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I think we're spending more time than necessary looking for solid point and shooting guards, with the occasional true forward. Sadlly, when we're trying to find big men, we're finding what can get to fill out the roster, instead of something that can help almost immediately. Most of the big men we've found are projects at best, and they've picked pine on the bench, or flamed out, and left... if they even got to VU at all. I'm getting tired of our recruiting to the 5 years ago Horizon League that was guard-centric. Now we need to be focusing on what Valpo needs to compete, not what the league determines is the game. Get some bigs that are physical, and go hard to the basket, not soft and fading away from the rim. Also, I don't want to our 4 or 5 shooting from 19 feet out. I want them inside commanding the paint, posting up for those cheap lay-ups that get us free throws, and confident free throw shooters come from that. Our soft play inside led to many of the mistakes that cost us games.

So you don't think Homer, bryce et al are trying to recruit bigs that are physical and go hard to the rim??  Do you think the coaches are retarded?  The fact is that for every D1 big there are about 200 D1 guards. We take "projects" because we have to hope they develope because they aren't lined up to play at Valpo.  We get a Bouchie and he turns out to be a nut case.  Occasionally we get a Urule or Cory and frankly we never tried to get the kid from Green Bay who we probably could have gotten. 

We, and the coaches, all understand what we need.  If you know any bigs who would be of interest to Valpo make sure you call Luke Gore.

So, was Brandon sick or what?  Have you ever seen him on the bench for 14 minutes in the second half when we are down--or ever?  Something was up.
Our problem all year--we could have won several more--is we were a bad 3 point shooting team.  Not just tonight, we were something like 8th or 9th in the conference.  Couple that with our free throw shooting and there you have it.
Some real mysteries of late with Ryan kind of disappearing etc.  Why didn't Matt assert himself earlier?
I think you will see Jay and Brandon playing more together next year.  Erik is a great defender but as someone else said, teams have figured him out.  Perhaps a healthy Tommy Kurth will help also as he at least can shoot free throws.

We will be hard pressed to improve on this year unless we get someone big to help or Vucic or Cam really step it up.  Otherwise we will be bombing away with the same result--some great games and others like tonight.

never mind!  You don't need to set up an account.  Just keep clicking like you have one and you'll get to the games! Whew, I was worried there for a minute!

I'm having trouble setting up the account to lg in to watch the game.  When I fill out the form and hit submit it just goes blank.

What am I doing wrong?

interesting.  The archive portion posted in USA Today only goes back to 99.

An easy draw, are you kidding? Charleston blew Dayton away.  Not really close.  I think Vegas will make CSU the dog.

I was surprised, to say the least, when I read today's Times article which said Erik Lemon and Becker (the tight end) have both left the team.  Lemon was the starter before injury and Becker, also a freshman seemed highly regarded as a reciever, at least with potential.

So what happened?  Either they just didn't want to work as hard as the coach wants, they couldn't cut it academically or...the handwriting was on the wall...they were moving down the depth chart and saw playing time reduced or eliminated.  Let's hope it was the latter.

Even though we didn't get to the NCAAs or NIT, this has still been a special year and a resurection of sorts for the Valpo basketball program.  While were at it, why not set some additional records.

While the rpi apparently doesn't make that much difference for seeding purposes, it is still of interest.  Can we set an all time record for our best rpi?  Can we set the all time record for wins?  Can we get a third trophy for the program and our first post season trophy of any sort?

Right now we rank 85 in the Sagarin's which is the highest (I think) of any time since they started, (which as right after the 98 season).  With CSU and Ohio winning last night it helps.  Ohio beat the top rpi team in the CIT--Marshall, so if we can beat the Gaels tonight we will be the top remaining team in that category.

Fun stuff to keep our interest!  Go Valpo!!

The bigger question is does he want to play or watch.  At Illinois he most certainly would watch, getting minimal play.  At Valpo, with Cory graduating and Kevin's back issues, he could get a bunch of time if he is as good as advertised.
We need size as Edwards  is more of a Broekhoff type (a little bigger), not a banger.

I certainly hope he comes back and believe he will.  Think Etwaun Moore.  Had some interest from the pros but was probably a second rounder last year, now almost certainly a first rounder with a guaranteed contract.

How about Norris Cole.  Stayed his senior year, was POY and now is projected in the draft while last year he wasn't.

Brandon is a bright kid and has wonderful parents so I'm sure they will all think it through carefully with the help of Bryce and others. Best od luck whatever the decision.  He has been a joy to watch play.

OK, here is some stats.  Interestingly enough, Iona looks on paper to be reasonably similar to Valpo.  Their top 5 scorers go 6'7", 6'3", 6'4", 6'1" and 5'11".  They are comprised of one senior, three juniors and a sophomore.

Iona goes 8 deep but their last game three guys scored all but 9 points.

They average 79 ppg while allowing their opponents 69.  They average 47% overall and 37% from the 3.  They shoot 65% from the foul line.  They average 12.8 TOs per game but have an impressive 17.4 assts per game.  They also get 7.5 steals per and 3.2 blocks.

They don't have a big following as they average just 2121 attendance at their home games.

So it looks like an athletic team that may press and like to run.  So do we.  That could make for a wild game with lots of scoring.

I'd love to have Mr. Doom confirm my analysis.

 no, he isn't little at all.  I don't know his exact size but his interview on the Valpo sports site (lower area with video) indicates that his coach expects him to be a first or second round draft pick.  Don't know if Valpo has ever had a first or second round pick, certainly not in many years.

Nice post from Mr. Doom.  Seems like we have a couple of posters who might want to change their webnames to his!

I will be interested to find out how big the gaels are and what matchups we should be watching.

If I read their record correctly, they beat Richmond!  Don't know what the circumstances were but, Richmond will be a very tough out in the NCAAs.  Richmond beat Purdue!  We are going to have our hand full with these guys.  It will be a tough game which I hope we can win. 

The committee must be on drugs.  Butler an 8??     With a 42 rpi?  Meanwhile Utah State, with a 10 rpi gets a 12 seed??
How about Belmont, with 30 wins and a 27 rpi, gets a 13?  They got hosed.  A few other shockers.

I think Butler goes down in round 1.  ODU had a 14 rpi and gets a 9??  What is up?? 

The committee must be on drugs.  Butler an 8??     With a 42 rpi?  Meanwhile Utah State, with a 10 rpi gets a 12 seed??
How about Belmont, with 30 wins and a 27 rpi, gets a 13?  They got hosed.  A few other shockers.

I think Butler goes down in round 1.  ODU had a 14 rpi and gets a 9??  What is up??

As we approach the seeding show I thought I'd take a look and see where I think we would have been seeded if we had made the dance.

I also am going to guess on Butler's seeding.  My thinking is based solely on the Sagarin's as the committee often says they do not rely solely on rpi's and the Sagarin's have historically been fairly close.

With all the automatics in now, there are 14 teams ranked lower than us and 17 lower than Butler.  That would make us a 13 and Butler an 12 seed.  Based on their reputation I'm guessing Butler gets an 11.

Oh, the last four (the sixteens) will be Alabama State at 308, Texas San Antonio at 220, Arkansas Little Rock at 207 and Hampton at 179.

We are at 90 and Butler at 46.  Good luck to the Bulldogs (yikes, that hurts)   

Sorry it took me so long!