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Each week at TheVictoryBell.com this summer will focus on a different sport. The plan is to publish a State of the Program story on Monday, a feature story on a current athlete on Wednesday and a historical piece later in the week.

Week 1: Baseball

State of the Baseball Program: https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/state-of-the-program-baseball?s=w

Feature on Colin Fields: https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/fields-has-big-league-dreams?s=w

Look back at Tim Juran: https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/juran-looks-back-on-historic-career?s=w

Thought I'd start a thread for the 2022 Valpo football season.

Here are the links to the first few stories from The Victory Bell.

The Waiting Game - A look at Robert Washington's pro aspirations along with a review of Valpo's incoming recruits.

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/the-waiting-game?s=w

Q&A: Will Fleming - A discussion with Valpo's new offensive coordinator

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/q-and-a-will-fleming?s=w

Previewing Valparaiso Football Spring Practice - a position-by-position look at the roster

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/previewing-valparaiso-football-spring?s=w

Starting quarterback remains beautiful mystery - breakdown of Valpo's four quarterbacks

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/starting-quarterback-remains-beautiful?s=w

Well, Union Street Hoops had its own thread, so it's about time someone started one for The Victory Bell. The podcast isn't dead by any means, just on hold as I get this newsletter launched. I'll figure out the podcast eventually. Maybe in time for Arch Madness. Maybe in the offseason. Not sure yet. As for The Victory Bell, thank you to those who have subscribed thus far. If you haven't, I'll ask you to if you're passionate about Valpo athletics. I finally have the opportunity to tell the stories that I want to tell in the manner in which I want to tell them. The latest story I wrote, a deep dive into Emil's mysterious illness, is one of those types of stories. It's behind the paywall and it's worth every penny IMO. Not because of the words that I wrote, but because of the story that he told. I was just lucky enough to be the one he told it to. I hope you'll subscribe and read it.

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/emerging-from-the-darkness?r=15j9bs

[Valparaiso 2021-22 Over/Under]

Valparaiso 2021-22 Over/Under

Thomas Kithier - 5.2 rebounds per game
Cam Palesse - 1.1 assist to turnover ratio
Connor Barrett - 40.5 percent 3PFG
Darius DeAveiro - 1.8 assists per game
Keyondre Young - 6.8 points per game
Eron Gordon - 5.5 games of 10+ points
Emil Freese-Vilien - 3.5 blocks
Kevion Taylor - 9.5 points per game
Sheldon Edwards - 6.5 dunks
Trevor Anderson - 32.5 3-pointers
Ben Krikke - 53.5 percent FG
Joe Hedstrom - 0.5 3-pointers
Trey Woodyard - 33.3 percent 3PFG
Kobe King - 19.5 minutes in first Division I game

Wins - 16.5
MVC Finish - 5.5
Postseason victories - 0.5
Conference win streak - 2.5
Conference loss streak - 2.5
SportsCenter Top 10 plays - 0.5
Successful home run plays - 1.5
Valpo players on 1st/2nd Team All-League - 0.5
Valpo players on All-Newcomer Team - 1.5
Attendance - 2,850

Tiebreaker questions
Which walk-on scores the most points?
How long will the longest beer snake of the season be?

Interested in doing a little exercise here. I've got two questions that I'm curious to see answers to.

1) What are the best three things that the Valparaiso basketball program has going for it?

2) What are the three biggest obstacles or improvements or shortcomings that impact the Valparaiso basketball program?

[2019-20 Over/Unders]

Introducing the 2019-20 Valparaiso Over/Under Prop bets. Before you make your selections, give a listen to the latest episode of Union Street Hoops, where Todd Ickow hears the numbers for the first time and makes his selections.

Apple Pods (former iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-2019-20-over-under-episode/id1173352781?i=1000455417121

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-734435464/the-2019-20-overunder-episode

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HimkHUZRLe1LrWYPr9Qzb

2019-20 Over/Unders
Javon Freeman-Liberty: 63.5 steals
Siggy Lorange: 27.5 3-point field goals
Zion Morgan: 16.5 games with more assists than turnovers
Daniel Sackey: 3.2 assists per game
Donovan Clay: 3.8 rebounds per game
Eron Gordon: 7.5 points per game
Emil Freese-Vilien: 10.5 blocks
Mileek McMillian: 44.5 field goal percentage
Ben Krikke: 5.8 points per game
Nick Robinson: 10.5 points per game
John Kiser: 11.5 3-point field goals
Ryan Fazekas: 42.5 3-point field goal percentage
Matt Lottich: 1.5 technical fouls

Wins: 17.5
Arch Madness wins: 1.5
MVC Finish: 6.5 (Over means 1-6, Under means 7-10)
Postseason victories (NCAA, NIT, CBI, CIT): 0.5
Conference win streak: 2.5
Conference loss streak: 2.5
Attendance: 2,800

Tiebreaker: Combined season points from Brock Pappas and Luke Morrill

Email me your selections at OrenNWI@gmail.com and/or post them here. If you email me your picks, please let me know your MB handle so I don't double up entries.

[2018-19 Valparaiso Over/Under Props]

We're back again for another wonderful installment of the Valparaiso Over/Under prop bets.

Here's the deal. Email me (pgmado@gmail.com) with your picks on the following props by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Feel free to post them here as well, but I'd prefer to have your name/email if you want to participate in the contest. Trying to track down the winner for last year was tough because I didn't know who it was. I'll post two updates throughout the year, one when conference play begins and one when Arch Madness begins. I'll then post the final standings and the winner will join me on Union Street Hoops for a victorious conversation.

If you'd like to listen to the Voice of the Crusaders, Todd Ickow give his Over/Under picks, listen to the latest episode of Union Street Hoops.

https://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/inside-vu-sports/podcast-union-street-hoops-the---over-under-episode/article_04c7f880-d95b-11e8-bf8e-37fa2177f384.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest

2018-19 Valparaiso Over/Under Props

Javon Freeman: 11.5 points per game
Micah Bradford: 2:1 assist to turnover ratio
Deion Lavender: 3.6 assists per game
Daniel Sackey: 18.5 games with more assists than turnovers
Bakari Evelyn: 39.5% 3PFG
Markus Golder: 50.0% FG
Jaume Sorolla: 5.5 rebounds per game
Derrik Smits: 25 blocks
Mileek McMillan: 20.5 3-pointers
John Kiser: 1.2 offensive rebounds per game
Ryan Fazekas: 14.2 points per game

Wins: 19.5
Arch Madness wins: 1.5
MVC Finish: 5.5 (Over means 1-5, Under means 6-10)
Postseason Victories: 0.5
Conference win steak: 2.5
Conference loss streak: 2.5
Attendance: 2,850

Tiebreaker: How many games will Langston Stalling appear in this season?

http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/inside-vu-sports/who-should-be-valparaiso-s-rival-in-the-missouri-valley/collection_4ce38130-26dd-5197-a52d-fcd507b79ba5.html

* Little bit of a late start on this, but here are some interesting Over/Unders for the 2017-18 season. I pulled some of these numbers out of thin air, but I think it will be interesting to see what people think about these. Should any of the numbers move drastically? Post your predictions.

2017-18 Valparaiso O/U

1. Parker Hazen -- 5.5 rpg (originally was 6.5)
2. Micah Bradford -- 33.3% 3PFG
3. Tevonn Walker -- 82.5% FT
4. Max Joseph -- 1.2 orpg (originally was 1.5)
5. Bakari Evelyn -- 5.5 apg
6. Markus Golder -- 30 dunks
7. Joe Burton -- 16.5 ppg
8. Marten Linssen -- 8.5 mpg
9. Jaume Sorolla -- 50.0% FG
10. Derrik Smits -- 30 blocks
11. Mileek McMillan -- 4.5 rpg
12. John Kiser -- 10.5 mpg

13. Wins -- 19.5
14. Arch Madness wins -- 1.5
15. MVC finish -- 3.5
16. Postseason victories (not including conference tourney) -- 0.5
17. Longest conference winning streak -- 2.5
18. Longest conference losing streak -- 2.5
19. Average home attendance -- 3,000
20. More assists or turnovers?

Thrilled to announce that every Monday I'll be hosting a Valparaiso-related podcast on NWI.com entitled "Union Street Hoops." Co-host Parker Gatewood and I will share good stories, have fun guests and take you behind the scenes on everything that's happening on Union Street and around the Horizon League.

Episode 1 reviews Valparaiso's offseason while looking ahead to the future.

I hope you enjoy and I really hope you share the link with all your friends!

http://www.nwitimes.com/digital/audio/podcast-union-street-hoops-episode/audio_4330295c-9f7a-11e6-b9e3-8fa6e8bd0715.html

[regular season]

Valparaiso Basketball
2015-16 O/U

1) Alec Peters -- 18.0 ppg
2) Darien Walker -- 38.0% 3PFG%
3) Tevonn Walker -- 1.5 steals per game
4) Keith Carter -- 4.5 assists per game
5) Vashil Fernandez -- 3.0 blocks per game
6) E. Victor Nickerson -- 15 minutes per game
7) David Skara -- 80% FT%
8) Jubril Adekoya -- 60% 2PFG%
9) Nick Davidison -- 10 3-pointers
10) Max Joseph -- 1.5/1 assist-to-turnover ration
11) Shane Hammink -- 8 games started
12) Derrik Smits -- 55% FG%
13) Lexus Williams -- 10 games with 10+ minutes
14) Chandler Levingston Simon -- 9 games played
15) Bryce Drew -- 2.5 technicals
16) Valparaiso -- 24 regular season wins

Alright, let's have some fun. Who wins in a game between the 2012-13 Crusaders and the 2014-15 Crusaders. Vashil Fernandez is the only link between the two and he played a total of one minute in the 2013 Horizon League tournament.

Buggs vs. Carter

Bogan/Kenney vs. Walkers

Broekhoff vs. Peters

Van Wijk vs. Fernandez

Boggs/Dority/Coleman/Capobianco vs. Skara/Adekoya/Nickerson/Joseph

Where, if at all, does the current team have a personnel advantage? Which team is tougher? Which team wins? How much would you pay to see this game happen?

Go.

For those not on Twitter. Have some fun...

[tweet]472863253735829504[/tweet]

I truly enjoyed researching the Lutheran Miracle game and I'm looking for another game to dive into. I've listed five. If there is another, feel free to list it.

It seems that a few of my latest blog entries at the NWI Times website aren't updating, so I thought I'd post these last two in order for you all to follow along with the Valparaiso Historical Bracket Challenge. Interested to hear your take on who you think will win.

Bracket Challenge Intro
http://nwitimes.com/app/blog/sports/?p=5257

Results Thread (Updated through Game 1)
http://nwitimes.com/app/blog/sports/?p=5510