferred" tier or some such - changing tiers and not just adding a channel package.
*shrug*
Back to the old days. I've listened to plenty of games, sans video, picture painted by the dulcet tones of Todd Ickow. It has its advantages, and will certainly work.
Not being able to watch doesn't really sound like such a bad thing :-X Time to start scoring some points here fellas!
Back to the absolutely horrible shooting. And Lexus now has three fouls so Bradford will be running the point.
Davidson in? Hammink running the point? Does _not_ sound good.
Now I feel bad for those teams against whom I've been tempted to chant "double digits".
Kentucky turned the ball over 7 of the first 10 possessions, yet the game was already over before the mid-point of the first half. We look like a high school team against an NBA squad. Time for Kentucky to insert its benchwarmers (nearly all of whom would start for us). If the current trend continues, we will be blown off the floor by 50.
But, hey, Tevonn made the second FT. What are we now, 2 for 6? Double digits!
Walker seems to be the only one that can match these guys athletically.
Quote from: FWalum on December 07, 2016, 07:40:47 PM
Walker seems to be the only one that can match these guys athletically.
So what you're saying is, Tevonn can keep up with these guys athletically!
Smits needs to see some minutes.
Great learning experience for us. We are playing 1* recruits up and down that KY roster. Mad that we can't stay with them but the learning helps the program and hopefully motivates us going forward. I wish we played KY before Oregon because I think we would've faired better in Eugene but u play them as they come.
Let's close out respectfully. Hopefully our guards are watching how you help out on defensive rebounding.
Turned game off and watched ISU knock off Butler by 1. ISU is no pushover.
Quote from: atkins on December 07, 2016, 08:03:22 PM
Turned game off and watched ISU knock off Butler by 1. ISU is no pushover.
Previously undefeated, 16/15 Butler. Impressive!
ISU remains undefeated at home. But that's only 3-0. A win @Utah State. A bad sounding loss @NIU. Three losses on neutral courts.
I'm glad Indiana State is coming to the ARC, I guess, rather than vice versa!
I was watching that score too with much interest. Good for ISU. Good for us so long as we beat them.
My biggest pet peeve for tonight is the lack of yellow jerseys on both ends defending or protecting the rim. Kentucky is having their way on both ends of the glass. I never saw that from a Valpo team but then again I've never seen us play a talented team like this either. On to the second half....
Let's make this game respectable VU...come on.
Although, if we finish non conference with 3 or less loses that would be magnificent.
What the heck has Smits done that he is not even getting a sniff in this game.
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on December 07, 2016, 08:31:10 PM
Let's make this game respectable VU...come on.
Although, if we finish non conference with 3 or less loses that would be magnificent.
At this point, I'm not much interested in a narrowing of the margin if it's not against Kentucky's best effort. It's clear our shooting needs help (don't know that it's merely a matter of work or coming around, at this stage) and depth is absolutely required against a team like Kentucky. That said, I'm not dismayed. All I care about is developing the underclassmen and peaking at the right moment.
This is almost as bad as the NCAA Tournament opener against Arizona in 1996.
I knew that we would lose, but our guys just looked scared all game. It's like they all forgot how to play the game because they were facing a storied program, and were making high school mistakes. A lot of it wasn't due to athleticism differences in the first half (though Kentucky is leagues ahead of us in that area), but dumb decisions by our guys, and freezing up as they got open shots. Kentucky was struggling to keep the ball, and we were missing driving layups, which could have really changed the complexion of the game in that half. A lot of it was telegraphing our passes, allowing the athletic Wildcat players to step in and steal the ball. All in all, it was a learning experience, but it could have been a much closer loss if we stuck to our fundamentals (blocking out, getting back on transition D, etc).
The key now is to get ready for the next game and not let Kentucky beat us twice.
Paul
Davidson deserves more playing time. He was one of the only guys that did not play scared. He wasn't dribbling off his leg, forgetting the ball, etc, like many of our players were doing. He seems to be a calm and collected guy, and could be a Junior Seth Colclasure (not a Senior Seth, because he was better that year).
Well...nothing unexpected. Remember, Kentucky's smallest margin of victory is 21. It was still very frustrating to watch the guys look so defeated on so many plays...half the time it didn't even look like we were playing defense at all. It also seemed like they got an outrageous number of second chance points ESPECIALLY OFF MISSED FREE THROWS! Only a 7 rebound edge though...interesting.
I like Micah's speed and quickness, look out when his shot starts falling. How about Sorolla sneaking close to a double double with 8 pts and 9 boards, like that as well. And if Davidson doesn't hit that three in the first, I think the game might have ended 130-25. Overall, 87-63 isn't too terrible to look at for the rest of the year and hopefully the guys can get back to it against Mo St.
Yeah, Kentucky will be a 1 or 2 seed come tournament time. Good luck to them - hope they win out (before having their wins vacated in a few years)
Agree with valpotx, was really getting sick of the tentative and hesitant play. Was hoping that after playing some of the other power 5 conference teams last year and earlier in the out of conference games, we wouldn't be so awe struck by Rupp and the Cats.
Davidson might deserve some additional time in the future but not because of tonight's play.
Wow. Kentucky seems quicker than ever this year as well as big. The run from a 4-4 score to 27-4 was just shattering.
What would last year's Valpo team have done?...would Carter and Vashil have kept us within 15 well into the 2nd half? Probably not.
2nd half was respectable. Hammond needs to start making some 3s...think I saw a tweet that tonight he made his 3rd one...of the year.
Quote from: Valpo89 on December 07, 2016, 08:40:52 PM
This is almost as bad as the NCAA Tournament opener against Arizona in 1996.
I was at that Arizona game and it was way worse than this. They completely overmatched us by the first TV timeout. I think Homer had burned 3 TOs by that time too.
Turning point of this game was the 2d foul on Lexus. He was playing good defense and getting us into our sets. First 4 mins were not bad. UK had 7 turnovers (so did we but talking positives here first).
We were not as athletically overmatched except on the Boards as I thought we might be. They had guys with 38 and 44" verticals. They were sky walker-ing (bad UK pun) over our guys. We had to make shots to control the break and easy baskets and we didn't. They had like 26 paint points 1st half. That is my biggest concern this year, we are not a good outside shooting team and especially from 3. Alec is fine when he doesn't think but he may be thinking too much on the 3. Jubril will hit a decent %. Shane has to be more aggressive against big name teams. He seems to become tentative and he is too slow on his release. The one time he came down the lane and missed the dunk is the way to attack against top teams. Against lesser opponents he does that. I told the Mrs. that Adebayo is a top 5 NBA pick. He looks like a young Kevin Garnett/Dwight Howard. I told her UK had at least 2-3 other guys plus Adebayo who will go 20 spots ahead of Alec.
Our last 4 of the 1st half and first 4 mins of 2d half were good til Alec got the cramp. Sorlla played well and hope they use this to start working him in more. He battled their back up center very well and love the hook shot. That is bank every day in the Horizon League. He rebounds well too. Smits still looks a bit lost offensively. Is he playing a swing 4 or a 5. Seems to be outside a lot and that's fine but knock the shots down then!! Defensively, he's had his moments. Micah looked to be settling down more. We need a couple games where those 3 can get 20 mins of play. Nick had some nice moments. Max disappeared last night. Alec battled back and shows his mettle. Although, may not have brought him back after the cramp. We do not need to lose him.
When we played Duke a few times a few years ago, their intensive D really helped us in the games after that. It's like practicing 6 on 5. There are arms and legs everywhere. It should give you confidence against every other team not named Kentucky or Duke. Burn the tape, on to the next game.
Kentucky is an amazingly talented team - 3 projected Top 20 picks in next year's NBA draft, 5-star recruits, Mc Donald's HS All-American's. There may be other elite teams with more experienced players, but no one in the country has as much raw talent and ability.
We don't have that kind of team, and I'm fine with that. Our guys tried as hard as they could and did a few good things along the way. We're still going to win a lot of games and have a lot of fun along the way rooting for a group of high quality young men. End of sermonette. :)
Quote from: wh on December 08, 2016, 08:58:13 AM
Kentucky is an amazingly talented team - 3 projected Top 20 picks in next year's NBA draft, 5-star recruits, Mc Donald's HS All-American's. There may be other elite teams with more experienced players, but no one in the country has as much raw talent and ability.
We don't have that kind of team, and I'm fine with that. Our guys tried as hard as they could and did a few good things along the way. We're still going to win a lot of games and have a lot of fun along the way rooting for a group of high quality young men. End of sermonette. :)
Agreed wh. My only comment to add is you just can't go 8 minutes without scoring like we did. Not really against any opponent let alone the caliber of UK. We seem to have those scoring droughts, most notably against highly ranked teams we face. Had we been able to stay closer in that defining 1st half, maybe their freshmen would have felt some pressure and not been so free wheeling offensively. Agree also with 84 that with Lexus in foul trouble almost immediately, that changed our offensive flow significantly. We played ok in spots, we needed a couple guys other than Alec to step up big-time. I think Coach Cal may have called off the dogs a bit once the outcome was obvious. Maybe out of respect for Valpo to some extent?
Will be the type of game the players remember the rest of their lives, playing at Rupp in that environment. Would love to hear from posters who may have went to the game about the Rupp gameday experience.
Quote from: Valpo89 on December 07, 2016, 08:40:52 PM
This is almost as bad as the NCAA Tournament opener against Arizona in 1996.
For a while there I was thinking more along the lines of those early 90's games against UWGB with Tony Bennett and company.
(To Valpo's credit, they at least made it a little more respectable last night than against Arizona.)
We held the BBN to their second lowest point total of the year (tied with SFA).
In their Wins, we were their second-closest game (MichST was a 21 point loser)
We were their last home game before the new year... they have a one-off game in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon against #207 Hofstra "Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival"... I was thinking that we have Winters in the Chicago area...
Aside from the game... that was one helluva "presentation" they put on. It was like being at a Bulls game at the UC. They do the POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE perfectly at Rupp.... oh, they also put a pretty good team on the floor. and they only hang Final-4 banners from the ceiling. I'm assuming the banners from the NCAA for non-final-4 years are given as a parting-gift to the assistant coach who got fired that year.
OH, I was asked last night for the population of the City of Lexington: 308,428 (2013) which is 10x Valpo
News conference post game from Matt and John:
http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article100363132.html#0
Peters is the second player to score 20+ against BBN this season... Rob Edwards of Cleveland State laid a 28-spot on 12 of 21 shooting 2 of 7 from 3pt and a couple of free throws to go with 4 rebounds.