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A hint of momentum at the end of the half there. Hope we can build on it. Otherwise, it's been another lackluster offensive showing so far, as we've perhaps come to expect. I might have to start keeping track of how long our scoring droughts get. Feels like there's a 4+ minute doozy every game.

I tuned in with zero expectations...and somehow I'm still disappointed

Again with the absolutely TERRIBLE shot selection on a potential buzzer beater. DRIVE THE PAINT!!!! Why are we settling for long jumpers??? Everyone thinks they're Steph Curry. You're not! Get the ball inside!

Some absolutely awful play down the stretch of this one. Kithier got fouled on that inbound though.

As for the final possession of regulation, I know King is a jump shooter but man I'd rather have seen us drive to the basket. That was such a low percentage shot. Go inside! Draw a foul if you need to!

Dug ourselves too much of a hole to get out of. That was a game we should have won. We were favored!

We're better with Kithier back, that's about the only silver lining I have right now.

Quit going to the above the rim angle on key FTs!

Honestly 98% of camera angles from endlines are terrible and unnecessary. Whichever TV producers are responsible need to lose their jobs and more.

It's college basketball and once in a while even very good teams poop the bed.

I think we did hit bottom but we landed with a thud! The play and the coaching at Northern Iowa set a new standard for all-time basketball nightmare memories.

This is bigger than you. You have an obligation to be there to show this outstanding group of young men that you care about them

Can I show up for the team while withdrawing my support elsewhere?

Now, if we get blown out I'll be the first to panic but let's see how tonight goes.

So if we are down by 20 at half time I will find an usher rip off my mask and demand that I be physically ejected from the ARC! Maybe Paul can get a shot of it for a headline Times story about our rigorous Covid policy enforcement then sneak in a sentence about the game.

Only an eight point deficit. No such luck.
Gotta score points, boys! Find a way!

[really]

I kinda like the uniforms that say "Valparaiso". The script ones we had right at the end of the Peters era were fantastic. Don't think the gray is a good look on us at all though.

Anyway. Lottich himself isn't the one who misses a layup or a defensive assignment, but he's the one who recruits the players who do. He's the one who leads practices with the players who do. He's the one who gameplans with the players who do. He's the one who decides whether players who miss layups and defensive assignments see more playing time.

On one hand, every team has bad nights, and we were a bit short handed. On the other hand, this was a really bad night. We were never in it! I sure don't remember getting absolutely embarrassed  like this very often between 2010 and 2016. We weren't expected to win this one, but it feels like forever (the Drake game last season?) since we've gone on the road and gutted out a W in a game we weren't supposed to win. It's real hard to inspire any confidence in players, fans, or recruits until that starts happening.

Glad we could pull that one out. Even without Kithier (hope he's back asap), would've been disappointing to lose a home game against what will probably be a bottom half MVC team. Krikke did what he had to do, Gordon played well, Andersen, King, and Edwards with some critical plays down the stretch. And how about that FT shooting?!?

Man, Reeves is a player for them.

Some work to do on defense and getting half court plays that go to the bucket. But we'll definitely take the W.

Kithier has virus

Virus or not, I remain convinced that Sunday afternoon games are terrible for fan attendance

EMU took a 47-36 lead with 12:06 to play, our guys outscored them 31-8 after that point. Might actually be the best stretch of ball we've played all season.

Credit where credit is due.....I didn't think our guys would pull this one out. Taylor was huge down the stretch, Kithier and R were great late as well

1-9 from three.........will we keep shooting from deep? Will they ever fall?

Up 30-3 at half....I could get used to this. Nothing quite like kicking Butler's @$$.

Noon tipoffs suck

I will not put stock into a short-handed exhibition game. I will not put stock into a short-handed exhibition game. I will not put stock into a short-handed exhibition game. I will not put stock into a short-handed exhibition game. I will not put stock into a short-handed exhibition game.


All I'll say is that there aren't a whole lot of reasons to be optimistic.

Apologies if this has been posted in another thread but according to a survey that was just emailed out, the finalists appear to be:

Storm
Beacons
Gold
Sparks
Lightning
Tempest
Dunehawks
Lightning Hawks


Personally not a huge fan of any of them (why wasn't Knights an option? Seemed too logical). But the last two "hawk" nicknames sound like minor league baseball teams. Like we've tried too hard to be unique. And what is a "lightning hawk" anyway? I guess I'd reluctantly prefer one of the first six.

The Crusader has now entered the Transfer Portal. 

I think he entered a few weeks ago. (Sorry, too soon. And yes I'm still bitter about it)
In all seriousness, these are names of players who've played a lot of minutes in a Valpo uniform, so it sure doesn't feel good to hear about them leaving. The silver lining is that they are not the future of the team. I do think next season will be very telling: we need to show some substantial improvement instead of just treading the waters of mediocrity as we have been since Peters graduated. imo bets are off this season given the circumstances, but we need wins and a relative lack of transfer-outs by this time next year for players, recruits, and us fans to feel confidence and excitement about the future of the program. If that doesn't happen, then we need to think hard about how to change the culture here.

At some point one has to wonder why so many of our players who've played plenty of minutes keep transferring out. Is it simply bad luck? Lack of culture or leadership? I realize that transferring is so much more commonplace than it once was, but it certainly feels like an indictment of our program right now if it isn't a place that good players want to stick around. 

Very tempted to suggest "Crusaders". But also wouldn't mind going by "Knights" and bringing the old logo/mascot back.

We did this thing back in the Drew days when we'd take the air out of the ball wayyy too early and are left taking (and missing) low percentage shots late in the clock, while the other team manages to work their way back in it. (I seem to remember a blown 6 pt lead w under 2 min left vs. Wright State.) And I'm worried that we're doing that again now.

Doesn't help that the refs are blowing whistles on absolutely everything.

Escaped! Man, I thought for sure we were going to lose that one. Hard to believe this team just might avoid a Thursday game after all!

So if I go to a Valpo sporting event, can I still wear my hoodie with the Crusader logo on it, or will I be removed? What if I wear it when I'm at a game at a school like Drake? Will I be arrested?

It might be a while before I'm next able to go to a game, but y'all can d**n well guess which logo I'll be sporting, and which nickname I'll refer to.

Humbleopinion - when Stephen F. Austin State University hired a marketing company to change their logo, it cost 1.6 million dollars. After expenses, you would have to have a delta of more like 50 students going 4 years to cover on this expense. Improve the overall quality and experience of the university and the finances, enrollment and status will improve. Changing the mascot name will have negligible impact in the near and long term. Valparaiso is not focused on the right issues.

Heard similar things about Virginia Tech and U. South Florida. I understand that branding is important in a day and age where competition for enrollment and tuition $$$ is absolutely fierce, but you'd have a real hard time convincing me that any rebrand is actually worth the six or seven digit amounts that get spent on it. Just another example of absurd expenditures that drive up the cost of tuition to record levels.