Messages

• Coming into this season, Valpo's starting 5 has played in 77 D-1 games, collectively.
• IL's starting 5 - 487 games collectively.
• IL starts 3 5th-year seniors, 1 4th year senior, and 1 sophomore.

This is a complete mismatch, experience wise and age wise. We have no chance of ever being in this game, nor should anyone expect that we should. That said, next year will be vastly different. Everyone will have a year experience minimum, and this stupid extra year of eligibility awarded for the season that no one missed due to COVID will finally be over. That's a double benefit to us.

[Two Valpo grads nominated to fill federal judicial vacancies]

Two Valpo grads nominated to fill federal judicial vacancies

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/federal-judicial-vacancies-valparaiso-university/article_9fc4feb4-83d8-11ee-a5b4-2b2b9d89294f.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Let me repeat my issue with these MVC board people. Only Bradley (once) and Drake (twice) have represented the MVC in the NCAA tournament in the 6 years we've been in the league. The rest haven't been there in literally decades, yet they have the gall to ridicule our program. They're like spoiled kids who act stuck up because daddy has money and they live in a gated community. There's not a doubt in my mind that Valpo will rise to the top of the league long before they will. In the meantime, I have no interest in anything they have to say.

The PA system is all the more important as the new scoreboards do not have an area that states who committed a foul.  If it could have been called on tow or more players, the only way to know who committed the foul is to hear it from talksalot (unless you have memorized each player's total number of fouls and notice a change in their total).

I miss that scoreboard feature, as well. In order to compensate I have live stats loaded on my I-phone and refer to the play-by-play feature, as necessary.

We have some success with up tempo play and the perimeter.

Valpo 77 - 65

My other prediction is that we don't have any late game ejections from the players. I don't see one from coaching staff either, but firmly believe that The Rev will fix this one time aberration
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I don't know what happened over there, but I will say that their player had been stirring the pot the whole game up to that point. Obviously, it's never good to get ejected, but I do like that our guys play with a chip on their shoulder. They're not afraid to mix it up underneath, and they body up their man - on the ball and off. That level of physicality wears on the opposition mentally and physically and causes frustration (and anger) when someone always seems to be glued to you. I can tell that is going to be part of Roger's MO. Unfortunately, we might not have enough interchangeable parts at this point to play offense at a frenetic pace for 40 minutes - and play that aggressively on defense. I could tell our guys started to wear down in the 2nd half, run more clock, and stand around more. It's exciting to watch the development, knowing where Roger wants to get to over time. Baby steps...

 

ok, if we don't win on Tuesday, this will be my last game thread starter of the year. 

Thanks for taking the bull by the horns and posting game starter threads for everyone's enjoyment. They're always reliable and informative. I hope you continue regardless of the outcome of the game. With appreciation, wh

I told myself I was going to be patient with this new group, and here I am singling out Darius already, and dragging other posters into to it, as well. Not good.

[Who else on this roster can find others shots like that ?]

Disagree. Watch the tape especially in the first half Darius got guys at least 3-4 wide open shots that weren't made. He certainly can be more aggressive attacking the rim and trying to get his own in the midrange for sure but he's out there primarily to get other people shots which he did very well in my opinion.  Who else on this roster can find others shots like that ?

I agree that he handles and distributes the ball well. He doesn't need to be a 20-point scorer. If he averaged even 6 PPG, it could mean the difference between winning and losing close games.

They never have anything good to say about Valpo, not that they missed anything. I'm just not interested in hearing criticism from 2 guys whose schools haven't been to the NCAA tournament in decades.

There are 200 player minutes to distribute. The only reason 1 player should be awarded 40 minutes by himself is if he is a constant scoring threat. Normally, when you have players who cannot score, you try to slow the game down, not speed it up.

[Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh suspended by Big Ten as part of sign-stealing investigation]

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh suspended by Big Ten as part of sign-stealing investigation

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2023/11/10/jim-harbaugh-suspension-big-ten-sign-stealing/71488934007/

[I've not heard anyone complaining about it lately. Or does having Coach Powell in charge make you forget your complaints.]

Has there been any improvement in the PA system? I've not heard anyone complaining about it lately. Or does having Coach Powell in charge make you forget your complaints.

The sound system is as bad as ever where we sit. However, to your point the general optimism for a better future for the program certainly soothes the soul. Also, the new lighting, brighter environment, scoreboard features, etc. more than counterbalance any negatives. All in all, my mind set is in a much better place right now. 

The Valparaiso Beacons (1-0) play the IUPUI Jaguars (1-0) as 4.5-point favorites on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN+. The point total in the matchup is 142.5.

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1722443370398617991

Great news to nail down this signing!

VU's ability to sign, develop, and retain players like McNair is all on Coach Powell. I'm surmising that he's telling these young men something along the lines of...Don't worry about VU's recent record or the comparatively so-so facilities. If you want a chance to start and perhaps even star on an NCAA tournament-caliber team, and get a good college education while you're at it, then join us.

To your point, I agree that Roger's message transcends the glitz and glitter factor related to facilities. How many young highly athletic players wouldn't trade facilities for an opportunity to be part of Valpo's new racehorse style of basketball and learn from someone who helped Gonzaga knock on the door of a national championship using the same system.

Good Roger video clip.

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/1722461273298727282

• The 3 players I referenced above were an incredible 18-27 from 3.

I believe 5-6, 2-3, 4-5 adds up to 11-14.  An even higher percentage, but fewer attempts. 

Normally, I'm pretty good at arithmetic. Honest! lol

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1722443370398617991

What did you really expect if we are already ashamed of the name "Crusaders" for actions taken 800 years ago.

It's not quite as prevalent as it sounds in calling it "100 universities."   There are over a dozen SUNYs (not Sunnis), and nearly all of the schools very small. Not coincidentally, they probably don't rely on enrolling a lot of students who despite Israel. 

Notably I see no Lutheran schools of any kind.  I didn't see at a glance any major flagships.  I didn't see any elite or ivy privates. That should be no surprise.  Those schools are reaping what they have sown in teaching that grievance is virtue and protesting signals that virtue. If you really want virtue points you enforce a faculty clause to reflexively seek out minorities and presume their virtue. When you do, you create oppressed people as an industry and that teaching now takes on a life of its own. Hard to feel sorry for them now.  Good luck to Cornell, Columbia, and Penn working with their mega-donors.  MLK tried to go in the direction that all are equal and need to be viewed as individuals. But the DEI and grievance industry took root, finding its most fertile soil on campus and media.

You're overlooking COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES, which represents 150 universities in the US and Canada. Included are several Missouri Synod Concordia's and a Lutheran named university in Minnesota. Conspicuous by its absence is...

[winning will solve the attendance not promotions.]

Bad opponent, most of the city are unfamiliar with the new roster. Yes their is more of a buzz, but winning will solve the attendance not promotions.

Two things can be right at the same time.

I'm not going to say it won't happen, but I would think it's going to be hard for anyone to walk away from Roger - charismatic leader, mentor, spiritual advisor, a giant among men.

https://twitter.com/masonsview/status/1722016275902107756

https://twitter.com/Angimac3/status/1721965414618460294

IMO the biggest factor in our 2nd half fall-off was limiting minutes for 3 unstoppable players that displayed that unrelentless "dog" mentality on both ends of the court:

Isaiah Stafford 20 pts in 23 min on 7-12 FG, 5-6 3FG
Jaxon Edwards 16 pts in 16 min on 6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG
Jahari Williamson 16 pts in 20 min on 5-6 FG, 4-5 3FG

That's an avg of 17 pts in 20 min. X 3 (34per40) on 67% FG, 79% 3FG

So, yeah, we probably could have scored 130 points; or, do what we did and call off the dogs early, give everyone meaningful playing time, and not humiliate our guests. All in all, I would say "mission accomplished."

Two more points:

• The 3 players I referenced above were an incredible 18-27 from 3. The vast majority were quick release, closely contested shots from all over. IMO this has more meaning against an overmatched opponent than had those crazy numbers come on shots in the paint against shorter, less athletic opponents.

• 18-27 from 3 Valpo players in the same game is in sharp contrast with last year, where opposing teams were daring us to take perimeter 3's. And, even as wide open as we constantly were, we were still the worst shooting team from 3 in the MVC.

IMO the biggest factor in our 2nd half fall-off was limiting minutes for 3 unstoppable players that displayed that unrelentless "dog" mentality on both ends of the court:

Isaiah Stafford 20 pts in 23 min on 7-12 FG, 5-6 3FG
Jaxon Edwards 16 pts in 16 min on 6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG
Jahari Williamson 16 pts in 20 min on 5-6 FG, 4-5 3FG

That's an avg of 17 pts in 20 min. X 3 (34per40) on 67% FG, 79% 3FG

So, yeah, we probably could have scored 130 points; or, do what we did and call off the dogs early, give everyone meaningful playing time, and not humiliate our guests. All in all, I would say "mission accomplished."

[As IUPUI splits, new athletic director ready to lead IU Indianapolis]

From an athletic standpoint they are merely hanging out a new shingle.

As IUPUI splits, new athletic director ready to lead IU Indianapolis

"IUPUI will officially end on June 30, 2024. All IUPUI programs will become a part of IU Indianapolis by July 2024, except for the schools of engineering, technology and computer science, which will become part of the Purdue system.

As aforementioned, IU Indianapolis will retain all athletic programs and compete in the Horizon League."

https://www.wthr.com/amp/article/sports/college/new-athletic-director-ready-for-iupui-iu-indianapolis-transformation-purdue-university/531-92e989bf-a382-426a-adca-ced510f82be8

Where can I park for basketball games that is close to the ARC? The parking lot across from the ARC is always full well before games and it doesn't matter how small the crowd is, there is never any available parking there. That lot is obviously being used for something other than parking for basketball games. Has there been some other arrangements made so we can park reasonably close to the arena? If the team improves as we all hope, there should be larger crowds this season and that will make the parking situation even more frustrating. Any suggestions as to where to park would be most welcome.

You have hit upon an open wound with several posters on this message board.

Very much listen to the rant you are sure to get from wh, which I do believe is legit. There should be some closer parking.

Generally I have my brother drop me off and he walks the longer distance because, well, I'm generally lazy.

Thank you for the introduction, HM. lol Touron, I won't bore you with the sordid history of the ARC parking situation. To your point, you haven't seen anything yet. IMO the simplest of several poor options are the parking lots located on LaPorte Av., 1 block due north of the ARC and immediately west of the Nursing building. It is a full block+ walk, but it is on a fully lit super wide walkway the whole way. I think it's free over there, but I'm not positive. Enjoy the game!