Headlines:
$172 in the Half-Court Carryover pot
Schwieger wins 4th Freshman of the Week Honors.
UNI comes in after losing to UIC in their last game, losing 4 of their last 5 games
Halftime: amazingtyler.com
Heise coming in during his 27th year of eligibility... or it just seems like it.
Valpo record vs UNI: 5-31
Valpo record on Valentine's Day: lost the last three... last win, 2012 74-65 over UIC
It is Ash Wednesday, hoping the Panthers had too many paczkis on Tuesday. Maybe they will give up the 3 point shooting for Lent.
about their game at UIC...
From the UNI recap:
A second half rally came up short for the UNI men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers dropped a 71-65 road contest to the UIC Flames at Credit Union 1 Arena in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play.
The loss by the Panthers' snaps their three-game winning streak against the Flames in their first loss to UIC since 2008. Northern Iowa shot effectively in the first half, but struggled to keep up with UIC's hot shooting hand from beyond the three-point arc.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jacob Hutson, Nate Heise and Tytan Anderson helped pace UNI's interior offense in the opening period in an entertaining back-and-forth to begin the game. Struggling to defend the three-point shot against the Flames, UIC's Filip Skobalj buried four three-point baskets on four attempts in the first half and pressured the Panthers into seven turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play and struggled to slow CJ Jones down in the paint. Northern Iowa would fall behind on a 9-0 Flames run, but slowly chipped its deficit back down to single-digits in the final minutes. Kyle Pock gave the Panthers a final spark on offense in the final seconds of the half after being fouled on a made three-point shot and converting on a free throw to head to the locker room trailing, 40-32.
UNI scored the first four points of the second half and quickly fought back into the game with an aggressive pursuit of loose rebounds and drawn contact. Pushing the Flames' defense in transition, the Panthers tied the game at 51-51 thanks to a 13-point half by Heise and a defensive effort that slowed down UIC's three-point shooting in the final minutes. Northern Iowa would struggle at the free throw line, however, missing six attempts from the charity stripe and finding difficulty in establishing a three-point shooting game (4-21).
Heise finished the afternoon with a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double performance of the season, while Anderson notched 13 points with eight rebounds. Trey Campbell tallied 11 points with four rebounds in the loss, as Born posted a seven-point game. Landon Wolf, Michael Duax and Pock all finished with four points each.
UNI is 7-7 in the Valley, NET is 129. Best wins
Home win over NET #70 Richmond, followed by a 22-point blowout win over #141 Stanford in the Bahamas. Other than the UIC thing, they have done what they were supposed to do.
0 Heise 6-5, 205 Sr 13.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg
13 Born 5-11 170 Jr 13.3 ppg (90% from the line)
32 Anderson 6-6, 205 11.2 ppg 6.3 rpg
4 Campbell 6-4 185 9.2 ppg, shooting 42% from 3
11 Hutson 6-11 250 8.4 ppg started every game, not taken a 3pt shot, Trf from Loyola (IL), 3rd on the team in rebounding, 4.0 rpg
Next player in Minutes per game is Michael Duax 51% from the field... only 58% from the line.
Can the guys auditioning for next year's team put it together over a slumping team?
U.N.I. 75
Valpo 68
Valpo: 76
UNI: 70
Valpo 71 UNI 70
Buzzer beater win, Barrett scores in double figures
UNI 82
Valpo 58
So, only 172 students showed up to game in the student section? Why would anyone donate for a new arena when we can't get students to a game on a Saturday?
I have no idea which team will show up tomorrow. Just hope for a good game.
Valpo 70
UNI 68
I don't know how many the student section holds but it appeared the section was pretty full.
152 of them left immediately after the half court shot. Within minutes and was sad to see.
54-27 at half, unfortunately students won't be enthusiastic to stay for the second half.
Northern Iowa 90
Valparaiso 69
This definitely could be another blowout, but I have a feeling this is gonna be an even uglier game to watch with UNI averaging 62.4 ppg in their last 5 games.
UNI 68
Valpo 61
When I click on the ValpoFanZone, I now see a page with only the most recent entry in a few categories. Is this some kind of an accident in our or just my portal path? Or is this a deliberate change in the topics menu?
There were more recent posts on other topics than the Feb. 8 sports one.
Quote from: crusadermoe on February 14, 2024, 10:42:18 AMWhen I click on the ValpoFanZone, I now see a page with only the most recent entry in a few categories. Is this some kind of an accident in our or just my portal path? Or is this a deliberate change in the topics menu? There were more recent posts on other topics than the Feb. 8 sports one.
Rooting for an accident since it looks like something out of the late 1990's
edit: and after reading the sticky I see my thoughts about the age of the software is accurate.
Quote from: crusadermoe on February 14, 2024, 10:42:18 AM
When I click on the ValpoFanZone, I now see a page with only the most recent entry in a few categories. Is this some kind of an accident in our or just my portal path? Or is this a deliberate change in the topics menu?
There were more recent posts on other topics than the Feb. 8 sports one.
Happened to me as well.
Expecting Beacons to be blown out tonight. :(
If the Redbirds can beat the Trees we can beat UNI! My Valpo career started in 08-09, we were bad , gotta stay faithful not matter what!!
Valpo 72
UNI 71
Some wild buzzer beater , we're due for something!!
Suppose nate heise were to not play tonight? Would that alter your guesses?
Palm and Barrett will not be back next year. For Covid year.
There are no students here as of 4 minutes to tip off
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The attendance has to be under a 1000. I've never seen such a poor turn out
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I count 56 fans in the mezzanine
Wish I could be there. Pretty sick at the moment. It's not COVID, but feel like death warmed over. Watching at home.
Quote from: historyman on February 14, 2024, 06:58:15 AM
Northern Iowa 90
Valparaiso 69
Wasn't too far off If they had played it out maybe it would have been closer but Jacobsen called off the scoring in the last minute & Valpo reciprocated.
Northern IA 86
Valpo 67
I'm sorry, but they have put up a good fight for most of the season, but they are playing like they know they can't win. Team looks emotionally tired and has hit their ceiling/wall. No. Iowa was limping coming in. Better days ahead. Schweiger still a STUD. I'm changing my tone on Barrett. He needs to go, his defense is an F. He's not improved in four years, one demential shooter and if he's not hitting. His wide open lay up (miss) attempt in the first half was horrendous. No more wins for this team, this season. Will they loose any games by single digits?
Quote from: Pgmado on February 14, 2024, 08:27:34 PMWatching at home.
Not sick but I couldn't make it either. I'll be there for Indiana St because this remaining season is the foundation for next season.
Brutal, I have no words. None.
Another blowout, this time at the hands of a team without its leading scorer. There weren't high expectations for this season, only that the team would be competitive and show improvement as the season moved forward, as a result the ARC attendance would grow in numbers and enthusiasm. However, during the past seven straight losses even those low bars have been too difficult to achieve as the team seems to be deteriorating rather than improving, and in the last three games Valpo has not even been competitive.
Quote from: valpopal on February 14, 2024, 09:18:46 PMHowever, during the past seven straight losses even those low bars have been too difficult to achieve as the team seems to be deteriorating rather than improving, and in the last three games Valpo has not even been competitive.
The Valley now knows exactly what we can and can not do. With that knowledge all of our weaknesses are being exploited. :( Very pain-full to watch!
Quote from: justducky on February 14, 2024, 09:33:14 PM
The Valley now knows exactly what we can and can not do. With that knowledge all of our weaknesses are being exploited. :( Very pain-full to watch!
Spot-on Ducky - again look at opponent FG% and points in the paInt. This together with the growing mental fatigue associated with boys vs. men night after night has finally taken its toll. Not a slam on our players. They play hard but are over matched at this point. No way we surprise anyone anymore. This is where Roger will earn his pay — keeping the kids' spirits up, together and focused for the rest of the season. It's also important that he maintains team discipline and does not permit individuals to go off on their own tangent. We saw what that did to previous teams.
Quote from: truth219 on February 14, 2024, 07:09:44 PM
The attendance has to be under a 1000. I've never seen such a poor turn out.
The official attendance is generously listed at 1031.
Barrett with the monumental feat of 5 fouls in 11 mins including fouling out on an in bounds play in which the ball never got inbounded. He's got no feet and, as mentioned above, just can't defend.
When Cooper went out, the game was non competitive even if the score was close for a bit. That was because Valpo threw in a few 3's for a change but the game quickly reverted back to normal.
Regarding the roster now and into next season, we may be seeing the end of Edwards career at Valpo. Coach has made some references towards him recently not in a flattering way, he hasn't played well recently and didn't play much today although with a bug going around maybe that was the reason.
Right now I'm with Darius, Cooper, Williamson and maybe Sepp as keepers. They'll be more kept but everyone else can be replaced IMHO. Team needs some rugged inside players.
When a team is 6-20 in any sport, it is very difficult to get high attendance - unless you're the Chicago Cubs who could pack Wrigley Field even if there's not even a game there.
I think there is one very big difference between how Lottich and Powell are handling defeat. Lottich is like "OK, see ya next season"! and Powell is, "we're building a program of winning, this is the lowest we will be"! Watch the Presser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DD5BwZPN4k
OK, I'm looking for bright spots! Here are a couple of interesting (at least to me!) comparisons of today's players versus a couple of guys who ended up being pretty good players at Valpo and beyond:
Alec Peters 6'9" Freshman stats: 12.7ppg and 4.8 rpg in 29.6 mpg
Cooper Schwieger 6'9" Freshman stats: 12.1ppg and 5.4 rpg in 29.2 mpg
Jubril Adekoya 6'7" Freshman stats: 5.76 ppg and 3.44 rpg in 19.1 mpg
Caspar Sepp 6'7" Freshman stats: 4.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 19.5 mpg
Coincidence or a bright future??
Great objective postgame speech. I appreciate the honesty and lack of fluff. This team will get better and they will win. They need much more talent.
I haven't watched the "press conference" yet, but I'm wondering who was there from the "press?"
PO was sick and couldn't make it. No one was sitting in the media area.
Guess it was all for video?
Objective is a good way to describe the press conference. How about refreshing. You can tell he's clearly frustrated in the moment, offers up fair excuses about injuries and depth, rim protector red shirting and being hired late. He still manages to instill confidence in the future of the program. Outmanned sums it up. Now it's a question of who he wants back after the season. That will be separate thread in March I assume! I like the fact he's not sacrificing wins for culture. As painful as it is for all of us this year..... You have to believe Cooper is the face of the program moving forward and they will do everything to keep him and surround him with good players. The comp to Alec is fair, but Alec had a better team his freshman year and a little more to play for. The buzzer beating loss to Columbia in the CBI.
We no doubt have the right coaching staff. I have complete confidence in them.
While I get the Alec Peters comparisons, we need to put it in perspective that Cooper is really the only other option to Stafford, whereas Peters was on a team that could share the ball a bit more, so he didn't get as many touches. Peters could go off at any time, even in his FR year, but we also had Dority, Jubril, Lexus, Bobby C, and Jordan Coleman (when he wanted to play to his ability). Much different depth discussion, and touches that could be distributed a bit more. If Peters was on the current team as a FR, he would probably average 15-20 ppg.
Whomever said something to Coach Powell or the players at the end of the game, as Roger mentioned, is an idiot. Everyone that pays attention to the program and what Powell inherited with a limited time window, knew that this was going to be a very tough season.
I am still mystified on aforementioned rim protector red shirting. Seems incredibly short sighted given the CBB landscape. The odds of any player staying 5 years at a school (not named Drake) is very low. Hell, it's 50/50 Powell will be here in 5 years, either moving up or moving out. Would think some real game experience would do him good and let the staff know exactly what they have going into what is their first FULL offseason as a group.
Regarding a limited time window to get talent, there may be a lesson learned here. With the more liberal transfer and recruiting rules, if you are certain to sack a coach, do NOT wait! Have the interim coach take over, and start the search for a new coach. My feeling is they were going to sack Lottich but wanted to wait until the season ended.
I know Valpo does not do that traditionally, but this tradition needs to be broken. For the women's program there's no question Evans needs to be dismissed a month ago.
The $ didn't arrive until later for the coaching change to be made.
what money are you referring to?
These press conferences are no longer about what happened in the actual game and what they needed to do to win..
I appreciate those long term comments, as during the game they pretty much got smoked.
Coach Powell has repeatedly declared he will be bringing extraordinary stud players to Valpo next season through the portal. Therefore, this promise has consciously raised expectations to very high levels he now will need to meet.
Great "press" conference. Good thing Roger is a great speaker considering there were no actual reporters at the game.
Powell is no longer speaking about this season. He is sending a message to all of his players both inside the locker room and publicly, that they are playing for their scholarships at Valpo. Deion Sanders approach, and I do believe that it makes sense, given the ridiculousness of transfers and NIL nowadays. If you would have asked me 5 years ago about a coach sending this type of message, I would have a different response. Now that there is no loyalty to the school by both players and coaches that can leave for more lucrative offers elsewhere, all players should expect to be playing on year-to-year scholarships.
Quote from: valpotx on February 16, 2024, 02:03:17 AM
Powell is no longer speaking about this season. He is sending a message to all of his players both inside the locker room and publicly, that they are playing for their scholarships at Valpo. Deion Sanders approach, and I do believe that it makes sense, given the ridiculousness of transfers and NIL nowadays. If you would have asked me 5 years ago about a coach sending this type of message, I would have a different response. Now that there is no loyalty to the school by both players and coaches that can leave for more lucrative offers elsewhere, all players should expect to be playing on year-to-year scholarships.
We need a Valpo, all sports, NIL slush fund.
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