Messages

Should Minnesota be looking at Bryce?  Could bring in Jared Nuness for an assistant.

The progress JO has made was evident in the final possession of Saturday's game against ISU. He received the pass beyond the 3-point line, the D converged, he pumped faked, took it to the lane and took the short jumper (I think he missed and had the put back).  That's a scorer mentality and recognizing time and situation.  I immediately thought of AP and Rowdy.  The motion and triangle will create the space and gaps (with proper picks) to open up 3s.  JO is also rolling better, which frees space on the perimeter.  He will be a tough match up, especially if you hit the post, allow the double on Krikke (which is happening more and more), then kick back out to the perimeter.  If not at that spot, swing the perimeter, or reset with the post.  But, seeing JO create options for himself on a final possession of the half was very encouraging.

Minor League team Cedar Rapids Kernels may object to that name:

https://kernels.milbstore.com/

https://twitter.com/neohiosports/status/1361883941536464899?s=21

But who is the 2d spitter?

Flames is an interesting option. However, when I was brainstorming names many of which are in the poll, I rejected Flames because the one issue with Flames is that it is UIC's and Liberty's nickname.  We need something more unique.  Plus, one really should consider the marketing opportunities for something unique.  I do like the option of The Beacon as another consideration.  Notwithstanding, #savethecrusaders

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).

[The Beige]

The clear new nickname comes from the Heartland Poet, the Seymour Shuffle King, John Mellencamp -- Call them The Beige

Beige to Beige
John Mellencamp

No songs on the stereo
That we could sing with anymore.
No dance that I can do
That would not embarrass you.
A sound bite here and there
With no reason for me to care.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
You just do what's expected of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
these days.

Uniforms for this and that,
To be in our club you must wear this hat.
Charlie's gonna look out for you,
You just do what you're supposed to do.
You're gonna fit in here
Just like you should.
Learn the rules and learn them good.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
You just do what's expected of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
These days.

If you need a thought
We'll give it to you.
Our statistics show what we do is true.
A world without color
Is a world without sound,
A world to keep the rabble down.
So close the deal, close the door.
Forget about the colors that you knew before.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days, yeah,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
And Charlie gonna take care of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
These days.

Glad to hear you are doing better FW.  Stay healthy!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Beyond blessed to have received an offer to play at Valparaiso University! #GoValpo pic.twitter.com/P0zMORLUZ3</p>&mdash; Sam Vinson (@sam_vinson3) August 26, 2020

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Per information on twitter and texts I received, Sam is going to NKU

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Beyond blessed to have received an offer to play at Valparaiso University! #GoValpo pic.twitter.com/P0zMORLUZ3</p>&mdash; Sam Vinson (@sam_vinson3) August 26, 2020 <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Athletic Departments and university budget cuts. Some universities have much larger budget issues than VU.  Interesting article from Cleveland.com about Akron's financial woes and plans for their Athletic budget and debate about staying in MAC -- https://www.cleveland.com/education/2020/07/university-of-akron-faculty-union-spar-over-funding-for-athletics.html?utm_source=akron-morning-roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200707&utm_content=article2-readmore

This op piece about a SUPER A conference from 2011 still has relevancy... and may be closer to reality now ....

https://www.bloggersodear.com/2011/9/21/2439658/ncaa-boiling-point-our-conference-on-the-left-is-now-our-conference

The ORU series is not just about a mid-major getting someone at "home."  The Mabee Center hosts almost 11,000.  OSU is not gambling much with playing ORU "on the road" as that place will be orange when they play.

Plus there is a long tradition between the two schools coaching staffs. Current OSU assistant Scott Sutton was ORU HC for 17 years and its all-time winningest coach.  Scott's brother and "HOF" were HCs at OSU.  Even "analyst" Barry Hinson was an ORU HC at one time in his long coaching career.

It is a sign of the current environment because it's not a long trip, and it's good for the mid-major.  But, don't read too much into it. 

It still points out that DePaul, NW, Notre Dame, Purdue and Marquette should be pairing up with other solid programs (like Valpo, Loyola) for at lease home games or H&Hs over the next couple years to save costs and reduce air travel.  If Mike Brey had any guts, he'd invite us over every year.  But, I'm sure he'll find some traditional Big Least foes like Quinnipiac, Loyola MD and Hofstra, to come to ND.

This is a great opportunity for Sheldon Edwards to step right in. I like his potential and he is a scorer with tremendous hops. Good luck Javon and thoughts/prayers for your Grandmother.  This is the nature of college hoops today.  Enjoy players while there, but they're going to look to their self-interest.  With the changing rules, it will not be like the 80s or 90s or 2000s.

Interesting rumours flying out of Wake Forest media today, maybe Collins going to Wake (and maybe not even as a HC but an Amaker assistant).  Ah, the crazy season has finally begun.....

Wake Forest had to make a change. Danny was not getting it done after about 5 years.  Randolph Childress is acting as interim coach until the "search firm" assisted coaching search is completed.  Two leading candidates are Wes Miller (former UNC player) and current UNC-Greensboro coach.  Good up and coming mid-major coach.  Some think maybe next UNC coach.  Just 15 miles down the road from Wake.  The other and my preferred choice is Pat Kelsey.  Pat is currently coaching Winthrop.  Has a long time connection to Skip Prosser, was at Wake (played at X), and then Xavier with Chris Mack.  Great guy and has done terrific at Winthrop. Wake has had 3 recruits decommit this week after the Manning exit.  There has been some discussion of Beilein, but I would not go that direction.  He's 66 and damaged goods now.  Bryce would have been a good candidate in this search.  They need someone who can get some players and coach them.  They are stuck because if they get top recruits, they can leave quickly (aka John Collins), but they are not going to get them consistently and compete against UNC, Duke and Ville with that type of recruiting.  They need a style of play and a talented/coachable players.  Skip and Dino Gaudio had that going.  Bzdelik destroyed the program and momentum.  Danny picked it back up a little, but long-term wasn't the answer.  Maybe one of the best sets of players on a bench though with Rex, Danny, and Randolph plus Rusty LaRue (Last Dance) down the street at West Forsyth HS (could be a far outside shot at the job too).

Valpo connection in all this, Rex Walters was an assistant at Wake this past year.  Rex was an assistant at Valpo 2003-05.

Based on attendance at the Cleveland Cavs games this year (where we are season-tix holders), we had already started social distancing at the beginning of the season.... 

Amusing side note about family member coaches -- some of you don't go back that far, but watching the 1988 Kansas/Oklahoma game, they kept panning to Ed Manning on the bench for Kansas.  Former NBA player for the Cincy Royals and assistant coach for KU while Larry Brown was there.  Ed obviously was hired about the time Manning was recruited to KU.  It was one of the first father/close relative hirings I remember, but there could have been some before that.  Interesting 2d side note, Manning had Randolph Childress (former Wake Forest great) on his staff, and Brandon Childress was a primary player for Wake the past few years.

There is a search committee that selects the candidates for interviews, then the Community, including the Board and others provide feedback from interviews to determine who will move on, if any.  It appears the first three did not make it through.  This can happen.  The next President needs to understand how to run a business in a rapidly changing marketplace and turn around the finances.  As FW indicates, the whole Valpo community may not be the best judges of who best can do that.  This next President needs to be a "strategic change agent," and it will require tough choices and someone who isn't an appeaser but able to live with them notwithstanding what the whole "community" thinks. 

Here's an article from a few years ago (my how time flies) with some personal reflections on the Shot from various viewpoints, including Ole Miss players and fans.  By the way, the author is now Editor of Uproxx.com's Sports sites, including Dime an NBA focused subsite.

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

Article regarding impacts of the NCAA MM cancellation

https://www.crainscleveland.com/kevin-kleps-blog/mac-and-horizon-league-could-take-financial-hits-because-cancellation-march?utm_source=akron-morning-roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200319&utm_content=article12-headline

Bryce should wait to see what jobs open -- BC and Wake will open up here soon.

Wake contenders include:  Wes Miller (UNC-G), Shaka Smart (when fired from Texas), Pat Kelsey and Bryce in the early discussions with Wes getting the primary share.   I am a big Pat Kelsey fan (coaching roots go back to Xavier and Skip Prosser).  He has been very successful at the mid-major level and was an assistant at WF.  Wes is also thought highly of in NC.  Shaka may be declining in enthusiasm there.  The buyout for Manning (and Miller) is steep so we'll see what they do.  Wake needs a younger coach who will build the program for the long haul and reestablish it.  If successful there, it is like Baylor, no reason to ever leave.  There had been some talk of Beilein or Matta but that would be the wrong direction.

An additional year of eligibility for our seniors?  Spring sports athletes too?

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/28898928/ncaa-discuss-granting-athletes-eligibility-relief

NBA should scrap the rest of season and come back (whenever) with an all team playoff format -- play-in games for lottery teams and then best of 3s and best of 5s. 

Unfortunately, NCAA has no options now, could not come back later, but an all schools tourney to start next season would be really fun.

Guess participation trophies for everyone.   

The best job of those 3 is Wake.  The ACC is the cream of the basketball conferences, and your odds of tourney are high if you are .500. Plus, prettiest campus, great basketball facilities (new practice facility), Joel Coliseum, lots of money for sports.  Tremendous alumni base and he played in Charlotte so familiar with area.