Topics

I grew up downhill skiing in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan, but now, from Valpo, the lower peninsula seems closer.

Anybody have any experience, and with it opinions, about the various options in lower Michigan?

I'm a relatively experienced skier, but my wife and kids (ages 9 and 11) have only been skiing a few times.

I could ask more specific questions (I'm currently looking at a couple of days this week... probably Friday-Saturday... and trying to navigate around some less than desirable weather, etc., etc.), but I'd be happy to hear people's general opinions.

If we even have any Indiana or Michigan based skiers on the board!

We'll find out which polls and rankings are relevant for us and our colleagues this season.

At the beginning of the season it's the Mid-Major Top 25, unless we want to look back at Oakland.

Here's an attempt at a place to put assorted news about Valpo soccer players in the pros. All men, so far as I know. Once we get some pro women, we can decide whether to open another thread!

Let's use this first message as a quick summary, occasionally refreshed, and then have details and updates below.

Kyle Zobeck, Valpo '12. FC Dallas (2/21/18). 3rd or 4th string keeper?
Stefan Antonijevic, Valpo '11. Lillestrøm SK. Norwegian 1st Division.
Zev Taublieb. Scandinavian 2nd Division.
Jordan Aidoud. Valpo '16 (or December '15? but also got a masters... remotely? 2017). Jura Sud Foot. French 4th division. 8/16 - present (2018).
Ramone Howell, Valpo (Dec.) '17. Nashville SC in the USL.
Nico Campbell. Tamba Bay Rowdies in the USL

Any others?

Isaiah Madrid - I thought there was something more. But, 1/13/18, I'm seeing tryouts with PDL (4th division?)  Albuquerque Sol and Penn FC.

(I won't bore you with the 90's grads that play local old man leagues with me, or the grad from the 70's or thereabouts who's a Lutheran pastor in the Region, and might still play pick-up.)

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This morning I see a new icon for "you have unread posts on this topic".

I think it used to be a small (brown?) "new" after the topic title. This morning for me it's a small white chevron/up arrow. On top of a light tan background it's pretty subtle, and hard to see - at least on my phone.

Was that an intentional change?

Mostly curious - have I just forgotten about the commercial advertisements on the board, or are they new?

If they're new, I don't begrudge them - we've enjoyed a free message board for many years. Even if I don't precisely enjoy them (who does?).

This could go in about four different topics - a mod should feel free to move it if they think another place is more appropriate.

Todd's been cashing in some events at WSOP, but looks like he's doing especially well in one

[tweet]742688334892404736[/tweet]

A chance of a best ever finish? Or maybe he's already there.

Update: it looks like the GoFundMe has been replaced by an appeal for targeted donations to the Valpo Fund via
https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1347/giving/index.aspx?sid=1347&gid=1&pgid=463&cid=1166&dids=72

original message below:
I don't have time to follow up on this now - I've only heard a tiny bit of info.  But:
https://www.gofundme.com/yfvrvrac

A "gofundme" to send the VU pep band to NYC?

The Valparaiso University Men's Basketball team has reached the NIT final 4 and will play at Madison Square Garden the last week of March. Unfortuantely due to funds, the university is not able to send the Crusader Band to the tourneyment and instead is looking for a high school band in New York to represent the team.

Crusader band has been in integral part of the basketball team for years and has always accompanied the team and cheerleaders in post-season tourneyment play (NCAA or NIT). We need OUR band there, not some high school band with little connection to the school.

I wonder if there's another side to the story? But don't have time to hunt right now.

Perhaps deserves its own thread, but I thought I'd throw this up somewhere to get the discussion started.

Per the NCAA website we have the early game. ESPN, 6 PM CDT.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/history/commentary/guest-commentary-higher-education-has-role-in-nwi-s-past/article_42137a36-3408-5b06-b648-ab56fc2fb7a6.html

GUEST COMMENTARY: Higher education has role in NWI's past, future

Mark Heckler  Mar 13, 2016

Tuesday 8:15 PM central.

[tweet]709179191430766592[/tweet]

For general NCAA 2016 discussion, if people want to move such discussion here.

I don't if there's been an official announcement, but it sounds like Milwaukee (the AD?) pulled the cord on any post-season possibilities. One of their players posted a long thread on twitter about it.

The Oakland AD's announced "Vegas or bust", apparently turning down other offers. They'd earlier been linked (nothing definitive) to the Vegas tournament in at least one news article.

The Oakland AD
http://www.goldengrizzlies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031116aad.html

Green Bay it is.

[tweet]706365027578716160[/tweet]
[tweet]706365209582112768[/tweet]

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2016/03/06/oakland-guard-max-hoopers-dad-chip-dies-saturday/81400674/
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2016/02/27/oakland-golden-grizzlies-max-hooper-dad/81027718/

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/horizon-league-announces-2016-mens-basketball-awards

2016 Horizon League Men's Basketball Award Winners
Player of the Year: Kay Felder, Oakland (Jr., G)
Defensive Player of the Year: Vashil Fernandez, Valparaiso (Sr., C)
Freshman of the Year: Dikembe Dixson, UIC (F)
Sixth Man of the Year: Max Hooper, Oakland (Sr., G)
Coach of the Year: Bryce Drew, Valparaiso

All-League First Team
Kay Felder, Oakland (Jr., G)
Alec Peters, Valparaiso (Jr, F)
Paris Bass, Detroit (So., G/F)
Matt Tiby, Milwaukee (Sr., F)
Carrington Love, Green Bay (Sr., G)

All-League Second Team
Jalen Hayes, Oakland (So., F)
Cameron Morse, Youngstown State (So., G)
Jordan Fouse, Green Bay (Sr., F)
Jordan Johnson, Milwaukee (Jr., G)
Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Fr., F)

All-Freshman Team
Dikembe Dixson, UIC (F)
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky (F)
Rob Edwards, Cleveland State (G)
Josh McFolley, Detroit (G)
Jordan Andrews, Youngstown State (G)

All-Defensive Team
Vashil Fernandez, Valparaiso (Sr., C)
Jordan Fouse, Green Bay (Sr., F)
Tai Odiase, UIC (So., F/C)
Joe Thomasson, Wright State (Sr., G)
Carrington Love, Green Bay (Sr., G)

National ranking for the men!

[tweet]702750466678112256[/tweet]

They think it's their highest ranking ever. I wonder if it's their first time in the top 25.

The women are regularly ranked, last year ending the season at #8.

Both teams play in D3.

A nice write-up of the @Fauxmerdrew parody account in the Torch today
http://www.valpotorch.com/sports/article_d446a880-d71b-11e5-aac6-33429fa9909b.html

They're a great follow, especially active during games, if you don't already.

[tweet]700542187667374080[/tweet]

Anybody else getting excited for the Copa America this summer?

Aaron Leavitt and I were kibbitzing on twitter about the disaster of an ordering process, but both got tickets for the Chicago games.

It'll be the first time I've seen the US Men's National Team (USMNT) in person.  They don't come to Chicago so often, more often favoring places with... better climates? ... fewer Latinos?  And better home crowds for the games we play most often like CONCACAF (Caribbean, North and Central America) World Cup qualifiers.

By all means reply to Paul on twitter
[tweet]693125655580516352[/tweet]
[tweet]693126009323966464[/tweet]

But, this seems like a better place for a discussion.  Do we have a rival?  More than one?

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Low-power FM radio in Valpo.  I didn't know they had a VU Athletics program.

Stream's at
http://stereo.wavestreamer.com:7057/index.html?sid=1

Program starts in ten minutes, tonight, with Oren.  But apparently is on every Tuesday.

An alternative, perhaps, to the Horizon League podcast?  (Not sure if they have an archive - they might.)

I won't manage the antics of LAA - perhaps he'll join in.  But, it is another item to watch this season in the Horizon League.

UIC's currently 0-13 in D1 games.  Can they manage to... what's the opposite of running the table? 

Even Youngstown did eventually pick up two league wins last season.

Five other teams in the country remain with 0 D1 wins.  UIC's RPI is only 345... make that 346 out of 351 teams.

Their KenPom is 339, just ahead of Chicago State.  Their defense is actually rated #260.  Better than Detroit! (and Youngstown)

RPI Forecast makes it considerably more likely that Valpo runs the table (19%) than that UIC fails to win (7%).  In fact, it likes them for two wins.  Best chance?  3.7 point dogs when Youngstown comes to Chicago.

I've never watched much NBA.  Maybe a little Jordan, in the first three-peat when I was a kid - but I followed that on the playground more than on TV.  I did generally watch the Finals, at least, during at least two summers of the second three-peat, including some memorable games against the Jazz.

But, how did I miss that zone defense was _illegal_ in the NBA until 2001?!

I knew that the NBA preferred man, and that college players in zone defensive schemes sometimes received criticism like "How are they going to transition to the NBA?".

But, it was _illegal_?  Crazy.  Did teams push against the line?  Was this actually whistled in games?

      TO:           Campus Community

FROM:          Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President

DATE:           January 4, 2016

      RE:          The Passing of Rev. Daniel C. Brockopp


It saddens me to inform you that Rev. Daniel C. Brockopp, University pastor emeritus, passed away on Friday, January 1, 2016. Rev. Brockopp retired in 1999 after having served the University for 35 years.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Luther Memorial Church, 1021 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53715 (608.258.3160).  A funeral service will follow immediately at 11:00 a.m. at Luther Memorial Church. Information about parking is at the church website, www.luthermem.org/visitor.

Memorials may be made to Valparaiso University or the Lutheran Deaconess Association.

Please remember Dan's wife, Leona, and their extended family in your prayers as they mourn their loss.

MAH/tb

We have STLVU's blog, of course
http://horizonleague.blogspot.com/

And lots of articles will make more sense in particular game threads, or other places.

But, in this hopefully historic season, maybe it's worth having a thread to post and discuss VU in the press, media, national stage, etc.

New season!

Just realized that Will Phipps is no longer listed as a coach.  Very nice person, sorry to see him go. He is now the Executive Director of the Greater Waco Sports Commission.  Guess he wanted to get back to Texas.

And no Director of Basketball Operations listed, yet. 

What are the guesses for the next Director of Basketball Operations?

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2015-16/15032/crusaders-announce-addition-of-luke-simons-as-director-of-operations/

Crusaders Announce Addition of Luke Simons as Director of Operations
Monday, November 09, 2015
Valparaiso University men's basketball head coach Bryce Drew announced today that Luke Simons has joined the Crusader program as its director of basketball operations.

Simons comes to Valpo with nearly a decade of experience working with Athletes in Action as an international team director and coach, as well as a regional coordinator. In his time with AIA, Simons helped assemble and direct multiple international competitive tours throughout Europe and Asia, including tours which current Crusader Vashil Fernandez and former Crusader Bobby Capobianco were part of. He also created Captains Camp, an AIA leadership initiative to serve influencers in basketball which current Crusaders Alec Peters and Keith Carter attended last summer.

Outside of AIA, Simons served as director of operations for Team USA at the last three World University Games and helped found the International Basketball Coaches Experience, held annually at the NCAA Final Four. He also brings a good deal of coaching experience with him, having worked as an assistant coach and director of player development for the Mongolian national team – which he helped lead to the final round of 2015 Asian Games – since 2012. Simons also previously spent one season as interim head coach at Black Hawk College and five years as an assistant coach at West Lafayette H.S.

Looks like we can start this off already in the pre-season.  I'm open to suggestions about whether we keep the mid-major stuff segregated, or not.

But, for now, the national polls.

To list a few references, bookmarks for myself if nothing else, I've been appreciating:

Warren Nolan
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2016/schedule/Valparaiso
for his historical ranking lists of the AP and Coaches', and numbering the places past 25.

http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/
for having a nice interface to get at some recent historical info, and the voters' individual ballots for the AP.

http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/index.cfm
has what seems like a comprehensive archive of the AP poll.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2015-polls.html
has a pretty useful archive of both polls, but nothing beyond #25?

I believe that the 2014-15 season, starting with the Feb 2 poll, is the first time _ever_ that we've received votes in both polls simultaneously. 

Our high water mark in the 2014-15 season was 31st with 10 points in the AP poll (Feb 23, week 16).  That was our high water mark for the coaches' poll also, at 29th with 16 points.

I believe we've only received votes in the AP poll twice before the 2014-15 season, in the 2012-2013 pre-season poll where we had three points and in the March 11, 2013 poll where we received one point.

We were nationally ranked in the coaches' poll, only, after the Sweet 16 run.  #23.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/1998-polls.html
We also received votes in the coaches' poll for four weeks in the 2010-2011 season (weeks 13-16) [added 11/16/15]
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2011/schedule/Valparaiso
In 2011 there's a reference http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2010-11/10447/crusaders-travel-to-cleveland-state-thursday/ to "Valpo last made an appearance in one of the national polls in March of 2002, accumulating five points in the last poll prior to the NCAA Tournament that season." I don't know of an easy, comprehensive, reference to past Coaches polls, so I'm not confident these are all instances of receiving votes there.

Great opening day for Valpo Parks Rookie League baseball.

That's 7 and 8 year olds, more or less.  Mine just finished kindergarten, first grade, or second grade. All of mine in their first year in the league?

Their first look at kids pitching.  (Unless/until they see four balls, and a friendly coach takes over... and maybe still strikes them out.)

And their first try pitching - I have at least two who can reliably throw 35 feet!

Beautiful weather, good spirit, strong effort, great game.

And, we got to open against HC's boys!

Somehow he got 4 lefties, including one who can actually hit to the outfield - the only player I've seen in this league that makes the outfielder move back beyond the edge of the base path.

I'm not saying, I'm just saying

Valpo lost another good one yesterday. 

"God has made everything beautiful in its time. God has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." — Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yesterday, we lost a beloved member of the Valparaiso University community, the Rev. Karl Lutze '80H, professor emeritus.

Karl joined the Valparaiso University faculty in 1959, where he taught in the theology department until 1991. He also served as the director of church relations from 1981–1991. His wife, Gail, attended Valparaiso University, and his son Peter '68 currently serves as chair of the communication department. Karl was preceded in death by his late wife, Esther (Peters) Lutze, and in 1993, they established the Karl and Esther Lutze Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students. Together, the Lutze family has touched countless lives of Valpo alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

Before his tenure at Valpo, Karl served as parish pastor for 15 years in African American communities in Muskogee and Tulsa, Okla. In his long and fruitful life, he truly embodied the character and spirit of Valparaiso University in everything that he did. Valpo's motto "In Thy Light, We See Light" seemingly was ingrained in his core being.

As a called and ordained minister in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Karl spent his entire vocation seeking justice, specifically on the issue of racial equality. This passion transferred into his professorship as well, and in 1965, he accompanied a group of faculty and students to Alabama to advocate for black voter registration. It is timely that this year, on the 50th anniversary of this trip, more than 40 current faculty and staff made a similar journey to Alabama to commemorate "Bloody Sunday."

Karl was the author of seven books, including his most recent book "Into a Wider World: Family, Friends, and Allies — Companions for the Journey," in which he recounted his time as a Valpo professor during the civil rights movement.

Karl modeled leadership and service to church and society throughout his life. He was an amazing teacher, mentor, father, storyteller, and friend. He encouraged others to pursue justice, equality, and a deep sense of vocation, and his love for the Valpo community was contagious. He sought inclusion and reconciliation among all people, but most especially for Lutherans across multiple denominations. He will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life is planned for July 2015. Memorials may be given to the Lutheran Deaconess Association, the Karl and Esther Lutze Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students at Valparaiso University, or a charity of choice.

Karl's legacy will endure through the countless lives he has touched. As a University community, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Gail, and all of Karl's friends and family during this time of mourning.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President

Maybe this is worth a new thread.  Wright State's AD says the official announcement's coming by the end of May.

[tweet]591652890281963520[/tweet]

I think it must be March!

"Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later. "

(only lasted a couple of minutes)

I don't see another thread for random non-Valpo NCAA chatter.  So, I guess this is that.

We have STLVU's blog, of course
http://horizonleague.blogspot.com/

But, in the run-up to the tourney, maybe it's worth having a thread to post and discuss VU in the press, media, national stage, etc.

The tradition seems to be that pro soccer players get their own thread?

I'd been meaning to post about the (also great) news about our two Jamaicans in camp for Olympic Qualifiers.  But, I'll leapfrog it with breaking news.

Zev Taublieb signs with the USL Pro champion Sacramento Republic FC!

[tweet]573934609894801408[/tweet]

Maybe we should move the national rankings to their own thread?  It feels a bit... underwhelming... to discuss them on the mid-major thread.

To list a few references, bookmarks for myself if nothing else, I've been appreciating

Warren Nolan
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2015/schedule/Valparaiso
for his historical ranking lists of the AP and Coaches', and numbering the places past 25.

http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/
for having a nice interface to get at some recent historical info, and the voters' individual ballots for the AP.

http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/index.cfm
has what seems like a comprehensive archive of the AP poll.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2015-polls.html
has a pretty useful archive of both polls, but nothing beyond #25?

I believe that this season, starting with the Feb 2 poll, is the first time _ever_ that we've received votes in both polls simultaneously. 
I believe we've only received votes in the AP poll twice before this season, in the 2012-2013 pre-season poll where we had three points and in the March 11, 2013 poll where we received one point. [Edited 11/16/15]

We were nationally ranked in the coaches' poll, only, after the Sweet 16 run.  #23.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/1998-polls.html
We also received votes in the coaches' poll for four weeks in the 2010-2011 season (weeks 13-16) [added 11/16/15]
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2011/schedule/Valparaiso

"Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life ... if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."
—Romans 6:4, 8

Today we lost a beloved member of the Valparaiso University community, David Schroeder.

Dave joined the College of Business in 1988 and served as associate professor of information and decision sciences. He retired in May 2014 and continued to serve the University as an adjunct faculty member this past fall. His wife, Phyllis Larson '69 Schroeder, joined Valpo in 1989 and retired from her position as director of financial aid in July 2012. Together, they have touched countless lives of Valpo students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

A Christ College student, Dave attended Valpo from 1967–1970 and was editor-in-chief of The Torch in 1969. He and Phyllis married in January 1970, and in 1971 Dave received his Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State University, before going on to earn his master's and Ph.D., also from Oklahoma State University.

After returning to Valpo in 1988 as a member of the College of Business faculty, he served on the Faculty Senate as both chair and vice chair, on the University Council as chair, and for nearly two decades as University Marshal. He and Phyllis together served the Chapel of the Resurrection as assisting ministers and on the residential ministry staff and Sunday Morning Prayer team. They also served as advisors to Alliance, the LGBTQ campus organization.

Service arrangements and details will be made available at a later time.

Dave was an exemplary model in the ways in which he led and served in both church and society. He encouraged others to pursue their vocations and his love for the Valpo community was inspiring and contagious. He will truly be missed.

Dave's legacy will endure through the lives he has touched. As a University community, our thoughts and prayers are with Phyllis and all of Dave's friends and family during this time of mourning.

Sincerely,
Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President

I only flipped to the Baylor game occasionally last night, when I saw how not-close it was from the beginning.  (Was it 16 points in the first half?!)

But, my parents apparently watched more carefully, or somewhat more carefully.  They're asking me about some mention, during the game (or one of the games last night), of a death in the Drew family?

I'm not trivially turning anything up, so I'm guessing it wasn't really in the Drew family, or was fairly far away from Bryce and Scott.

But, does anyone have any idea what might have been discussed during the game?

Not trying to start rumors here, just looking for help to put one to rest!   

Thanks in advance.

So, where do we put the general NCAA chatter?

I only caught snatches of the Valpo game so far - enough to be a bit disappointed, for sure.

But, did I just see the end of the Davidson game correctly?  They had it completely won, and gave it away by throwing a 3/4 court pass out of bounds?  When it probably would have been enough to do... anything except turning it over?  Heck, just hurling the ball up towards the ceiling could almost have been enough.

It'd be ironic if Scott misses the tournament in a year Bryce makes it.

But, Baylor's really going to have to dig deep at half time.  They're 1-12 or something from three.  It feels like a bad Valpo game - they just keep taking, and keep missing, these perimeter shots.   (OK, they've managed to get to the basket here a couple of times at the end of the first half.) 

Presumably they have to beat Oklahoma State here to have any shot, and even that might not quite be enough.

Davidson's win, and near-tie with us in the RPI, highlights an issue that was on my mind already.

How are we going to look to the selection committee?   Not just RPI, but our overall profile?

A replica of the sheet used by the committee as available (for Valpo) at
http://www.bbstate.com/schools/VALP/sheet

So, RPI's definitely a factor.  But clearly not the only one.

How do we look compared to the competition?  Who is the competition?

Davidson's clearly competition.  After their win tonight, their RPI is 0.5658 compared to our (pre Wright State) 0.5670.

Who else is definitely competition for seeds, or who might be?

Either with RPI's above us (LA Tech, Akron, Bucknell) in about the same neighborhood (Davidson; Denver? New Mexico State? Buknell?  Stephen F. Austin?), or even from below (Harvard;  Florida Gulf Coast? SD State?).

ESPN is carrying an ESPN Despotes broadcast.

So, ESPN (the mothership!) is broadcasting the Dominican-Puerto Rico game... in Spanish!

Wild!

Did anyone hear what the aftermath was of the Canada brawl?  Penalties?

OK - I'll admit, I was hoping for a little mention of the game (not very likely on Lance day).

But, to my surprise, there was a Valpo advertisement during Sports Center!  I think I've only seen these during Valpo basketball games... and maybe only on HLN at that.

Anyone else catch one of these on TV?

Perhaps you'll allow me the indulgence of starting a thread for the polls, as in previous seasons.

I'm feeling optimistic, so perhaps we'll keep it in the Valpo forum this year?  But, we can still mention the other teams.

Vashil did a fantastic dance, to a sort of Jamaican version of Skip to my Lou, at tonight's Africa Fest.

He can really move!

Buggs got it all on video, so maybe it'll show up on You Tube?  Kurth was there in support, as well.

Another player got it on video as well... I guess it was probably Capobianco?  But with longer hair than I've ever seen him, and a stranger cut.

Do we have a thread discussing the new valporewards.com?

What do you think?  Have you tried it?

Anyone going to follow the game tonight?

On Valpo Comcast I don't think we get HDNet.  Are there other options?

I'm disappointed to see that they want... is it $3?.. this year for March Madness on Demand.

I mean, it's only $3 for the whole tournament.  I routinely pay more than that for a lousy video feed to watch Valpo play on the road.  But, I was _extremely_ impressed by it as a free service.

Anybody have a favorite free way, aside from your TV set, to follow the games?  Even a favorite score crawler?

The CIT's getting started early this year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_CollegeInsider.com_Tournament

19 teams, supposedly, have already agreed to play.  Including Oakland, Kent State, Indiana State, and Drake.  But, nobody from the Horizon so far.

Games start with the NIT, on Tuesday. 

Did you see the bracket contest for the HL tournament?

http://www.horizonleague.org/challenge

I assume it closes tomorrow.