I have no comments on the game yet but decided to start the new thread just to update you on the ticket sales. This is not good! Almost no mezzanine sales along with sections A, E, F, and J being cumulatively less than half sold.
I hope I don't have to round up another crowd at gunpoint because explaining this to law enforcement has always been difficult.
That sounds pretty sad. A game against New Mexico should be packed. I truly hope that it fills up quite a bit more.
Most likely majority of them will be sold at the door if people decide to show up.
When I bought my tickets I found the middle areas difficult to find the 4 seats together. However I did not look anywhere but the middle lower section seats. ...
If we can't get a big crowd for this level of competition it will be rather sad.
I hope word gets out that there will be entertainment by the Bucket Boys of Chicago during halftime. They were a crowd favorite last year.
Sadly, like I've said before the marketing team seems to be lacking. The only place in NWI where Valpo is marketed is Valpo. Other than a few billboards there are no commercials or anything else aired on tv/radio throughout the region.
You have to spend money in order to make money. Just look at turnaround the Blackhawks had once Bill Wirtz died and Rocky took over. He marketed the team and spent the money and now they sell out every night compared to a half full arena of ten years ago.
Other than alumni it doesn't seem many other people just go there to spend a Friday or Saturday night. A Valpo game is much cheaper than a Chicago Bulls game and you get a pretty decent product as well!
Quote from: classof2014 on December 03, 2014, 09:35:35 AM
You have to spend money in order to make money. Just look at turnaround the Blackhawks had once Bill Wirtz died and Rocky took over. He marketed the team and spent the money and now they sell out every night compared to a half full arena of ten years ago.
A Stanley Cup or two along the way sure helps. But yes, let's see a packed house Saturday. When was our last sellout anyway?
I've ranted about this before, but it needs repeating:
The athletics department does a dismal job of advertising these games. There's been ZERO Facebook posts about Valpo playing New Mexico. There's been ZERO links to buy tickets. There's been a total of 2 Tweets about this game, both just retweets, and no ticket link. The athletics site doesn't even mention their next home game, let alone provide a link to buy tickets. This is easy stuff. This has been the next home game since NOVEMBER 14TH!
Horrible advertising and social media aside, the Athletics site is still way too difficult to buy tickets from. I would expect it to behave like 99% of team sports sites. I don't understand why it's so difficult to include a link to buy a ticket from the team's schedule page. I still think its not all that clear that clicking a seating section brings up the seat chart. Also, having row 1 and the last row of the mezzanine being sold at the same price seems really stupid.
And this is just the basics - stuff that requires zero extra dollars. Given theres only 3 OOC D1 home games, we should really be seeing actual deals, giveaways, targeted advertising, etc. There's no young alumni deals, pregame events, merch sales like you see at other programs. But I guess if you can't even find info for tickets on their Facebook/Twitter against a team that was ranked last year, why expect some creativity elsewhere?
Quote from: valpopal on December 03, 2014, 09:26:13 AM
I hope word gets out that there will be entertainment by the Bucket Boys of Chicago during halftime. They were a crowd favorite last year.
If it isn't Red Panda, I'm not coming. Wait, Red Panda retired. Ugh....
Quote from: hailcrusaders on December 03, 2014, 10:10:25 AM
Quote from: classof2014 on December 03, 2014, 09:35:35 AM
You have to spend money in order to make money. Just look at turnaround the Blackhawks had once Bill Wirtz died and Rocky took over. He marketed the team and spent the money and now they sell out every night compared to a half full arena of ten years ago.
A Stanley Cup or two along the way sure helps. But yes, let's see a packed house Saturday. When was our last sellout anyway?
My guess would be the HL championship game against Wright State. I don't recall any sellouts last season.
I just checked the seats available and counted 103 available in the chairbacks. On the reserved side, in sections B,C and D there are only 12 seats left. In sections A and E there are lots and upstairs...don't ask :(
I'm guessing it'll be similar to the crowd in the game against SLU, the ARC was full but not packed.
After my rant, the various Twitter and Facebook accounts have both posted about Saturday's game, and even included a link to buy tickets, so that's much better. Hopefully we see the mezzanine fill up a lot more by Saturday.
Quote from: a3uge on December 03, 2014, 01:08:35 PM
After my rant, the various Twitter and Facebook accounts have both posted about Saturday's game, and even included a link to buy tickets, so that's much better. Hopefully we see the mezzanine fill up a lot more by Saturday.
It's learning
Quote from: a3uge on December 03, 2014, 10:20:16 AM
I've ranted about this before, but it needs repeating:
The athletics department does a dismal job of advertising these games. There's been ZERO Facebook posts about Valpo playing New Mexico. There's been ZERO links to buy tickets. There's been a total of 2 Tweets about this game, both just retweets, and no ticket link. The athletics site doesn't even mention their next home game, let alone provide a link to buy tickets. This is easy stuff. This has been the next home game since NOVEMBER 14TH!
Horrible advertising and social media aside, the Athletics site is still way too difficult to buy tickets from. I would expect it to behave like 99% of team sports sites. I don't understand why it's so difficult to include a link to buy a ticket from the team's schedule page. I still think its not all that clear that clicking a seating section brings up the seat chart. Also, having row 1 and the last row of the mezzanine being sold at the same price seems really stupid.
And this is just the basics - stuff that requires zero extra dollars. Given theres only 3 OOC D1 home games, we should really be seeing actual deals, giveaways, targeted advertising, etc. There's no young alumni deals, pregame events, merch sales like you see at other programs. But I guess if you can't even find info for tickets on their Facebook/Twitter against a team that was ranked last year, why expect some creativity elsewhere?
It's crazier than that. The lower reserved seats are the same price as the upper deck!!
Personally the most expensive seats should be right in the middle of section CC (obviously not gonna happen), best site lines of the game IMO.
Only problem is every now and then the curtain isn't all the way to the ceiling or one of the practice basketball nets aren't up all the way and blocks part of the score board so you can't see the time, the score, or stats.
It is stupid that row ZZ or whatever in section EE is the same price as row G in section C.
Quote from: vu72 on December 03, 2014, 10:46:47 AM
I just checked the seats available and counted 103 available in the chairbacks. On the reserved side, in sections B,C and D there are only 12 seats left. In sections A and E there are lots and upstairs...don't ask :(
After the win tonight, the social media should be on the 8-1 bandwagon with links to purchase tickets. Hopefully these sections will be full soon...
LET'S TURN THESE GUYS INTO LOSS LOBOS...
Got my ticket tonight so there is one less seat available ;D
Since I picked us to go undefeated this month, I have to go against what the past 14-15 years tell us about playing 'name' programs:
Valpo 75
New Mexico 68
Haven't seen New Mexico but given what I have seen from Valpo's recent play I think it would take a heck of a performance by the Lobos to be able to pull out of here with a win. So I will say VU by 4 and believe that it could be more.
The Lobos have a few homecomings and semi-homecomings when they visit Valpo in NW Indiana. They have 2 Chicago area guys in senior Deshawn Delaney, Chicago native and played at Vincennes U and Tim Williams, a junior, from Flossmoor, IL. They have 2 guys who went to LaPorte LaLumiere, sophomore, South Sudan native, Obij Aget and freshman from Indianapolis, Sam Logwood. Also Butler transfer, Elijah Brown, who transferred when Brad Stevens went to the Celtics, is a sophomore on the Lobos.
I don't like all the homecomings because they might have more fans than normal (playing this far from NM)....
Chairbacks $35, lower bleachers $20, mezzanine bleachers $20. Seriously?
I know this is a marquee game and we're off to a great start, but I'm afraid these prices will turn a lot of casual fans and potential newcomers off. Would shelling out $20 each keep 2 buddies from checking out the Crusaders? Probably not. Would it keep a guy from bringing his wife and 2 kids and shelling out $80 plus concessions? Almost definitely. This would not be considered affordable family entertainment in NWI.
I'm looking forward to this game. Not sure how to measure the student pre-game interest in attending this game. We need to get every student and HS Junior recruit in the area to this game.
Valpo 69
Loss Lobos 62
Quote from: covufan on November 10, 2014, 01:32:56 PM
Quote from: wh on November 09, 2014, 04:52:43 PMZionsville will get a significant boost with the return of Cassius Smits-Francisco, a 6-8, 225-pound sophomore who should be back in mid-December as he recovers from surgery from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee. Smits-Francisco, the cousin of Smits, is receiving early recruiting interest from Ball State, Indiana State, Ole Miss, Purdue and Valparaiso.
Derrik, we need you to start getting the basketball law firm to Valpo!
We need Derrik to bring his cousin to the New Mexico game!
Quote from: covufan on December 04, 2014, 10:45:00 AM
Quote from: covufan on November 10, 2014, 01:32:56 PM
Quote from: wh on November 09, 2014, 04:52:43 PMZionsville will get a significant boost with the return of Cassius Smits-Francisco, a 6-8, 225-pound sophomore who should be back in mid-December as he recovers from surgery from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee. Smits-Francisco, the cousin of Smits, is receiving early recruiting interest from Ball State, Indiana State, Ole Miss, Purdue and Valparaiso.
Derrik, we need you to start getting the basketball law firm to Valpo!
We need Derrik to bring his cousin to the New Mexico game!
Since his dad has NBA money, they can afford to come.
Quote from: wh on December 04, 2014, 09:38:55 AM
Chairbacks $35, lower bleachers $20, mezzanine bleachers $20. Seriously?
I know this is a marquee game and we're off to a great start, but I'm afraid these prices will turn a lot of casual fans and potential newcomers off. Would shelling out $20 each keep 2 buddies from checking out the Crusaders? Probably not. Would it keep a guy from bringing his wife and 2 kids and shelling out $80 plus concessions? Almost definitely. This would not be considered affordable family entertainment in NWI.
Yeah this is really disappointing. If my parents were in town, this would probably keep them away from the game. $35 for chairbacks makes sense and since the center lower tank is almost sold out (2 in B, 3 in C and 42 in D) it appears $20 is good for that. A and E have a lot of seats left, maybe they should be priced at $15? $20 for the upper tank is just stupid. That should be no higher than $10 for any game that isn't the HL championship game.
I think it's a pretty fair price to pay to see an 8-1 D1 team with an emerging superstar take on a perennial Tourney team. It's a Saturday night and in addition to what should be a great game, we're getting halftime entertainment (The Bucket Boys are impressive). I'll be there - granted I purchased the five-game pack at the beginning of the season.
I expect a lot of fellow student-athletes and a handful of the general student population to be loud and rowdy in the student section. The ARC isn't the nicest place to watch a basketball game, but it doesn't take away from the product(s) on the court.
If a family of four can afford the cost of living in the city of Valparaiso, that family can most likely afford to spend just under $100 on a Saturday night. A night out at the movies with popcorn/candy/pop would run just as much.
My one season ticket (15 games) cost as much as 7 tickets to Saturday's game. If I'm a family of 4, I'm not going to this game I'm waiting for Green Bay and Cleveland State to come into town and buying tickets to both of those games for the same price as this one game. While playing a "name" school that is a tourney team is nice, playing the top 2 teams in your conference has more impact on your tournament chance and 2 games for the price of 1 makes the sell even easier.
Also while my wife and I don't have kids, even if we did we can afford to live in Valpo on our 2 very modest (I'm talking VERY modest) incomes but we couldn't afford a $100 night for a Saturday. Since we don't have kids we can afford said $100 night for the two of us (Dinner, Valpo game, drinks after the game).
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to come check out your message board and fill you all in on the Lobos this season. The Lobos have gone to the NCAA tournament the last 3 seasons and have been ranked in the top 25 in all of those seasons. However, we lost Alex Kirk (Cleveland Cavaliers), Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls) and Kendall Williams (overseas) from last years team. As you can imagine, its really difficult to replace 3 guys who all average over 15 pts a game, so the Lobos are currently in a transitional/rebuilding year.
The Lobos have 2 Seniors led by Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney. Hugh has been a starting guard for the Lobos all 3 years he's been here and Deshawn became a starter around conference time last season. Hugh has been looked to this season to shoulder a lot of the offensive load but has struggled to find his shot early in the season. Delaney is a freaky athlete and loves to try to get to the rim. The Lobos are playing without arguably our best player this year in Cullen Neal as he was injured just 3 games into the season. He was shooting 50% from behind the arc and was averaging 24 pts a game going into our 3rd game against Boston College. Arthur Edwards who was coming off the bench and starting for Cullen after he got hurt also broke his hand and will miss Saturday's game. Lastly, we are playing without Jordan Goodman who is out with a concussion. Goodman is a 6-10 PF/SF and was the #2 rated JUCO player in the country. In the one game where he really played significant minutes he scored 18 pts. So the Lobos are in a transitional year and playing without 3 talented and key players.
In the last couple games we have started Hugh Greenwood (Sr), Xavier Adams (Fr.), Deshawn Delaney (SR), Devon Williams (So.), and Obij Aget(So.). Off the bench we have Tim Jacobs (Jr.), Sam Logwood (Fr.) Joe Furstinger (Fr) and JJ Nganga (Jr.). Overall we are very young and missing key players while we also have Elijah Brown and Tim Williams who transferred and are redshirting this year.
We are coming off a tough tournament where we lost 2 out of 3 games and came back home and lost to Southern Cal. We got back on the winning track last night against our in state rivals New Mexico State and looked alot better than we have recently. All in all it seems like you guys have a pretty good team this year and will more than likely win against our young and inexperienced team. Good luck to you guys!
Quote from: wh on December 04, 2014, 09:38:55 AM
Chairbacks $35, lower bleachers $20, mezzanine bleachers $20. Seriously?
I know this is a marquee game and we're off to a great start, but I'm afraid these prices will turn a lot of casual fans and potential newcomers off. Would shelling out $20 each keep 2 buddies from checking out the Crusaders? Probably not. Would it keep a guy from bringing his wife and 2 kids and shelling out $80 plus concessions? Almost definitely. This would not be considered affordable family entertainment in NWI.
+1
Just to put this in perspective, I could purchase a four ticket family pack to see the Florida Panthers play for $99.00, including food and parking for a weekend game, and sit in comfort in a much much better venue than the ARC. Not to mention paying money to attend a professional sporting event. I could even upgrade to lower bowl seating for $149.00, which is roughly the price of purchasing four chairbacks at $35.00 at the ARC.
And $20.00 a pop for the Mezz, where the sightlines are a complete disaster depending upon the angle and level of view? No thanks.
Quote from: LOBOS on December 04, 2014, 11:48:24 AM
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to come check out your message board and fill you all in on the Lobos this season. The Lobos have gone to the NCAA tournament the last 3 seasons and have been ranked in the top 25 in all of those seasons. However, we lost Alex Kirk (Cleveland Cavaliers), Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls) and Kendall Williams (overseas) from last years team. As you can imagine, its really difficult to replace 3 guys who all average over 15 pts a game, so the Lobos are currently in a transitional/rebuilding year.
The Lobos have 2 Seniors led by Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney. Hugh has been a starting guard for the Lobos all 3 years he's been here and Deshawn became a starter around conference time last season. Hugh has been looked to this season to shoulder a lot of the offensive load but has struggled to find his shot early in the season. Delaney is a freaky athlete and loves to try to get to the rim. The Lobos are playing without arguably our best player this year in Cullen Neal as he was injured just 3 games into the season. He was shooting 50% from behind the arc and was averaging 24 pts a game going into our 3rd game against Boston College. Arthur Edwards who was coming off the bench and starting for Cullen after he got hurt also broke his hand and will miss Saturday's game. Lastly, we are playing without Jordan Goodman who is out with a concussion. Goodman is a 6-10 PF/SF and was the #2 rated JUCO player in the country. In the one game where he really played significant minutes he scored 18 pts. So the Lobos are in a transitional year and playing without 3 talented and key players.
In the last couple games we have started Hugh Greenwood (Sr), Xavier Adams (Fr.), Deshawn Delaney (SR), Devon Williams (So.), and Obij Aget(So.). Off the bench we have Tim Jacobs (Jr.), Sam Logwood (Fr.) Joe Furstinger (Fr) and JJ Nganga (Jr.). Overall we are very young and missing key players while we also have Elijah Brown and Tim Williams who transferred and are redshirting this year.
We are coming off a tough tournament where we lost 2 out of 3 games and came back home and lost to Southern Cal. We got back on the winning track last night against our in state rivals New Mexico State and looked alot better than we have recently. All in all it seems like you guys have a pretty good team this year and will more than likely win against our young and inexperienced team. Good luck to you guys!
Thanks and welcome to the board!
Quote from: LOBOS on December 04, 2014, 11:48:24 AM
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to come check out your message board and fill you all in on the Lobos this season. The Lobos have gone to the NCAA tournament the last 3 seasons and have been ranked in the top 25 in all of those seasons. However, we lost Alex Kirk (Cleveland Cavaliers), Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls) and Kendall Williams (overseas) from last years team. As you can imagine, its really difficult to replace 3 guys who all average over 15 pts a game, so the Lobos are currently in a transitional/rebuilding year.
The Lobos have 2 Seniors led by Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney. Hugh has been a starting guard for the Lobos all 3 years he's been here and Deshawn became a starter around conference time last season. Hugh has been looked to this season to shoulder a lot of the offensive load but has struggled to find his shot early in the season. Delaney is a freaky athlete and loves to try to get to the rim. The Lobos are playing without arguably our best player this year in Cullen Neal as he was injured just 3 games into the season. He was shooting 50% from behind the arc and was averaging 24 pts a game going into our 3rd game against Boston College. Arthur Edwards who was coming off the bench and starting for Cullen after he got hurt also broke his hand and will miss Saturday's game. Lastly, we are playing without Jordan Goodman who is out with a concussion. Goodman is a 6-10 PF/SF and was the #2 rated JUCO player in the country. In the one game where he really played significant minutes he scored 18 pts. So the Lobos are in a transitional year and playing without 3 talented and key players.
In the last couple games we have started Hugh Greenwood (Sr), Xavier Adams (Fr.), Deshawn Delaney (SR), Devon Williams (So.), and Obij Aget(So.). Off the bench we have Tim Jacobs (Jr.), Sam Logwood (Fr.) Joe Furstinger (Fr) and JJ Nganga (Jr.). Overall we are very young and missing key players while we also have Elijah Brown and Tim Williams who transferred and are redshirting this year.
We are coming off a tough tournament where we lost 2 out of 3 games and came back home and lost to Southern Cal. We got back on the winning track last night against our in state rivals New Mexico State and looked alot better than we have recently. All in all it seems like you guys have a pretty good team this year and will more than likely win against our young and inexperienced team. Good luck to you guys!
To add to this, the Lobos have made it to the tournament 4 of the past 5 years, with two 3-seeds, a 5 seed, and a 7-seed. They won in the round of 64 twice, never making it to the Sweet 16. In fact, they've never made a sweet 16 (Suck it New Mexico, more Sweet 16 appearances in the expanded tournament era than you!).
In all seriousness, New Mexico has helped turn the MWC into one of the best conferences in the nation, and a victory over a top MW school should be more worthy of praise than a win vs a bottom dweller from the SEC or B1G TEN.
While both teams are relatively young, I think New Mexico may struggle after a long flight into the cold NW Indiana weather. But I wouldn't be surprised if the talent of a perennial good team wins out.
Quote from: Vinny on December 04, 2014, 10:54:26 AMI think it's a pretty fair price to pay to see an 8-1 D1 team with an emerging superstar take on a perennial Tourney team.
Yes---but "fair price" is a relative term that has to be determined in the larger context. For the last decade we have repeatedly talked about the gradual attendance decline while never thinking about some of the economic realities of northwest Indiana.
I have always found it almost laughable that VU advertises itself as northwest Indiana's team while being somewhat uncomfortable with many of us who live here, and being almost blissfully unaware that most of our area HS graduates are constrained enough financially that attending VU never enters their minds. The general area population nowhere nearly reflects the average level of affluence of either the city of Valpo or the average parents of VU students. So lets step back and rethink this for a second then ask the question of how hard we or maybe I mean you are trying to recruit a fan base that can probably never be students or parents of students.
If you want to start filling the building again I believe you will need to make the conscious decision that this is the group you will need to attract! To sum this up either step out to really become northwest Indiana's team or drop the charade.
Another things that hurts the attendance of general NWI folk is simply the location of Valpo. If it were in Lake County instead of Porter, it's a much shorter commute for people in Hammond, Gary, Merrillville, Schererville, etc..., not to mention being that much closer to Chicago. Valpo is a stand alone city surrounded by farmland with the nearest town being South Haven or Chesterton, neither very large.
The location of Valpo isn't helping our attendance, neither is the marketing either. Hopefully the ARC will be full on Saturday.
Quote from: LOBOS on December 04, 2014, 11:48:24 AM
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to come check out your message board and fill you all in on the Lobos this season. The Lobos have gone to the NCAA tournament the last 3 seasons and have been ranked in the top 25 in all of those seasons. However, we lost Alex Kirk (Cleveland Cavaliers), Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls) and Kendall Williams (overseas) from last years team. As you can imagine, its really difficult to replace 3 guys who all average over 15 pts a game, so the Lobos are currently in a transitional/rebuilding year.
The Lobos have 2 Seniors led by Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney. Hugh has been a starting guard for the Lobos all 3 years he's been here and Deshawn became a starter around conference time last season. Hugh has been looked to this season to shoulder a lot of the offensive load but has struggled to find his shot early in the season. Delaney is a freaky athlete and loves to try to get to the rim. The Lobos are playing without arguably our best player this year in Cullen Neal as he was injured just 3 games into the season. He was shooting 50% from behind the arc and was averaging 24 pts a game going into our 3rd game against Boston College. Arthur Edwards who was coming off the bench and starting for Cullen after he got hurt also broke his hand and will miss Saturday's game. Lastly, we are playing without Jordan Goodman who is out with a concussion. Goodman is a 6-10 PF/SF and was the #2 rated JUCO player in the country. In the one game where he really played significant minutes he scored 18 pts. So the Lobos are in a transitional year and playing without 3 talented and key players.
In the last couple games we have started Hugh Greenwood (Sr), Xavier Adams (Fr.), Deshawn Delaney (SR), Devon Williams (So.), and Obij Aget(So.). Off the bench we have Tim Jacobs (Jr.), Sam Logwood (Fr.) Joe Furstinger (Fr) and JJ Nganga (Jr.). Overall we are very young and missing key players while we also have Elijah Brown and Tim Williams who transferred and are redshirting this year.
We are coming off a tough tournament where we lost 2 out of 3 games and came back home and lost to Southern Cal. We got back on the winning track last night against our in state rivals New Mexico State and looked alot better than we have recently. All in all it seems like you guys have a pretty good team this year and will more than likely win against our young and inexperienced team. Good luck to you guys!
Wait a minute. Who creates an account and posts an informational article on his team on the opponent's message board, before concluding by saying "you guys will probably win; good luck"?
Not sure if LOBOS is unrealistically cheery and outrageously bored . . . or hiding something.
(http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/006/026/futuramafry.jpg)
QuoteChairbacks $35, lower bleachers $20, mezzanine bleachers $20. Seriously?
I agree with you 100%. I love Valpo basketball but I'm not sure if I'd pay $20 to see a game at the ARC. Especially when the HLN is a great option.
Make the bleachers $5. Or don't charge anything. Find a way to pack the ARC on a consistent basis. Then start increasing prices.
I think Valpo wins by 6. Playing too good to let this one slip.
Quote from: Donjon VU07 on December 04, 2014, 02:08:45 PMWait a minute. Who creates an account and posts an informational article on his team on the opponent's message board, before concluding by saying "you guys will probably win; good luck"? Not sure if LOBOS is unrealistically cheery and outrageously bored . . . or hiding something.
So he should be called "los intrigante Lobos?"
I live in Des Moines and I just checked the Drake Athletics website. Tickets for most of their games in the upper level go for anywhere from $5-$15.
Paul
Honestly, we are really die hard fans out her in New Mexico and love our Lobos. I just wanted to come check out your board and see what you guys were saying about playing the Lobos and thought I would give you some information about our team. I'm not the kind of fan who hates anybody who roots against my team and wanted to cordially give information and wish you guys luck. Of course I would love it if we went to your place and beat you and I hope we do, but I'm definitely not spiteful and don't wish any ill will to your team. I think you guys sound pretty good this year and we are pretty down this year from the past three so I think you will beat us. I hope I'm wrong. I wish you guys luck, not necessarily in beating us but throughout the rest of the year and I hope you team doesn't get any injuries like we've had this year! I'm definitely not coming on here to troll you guys! I just love college basketball and love talking about it with other passionate fans!
Quote from: LOBOS on December 04, 2014, 05:07:45 PMOf course I would love it if we went to your place and beat you and I hope we do, but I'm definitely not spiteful and don't wish any ill will to your team. I think you guys sound pretty good this year and we are pretty down this year from the past three so I think you will beat us. I hope I'm wrong.
A very honest answer and one that I can respect. I have many of the same feelings. This is the biggest home game of the year for Valpo and through our history we have stumbled when facing teams with historically better records. Last year we lost to Saint Louis by 2 at the ARC in Valpo when the Billikens slammed home a rebound in the final seconds. We are hoping we can beat the Lobos but are leery of a last minute letdown again. It should be a very entertaining game and close through out.
I believe Hugh Greenwood is an Australian and former teammate of Rowdy. As for losing to St. Louis by 1 or 2 last year, the difference THIS year is that those freshman starters are now sophomores and we all can see how that is going now. Valpo by 7, 67-60
Quote from: Donjon VU07 on December 04, 2014, 02:08:45 PMNot sure if LOBOS is unrealistically cheery and outrageously bored . . . or hiding something.
...says the guy with 2 posts in 3 years...
So I tried to buy the 5 game ticket plan. The valpo athletics twitter account posted a link today promoting the 5 game ticket plan. If you click the link it takes you to the ticket site where it says nothing about how to buy the ticket plan. If you call the ticket office number during the hours they are open it goes straight to a ladies voice mail each and every time.
Quote from: Chairback on December 04, 2014, 08:03:56 PMSo I tried to buy the 5 game ticket plan.
And I didn't even know there was a 5 game ticket plan! There is a problem here somewhere!
Quote from: vu72 on December 04, 2014, 07:00:38 PMI believe Hugh Greenwood is an Australian and former teammate of Rowdy. As for losing to St. Louis by 1 or 2 last year, the difference THIS year is that those freshman starters are now sophomores and we all can see how that is going now. Valpo by 7, 67-60
Hugh Greenwood is from the same place as Cameron Witt--Tasmania, part of Australia.
http://www.golobos.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=87115&SPSID=616933 (http://www.golobos.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=87115&SPSID=616933)
Yes, he knew Rowdy from his time at the Australian Institute of Sport.
http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616933&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209076503&Q_SEASON=2014 (http://www.golobos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=616933&SPID=87115&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26000&ATCLID=209076503&Q_SEASON=2014)
Quote from: justducky on December 04, 2014, 08:15:34 PM
Quote from: Chairback on December 04, 2014, 08:03:56 PMSo I tried to buy the 5 game ticket plan.
And I didn't even know there was a 5 game ticket plan! There is a problem here somewhere!
They called me earlier this week asking if I was interested.
Is there an update on ticket sales for the Loss Lobos game?
Quote from: covufan on December 05, 2014, 11:37:40 AM
Is there an update on ticket sales for the Loss Lobos game?
Just checked and if my count is right there are still 103 seats available in the chairbacks and 182 in the reserved seating. Upstairs I would guess about 100 seats sold at this point. That, obviously is where the walk=up sales will be. So if the lower level ends up sold out that is about 2500 seats (my guess). If we get to 500 in the upper deck that gets to about 3000, plus students. My guess at this point is about 3500. Not good for a team of this quality.
Is this a "guarantee" game for New Mexico or do we keep ours and they keep theirs?
Quote from: vu72 on December 05, 2014, 12:22:37 PM
Quote from: covufan on December 05, 2014, 11:37:40 AM
Is there an update on ticket sales for the Loss Lobos game?
Just checked and if my count is right there are still 103 seats available in the chairbacks and 182 in the reserved seating. Upstairs I would guess about 100 seats sold at this point. That, obviously is where the walk=up sales will be. So if the lower level ends up sold out that is about 2500 seats (my guess). If we get to 500 in the upper deck that gets to about 3000, plus students. My guess at this point is about 3500. Not good for a team of this quality.
Unfortunately, things don't always occur as planned. When this game was originally slated, Steve Alford was the coach for New Mexico. Though I appreciate the new coach honoring the scheduling, I'm sure the game easily would have sold out in advance if Alford was still the coach.
Who cares who Valpo is playing or who is coaching them....the Bucket Boys are worth the price of admission, regardless of how ridiculous that price may be to some posters. :thumbsup:
I have to miss out on this one, trying to give my passes to let a friend experience a game (and then hopefully return on their dime). My son sold a crazy amount of boy scout popcorn and earned free tickets (a pizza party, meet the team, go on the court) to the ND game that night. Rest assured, I will be following along on my wife's fancy phone (my flip phone apparently is outdated and I should be embarrassed to even have it my students tell me).
Quote from: FWalum on December 03, 2014, 10:52:42 PMGot my ticket tonight so there is one less seat available
Given the number of seats available and the long lonely drive you will face if you come by yourself why not
hijack a bus load of people bring a busload of friends and
release them at the ticket office window treat them to an evening of exciting basketball entertainment at the ARC.
i think 72s estimate of 3500 might be a little high. It is always difficult to guess the walk in crowd but my estimate is down in the under 3200 range. Every year that goes by has more of the old time crowd gone and not being replaced by the next generation.
Rest assured, I will be following along on my wife's fancy phone (my flip phone apparently is outdated and I should be embarrassed to even have it my students tell me).
[/quote]
HC sounds like you belong to the retro-chic club with me. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/27/style/are-flip-phones-having-a-retro-chic-moment.html?_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/27/style/are-flip-phones-having-a-retro-chic-moment.html?_r=0)
Quote from: justducky on December 05, 2014, 01:16:29 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 03, 2014, 10:52:42 PMGot my ticket tonight so there is one less seat available
Given the number of seats available and the long lonely drive you will face if you come by yourself why not hijack a bus load of people bring a busload of friends and release them at the ticket office window treat them to an evening of exciting basketball entertainment at the ARC.
Tried to get some guys to come with me but there is too much happening with all the holiday stuff and high school basketball. With the way we have started the season I just said the heck with it... got permission from the wife to skip one of her faculty get togethers and I am going to brave it by myself.
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2014, 03:03:19 PM
Tried to get some guys to come with me but there is too much happening with all the holiday stuff and high school basketball.
Speaking of holiday stuff, the game also is competing with the Christmas concert and dinner on campus that evening.
Quote from: valpopal on December 05, 2014, 03:19:41 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2014, 03:03:19 PM
Tried to get some guys to come with me but there is too much happening with all the holiday stuff and high school basketball.
Speaking of holiday stuff, the game also is competing with the Christmas concert and dinner on campus that evening.
I'm not sure if you mean Vespers, but that's actually the night before.
If I didn't have my Christmas party the night of Vespers, I'd run over to Kinkos print out 1000 flyers and hand them out to people as they were leaving, or possibly stick them on the windshield. "Come out and support Valparaiso's 8-1 Crusaders as they go against the best opponent to voluntarily come to the ARC in years! The game starts at 7!"
I'm guessing you could probably get 100-200 more people if you did something like that. Maybe offer a Vesper's discount? *hint hint nudge nudge*
I will be at the game with my girlfriend . So there will be four Canadian in the building .
Quote from: valpopal on December 05, 2014, 03:19:41 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2014, 03:03:19 PM
Tried to get some guys to come with me but there is too much happening with all the holiday stuff and high school basketball.
Speaking of holiday stuff, the game also is competing with the Christmas concert and dinner on campus that evening.
http://alumni.valpo.edu/s/1347/index.aspx?sid=1347&gid=1&pgid=1306&cid=2807&ecid=2807&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=1962 (http://alumni.valpo.edu/s/1347/index.aspx?sid=1347&gid=1&pgid=1306&cid=2807&ecid=2807&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=1962)
Quote from: Kyle321n on December 05, 2014, 03:27:19 PM
Quote from: valpopal on December 05, 2014, 03:19:41 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2014, 03:03:19 PM
Tried to get some guys to come with me but there is too much happening with all the holiday stuff and high school basketball.
Speaking of holiday stuff, the game also is competing with the Christmas concert and dinner on campus that evening.
I'm not sure if you mean Vespers, but that's actually the night before.
If I didn't have my Christmas party the night of Vespers, I'd run over to Kinkos print out 1000 flyers and hand them out to people as they were leaving, or possibly stick them on the windshield. "Come out and support Valparaiso's 8-1 Crusaders as they go against the best opponent to voluntarily come to the ARC in years! The game starts at 7!"
I'm guessing you could probably get 100-200 more people if you did something like that. Maybe offer a Vesper's discount? *hint hint nudge nudge*
No, I'm taking about the Christmas Concert and dinner on Saturday evening:
Valparaiso University Alumni Relations invites you to a buffet dinner following "A Carol Festival: The Valparaiso University Christmas Concert". Saturday, Dec. 6
5:00 p.m.- Christmas Concert in the Chapel of the Resurrection
6:45 p.m.- Dinner in the Center for the Arts (VUCA)Join fellow alumni, parents, Guild members, and friends of Valparaiso University for an evening of fellowship and celebration following the annual Valparaiso University Christmas Concert. The evening will start with the concert at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection on the Valparaiso University campus followed by a buffet dinner in the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts. Dinner will include roast turkey, roast beef, whipped mashed potatoes, grilled zucchini and yellow squash, mixed green salad, and dessert.
Quote from: justducky on December 03, 2014, 12:24:35 AMAlmost no mezzanine sale
To my surprise, it looks like they're selling tickets in AA this year. Not that there are any sold for this game, but they seem to be available for purchase. Still not EE.
Did they change the policy for faculty/staff/student tickets?
Quote from: valpopal on December 05, 2014, 03:59:46 PMNo, I'm taking about the Christmas Concert and dinner on Saturday evening:
The concert hopefully won't conflict. We're planning to do both. And, I have it from one of the principals that it'll be 90 minutes.
But, yeah, looks like the dinner will conflict.
My first game of the season, now that they're back at home, not conflicting with soccer, and it jives with my schedule. I'm looking forward to it!
Quote from: agibson on December 05, 2014, 04:50:07 PMI have it from one of the principals that it'll be 90 minutes
That's great if true. Now Vespers, I wouldn't believe that.
Back in the day my little sister called that "The Service of Carols and Lessons and Carols and Carols".
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 05, 2014, 05:34:56 PM
Quote from: agibson on December 05, 2014, 04:50:07 PMI have it from one of the principals that it'll be 90 minutes
That's great if true. Now Vespers, I wouldn't believe that.
Back in the day my little sister called that "The Service of Carols and Lessons and Carols and Carols".
Vespers is next weekend. For whatever reason, this Christmas concert has taken place before Vespers over the last few years (sacrilege? The whole point of advent is to wait for Christmas). Regardless, it sounds like they're hoping the concert wil finish by 6:30, half an hour before tipoff. Present company aside, I don't think the clientele will overlap too much. Anyone who would shell out $20 for tickets would miss the dinner for the game. Pep band might be a little thin for the first few minutes though.
Students seem excited for it. Finals are the week after next, so it's a busy time of year, but it's the biggest nonconf home game of the year vs. a big name school, and a weekend night game.
Speaking of students, this year's undergrad senior class will be the last ones to remember Butler games as students. How time flies, huh?
Spread Valpo -5 1/2
Update Valpo -7
http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/new-mexico-lobos-vs-valparaiso-crusaders-point-spread--betting-preview-hints-at-winner-december-08-2012 (http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/new-mexico-lobos-vs-valparaiso-crusaders-point-spread--betting-preview-hints-at-winner-december-08-2012)
Quote from: hailcrusaders on December 05, 2014, 06:27:10 PM(sacrilege? The whole point of advent is to wait for Christmas)
so, so true.
Crusaders hosting highest profile out-of-state team since Marquette in 2006
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/basketball/college/crusaders-hosting-highest-profile-out-of-state-team-since-marquette/article_9e378029-1c62-5ad3-8286-79ab01a55ef0.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/basketball/college/crusaders-hosting-highest-profile-out-of-state-team-since-marquette/article_9e378029-1c62-5ad3-8286-79ab01a55ef0.html)
Valparaiso puts win streak on the line against New Mexico
http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/sports/31488714-556/mens-basketball-valparaiso-puts-win-streak-on-the-line-against-new-mexico.html#.VIKaAL5FMZY (http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/sports/31488714-556/mens-basketball-valparaiso-puts-win-streak-on-the-line-against-new-mexico.html#.VIKaAL5FMZY)
Quote from: wh on December 06, 2014, 12:00:06 AM
Valparaiso puts win streak on the line against New Mexico
http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/sports/31488714-556/mens-basketball-valparaiso-puts-win-streak-on-the-line-against-new-mexico.html#.VIKaAL5FMZY (http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/sports/31488714-556/mens-basketball-valparaiso-puts-win-streak-on-the-line-against-new-mexico.html#.VIKaAL5FMZY)
If one of the WisePies is a plum pie then you could still call the New Mexico arena "The Pit!" :o
I didn't know that Buck Futler tried to get out of the BB return game! If they are offering a 2 for 1, we need to get over our issue with that being their only offer, and take it. Please, let's beat the ever living $h!+ out of Buck Futler again! I had way too much fun flying up to Valpo for that semifinal game against Buck Futler a few seasons ago. Even my wife got into the Buck Futler spirit that day, and it was a heck of an atmosphere. Buck....Futler, that is all.
Which Lobos team will show up tonight against Valparaiso?
http://www.abqjournal.com/506605/sports/which-lobos-team-will-show-up-tonight-against-valparaiso.html (http://www.abqjournal.com/506605/sports/which-lobos-team-will-show-up-tonight-against-valparaiso.html)
thanks for the wright up,but I'm to cheep to buy one of those high priced tickets :-[
Valpo by 6
Just checked the ticket site. About 75 chairbacks and 75 reserve seats still available. That's the good news. The upper deck has maybe 100 seats sold in total as this point. Obviously, that is where the walk-ups and faculty will be seated. With a good student turnout it should be a very solid environment.
Will be getting my tickets at the door. 3 of us coming including a first timer...so hoping for an exciting game and Valpo victory!
Quote from: hckjag on December 06, 2014, 10:06:03 AM
Will be getting my tickets at the door. 3 of us coming including a first timer...so hoping for an exciting game and Valpo victory!
Get tickets now so you're not stuck with bad upper deck seats
Looking forward to tonight! Won't be there but will be watching! Both teams seem to be looking for a quality win, NM is looking to find themselves and say they are back as a high-major this season. While Valpo is looking to say they are no fluke and could beat anybody they play.
Bold prediction: Alec will have one of the greatest Crusader performances tonight, going 11/17 from the field 7/11 from 3, 8/9 from the FT line for a total of 37 points, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
Was pleased to hear somebody else on my soccer team at the Y this morning bring up the game. Was familiar with their record, Missouri, etc. coming to the game with his son. His son came up to me, "Guess what - we're going to the basketball game tonight." We seemed to get another family pretty interested as well. If not tonight, maybe down the road.
Quote from: classof2014 on December 06, 2014, 10:56:57 AM
While Valpo is looking to say they are no fluke and could beat anybody they play.
Bold prediction: Alec will have one of the greatest Crusader performances tonight, going 11/17 from the field 7/11 from 3, 8/9 from the FT line for a total of 37 points, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
This will be the statement game of the season, in spite of their being favored and having the home-court advantage, and it will be the highest pressure OOC game because of it and because of the quality of the opponent. However, I look forward to seeing whether they can respond to a "normal" game from Alec as he'll undoubtedly have them and there'll be no greater confidence builder than knowing that others can step up. I'm hoping for a win with less dependence on perimeter shooting or, at least, less from Alec and the emergence of another potential go-to option offensively. Of course, a defensive clinic would be reassuring as well.
Quote from: Valpower on December 06, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
Quote from: classof2014 on December 06, 2014, 10:56:57 AM
While Valpo is looking to say they are no fluke and could beat anybody they play.
Bold prediction: Alec will have one of the greatest Crusader performances tonight, going 11/17 from the field 7/11 from 3, 8/9 from the FT line for a total of 37 points, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
This will be the statement game of the season, in spite of their being favored and having the home-court advantage, and it will be the highest pressure OOC game because of it and because of the quality of the opponent. However, I look forward to seeing whether they can respond to a "normal" game from Alec as he'll undoubtedly have them and there'll be no greater confidence builder than knowing that others can step up. I'm hoping for a win with less dependence on perimeter shooting or, at least, less from Alec and the emergence of another potential go-to option offensively. Of course, a defensive clinic would be reassuring as well.
Ugh. Don't remind me of a "normal" Peters performance. I attended the Mizzou game. I predicted 6-1 out of fear such a performance might happen ONE time this month--but I really hope I'm wrong.
So um. Anyone know some sort of back-door way to see ESPN3 games? Or anyone willing to give up their login info?
The jerks at my cable company told me I'd have to call back on Monday and upgrade to the sports package to get ESPN3. The upgrade is fine--the issue is "Monday."
Quote from: Valpower on December 06, 2014, 12:03:23 PMHowever, I look forward to seeing whether they can respond to a "normal" game from Alec as he'll undoubtedly have them and there'll be no greater confidence builder than knowing that others can step up.
Wouldn't be shocked if the New Mexico game plan is to shut down or at least contain Alec and make somebody else beat them. They may be better able to match up with him than anybody we have so far faced. So yes there would be no greater confidence builder than to see the others step up to the challenge but with any young team you can never be sure if or how that challenge might be met. I kind of expect to see some open looks allowed to some of our less reliable shooters. This should be interesting!
Quote from: Donjon VU07 on December 06, 2014, 01:10:10 PM
Quote from: Valpower on December 06, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
Quote from: classof2014 on December 06, 2014, 10:56:57 AM
While Valpo is looking to say they are no fluke and could beat anybody they play.
Bold prediction: Alec will have one of the greatest Crusader performances tonight, going 11/17 from the field 7/11 from 3, 8/9 from the FT line for a total of 37 points, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
This will be the statement game of the season, in spite of their being favored and having the home-court advantage, and it will be the highest pressure OOC game because of it and because of the quality of the opponent. However, I look forward to seeing whether they can respond to a "normal" game from Alec as he'll undoubtedly have them and there'll be no greater confidence builder than knowing that others can step up. I'm hoping for a win with less dependence on perimeter shooting or, at least, less from Alec and the emergence of another potential go-to option offensively. Of course, a defensive clinic would be reassuring as well.
Ugh. Don't remind me of a "normal" Peters performance. I attended the Mizzou game. I predicted 6-1 out of fear such a performance might happen ONE time this month--but I really hope I'm wrong.
So um. Anyone know some sort of back-door way to see ESPN3 games? Or anyone willing to give up their login info?
The jerks at my cable company told me I'd have to call back on Monday and upgrade to the sports package to get ESPN3. The upgrade is fine--the issue is "Monday."
The "average" performance against Mizzou was due to the refs, not Alec. He had three before half and basicly was taken out of the game. If that was typical of him then fine, but we know he isn't foul prone.
Green Bay just knocked off #15 Miami 68-55...
Quote from: Donjon VU07 on December 06, 2014, 01:10:10 PMSo um. Anyone know some sort of back-door way to see ESPN3 games? Or anyone willing to give up their login info? The jerks at my cable company told me I'd have to call back on Monday and upgrade to the sports package to get ESPN3. The upgrade is fine--the issue is "Monday."
Okay, remember this is for sure the back door way. Be very careful that you have good anti-virus software installed before trying this.
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=296157&part=sports (http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=296157&part=sports)
To get rid of the ads that will pop up you click on the tiny "x's" on the ads. Then you can enlarge the video screen to cover your whole computer screen.
I appreciate it. But I should have thought this through. My laptop is technically owned by my employer so I don't want to be exposing it to viruses--or for that matter doing anything illegal on it (all these methods almost certainly violate copyright laws).
I'm going to opt for the Ickow-cast tonight.
not athletic enough...
Fair to say that everyone should likely take a two hour break before posting reactions to this one? Haha.
(http://www.troll.me/images/billy-mays/billy-mays-here-too-soon-bro.jpg)
Here's some funny videos to take your mind off the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJzXbqyU8A# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJzXbqyU8A#)
whoops...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jYO0TKcm4# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jYO0TKcm4#)
er...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khSIYmTzt6U#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khSIYmTzt6U#ws)
That was terrible. Couldn't get a rhythm all night. Peters disappeared. Couldn't hit a shot. Blech
What a joke, not sure what to think about his team anymore. If we can't beat a big name school ever we will never make a run in the tournament.
Utter trash. A mediocre team from a mediocre conference comes to our court and outplays the hell out of us. Not even competitive. What a joke. UWGB is out there beating real teams from real conferences. Butler is out there beating real teams from real conferences. Every time you turn around there are good mid-major programs out there making a little noise against legit opponents. But unless we're playing some other anonymous, non-descript school, we'll just crap the bed and "oh shucks" our way to the next irrelevant victory. Maybe pat ourselves on the back when we edge out some other small-time program in the occasional BracketBuster.
15 years. 15 years. 15 years since we've done anything relevant.
Oh dear old Valpo...why do you do this to our fragile hearts? Classic form tonight and I feel the sentiments expressed above. Our team feeds on momentum and every opportunity for momentum was immediately shut down either by NM or mistakes. It's definitely getting to curse proportions, it's kinda figure out how since so many teams of varying make-ups have been effected by it. I did predict 2 losses this month and this was one of them, but I was hoping to be wrong. 12-3 would still be a pretty good OOC record though.
I think we all let a string of wins against poor competition get into our heads (and also Vegas's at 8.5). The truth and reality is those teams were bad teams we beat. Tonight our athletes looked like second tier athletes. It was more than missing shots. Alec cannot do all of this on his own. I was surprised to see how often Bryce took Alec out of the game during stretches.
I hand it to NM. They had a game plan right when the game started to pound it down low. They had our weakness pinned at the start.
Jabril appears to have taken 10 steps backwards. His first 3 shots were badly blocked. He is extremely slow and cannot get position down low due to it. I question his drive.
I really like Keith Carter's D. He had some key defensive plays in the first half to keep us in it. We would have lost by 30 tonight if we didn't him out there.
LOBOS just plain out killed it tonight in chilly Indiana!!
A mediocre team huh?!? show some respect, UNM just shut it down ... This board is weaker then the team! I'm out of here...
GO LOBOS!
Maybe this is the alcohol talking (I'm not sure what the jackass above's excuse is) but if you'd told me we'd be 8-2 10 games in, we'd have all taken it.
It's not a great way to get there, especially tonight, but we're there. Our shooting % was due for a regression to the mean, certainly. No one really played well.
You just hope that, like any good collegian, we were taking notes, and that it'll help next time.
For the first 30 minutes we were slightly out executed, slightly out defended and more than slightly out shot. But we were still in the game and all of us were still expecting that run that never happened. That last 10 minutes showed in spades the immaturity and complete frustration of a young group who have yet to reach the level of confidence that might have kept them within striking distance until the end.
We are still way ahead of where I thought we would be at this point, but with more of our vulnerabilities now exposed our metal is going to be tested game after game. We just lost badly to a team that currently has top of the HL type abilities so its back to the drawing board because there is much more to learn and to accomplish.
We were a step behind, legs were gone which also means shooting will be off, our worst shooting night at the ARC in I believe 15 years...30%. I'm not sure how good NM really is, but they were ready for us and well coached. Our young team obviously couldn't handle 5 games in 8 days and all the travel that went with it. Young teams have nights like this...put it behind us and go forward. While it is obviously very disappointing to everyone, these young guys will be back. With the "JV" game next Wednesday, let's go out and put it to BSU next Saturday.
Quote from: rink on December 06, 2014, 09:17:54 PMUtter trash. A mediocre team from a mediocre conference comes to our court and outplays the hell out of us. Not even competitive. What a joke. UWGB is out there beating real teams from real conferences. Butler is out there beating real teams from real conferences. Every time you turn around there are good mid-major programs out there making a little noise against legit opponents. But unless we're playing some other anonymous, non-descript school, we'll just crap the bed and "oh shucks" our way to the next irrelevant victory. Maybe pat ourselves on the back when we edge out some other small-time program in the occasional BracketBuster. 15 years. 15 years. 15 years since we've done anything relevant.
I think you should have waited for the full two hours to pass before commenting. On second thought you never say anything positive about this team so why comment at all?
Quote from: historyman on December 04, 2014, 06:35:36 PMWe are hoping we can beat the Lobos but are leery of a last minute letdown again. It should be a very entertaining game and close through out.
I should have been a lot more leery of losing than I thought. Valpo was not entertaining and not very close through out. On the offensive end Alec shot poorly and nobody else stepped up to pick up his scoring. Both Tavonn and Darien, the Walker bros, almost went scoreless until the last 10 minutes. Carter hit an early three but scored little after that. Tell me again why Adekoya plays so much. Put a bigger opponent on him and he becomes utterly useless. The Crusaders hit three 3's all game and it wasn't that great of defense by the Lobos. It was good but not totally awesome defense. Speaking of defense, what happened to Valpo's D? It wasn't nearly the lockdown defense we had seen in Mt Pleasant and Richmond, KY or the D we heard about on the radio from Nashville.
We have to find some way to beat these more successful teams that seem to make us cr@p our pants.
As an alumnus of UNM and a lifelong Lobo fan that made the drive from Chicago to see UNM play tonight, I want to pass along my thanks and respect to your school and your fans. Not every school and fanbase treats visiting fans well. However, my son and I had a great experience tonight with hospitable and gracious Valpo fans around us. Everyone, from the event staff to the concessions to the students where fantastic. Be proud of the way your people and team represented the best of the Valparaiso University community.
I wish you and your team the best of luck for this year and every game in the future (save for any future game vs
UNM ;)).
This is the same team that put on a similarly sickly performance in its first exhibition game. I was ready to ignore that game and buy into the notion that this could be a tema getting votes for the top twenty-five. The disappointment was magnified by the presumption that we were going to come in and knock off a big name team. Then the ball just wouldn't fall through the hoop in the first half. I feel bad about the occasional fans who shelled out twenty bucks for the game expecting a very different experience. I doubt that they will be eager to spend that much money again.
New Mexico wrote the script for beating the Crusaders for this year. Once we get into conference play there will be a consistent level of play that will let us determine what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately, game against Trinity International and Goshen can lead us to believe that strategies are effective when the game just measures us against less able athletes where strategy is not all that important.
The season is just beginning. I anticipate there will be plenty to feel good about with this team. After tonight, any victory and strong team performance may feel a bit sweeter.
I refuse to begin defining this team by what they didn't accomplish in 2 games. We still have a realistic chance to finish OOC play 13-2, which would be phenomenal for such a young, inexperienced team. We still have a great opportunity to win the conference regular season and tournament championships and represent the HL in the NCAA tournament. Yes, GB accomplished something we didn't yesterday, but they also have team full of seasoned veterans that we don't have. GB is also the team that choked away the conference tourney championship last year and won a grand total of a single regular season and 0 tournament championships in Brown's and Sykes' 3 years together. It's about time they did something notable. This is only the beginning of what should be a great Valpo run.
Holy freakout.
I waited to post like it was suggested. ... Glad I did!
We are a young team that had a difficult shooting night against a team that I would give credit to. They played us defensively tough. They played against what we gave them. If you don't need to guard inside it makes it easier to contest the outside shot. When we did get a clear outside look it seemed either rushed or like they thought the basket was a couple feet to the left.
I don't think the sky is falling - it was just a loss to a better team.
Why should Valpos goal only to make it to the NCAA tournament? How about lets make it to the NCAA tournament and win a few games. But that most likely won't happen unless we get lucky because some reason we can't beat a big name school like other quality mid major teams.
Don't live near enough to Valpo and so I didn't see it, But I like wh comments and I have to think we are very solid Horizon title contenders with our roster as it stands.
I do predict that if we do get to the NCAA, the loss to Missouri will turn out much worse in RPI than New Mexico loss. Missouri sucks this year. At least the Lobos are well coached and have a good senior leader in Hugh x? .. their aussie.
Although our W/L record is great, I'm not sure this team is capable of beating major conference competition. We're outstanding against AAA pitching but whiff when we're promoted to the bigs. The team is obviously not ready for the bright lights. We can criticize Butler all we want, but they have demonstrated the consistent ability to beat major league competition. We have not. We'd be a bottom-dweller in a major power conference.
Quote from: wh on December 07, 2014, 07:22:37 AM
I refuse to begin defining this team by what they didn't accomplish in 2 games. We still have a realistic chance to finish OOC play 13-2, which would be phenomenal for such a young, inexperienced team. We still have a great opportunity to win the conference regular season and tournament championships and represent the HL in the NCAA tournament. Yes, GB accomplished something we didn't yesterday, but they also have team full of seasoned veterans that we don't have. GB is also the team that choked away the conference tourney championship last year and won a grand total of a single regular season and 0 tournament championships in Brown's and Sykes' 3 years together. It's about time they did something notable. This is only the beginning of what should be a great Valpo run.
Why I agree with wh: As usual, wh is right on with his comments. We are 8-2 with a young team. We have a great coach and assistant coaches. Our players appear to be fine young men. Our AD is outstanding. Unlike the shenanigans that some schools have to put up with, our team represents VU in a fine way. We have a good chance to end this year with a very, very good record. Next year we should be very tough. I'm not giving up hope that we can win the HL this year and go the NCAA tourney. A LOT to be proud of.
What wh is missing: It isn't the fact that we are losing nearly all of the games against the big boys --although it is disheartening to see other mid-majors beat them (Northern Iowa, Butler, and NJIT are examples from the past few days). No, what wh is missing is the
way in which we are losing these games. Far too often, the games aren't really competitive. Sure, we might be hanging around at the half in some of these games, but as the game wears on these big name teams pull away and, by the 4 minute mark, the question isn't whether which team will win -- the question is whether VU will break the 40-point barrier. It makes it look like maybe VU doesn't even belong in D1. I don't know the reason. All I know is that far too often we are simply not competitive with these teams, when our performance against other teams indicates that at least we should give them a good, tight game. What makes this even more frustrating is most of these teams we have played the last few years are not close to being Top 25 teams, but are simply average-to-below average teams in their conferences -- teams that we should be able to play competitively against (and, occasionally, beat).
Paul
Quote from: wh on December 07, 2014, 07:22:37 AMI refuse to begin defining this team by what they didn't accomplish in 2 games. We still have a realistic chance to finish OOC play 13-2, which would be phenomenal for such a young, inexperienced team. We still have a great opportunity to win the conference regular season and tournament championships and represent the HL in the NCAA tournament.
Quote from: Smj on December 07, 2014, 09:27:53 AMWe are a young team that had a difficult shooting night against a team that I would give credit to. They played us defensively tough. They played against what we gave them. If you don't need to guard inside it makes it easier to contest the outside shot.
I hate having to be one of the adults in the room just as much as wh does (it puts us totally out of character) but let me put on my grandpa ducky hat and take the long term view. We have onboard and coming onboard the nucleus of probably our best team "ever". That doesn't mean we will have another sweet-16 run but what it does mean is that if everybody stays on board our depth and level of talent should be better (overall) than it was back then!
Realistically we started last night with an almost 0% chance of an at-large bid and we wake up this morning with nothing having changed! I started last night thinking that we would lose minimum 4 to 5 HL games and that number is also unchanged! So the only thing that did change from last night is that now we can think rationally about the opportunities and difficulties the rest of the season will present us.
We still have some business to take care of with the OOC schedule but I can't wait for HL play to get started!
Quote from: justducky on December 07, 2014, 01:25:16 PMlet me put on my grandpa ducky hat
artist's rendition (http://unitedstyle.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/disney1968_duckhat.jpg)
What do you say about this game? I guess it was a completely predictable performance. Valpo doesn't step up against big name teams. The three's don't fall and we fall apart.
Wow, what a disappointment. By the time you think they can beat a team from a power conference, they lay an egg. Valpo is getting better, but the talent level is still not there.
Quote from: mj on December 07, 2014, 01:55:32 PM
What do you say about this game? I guess it was a completely predictable performance. Valpo doesn't step up against big name teams. The three's don't fall and we fall apart.
The only thing predictable about a team this young is that when shots are not dropping frustration can set in followed by a drop off of shot discipline which might then be followed by a blowout loss. We may yet lose in a similar fashion to several of our HL opponents and when that happens you should not panic then either.
You can not focus on our ineptitude with big name teams being an issue that is separated from our larger recruiting and scheduling difficulties. (The team did not take the floor thinking they would or should lose!) If Bryce can continue to recruit well then beefing up (significantly) our OOC schedule is the ultimate answer to winning some big games. We will need to have and the kids will deserve to have a brutal OOC schedule set up for next year and after. If that means pay games at ND, Northwestern, Indiana or Purdue then line them up. 2 for 1's with Butler and Baylor-- bring em on (Scott owes us a favor). Whatever it takes lets commit to getting it done! Next year teams like Pine Bluff, Maine, and anybody who isn't D-1 should not even be considered- end of story.
Quote from: wh on December 07, 2014, 07:22:37 AM
I refuse to begin defining this team by what they didn't accomplish in 2 games. We still have a realistic chance to finish OOC play 13-2, which would be phenomenal for such a young, inexperienced team. We still have a great opportunity to win the conference regular season and tournament championships and represent the HL in the NCAA tournament. Yes, GB accomplished something we didn't yesterday, but they also have team full of seasoned veterans that we don't have. GB is also the team that choked away the conference tourney championship last year and won a grand total of a single regular season and 0 tournament championships in Brown's and Sykes' 3 years together. It's about time they did something notable. This is only the beginning of what should be a great Valpo run.
Well stated. I also agree with Ducky that the OOC schedule for the next few years needs to be beefed up.
Never ever change, rink.
I think we should all feel foolish that we bought into the "New Mexico their best player to injury so we should beat them easily" idiocy. I didn't know it was idiocy beforehand, so I fell for it too. But in hindsight, obviously it was idiocy.
I did not scout them at all, and I do see that their RPI was in the 200s so obviously that's the reason why the line I saw was Valpo -9 (also now exposed as idiocy). All I know is what I saw.
New Mexico is obviously the better team. I don't think we gave them that much. I think they simply took it from us.
I understand the meltdown. After all, this was a golden opportunity to build a bubble-worthy resume, and they invaded the ARC and simply made it "their" house. Sure there were some mistakes, some bad shots, but no shortage of effort.
Maybe they shot way above their average, who knows. But they simply were the better team.
It sucks that once again we fail to make hay when we have the chance. It sucks to constantly lose to ranked teams. But let's remember that for the most part, this is the life of a mid-major. Obviously the script doesn't hold 100% of the time, but it does 90% of the time, I'd wager. We *are* battling the odds -- and metaphorically speaking, with one arm tied behind our backs. These opportunities come once in a blue moon, and if your goal is to win such games, the pressure is high because when you fail, you have to wait awhile to get another opportunity.
Maybe there's something about Valpo that condemns them to always lose these games, but I'm gonna need hard evidence before I buy into that conspiracy theory. Trend does not equal hard evidence.
Beating a ranked team is ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LONG SHOT.
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 07, 2014, 12:16:26 PM
Don't live near enough to Valpo and so I didn't see it, But I like wh comments and I have to think we are very solid Horizon title contenders with our roster as it stands.
I do predict that if we do get to the NCAA, the loss to Missouri will turn out much worse in RPI than New Mexico loss. Missouri sucks this year. At least the Lobos are well coached and have a good senior leader in Hugh x? .. their aussie.
Good point. I think the biggest point is that without a victory over a Mizzou or New Mexico the selection committee with give a lower seed and beating a #2 or #3 seed is so much tougher in the first round (in some minds the second round) where the #2 and #3 seeds play sometimes closer to home (example: Michigan St at Auburn Hills) instead of playing a #4 or #5 seed. A huge difference in chance of winning in that particular round. That is what the losses to Missouri and New Mexico do to mid-majors, especially losses at home.
Valpo has a player just beginning his sophomore season as its leading scorer and as its team leader, which is an indication of the Crusaders' youth. Alec seemed as upset at the team's play and at his own performance as I have ever seen anyone during a Valpo post-game press conference. I don't think the intensity of his emotion that was felt in the room comes fully through on the video in the link below, but I think you can sense it. With the clarity and intensity displayed by Alec, I think the team has a fine leader for the next three years. During the conference I kept thinking that I sure wouldn't want to be the player assigned to guard Alec in the next game!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfQpon-a4CA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfQpon-a4CA)
And now for those who could not attend Saturday night, the highlight of the evening:
Chicago Bucket Boys Halftime Valparaiso University (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZSh0rT4ac4#ws)
don't jump under the bus yet! But keep an eye on Alec >:( ..this is the learning curve
Correlation and causation, people (don't make me post that xkcd again).
While it's true that the men's b-ball team at VU usually loses to high mid-majors and majors, that doesn't mean it's a trend or even a thing.
We lost to UNM two years ago. But the only people who played both games were Vashil and Hugh Greenwood's Gawdoffal Hair. It's not like we lose because we crawl into some kind of inferiority-complex-shell every time. E.g., what does the 2012 Nebraska game have to do with this year's Missouri game? Both were losses to mediocre-at-best schools (relative to their power conference), but that's it--they had no influence on each other.
I say this because I see people saying things like 'we just can't beat good teams.' Well, true because a truism: good teams are good because not easily beaten, as wh alluded to the 'life of a mid major' above.
But each (VU) team is different--heck, each game is different, because different guys are tired or hurt or the tipoff was at 5:45 am EST or something; so the fact that "we lost to Power Conference Team A" does not mean that "we will lose to A Power Conference Team".
Let's not burden Alec Peters, for instance, with the failures of Rowdy's team, for instance.
Yesterday we were a young team eager to please, trying to hit a 10-pt shot every possession to get back in it, as though that were possible.
Good teams win because they are good teams, not because of what conference they play in.
Quote from: justducky on December 07, 2014, 03:39:12 PMQuote from: mj on December 07, 2014, 01:55:32 PMWhat do you say about this game? I guess it was a completely predictable performance. Valpo doesn't step up against big name teams. The three's don't fall and we fall apart.
The only thing predictable about a team this young is that when shots are not dropping frustration can set in followed by a drop off of shot discipline which might then be followed by a blowout loss. We may yet lose in a similar fashion to several of our HL opponents and when that happens you should not panic then either. You can not focus on our ineptitude with big name teams being an issue that is separated from our larger recruiting and scheduling difficulties. (The team did not take the floor thinking they would or should lose!) If Bryce can continue to recruit well then beefing up (significantly) our OOC schedule is the ultimate answer to winning some big games. We will need to have and the kids will deserve to have a brutal OOC schedule set up for next year and after. If that means pay games at ND, Northwestern, Indiana or Purdue then line them up. 2 for 1's with Butler and Baylor-- bring em on (Scott owes us a favor). Whatever it takes lets commit to getting it done! Next year teams like Pine Bluff, Maine, and anybody who isn't D-1 should not even be considered- end of story.
Good discussion - how about Evansville, Butler and Illinois State and DePaul?
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 07, 2014, 08:43:03 PM
Correlation and causation, people (don't make me post that xkcd again).
While it's true that the men's b-ball team at VU usually loses to high mid-majors and majors, that doesn't mean it's a trend or even a thing.
We lost to UNM two years ago. But the only people who played both games were Vashil and Hugh Greenwood's Gawdoffal Hair. It's not like we lose because we crawl into some kind of inferiority-complex-shell every time. E.g., what does the 2012 Nebraska game have to do with this year's Missouri game? Both were losses to mediocre-at-best schools (relative to their power conference), but that's it--they had no influence on each other.
I say this because I see people saying things like 'we just can't beat good teams.' Well, true because a truism: good teams are good because not easily beaten, as wh alluded to the 'life of a mid major' above.
But each (VU) team is different--heck, each game is different, because different guys are tired or hurt or the tipoff was at 5:45 am EST or something; so the fact that "we lost to Power Conference Team A" does not mean that "we will lose to A Power Conference Team".
Let's not burden Alec Peters, for instance, with the failures of Rowdy's team, for instance.
Yesterday we were a young team eager to please, trying to hit a 10-pt shot every possession to get back in it, as though that were possible.
Good teams win because they are good teams, not because of what conference they play in.
I would give this 5 likes if I could.
I have posted a gallery with more than 20 photos from the game at the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96208998@N05/sets/72157649594335846/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96208998@N05/sets/72157649594335846/)
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 07, 2014, 09:31:12 PMGood discussion - how about Evansville, Butler and Illinois State and DePaul?
All good, and if discussions with Illinois St and Bradley have not yet been undertaken then shame on us for not trying to go the extra mile for Alec! Indiana St is another that should be on the schedule say 2 out of every 5 years.
Quote from: justducky on December 07, 2014, 10:37:22 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 07, 2014, 09:31:12 PMGood discussion - how about Evansville, Butler and Illinois State and DePaul?
All good, and if discussions with Illinois St and Bradley have not yet been undertaken then shame on us for not trying to go the extra mile for Alec! Indiana St is another that should be on the schedule say 2 out of every 5 years.
It's always easy to look at the Valpo end of the arrangement. But if we turn it around and take Illinois St's and Bradley's view of the situation. Does it make good sense to play Valpo in a home and home. In many cases there are better options within their home state and not in Indiana. They already get Loyola once each year in Chicago.
Alec chose Valpo over Illinois St and other schools. If the Redbirds can beat Loyola in Chicago why do they want to play Alec and Valpo in the Chicago area and risk adding insult to injury.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 07, 2014, 08:43:03 PMCorrelation and causation, people (don't make me post that xkcd again).
While it's true that the men's b-ball team at VU usually loses to high mid-majors and majors, that doesn't mean it's a trend or even a thing.
We lost to UNM two years ago. But the only people who played both games were Vashil and Hugh Greenwood's Gawdoffal Hair. It's not like we lose because we crawl into some kind of inferiority-complex-shell every time. E.g., what does the 2012 Nebraska game have to do with this year's Missouri game? Both were losses to mediocre-at-best schools (relative to their power conference), but that's it--they had no influence on each other.
I say this because I see people saying things like 'we just can't beat good teams.' Well, true because a truism: good teams are good because not easily beaten, as wh alluded to the 'life of a mid major' above.
But each (VU) team is different--heck, each game is different, because different guys are tired or hurt or the tipoff was at 5:45 am EST or something; so the fact that "we lost to Power Conference Team A" does not mean that "we will lose to A Power Conference Team".
Let's not burden Alec Peters, for instance, with the failures of Rowdy's team, for instance.
Yesterday we were a young team eager to please, trying to hit a 10-pt shot every possession to get back in it, as though that were possible.
Good teams win because they are good teams, not because of what conference they play in.
But..But...But...what on earth would sportswriters write about if we didn't constantly look back at the past? We couldn't hand out such nuggets as Valpo shooting its lowest home percentage in 14 years on Saturday night or having a single-digit leading scorer for the first time since 2006. Other than that, great post.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 07, 2014, 08:43:03 PMCorrelation and causation, people (don't make me post that xkcd again).
This entire day of posting has gotten far too cerebral and completely out of my comfort zone of petty name calling and bickering.
Quote from: wh on December 07, 2014, 09:42:05 PMI would give this 5 likes if I could.
I wouldn't even give him one but part of that might be because the
grandpa ducky hat image seems to be branded into my mind perhaps for eternity. :'(
Looks like my friend chose the right day for his wedding in Austin, so that I didn't have to watch this one :)
Quote from: DrewBLOOD on December 06, 2014, 10:01:05 PM
LOBOS just plain out killed it tonight in chilly Indiana!!
A mediocre team huh?!? show some respect, UNM just shut it down ... This board is weaker then the team! I'm out of here...
GO LOBOS!
Since you're feeling disrespected, I wrote a storybook in your honor:
Once upon a time a college basketball team from the land of enchantment traveled to the hoosier state to play another college basketball team. They played good interior defense, forcing the other team to score from the perimeter - which they could not do. They showed less skill on the offensive end, but scored enough points to equal their season average. The team felt happy all the way back to the land of enchantment, while the team from the hoosier state sadly went home and went to bed. The winning team's fans were happy, too, except for one whiny, perpetually offended individual, who didn't think the fans of the other team praised his team enough while in their state of sadness. The next day, everyone returned to their normal lives, and they all lived happily ever after - except for one. The end.
wh, that is so well written ... It moved me. ...
I expected so much more vitriol when I returned to this site today (gave myself the obligatory 2 days cooling off period). Was so disgusted with shot selection and lack of pick and pops, backdoor cuts, v cuts off the overplaying D, and missed bunnies, I turned this one off with 5 mins to go (maybe the first time in 20 years pgmado for your game notes). Jacking 3s is not our offense and the youth was on full display -- I know I haven't hit nylon for my last 4 shots but I'll jack a 23 ft J anyway. Woulda (if Skara gets the charge call, if Alec hits the 2 or gets a foul call), coulda (not shot 3 for infinity from 3), shoulda (better discipline on O). Unfortunately, this Valpo team will be judged by past iterations because that's what we do plus we do not have a sample size big enough for this cru (although now 0 for 2). And folks, Northwestern wants no part of us home or away. When Doug Collins got the NW job, I asked him whether we could get a series now (wearing a valpo bball shirt); he laughed and shook his head. Look, most of these Power 5s don't want to be concerned about a home loss in Nov/Dec -- they want their big paydays and cupcakes that only cost about $75-100,000 (at most) and 12-1 or 13-0 starts (with losses only against Power 5s in big TV games). Mike Brey answered honestly at ACC Media Day this year when he said they wouldn't play anymore Indiana States after losing last year. Valpo's schedule v EKU and Murray and Drake and ETSU and Belmonts will be the way to survive and then play in some off-shore tourney every 3-4 years and make a mark.
Give it a break we could have lost 82 to 49 to KU and haven forbid Lost to Valpo the game before!!!! :o
::IDEA:: We could start sucking, and then the big schools will all want to schedule us!
But then some people would have to find something else to complain about.
...thinking...
<stagewhisper>I think it would be about...the sucking.</whisper>
Somewhat glad I wasn't able to watch this game. This is still a young but talented team. Mid-major teams will always have their off nights - we just need to learn how to win HL games when we are having one of those off nights. Still looking forward to the rest of December and HL play!
From the box score, it really appears that New Mexico contested most of our shots, as our FG% and 3Pt % were really low. Is this the case? I'm sure games like this are what cause coaches to lose hair or pigment - why couldn't we rebound? why did we shoot so poorly. The turnovers appear to be a thing of the past, which is a good thing.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 08, 2014, 02:45:25 PM
::IDEA:: We could start sucking, and then the big schools will all want to schedule us!
But then some people would have to find something else to complain about.
...thinking...
<stagewhisper>I think it would be about...the sucking.</whisper>
We don't need our bb team to emulate our football team. OTOH, our football team
DID make huge strides under our new head coach.
The box score had the attendance at more than 4200. Is this about right?
Quote from: valpo84 on December 08, 2014, 01:37:27 PMValpo's schedule v EKU and Murray and Drake and ETSU and Belmonts will be the way to survive and then play in some off-shore tourney every 3-4 years and make a mark.
Belmont should come into play, as they have some Indiana natives on their roster. Western Ill, Eastern Ill, Western MI and Ill State should also become some future home-and-home series.
Quote from: covufan on December 08, 2014, 03:29:23 PM
The box score had the attendance at more than 4200. Is this about right?
That appeared about right - there must have been a large amount of walkups and last second tickets sold because Saturday afternoon the mezzanine still wasn't sold at all. At game time the mezzanine appeared over half full. The crowd couldn't really get into the game because Valpo could never sustain a run over 4-5 points.
Quote from: a3uge on December 08, 2014, 06:28:12 PMQuote from: covufan on December 08, 2014, 03:29:23 PMThe box score had the attendance at more than 4200. Is this about right?
That appeared about right - there must have been a large amount of walkups and last second tickets sold because Saturday afternoon the mezzanine still wasn't sold at all. At game time the mezzanine appeared over half full. The crowd couldn't really get into the game because Valpo could never sustain a run over 4-5 points.
I believe that there were no where near 4200 "in the stands." I believe that many, many season ticket holders are not showing up for games. I talked to two season ticket holders at the end of last year who keep buying season tickets as a way to quasi-donate to the athletic department. They only showed up for senior night. They are very busy senior citizens who were ashamed they didn't make it to more games but are glad their money is going to the athletic department. There have to be a bunch of these season ticket holders not showing up for games. So the athletic department counts a gate of 4200 but only about 3500 to 3700 were really in the stands.
Quote from: historyman on December 08, 2014, 06:50:58 PM
Quote from: a3uge on December 08, 2014, 06:28:12 PMQuote from: covufan on December 08, 2014, 03:29:23 PMThe box score had the attendance at more than 4200. Is this about right?
That appeared about right - there must have been a large amount of walkups and last second tickets sold because Saturday afternoon the mezzanine still wasn't sold at all. At game time the mezzanine appeared over half full. The crowd couldn't really get into the game because Valpo could never sustain a run over 4-5 points.
I believe that there were no where near 4200 "in the stands." I believe that many, many season ticket holders are not showing up for games. I talked to two season ticket holders at the end of last year who keep buying season tickets as a way to quasi-donate to the athletic department. They only showed up for senior night. They are very busy senior citizens who were ashamed they didn't make it to more games but are glad their money is going to the athletic department. There have to be a bunch of these season ticket holders not showing up for games. So the athletic department counts a gate of 4200 but only about 3500 to 3700 were really in the stands.
Aren't most season tickets sold in the chair back section? I was near the front so admittedly didn't get the best view of the crowd, but the chairbacks appeared 90% full. Crowd estimates are difficult, but I don't think it's fair to single out this year/ this game as having an inaccurate crowd count as crowds have been over counted for many many years by many many teams.
Forgot this note on game - but if Bryce ever wears a suit like the new New Mexico coach, we should just buy him a one-way bus ride to Tulsa and tell em YOU CAN HAVE HIM. Man that thing was brutal.
With a paid attendance of 4200, apparently the decision to price tickets at $35 and $20 was the correct one, at least from a revenue standpoint.
Quote from: IllinoisLobo on December 07, 2014, 01:28:21 AM
As an alumnus of UNM and a lifelong Lobo fan that made the drive from Chicago to see UNM play tonight, I want to pass along my thanks and respect to your school and your fans. Not every school and fanbase treats visiting fans well. However, my son and I had a great experience tonight with hospitable and gracious Valpo fans around us. Everyone, from the event staff to the concessions to the students where fantastic. Be proud of the way your people and team represented the best of the Valparaiso University community.
I wish you and your team the best of luck for this year and every game in the future (save for any future game vs
UNM ;)).
:thumbsup:
Quote from: a3uge on December 08, 2014, 06:59:34 PM
Quote from: historyman on December 08, 2014, 06:50:58 PM
Quote from: a3uge on December 08, 2014, 06:28:12 PMQuote from: covufan on December 08, 2014, 03:29:23 PMThe box score had the attendance at more than 4200. Is this about right?
That appeared about right - there must have been a large amount of walkups and last second tickets sold because Saturday afternoon the mezzanine still wasn't sold at all. At game time the mezzanine appeared over half full. The crowd couldn't really get into the game because Valpo could never sustain a run over 4-5 points.
I believe that there were no where near 4200 "in the stands." I believe that many, many season ticket holders are not showing up for games. I talked to two season ticket holders at the end of last year who keep buying season tickets as a way to quasi-donate to the athletic department. They only showed up for senior night. They are very busy senior citizens who were ashamed they didn't make it to more games but are glad their money is going to the athletic department. There have to be a bunch of these season ticket holders not showing up for games. So the athletic department counts a gate of 4200 but only about 3500 to 3700 were really in the stands.
Aren't most season tickets sold in the chair back section? I was near the front so admittedly didn't get the best view of the crowd, but the chairbacks appeared 90% full. Crowd estimates are difficult, but I don't think it's fair to single out this year/ this game as having an inaccurate crowd count as crowds have been over counted for many many years by many many teams.
The chair back section seemed almost completely full (I was told they were sold out), and the lower reserved seats also seemed full, while the upper bleachers were about half full. In addition, the student sections appeared completely full. Below are a couple of my out-take photos but ones that show the crowd size on both sides of the court.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2ptp55l.jpg)
(http://i60.tinypic.com/2a6rpmq.jpg)
The attendance number was accurate...sitting in the chairbacks and was surprised to see the numbers in the "upper deck". The seating chart on line showed the chairbacks were basically sold out early in the afternoon. As for NM getting a lot of pressure on our shooters, yes they did, but we had many open shots that didn't fall. Let's face it , it was a lousy shooting night. Let's look ahead!!
Quote from: valpotx on December 06, 2014, 01:22:12 AM
I didn't know that Buck Futler tried to get out of the BB return game! If they are offering a 2 for 1, we need to get over our issue with that being their only offer, and take it. Please, let's beat the ever living $h!+ out of Buck Futler again! I had way too much fun flying up to Valpo for that semifinal game against Buck Futler a few seasons ago. Even my wife got into the Buck Futler spirit that day, and it was a heck of an atmosphere. Buck....Futler, that is all.
I appreciate your enthusiasm and I've also stated that Valpo should improve their OOC schedule going forward, but how does taking a 2 for 1 deal with a Big East bottom feeder help? I would think there are better deals out there for the taking, but based on this year's schedule, I'm probably wrong.
I've suggested shooting for an exempt tourney that is a "true tournament", but as someone else pointed out, those probably cost $ that Valpo doesn't have/doesn't want to spend and would likely be in Hawaii/Puerto Rico/Bahamas, which wouldn't allow fans to attend like they could in Nashville.
Whatever the case, this group of sophomores deserves the opportunity to play a schedule that presents them a challenge and gives them an opportunity at an at-large bid, IMO. I hope that Valpo steps up and makes that happen.
I would take even a 3 for 1 deal with Butler...who, by the way, will not be a "Big East bottom feeder" this year.
Paul
WHY DOES ANYONE EVER TAKE EDDIE CABOT AT FACE VALUE ANYMORE HAVEN'T WE LEARNED PEOPLE
GAH YOU MANIACS YOU BLEW IT UP SOYLENT GREEN IS MADE OF PEOPLE!
...
also, if i were butler, i would offer us a 0 for 0 so i didn't have to lose to valpo another bunch of times.
Quote from: EddieCabot on December 08, 2014, 09:14:30 PM
I appreciate your enthusiasm and I've also stated that Valpo should improve their OOC schedule going forward, but how does taking a 2 for 1 deal with a Big East bottom feeder help? I would think there are better deals out there for the taking, but based on this year's schedule, I'm probably wrong.
Big East bottom feeder? They are 8-1 right now, and ranked 15th/19th in the country.
You should jump at the chance for a 2 for 1.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 08, 2014, 09:57:17 PM
GAH YOU MANIACS YOU BLEW IT UP SOYLENT GREEN IS MADE OF PEOPLE!
It is? Damn, they are offering it up in the hospital cafeteria tomorrow. I was going to grab some more.
Quote from: motowntitan on December 08, 2014, 10:01:41 PMBig East bottom feeder? They are 8-1 right now, and ranked 15th/19th in the country.
You should jump at the chance for a 2 for 1.
OK I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME AND THEN I'M GOING BACK TO MY NEW THREAD THAT LOOKS FORWARD NOT BACKWARD
EDDIE CABOT IS A SARCASTIC BUTLER FAN
TAKE NOTHING HE SAYS SERIOUSLY THERE IS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE AND A PINTERIAN-TYPE SUBTEXT
(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/46236/head-bang-o.gif)
Quote from: valpo64 on December 08, 2014, 08:44:11 PMThe attendance number was accurate...sitting in the chairbacks and was surprised to see the numbers in the "upper deck". The seating chart on line showed the chairbacks were basically sold out early in the afternoon. As for NM getting a lot of pressure on our shooters, yes they did, but we had many open shots that didn't fall. Let's face it , it was a lousy shooting night. Let's look ahead!!
Yes, the middle sections of the chairbacks were full but did anyone even really look at section F (1/2 as many as G) and section J (1/2 as many as I). I can't believe those sections were half full at game time and most likely people moved into those seats at half time. I didn't buy season tickets this year but I used to sit in section G and most of the people sitting in that section moved in after the game began and didn't hold tickets for those seats.
BUCK...................FUTLER ;D
Northwestern may be in a power conference but they are certainly not a power team. The basketball program has problems, including a terrible facility that is similar or worse than ours. They also do not have a vision of what they want to be . Chris Collins has a very difficult job, and did the previous coaches.
BTW, as to the butler 2 for 1, we should try to work the deal 1-1 and 1. The 1 can be anywhere Butler wants outside of Hinkle -- Conseco, Ft Wayne Coliseum, United Center, the Q, etc. Shoot, give them more than half the gate on the neutral site. Indiana Rivalry TV game. And, by the way, why can't we get a 2 for 1 with DePaul? If they want to help their attendance, they should schedule us so they can get people to go to their games....
Quote from: valpo84 on December 09, 2014, 02:21:58 PM
BTW, as to the butler 2 for 1, we should try to work the deal 1-1 and 1. The 1 can be anywhere Butler wants outside of Hinkle -- Conseco, Ft Wayne Coliseum, United Center, the Q, etc. Shoot, give them more than half the gate on the neutral site. Indiana Rivalry TV game. And, by the way, why can't we get a 2 for 1 with DePaul? If they want to help their attendance, they should schedule us so they can get people to go to their games....
I was in attendance at the preseason practice event for season ticket holders when ml announced that they had recently tried to engage Butler on several occasions, but to no avail. Butler's refusal to play Valpo is nothing new. Former Butler regimes consistently declined to play Valpo, until finally they had to as part to the b-buster and for the 5 years we were together in the HL. How many times does the spoiled snot that lives down the street have to say "F-U" when you ask if he would like to come out and play before you look for new friends? It's time to say you can kiss my ass and move on.
Quote from: valpo84 on December 09, 2014, 02:21:58 PMThe 1 can be anywhere Butler wants outside of Hinkle -- Conseco,
Some in Indy now call it BLF on a regular basis, for Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Bankers Life and Casualty Insurance Company is a company that Conseco had bought. It's original headquarters are still just north of the Loop and the Chicago River/Wacker. Conseco has offices near 106th in Carmel. One of the other insurance companies that Conseco owns is the company that Alex Trebeck is a spokesman for, Colonial Penn.
Quote from: wh on December 08, 2014, 06:58:47 AM
Quote from: DrewBLOOD on December 06, 2014, 10:01:05 PM
LOBOS just plain out killed it tonight in chilly Indiana!!
A mediocre team huh?!? show some respect, UNM just shut it down ... This board is weaker then the team! I'm out of here...
GO LOBOS!
Since you're feeling disrespected, I wrote a storybook in your honor:
Once upon a time a college basketball team from the land of enchantment traveled to the hoosier state to play another college basketball team. They played good interior defense, forcing the other team to score from the perimeter - which they could not do. They showed less skill on the offensive end, but scored enough points to equal their season average. The team felt happy all the way back to the land of enchantment, while the team from the hoosier state sadly went home and went to bed. The winning team's fans were happy, too, except for one whiny, perpetually offended individual, who didn't think the fans of the other team praised his team enough while in their state of sadness. The next day, everyone returned to their normal lives, and they all lived happily ever after - except for one. The end.
wh, I think you have to concede that he was provoked by rink's comment. He didn't start it.
It is ludicrous to call NM a mediocre team from a mediocre conference.
While we're at it, what about Green Bay laying an egg at Georgia State? If you're going to call NM mediocre, what does that make GSU? Granted, at least GB was the visiting team in that game, but still. The Lobos play in a higher caliber conference than the Horizon League for sure.
That said, I do agree that Mr. DrewBLOOD is pretty thin-skinned -- making him a common, garden variety irrational fan. A member of a fairly large fraternity who can claim some Valpo fans as members as well.
Quote from: StlVUFan on December 09, 2014, 07:01:23 PMmaking him a common, garden variety irrational fan.
(http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/91950568-young-man-in-vegetable-garden-lying-down-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=mp%2Fd3bKOaI%2FUSSk7XyRtnP8EX%2BdmgaYfoWGMRC6q18zVpwVMWiwXjHN2GEFldzPs)
The average common, garden variety, irrational fan looks like this.......who else would lay down in the dirt with the vegetables?
(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/f3/f3780ecad42b8350336ee2695386a5338541a653ffb265564ffff65d03690760.jpg)
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 09, 2014, 09:40:02 PM
(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/f3/f3780ecad42b8350336ee2695386a5338541a653ffb265564ffff65d03690760.jpg)
Oh, sure. Your memes have words all over them and I get dinged for a see-through word overlay. >:( ;D
Quote from: StlVUFan on December 09, 2014, 07:01:23 PM
It is ludicrous to call NM a mediocre team from a mediocre conference.
Really? They're not receiving votes, so they're not one of the top 50ish teams in the country. The conference ranking for the MWC hovers around 10? Only a couple spots better than the Horizon? All in all, nothing particularly special.
Maybe they're on the good side of mediocre, but mediocre team / mediocre conference still seems like a fair opinion to me. Saying it's ludicrous is ludicrous!
Quote from: rink on December 12, 2014, 12:37:01 AM
Quote from: StlVUFan on December 09, 2014, 07:01:23 PM
It is ludicrous to call NM a mediocre team from a mediocre conference.
Really? They're not receiving votes, so they're not one of the top 50ish teams in the country. The conference ranking for the MWC hovers around 10? Only a couple spots better than the Horizon? All in all, nothing particularly special.
Maybe they're on the good side of mediocre, but mediocre team / mediocre conference still seems like a fair opinion to me. Saying it's ludicrous is ludicrous!
I could have sworn they were ranked. Maybe I was mistaken. I know they've been ranked the past couple of years. I also think I saw their RPI has greatly improved lately (I suppose you're going to tell me it improved because of they're win over Valpo ;) ).
It is really hard to reconcile the word "mediocre" with what I saw last Saturday night. And I can't see doing it simply by saying that Valpo sucked, as if NM would suck against anyone else. That seems ludicrous to me. I think a good part of why Valpo sucked on Saturday is precisely because NM was good enough to make them suck.
They did shoot lights out, that's for sure. Man, the basket was an ocean for them (though my vantage point on the end-line -- handicapped section with my 85 year old Dad -- may hinder my perspective). And we shot horribly. But shooting percentage is not something you control. You can certainly influence it with hard work in practice, concentration, conditioning, etc. But shots either go in or they don't *to some extent* as a function of cosmic whimsy -- especially the further away from the basket you are.
And no, I would not call a 10th ranked conference (10 out of 32 or 33????) mediocre. I would call it good.
Quote from: StlVUFan on December 12, 2014, 11:07:25 AMAnd no, I would not call a 10th ranked conference (10 out of 32 or 33?) mediocre. I would call it good.
I agree. There are now 351 teams and 33 conferences in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball. According to Massey's College Basketball Ranking Composite, an average of 36 rankings/ratings systems, New Mexico is at 85, with the Mountain West Conference at 10. I would hardly call that mediocre. At the end of 2014, New Mexico was ranked 26th, with the MWC 10th. In 2013 they were 16th and the MWC was 5th. Hardly mediocre.
http://www.masseyratings.com/cb/compare.htm (http://www.masseyratings.com/cb/compare.htm)
snarc.... selfishly I don't want to say they are mediocre.
(What does that say for us)
Quote from: Smj on December 12, 2014, 03:48:57 PM
snarc.... selfishly I don't want to say they are mediocre.
(What does that say for us)
Of course, we lose to a lot of mediocre teams in our own conference already.