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I was sitting near some young men who had bet the over of 141. Stonehill made a 3 to hit the 142-point mark in the last 30 seconds.
The whole game was looking like a for-sure under. So they were happy Stonehill pressed, forced some turnovers and made some last-minute shots.

After the Beacons game, you can head to Viking Gym to see Mason Jones and the VHS boys take on Carmel at 2:30 p.m.

I think you're delusional.
He's too old, for one thing.

This really has to be a labor of love. If Valpo had a chance of making an impact at the top of the standings, more people might care.
Hardly anyone cares about the Beacons now, why would they care about the rest of the MVC? It's going to be a Thursday exit at March Madness. Buy your ticket now!

I'm not going to disagree. How many of you were like me yesterday? Instead of watching what should have been a great game against Ole Miss, I flipped back to World Cup Soccer.

Even though I had a ticket, I opted to stay home to watch Bears-Packers. I think it was more entertaining, and I took a nap.
I saw some of the game. Dead crowd even though it went to overtime. No one cares any more. I think the chairback people who still buy tickets just do it out of habit.
The program, and the game experience, is but a shell of what it once was. Who knows if it can ever be revived.

KenProm rankings

Samford 149
James Madison 80
South Dakota St 127

Valpo 254

Unfortunately, we likely lose all three!

I'm afraid you're correct, considering the Beacons struggled with two teams ranked No. 360 at game time.

Stonehill and Trinity Christian, among others, may now see a possible victory.

Jason Hawkins was in attendance last night. I'm sure he's looking forward to returning with his team and a chance at a win.
The atmosphere in the ARC is as bad as it ever has been. The only thing I can remember is the nine-win season in the late 2000's, as far as the fans not being into it and an aura of disgust in the air.

The next Sackey, or the next Tevonn? Hmm.

There appears to be nothing in this kid's game which would draw a comparison to Sackey.

I only meant it in regards to him being from Canada. I haven't read about him or seen video.
Mainly because I don't care enough.

The next Sackey, or the next Tevonn? Hmm.

He would be crazy to leave a $500,000 job to come to clean up the Beacon mess.

Honestly, they wouldn't want to pay them.
Also, we used to get students from VU. Many of them, honestly, didn't know how to cover a game and weren't very good.
Probably more hassle than it's worth.

I believe Paul used to work for the zNorthwest Indiana Times and could provide great insight.

I too wonder why there is a lack of promotion for VU within the city. It's a sleeping giant and only show in town

As a former Times editor (I've been gone since Jan. 1999, so I don't really know too much), I can say that yes it is disappointing. But I can give you some reasons for the lack of coverage.
The Times has only one full-time sports writer, along with about 4 reliable sports correspondents who are paid by the story. The primary focus for the Times writers is on high school sports.
A majority of the subscribers who remain care more about the local high school sports scene than VU athletics. To a certain extent, they may even care about the non-Division I athletics in NWI (such as IUN or PNW) because many of the athletes on those teams are from the area.
Even in our "heyday," the only events that we regularly covered live were home football games and men's basketball. Women's basketball was hit and miss. Paul Oren covered VU sports because it was his passion and the newspaper had the budget and the space to allow him to do that.
Now, I'm not sure if it's in the budget to pay correspondents to cover VU sports (or write feature stories) when they would rather cover preps.
I can honestly say that most kids today could care less about what is in the newspaper. They care more about what is on social media, which is why Paul is so well followed on Twitter.
I'm as old school as anyone, and I don't like the lack of coverage, but unfortunately that's the state of our local media.
I'm pretty sure the Post Tribune stopped covering VU maybe 2 years ago. All they have left is Mike Osipoff, who used to do a good job on VU. His primary focus is also preps.

Prediction? Pain.

Wow, I appreciate the effort here to encourage football attendance. But really, I'm guessing very few actual Valpo residents will show up for this. $10 to park in the lot, then food truck on top of $10 to get into the game?
I'm guessing this will be good for the football parents, especially since the first game is at night and people will need something to do.
The fact Notre Dame is playing Ohio State on national television at the same time won't help.
I hope it works, but very skeptical.
And, what a brutal early schedule. After Wesleyan, what I call the annual "Blood Bath" game is at Illinois State this year. Automatic big loss and multiple injuries in that one. At Dartmouth and then home vs. San Diego ... Beacons better win the opener or it's 0-4.

No  thanks, those days are LONG gone.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am ready for this season to kick off.  Excited to see what this team can do!!!  I think they
are going to surprise a lot of people.

"The New Guy"

Appreciate your enthusiasm. But you probably haven't been around long enough to become jaded and have low expectations like most of us.

BIG opportunity to see the team in action tomorrow night at 5, in an open-to-the-public scrimmage against THE CRU!  Wow!  I sure wish I could find a plane to Valpo on short notice!  PLEASE, somebody go and give us a report!

Early invitations to this scrimmage may have been premature. Not sure if it's actually open to the public or not.

Crickets? Yes, because few people care.

Butler will always have a "holier than thou" attitude toward Valpo when it comes to men's basketball.
I've heard the demand has been a 4-for-1 in the past.

That being said, the juvenile obsession with the four-game winning streak from more than 10 years ago is a bit tiresome.

I'm sure the sports information department sent it out to as many news outlets as they can, including AP.

Since I started the LaBarbara retirement thread, I guess I'll step up and start a new thread for his replacement.

The school seems to be going above and beyond promoting this hire, anyone else agree? Here's an example:

https://www.valpoathletics.com/athletics/news/2021-22/21366/media-interviews-with-dr-charles-small-to-continue-this-week/

Don't think they did much of that when Homer and Bryce were interviewed by "national" people. Maybe they didn't need to.

I will end by saying this, which got a few laughs from some of my cohorts:

The first coach that is fired by the new AD will be able to say, "You're killing me, Smalls!"

PO watched the film in the VU library.

Geez, 7'0" and 190?

Have you not seen him previously?

I have not.  Just the Texan with the fun mustache that also plays at Gonzaga (Drew Timme).

You saw no Gonzaga games this past season?

Would have been kind of difficult to ignore Holmgren if you're watching games involving Timme.

Wondering whether closer students of this team (me: watch/listen to games when possible, follow this and Paul Oren's boards) think this team is capable of a winning record and possibly a lower-level tourney invite. Unless, say, King or Krikke take big steps up, I don't see a genuine star akin to Bryce, Broekhoff, Peters, JFL, et al., who can take the team beyond OK. Am I underestimating the talent on this roster?

No, you are not.