Union Street Hoops

[VU2014]

New Episode of Union Street Hoops!

http://www.nwitimes.com/digital/audio/union-street-hoops/podcast-union-street-hoops-episode/audio_a98c31fc-f487-11e6-9342-77a5e2be6cc9.html

"Oakland coach Greg Kampe joins Union Street Hoops to talk with NWI Times reporter Paul Oren about the Valparaiso/Oakland rivalry and Motor City Madness. Paul and Parker Gatewood talk about Alec Peters' tribute to Jubril Adekoya and preview closing stretch of Horizon League action."

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/832332419390902272

[M]

Not sure where he gets that if Jubril doesn't play tomorrow he's done for the year? That seemed like an odd statement.

[covufan]

Golden Grizzly colored glasses!

[VU2014]

Greg Kampe tries to sell the Valpo fans on the Motor City Dumpster Fire Tournament. Great interview with Kampe and he makes some valid points of trying emulate the MVC Conference Tournament in St. Louis, but I can't buy into the "Neutral Site" crap! Its a total competitive advantage having the tournament basically in two of the teams home towns!

I know I'm but come on! It's a complete competitive advantage packing the stadium with their respective fanbases. I'm digging my heals in on that point because its a deal breaker for me. I was pissed about it when it happened and I'm still ticked about it. Yes it would be nice to have the Tourney here and I can see the merits of a Neutral Conference Tourney site but this will never be a truly Neutral site. Appreciate the Olympia Sports wanting us but thats a 2 way street for every other fanbase not named Detroit-Mercy and Oakland.

[talksalot]

Oakland is on Spring Break?  Their Dorms are closing Friday afternoon.   I'm guessing they will have a decent turnout anyway.  Again, perfect scheduling by the HL... we were on break when we played them the first time.

[M]

Maybe it's not that Valpo needs out of the HL it's that the HL needs some new people in charge. Would that please the masses?

[valpo64]

Whether we are in the HL or not, the HL needs new leadership.

[FWalum]

Maybe it's not that Valpo needs out of the HL it's that the HL needs some new people in charge. Would that please the masses?

Definitely time for some new blood.  If this was a public company the shareholders would have demanded a change as soon as Butler left.

[VULB#62]

Oakland is on Spring Break?  Their Dorms are closing Friday afternoon.   I'm guessing they will have a decent turnout anyway.  Again, perfect scheduling by the HL... we were on break when we played them the first time.

But it is considered a commuter school, no?

[oklahomamick]

Oakland is on Spring Break?  Their Dorms are closing Friday afternoon.   I'm guessing they will have a decent turnout anyway.  Again, perfect scheduling by the HL... we were on break when we played them the first time.

They should have a good turn out.  Great majority of their students are from Michigan.  Most of the alumni probably live in Michigan. 

[FieldGoodie05]

Oakland is on Spring Break?  Their Dorms are closing Friday afternoon.   I'm guessing they will have a decent turnout anyway.  Again, perfect scheduling by the HL... we were on break when we played them the first time.

But it is considered a commuter school, no?

Oakland had that reputation until the mid 1990s when they went on a building spree.  I lived in Rochester at the time as a high schooler.  Now they have a pretty nice campus and attract a lot of traditional high school seniors.  But they also spent good money to attract young families, non traditional.  It's a nice campus with a solid aquatics center and even newer student rec center.  It's growing nicely...want to say it was around 10,000 students  in the 1990s where recently I thought I read 20,000+.

[bbtds]

I know I'm  but come on! It's a complete competitive advantage packing the stadium with their respective fanbases. I'm digging my heals in on that point because its a deal breaker for me. I was pissed about it when it happened and I'm still ticked about it. Yes it would be nice to have the Tourney here and I can see the merits of a Neutral Conference Tourney site but this will never be a truly Neutral site. Appreciate the Olympia Sports wanting us but thats a 2 way street for every other fanbase not named Detroit-Mercy and Oakland.

So what is the result of your being pissed at the HL for holding their tournament in downtown Detroit (what you call the Motor City Dumpster Fire Tournament)?

Would it be better if the HL tournament was held on the south side of Chicago in a gym in the Englewood neighborhood? Valpo fans could pack the gym with it being within about 40 miles of Valpo. But that wouldn't happen would it?

The result of your being pissed at the HL is that Valpo will most likely not get an invite from the Missouri Valley or a better conference, the Valpo fans that attend the HL tournament in Detroit will enjoy themselves, Jon LeCrone will stay commissioner of the HL, and you will sit at home still pissed at the HL for ruining what you think is Valpo's "God given right" to have the HL tournament close to Valpo because Valpo has had the better teams over the last few years and have earned it.

Get over it! Go to the HL tournament in Detroit and cheer your team on. They need you to stop the sulking and support your team! I'll be in Detroit supporting Valpo wherever they play and enjoying myself. I've traveled there before and it's not the end of the world and not the horrible place that you want to think that Detroit is. Downtown Detroit IS enjoyable! Stop making excuses and find a way to get to Detroit, even if only on the weekend, and show Oakland and Detroit-Mercy fans what true fans will do for their team AND QUIT THE WHINING!!!!

[oklahomamick]

last year I made it to the Detroit dumpster fire madness from Oklahoma.  I will do it again this year.  Downtown Detroit is cool.  Staying at the casino, hanging out in Greek town and taking the people's mover to the joe.  Lecrone will continue to "lead" the HL.  Valpo will not aggressively seek the mvc and will not get the invite.  You are correct in everything.  Oh and finally I will continue to whine about it.   At least until one of the above changes.....

[FieldGoodie05]

I know I'm  but come on! It's a complete competitive advantage packing the stadium with their respective fanbases. I'm digging my heals in on that point because its a deal breaker for me. I was pissed about it when it happened and I'm still ticked about it. Yes it would be nice to have the Tourney here and I can see the merits of a Neutral Conference Tourney site but this will never be a truly Neutral site. Appreciate the Olympia Sports wanting us but thats a 2 way street for every other fanbase not named Detroit-Mercy and Oakland.

So what is the result of your being pissed at the HL for holding their tournament in downtown Detroit (what you call the Motor City Dumpster Fire Tournament)?

Would it be better if the HL tournament was held on the south side of Chicago in a gym in the Englewood neighborhood? Valpo fans could pack the gym with it being within about 40 miles of Valpo. But that wouldn't happen would it?

The result of your being pissed at the HL is that Valpo will most likely not get an invite from the Missouri Valley or a better conference, the Valpo fans that attend the HL tournament in Detroit will enjoy themselves, Jon LeCrone will stay commissioner of the HL, and you will sit at home still pissed at the HL for ruining what you think is Valpo's "God given right" to have the HL tournament close to Valpo because Valpo has had the better teams over the last few years and have earned it.

Get over it! Go to the HL tournament in Detroit and cheer your team on. They need you to stop the sulking and support your team! I'll be in Detroit supporting Valpo wherever they play and enjoying myself. I've traveled there before and it's not the end of the world and not the horrible place that you want to think that Detroit is. Downtown Detroit IS enjoyable! Stop making excuses and find a way to get to Detroit, even if only on the weekend, and show Oakland and Detroit-Mercy fans what true fans will do for their team AND QUIT THE WHINING!!!!

BBTSDQYR you know nothing if you compare Downtown Detroit to Englewood.  You are officially my nemesis on this forum...."Newwwwwwman".

[FieldGoodie05]

I know I'm  but come on! It's a complete competitive advantage packing the stadium with their respective fanbases. I'm digging my heals in on that point because its a deal breaker for me. I was pissed about it when it happened and I'm still ticked about it. Yes it would be nice to have the Tourney here and I can see the merits of a Neutral Conference Tourney site but this will never be a truly Neutral site. Appreciate the Olympia Sports wanting us but thats a 2 way street for every other fanbase not named Detroit-Mercy and Oakland.

So what is the result of your being pissed at the HL for holding their tournament in downtown Detroit (what you call the Motor City Dumpster Fire Tournament)?

Would it be better if the HL tournament was held on the south side of Chicago in a gym in the Englewood neighborhood? Valpo fans could pack the gym with it being within about 40 miles of Valpo. But that wouldn't happen would it?

The result of your being pissed at the HL is that Valpo will most likely not get an invite from the Missouri Valley or a better conference, the Valpo fans that attend the HL tournament in Detroit will enjoy themselves, Jon LeCrone will stay commissioner of the HL, and you will sit at home still pissed at the HL for ruining what you think is Valpo's "God given right" to have the HL tournament close to Valpo because Valpo has had the better teams over the last few years and have earned it.

Get over it! Go to the HL tournament in Detroit and cheer your team on. They need you to stop the sulking and support your team! I'll be in Detroit supporting Valpo wherever they play and enjoying myself. I've traveled there before and it's not the end of the world and not the horrible place that you want to think that Detroit is. Downtown Detroit IS enjoyable! Stop making excuses and find a way to get to Detroit, even if only on the weekend, and show Oakland and Detroit-Mercy fans what true fans will do for their team AND QUIT THE WHINING!!!!

BBTSDQYR you know nothing if you compare Downtown Detroit to Englewood.  You are officially my nemesis on this forum...."Newwwwwwman".

...And my silly ___ should have read the rest of your message.  Glad I could be the dumb____ this AM.  I'm still searching for a nemesis....OKmick, you in?

[bbtds]

BBTSDQYR you know nothing if you compare Downtown Detroit to Englewood.  You are officially my nemesis on this forum...."Newwwwwwman".

Never compared downtown Detroit to Englewood. I just asked if we did hold the HL tournament in Englewood would more Valpo fans attend because of the location being closer for Valpo fans. The answer was an obvious "NO!"

EDIT: Now I see that you actually read my full response.

...And my silly ___ should have read the rest of your message.  Glad I could be the dumb____ this AM.  I'm still searching for a nemesis....OKmick, you in?

....if you must have a nemesis.................oh never mind.........you'll never read this whole response the first time anyway............

[VU2014]

You don't think hosting it in Chicago would have a greater impact on attendance for Valpo fans?

It definitely would. There is a huge alumni/student base settle and from the Chicagoland as compared to Detroit. It's an hour drive as opposed to 4 hrs. That is much less of a commitment to attend games.

The Horizon League Tournament could even be hosted in Rosemont (just outside Chicago, near O'Hare) at the AllState Arena. Rosemont has a pretty nice entertainment/hotel district surrounding it and its right off the highway. That's just one possibility. Or it could be hosted in Indy. Although Olympia Sports wanted the Horizon League and we've made the commitment so its all a moot point now.

In the post I mentioned there are merits to have a "neutral site" conference tournament. I'm not opposed to the neutral site. And give me a break, the MVC Conference is not going to base their decision on giving an invite to Valpo based on fan displeasure of the Tournament. There are so many other more important factors. To fans who are going I hope they enjoy the experience. I can't make it this season because I'll be out of town but I will definitely be going next season regardless if we are competitive or not. I would like to experience the Conf Tourney (and the new Joe Louis Arena should be nice).

I completely acknowledge that post was "whiny" (I'll try and tamp it down). More frustrated with leadership of the HL. 

[NativeCheesehead]

If you're going to have a neutral site tournament, fine. Have semis and final on a weekend, period, end of story. Logistics, ESPN aside, tough to ask people to give up half a work week to attend a basketball tournament.

[valpopal]

Let's be clear that complaints about the shift of the tournament to Detroit is not whining, and in fact that is an insulting suggestion. Anger about the tournament format that I hear from many season ticket holders is just a symptom of overall displeasure with various directions taken by the Horizon League and changes witnessed since Valpo entered the conference.


When VU joined the HL, all those season ticket holders were delighted to be in a league that was higher in the rankings, had the possibility of multiple bids to the NCAA, included Loyola and Butler (two quality schools that were worthy rivals, especially Butler, whose appearance at the ARC would be a great occasion each year), and the environment at every conference game was positive, especially since the Horizon League also offered a reward and reason for caring about each league game because hosting the tournament was a terrific prize. The details of the tournament now being held in a city with two conference foes who would have a home court advantage only add salt to the wound. Consequently, every time an ad for the tournament is shown on the video board at the ARC, fans near me moan and mutter curses, especially when the promotion brings to a dead halt the enthusiasm and cheering at a crucial point in the game.


Indeed, the lack of such high stakes for games the past couple of years has contributed as a factor to the lessening of fan enthusiasm and likely to lower attendance. In addition, it is no secret the Valparaiso University administration strongly opposed the tournament change, felt betrayed by the league, and behind closed doors the resentment toward the Horizon League remains palpable. This betrayal was particularly surprising and poisonous because the league commissioner was at the time praising the current format and discussing ways to tweak the campus-site tournament as it continued to make it a model for other mid-major conferences.

[VU2014]

If you're going to have a neutral site tournament, fine. Have semis and final on a weekend, period, end of story. Logistics, ESPN aside, tough to ask people to give up half a work week to attend a basketball tournament.

I agree a bit. It's just tough to commit to a tournament like this if there aren't other events going on around it. I love Valpo Basketball but do I want to commit the whole weekend to watching the Cleveland States, Milwaukee, Youngstown States, and Detroits of the League. There is just many bottom feeding teams in the conference right now. I guarantee you Detroit and Milwaukee will be better next season and I feel awful for Gary Waters losing recruits left and right over the years (maybe he'll bring them back), but I don't want to commit to watching those games live.

If the Horizon League was on par with a Big East, A-10 and most years the MVC then I would definitely commit to seeing those league tournaments live if Valpo were in those conferences, because the level of competitive teams are much higher. The Horizon League is on the up from a competitive standpoint. Valpo, Oakland, NKU, are going to UIC very competitive at the Mid Major Levels at least for the next few years. Green Bay is very well coached and Detroit and Milwaukee just hired good coaches last offseason.

If the Conference really wants the Motor City Madness too succeed then the product on the floor has to get better. You have to have multiple teams competing fighting to get into the NCAA. The Horizon League needs to become a multiple bid conference for this whole thing to take off. Not sure when or if that will happen before members get poached by the next tier of conference.

[oklahomamick]

I would also add the way it was moved to my displeasure and whining.

They announced the move in  the summer that the tournament will be in Detroit.  They moved it over night! 

[talksalot]

Not QUITE as bad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07qCNiC4KLc

[bbtds]

You don't think hosting it in Chicago would have a greater impact on attendance for Valpo fans?

It definitely would. There is a huge alumni/student base settle and from the Chicagoland as compared to Detroit. It's an hour drive as opposed to 4 hrs. That is much less of a commitment to attend games.

The Horizon League Tournament could even be hosted in Rosemont (just outside Chicago, near O'Hare) at the AllState Arena. Rosemont has a pretty nice entertainment/hotel district surrounding it and its right off the highway. That's just one possibility. Or it could be hosted in Indy. Although Olympia Sports wanted the Horizon League and we've made the commitment so its all a moot point now.

In the post I mentioned there are merits to have a "neutral site" conference tournament. I'm not opposed to the neutral site. And give me a break, the MVC Conference is not going to base their decision on giving an invite to Valpo based on fan displeasure of the Tournament. There are so many other more important factors. To fans who are going I hope they enjoy the experience. I can't make it this season because I'll be out of town but I will definitely be going next season regardless if we are competitive or not. I would like to experience the Conf Tourney (and the new Joe Louis Arena should be nice).

I completely acknowledge that post was "whiny" (I'll try and tamp it down). More frustrated with leadership of the HL. 

The question was not if more Valpo fans would attend in Rosemont, IL. The question was would more Valpo fans attend the HL tournament in Englewood (the murder capital of Chicago's Southside). I was comparing downtown Detroit, 4 hours away, to Englewood in Chicago, 45 minutes away.

BTW, I have a customer in Englewood who I have visited after dark on the south side of Chicago.

[bbtds]

Logistics, ESPN aside, tough to ask people to give up half a work week to attend a basketball tournament.

The dedicated fans around the NCAA find ways to attend NCAA tournament games farther away than 4 hours. You complain about the excuses students make yet you find ways not to attend HL tournament games with some fairly lame excuses. How many of you attended Mid+Con tournament games in Kansas City and Tulsa? Detroit is a lot closer than that. BTW. I'll be in Oakland County, MI tonight for the big match up with the Golden Grizzlies.

[M]

Problem is when it's played. If the semis and finals were a weekend it'd be much better attended.

If only we were all good fans like this guy ^^^ Valpo would probably be in the Big Ten by now.