Messages

wh .... how did you get tickets? Not even listed on athletic web site.

Maximus Nelson has just committed to Valpo.   6'8 Power forward from Appleton Wisconsin.  Great to see that Wisconsin connection working

Arden Skogland also went to Hopkins.

Good to see VU recruiting Wisconsin after some negative feedback from JO in newspaper. Seems like another Matt Bowen connection with VU stressing to him his 3 point shooting ability

VU just received a commitment from a 6'2 PG from Oshkosh WI. Preston Ruedinger was offered as a preferred walk-on. Was selected !st team all state by the AP. !2th all time time leading scorer in Wisconsin at 2349 points.  Made 407 3 pointers in career at 45% and averaged 26 Pts per game and 7 rebounds per game as his team Lourdes Academy won state championship in class 4. VU recruited him for his 3 point shooting ability.

Theo Johns from Marquette would look pretty good too. But the big boys are recruiting him. 6`9 shot blocker that would probably give 8 to 10 points a game.

Good to see the transfers have signed their letters of intent. Should be an improvement over last years 3 point shooting along with the incoming freshmen. But still very concerned about rebounding and interior defense. With only Ben a proven inside presence and only Emil being the only backup we could  have a very serious problem. I know some have posted that hopefully a transfer or two will solve that problem but i wonder if the athletic department will go along with 2 more scholarship players since we already have 13. True that Gordon and Morgan do not count towards the scholarship allotment but will the athletic department go along with the money for the extra players. Oh to have JO change his mind. i Wonder if some of the issues that JO was concerned about have left the program. Its still early in the signing period but quality big men are moving along fast and there was no hint in Matt's statement yesterday that they are pursuing any more players.

Good question about whether we are done. Considering the state of VU's athletic fund i would find it difficult to have the extra scholarships made available. Has there actually been any word on whether Zion is staying for another year. With 3 new point guards coming into the program would there be a need to have four although Zion could definitely play the 2 or 3 spot.

Yes a good transfer who can shoot the 3 ball. With how things went in the tournament the importance of 3 point shooting was a key to many victories. Yes we still need a power forward / center.  we had one that could shoot lights out from 3. With 3 Wisconsin natives now on the roster does anyone think JO will change his mind. He certainly would have a major role in the team.

Definitely a monster Just Sayin.  Perhaps they think another school like Gonzaga will take them in ( like Aaron Cook from S. Illinois at Gonzaga ) and have a chance to win a national championship.

Drake's Joseph Yesufu has just put his name in transfer portal

wh good point about his fg percentage but he shot almost 39% from 3pt range. Not saying he is the perfect fit or even a fit for the team but he would keep teams from sagging off on him which is something everyone complained about Sackey and Clay

Saw this on transfer portal today ... Xavier Casteneda a Junior transferring from South Florida. VU offered him a scholarship 3 years ago. Played along with Javon Freeman at Whitney Young. A 6'1 Point guard that shot over 35% from 3 point line and averaged 8.3 pts. 

Yes Faulkner was an original NKU recruit. He was a freshman the last year VU was in Horizon League and probably played against VU.

Good points wh. Even if Nick and Mileek wanted to stay along with Eron and Zion do really think Valpo would have payed for extra scholarship players. I don't think so. With Aron staying Valpo will have at least one player to lead the younger players into the riggers of college basketball.

I expect at least one more player to leave. But like it has been pointed out earlier the culture has changed in college basketball quite a bit over the past decades. Obviously Valpo needs to move on and fill these spots. So I'll put out this question ... what would you like to see brought in for a year or so to help stabilize the team. Graduate Seniors who are immediately cleared to play? More freshmen? Transfers who will need to sit out a year? some big questions to resolve obviously. With a freshman class that already has 4 players do we need to keep adding more and in the long run have a team that is top heavy in a single recruiting class? Interested to hear others thoughts.

Speaking of transfers ... Indiana State has 2 of their top sophomores on the portal ... Jake LaRavia and Tre Williams plus 2 more. That hurts. Did see an interesting name on the list ... Jimmy Boeheim a 6'8 power forward from Cornell who was leading scorer, a Senior graduate transfer.  Averaged 16.7 a game. He would be worth a look see.

What am I missing here about Mantis? i thought he was still in high school. Is he saying he made a mistake signing with Appalachian State? if so couldn't he just change his mind about the signing he made? This sounds a little odd to me

vu72 I post here very rarely but am able along with my wife to attend the games because we are a host family to one of the international student players who graciously leaves us 2 tickets at the door. Certainly a different experience with lack of atmosphere at the games.

Krikke was dominant today and our 2 canadians totaled 41 points. Definitely a big step forward.

According Paul Oren, Zion Morgan is suited up for game today.

They have now made a state wide silver alert for Rod.  Prayers for family.  Hard to believe someone could disappear  and still be missing for over 3 days

Sometimes you wonder if recruiting a high profile player is worth the risk in today's climate of transferring to another school.  Especially if the new prospective NCAA rule is passed about not having to sit out a year. I wonder if VU could block him from going to Loyola if he wanted to? Not sure what MVC rules are concerning that. Well he could always go to UIC, DePaul or Northwestern. Yes we will miss him but i think we will be fine especially with new recruits coming in. Can't say i will miss his 3 point shooting though. Want to wish him best of luck though.

Another miss step by the President. The VA has just finished a test on hyrochloroquine based on over 300 covid patients taking the drug, It found that the drug has no benefit on keeping you off ventilators and actually 28% died taking the drug compared to 11% who did not take the drug.

Jon Meacham the Pulitzer prize winning presidential biographer has made a very observant but obvious statement saying the corona virus has become a partisan pandemic. With various Republican governors opening up their states one wonders where  their concern for the health of their constituents belongs. At least Holcomb is taking a more measured look at opening up the state.