We have STLVU's blog, of course
http://horizonleague.blogspot.com/ (http://horizonleague.blogspot.com/)
But, in the run-up to the tourney, maybe it's worth having a thread to post and discuss VU in the press, media, national stage, etc.
Here's a nice one from CNN with quotes from Bryce, a particular shout-out to Vashil, and a bunch on former Horizon players.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/13/sport/march-madness-2015-basketball-ncaa/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/13/sport/march-madness-2015-basketball-ncaa/index.html)
Good publicity, but CNN couldn't use a photo more recent than Van Wjik and Capobianco?
Looks like we're going to get a nice feature on CBS Chicago's post-evening news NCAA preview show, here in a minute.
They were the most obvious TV crew at the party this afternoon.
Can we officially invite the state of Illinois to jump on the Valpo band wagon?
Nice to hear the Chicago broadcasters talking about "at least one Chicago-area school" in the tournament.
Quote from: agibson on March 15, 2015, 10:39:42 PM
Looks like we're going to get a nice feature on CBS Chicago's post-evening news NCAA preview show, here in a minute.
They were the most obvious TV crew at the party this afternoon.
Can we officially invite the state of Illinois to jump on the Valpo band wagon?
Nice to hear the Chicago broadcasters talking about "at least one Chicago-area school" in the tournament.
Nice 2+ minute piece. Footage from the ceremony: clips of interviews with several players, and Bryce. Fan shots. Game footage of Skara driving across half court from the final. The Shot.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forde-minutes--big-dance-edition-215739940-ncaab.html (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forde-minutes--big-dance-edition-215739940-ncaab.html)
Valpo listed as a bracket buster
Maryland listed in the "fraudulent five"
"Alex" Peters listed in the shooters section
ESPN has us rated in their 'Mid-Major Danger' category:
Valparaiso Crusaders (49): The Horizon League previews all dwelled on Green Bay star Keifer Sykes; little did we know the league's best player was just about to break out. Valpo sophomore Alec Peters is, for lack of a better term, a mini Frank Kaminsky -- a 6-foot-9 forward who rebounds, doesn't commit turnovers and shoots 50 percent from 2, 46 percent from 3 and 86 percent from the line. Throw in elite back-line defense from center Vashil Fernandez, and coach Bryce Drew, Patron Saint of March, might just have some fresh magic in store.
Paul Oren filling in the Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html)
Quote from: agibson on March 16, 2015, 08:19:24 AM
Paul Oren filling in the Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html)
WOW! The video of their reaction to getting a 4 seed was very interesting. I know that this was a disappointment, but they were stunned, no clapping or cheering at that viewing party.
Quote from: FWalum on March 16, 2015, 11:21:36 AM
Quote from: agibson on March 16, 2015, 08:19:24 AM
Paul Oren filling in the Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-valparaiso-preview-with-valpo-beat-reporter-20150316-story.html)
WOW! The video of their reaction to getting a 4 seed was very interesting. I know that this was a disappointment, but they were stunned, no clapping or cheering at that viewing party.
I'm very agreeable with the Terps and their fans having the same reaction early Friday evening. Stunterpitude.
Surprise, another one from the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel: Valparaiso (28-5) will forever be known for Bryce Drew's last-second shot to beat Mississippi in 1998. Guess what, fans of how time flies? He's the coach now, following in dad Homer's footsteps. The No.13 seed Crusaders will need an upset of No.4 seed Maryland for people to get to know Alec Peters (16.7 ppg), Darien Walker of Chicago or Tevonn Walker of Montreal.
Personally, I don't know how anyone wouldn't want to root for a team with a player named E. Victor Nickerson.
Indiana Teams Back Dancing Again (http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150316/SPORTS/150319751/0/SEARCH)
As usual, Valparaiso is a tournament threat (http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150316/SPORTS/150319764/0/SEARCH)
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25109900/ncaa-tournaments-five-most-likely-first-round-upsets
CBS Sports - 5 most likely first round upsets.
Another "bracketbuster" type piece from the author who brought you: http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/3/19/4119040/march-madness-valparaiso-ole-miss-buzzer-beater-history (http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/3/19/4119040/march-madness-valparaiso-ole-miss-buzzer-beater-history)
http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/03/ncaa-tournament-2015-cinderellas-upset-watch/ (http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/03/ncaa-tournament-2015-cinderellas-upset-watch/)
I'll save you the click in the Detroit News.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2015/03/15/guide-ncaa-tournament/24830773/ (http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2015/03/15/guide-ncaa-tournament/24830773/)
Quote5 teams to avoid picking in your bracket
Valparaiso: The Crusaders won the Horizon League and are back in the NCAA Tournament for the for the second time in the last three years. Even though they're 28-5, they haven't won a Tournament game in their last five tries, dating to 1998.
I'm like, forget you, man. (All the other picks are low single-digit seeds. Way to go out on a limb.)
AND WHY DOES WHAT HAPPENED IN 2004 IN SEATTLE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS GAME FRIDAY
(http://www.dograt.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/peanuts1feb64_02.png)
Quote from: a3uge on March 16, 2015, 01:04:04 PM
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25109900/ncaa-tournaments-five-most-likely-first-round-upsets (http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25109900/ncaa-tournaments-five-most-likely-first-round-upsets)
CBS Sports - 5 most likely first round upsets.
5. No. 13 Valparaiso over No. 4 Maryland
Reasons to pick the upset: Maryland has been one of the most fortunate teams in America this season, winning 10 of its 11 games decided by six points or fewer. Now, part of that is due to the presence of Melo Trimble, a terrific free-throw shooter who can close out games at the line. But still, they would not be expected to win over 90 percent of their games within two possessions. So maybe Maryland's patten of good fortune combined with solid late-game execution runs out here?
There's also the matchup against Valparaiso, which is a bit interesting. Maryland is an average defensive rebounding team and a poor offensive rebounding team. Opportunity for VU: I don't think that Maryland is going to be concerned with our transition game. They will crash the boards HARD in order to negate our rebounding advantage. We need to be able to outlet and score in transition when the opportunity presents itself. The Crusaders do a good job of controlling the glass on both ends. The Terps' defense also doesn't force turnovers or steals, which is the place where the Crusaders tend to struggle most on offense. I almost guarantee that they will pressure us in the backcourt based on our performance in the games against CSU and Green Bay. So if the Crusaders can control the boards and limit turnovers, they would probably be halfway home to an upset. It would just come down to making shots against the more athletic Terps. Given that Valpo knocked down 38 percent of its 3-point attempts this year, I might take my chances on that.
Reasons to pick the favorite: Maryland has a really good perimeter-based player -- Jake Layman -- to match up with Valparaiso's terrific stretch-four Alec Peters. If Layman can control that matchup against Peters and slow him down with his mix of size and athleticism, Valpo would need other guys to step up who might not be able to do so. Also, simply put, Maryland is an extremely athletic, talented team. The Crusaders haven't seen a backcourt this season (sorry, Green Bay and Keifer Sykes) that can match the Terps' ability to get into the lane and make plays. We are more athletic than in the past, but are not quite at their level. The question will be whether Trimble and Dez Wells can finish over Vashil Fernandez or get him into foul trouble, as he has turned into an excellent rim protector. Given that I think there is a strong chance the Terps can neutralize the Crusaders' advantage inside, this is a tough one to call.
Maryland is much like us in many ways in the fact that they do not run their offense through the post position with the 4 or 5. Keys for us I think would be:
- Perimeter defense - Can EVN, TW, DW and KC stay in front of Trimble and Wells. Are TW and DW healthy?
- Can Trimble be defended without a lot of help side? (if not then Wells might have a field day) Will TW take this on as a challenge and hold Trimble to slightly below his averages? It would appear that TW is at least the same as Trimble in body type. If Trimble has just an average game then I think we have a shot
- Wells is 6'5", will EVN's be able to keep in front and will his length bother him?
- Alec needs to score at least 15 with 7 boards.
- Vashil and Jubril need to stay out of foul trouble and combine for 12 boards and 3 blocks
- EVN and KC need to combine for 15 points
- TW needs to be the "health TW". We need to make Trimble play on both ends of the floor
- Darien needs to be a more efficient scorer
LA Times...http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-ncaa-tournament-midwest-regional-20150315-story.html (http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-ncaa-tournament-midwest-regional-20150315-story.html)
4 Maryland (27-6, at-large) vs.
13 Valparaiso (28-5, Horizon champion)
Maryland makes first appearance since 2010. Valparaiso, coached by March Madness hero Bryce Drew, is one of five Indiana teams in the Midwest.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25110191/ncaa-tournament-super-seeds-best-team-on-every-seed-line
Best team out of each seed. No surprise Valpo shows up at 13.
13. Valparaiso is one of the few teams to hold Green Bay's Keifer Sykes in check this season, so I'll give the Crusaders a shot to lock down Melo Trimble. There is no individual star that will capture your attention, but the balanced and consistent winning under Bryce Drew (oh yeah, I guess he's the name you'll recognize here) with two tournament trips in four years is impressive.
Nice AP feature on Bryce and Valpo
http://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/valparaisos-drew-adds-another-chapter-family-legacy (http://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/valparaisos-drew-adds-another-chapter-family-legacy)
and the family all-time win list (Drews third)
http://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/ncaa-coaching-victories-family (http://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/ncaa-coaching-victories-family)
State again dancing as 5 teams make tourney -
After being shut out last year, Indiana back in NCAA tournament
http://www.journalgazette.net/sports/colleges/State-again-dancing-as-5-teams-make-tourney-5532342 (http://www.journalgazette.net/sports/colleges/State-again-dancing-as-5-teams-make-tourney-5532342)
Includes quotes from Bryce...
USAToday (today 3/17) has Valpo at 1000-1 to win it all and their latest line is Maryland over VU by 5.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 17, 2015, 10:17:05 AM
USAToday (today 3/17) has Valpo at 1000-1 to win it all and their lates line is Maryland over VU by 5.
Baltimore Sun's reporting Maryland at somewhere between 40-1 and 75-1.
Nice pieces continue in that paper including
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-terps-valparaiso-ncaa-tournament-0317-20150316-story.html (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-terps-valparaiso-ncaa-tournament-0317-20150316-story.html)
with oddly unedited (or misedited?) quotes from Adam Amin, and discussion of Darrian Walker.
When it's an unusual name, you'd think you'd make a point to fact check the spelling!
Quote from: agibson on March 17, 2015, 10:27:43 AMwith oddly unedited (or misedited?) quotes from Adam Amin, and discussion of Darrian Walker.
Reading more carefully, the piece has good color, good flavor. But the editing's really sloppy.
I think we win the battle of the beat writers. Maybe 2-0.
Fact checking is a lost art at the Baltimore Sun.
QuoteThe backcourt of junior Darrian Walker and freshman Tevonn Walker
Darian
Quotewho are related only by their intensity on defense, don't get the same attention as senior Dez Wells and freshman Melo Trimble, but have done a good job slowing down the best guards in the Horizon League. Green Bay guard Keifer Sykes, projected as a potential NBA player, shot a combined 11-for-30 against the Crusaders in three straight losses this season.
We beat Green Bay twice. Keifer went 9 for 38 from two and 2 for 7 from three (that's 11 for 45, not 30) in the three games. Maybe they have trouble believing that Keifer took 17, 13 and 15 shots in the games against Valpo.
Poor Darien - from Jeff Goodman's rankings of every NCAA Tournament starter (http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12495300/ranking-ncaa-tournament-starters-1-340-college-basketball?ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_GoodmanRankingNCAAStarters (http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12495300/ranking-ncaa-tournament-starters-1-340-college-basketball?ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_GoodmanRankingNCAAStarters))
Quote274. Darien Walker, Valparaiso -- The Croatian guard averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 boards while shooting 36 percent from 3.
Quote from: vusupporter on March 17, 2015, 11:35:30 AM
Poor Darien - from Jeff Goodman's rankings of every NCAA Tournament starter (http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12495300/ranking-ncaa-tournament-starters-1-340-college-basketball?ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_GoodmanRankingNCAAStarters (http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12495300/ranking-ncaa-tournament-starters-1-340-college-basketball?ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_GoodmanRankingNCAAStarters))
Quote274. Darien Walker, Valparaiso -- The Croatian guard averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 boards while shooting 36 percent from 3.
Djžarien Walčkerv
Here's an interesting piece from SBN today:
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso (http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso)
Quote from: vusupporter on March 17, 2015, 11:35:30 AMPoor Darien
Wouldn't it be sweet if he could go off for 35, and a victory, and force everyone to learn his name?
wow.. that SBN article by Justin Pahl was powerful...thanks for sharing it... I just relived the last 30 years in 30 minutes.
Quote from: talksalot on March 17, 2015, 01:39:04 PM
wow.. that SBN article by Justin Pahl was powerful...thanks for sharing it... I just relived the last 30 years in 30 minutes.
ditto. It really captured what it was like growing up in small town Indiana and what your team and the players mean to you. Excellent, excellent article.
Valpo Mixed up names, more injuries then the kindergarten and more walkers then the old folks home down the street how could they win! ;D
Quote from: Kyle321n on March 17, 2015, 02:27:47 PM
Quote from: justducky on March 17, 2015, 01:47:16 PM
Quote from: vusupporter on March 17, 2015, 11:35:30 AMPoor Darien
Who? ???
Delainie, our shooting guard, #5
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/dc/de/c5/dcdec55fb1c7d5e2b801db0971e7c7ee.jpg)
Darren? Darwin? Witch is it, please.
Quote from: valpo84 on March 17, 2015, 12:53:21 PM
Here's an interesting piece from SBN today:
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso (http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso)
Very nice!
David vs Goliath. An older article but an interesting read.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/05/11/how-david-beats-goliath (http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/05/11/how-david-beats-goliath)
Quote from: Kyle321n on March 17, 2015, 10:50:34 AMFact checking is a lost art at the Baltimore Sun.
It seems fact checking has turned to
fat fast checking.
Quote from: talksalot on March 17, 2015, 01:39:04 PM
wow.. that SBN article by Justin Pahl was powerful...thanks for sharing it... I just relived the last 30 years in 30 minutes.
You know, you think your experiences are so unique and then you read something like this and it hits so close to home that it is unbelievable how close you feel to the person writing the story.
Wish he would come back to Valpo to see how things have changed in the past 15 years... The Basketball is the constant: Valpo High sweeps the Duneland Conference regular season... and VU wins the regular season and tournament... but the retrospective he has... it was like I was there... oh wait. I was.
Quote from: valpo84 on March 17, 2015, 12:53:21 PM
Here's an interesting piece from SBN today:
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso (http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso)
I don't know where that 12 seed stuff was coming from, but Paul's closer to the mark on this one.
[tweet]577924177124044800[/tweet]
A great essay. Wonderful homage to Valpo basketball and small town living.
That story though, wow. Had no idea about the Tim Bishop story and the amazing hs games Valpo had.
Quote from: drewsaders11 on March 17, 2015, 09:32:37 PM
That story though, wow. Had no idea about the Tim Bishop story and the amazing hs games Valpo had.
His niece is apparently my son's classmate at Northview Elementary (not Cook's Corners).
Small world, small town.
I very much appreciated all the additional details about 1994 since I only got to experience that one Saturday in Indy. And I appreciated the fleshing out of all the things I was oblivious to growing up there (though I was before his time). Still, it was very touching in the way it brought back my youth. He definitely captured the essence of what it was like being into basketball (Hoosier Hysteria).
I will say, the only sporting event I remember watching in school was the 1967 World Series, for reasons passing understanding ;)
From Yahoo, each team's best and worst case scenarios:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaa-tournament-midwest-region--dream-and-nightmare-scenarios-233108674-ncaab.html;_ylt=A0LEVjXFeAdVxkoA6kQnnIlQ
MARYLAND
Best Case: In their first NCAA tournament in five years, the Melo & Dez Show propels the Terrapins to the Sweet 16. Guards Melo Trimble and Dez Wells combine for 50 points against a Valparaiso team that cannot match up athletically, then put 50 more on West Virginia in the round of 32. Students who dress like Mark Turgeon go viral. Maryland then pushes Kentucky to the brink in the Sweet 16 as Scott Van Pelt prepares a "SportsCenter" sonnet to the Terps before they fall just short. That run is enough to re-establish Maryland basketball as a contender. Jim Delany thanks the Terps for making him look good. All Maryland's old ACC rivals flop. Trimble says he's coming back for his sophomore year.
Worst Case: Team that became rather donut-like as the season wore on doesn't fare well against a tall Valparaiso bunch that does work on the glass. With a lot of weight on their shoulders, Trimble and Wells can't make enough shots and Trimble's patented head-whip draws no phantom foul calls. Turgeon, who hasn't won an NCAA tourney game since 2010, puckers on the sideline. Angry students who dress like him burn their suits and stop spray-painting spots in their hair. Van Pelt quickly moves on to other news. Delany says thanks for nothing. As their teams advance to the Final Four, Duke and North Carolina fans sarcastically tell Maryland backers how much they miss them.
Valparaiso
Record: 28-5 (13-3 Horizon)
Last 10 games: 9-1
Best wins: Green Bay (2), Murray St.
Key losses: Green Bay, Mizzou
Leading scorer: Alec Peters (16.8)
No. 13 VALPARAISO
Best Case: Crusade for respect rolls into Columbus and catches Maryland by surprise, as Valpo's assiduous defense frustrates the Terrapins guards. Coach Bryce Drew joins player Bryce Drew in the school's pantheon of NCAA tourney heroes after outmaneuvering Mark Turgeon. Valpo then knocks off West Virginia and moves into a Cinderella Sweet 16, and stretch four Alec Peters lands on cover of Sports Illustrated. Run ends against Kentucky but nobody is disappointed. Drew turns down offers from bigger schools to coach a team that should be even better next year.
Worst Case: Crusade for respect runs into a Maryland team that recognizes a dangerous opponent and adequately prepares for it. Team that has not scored more than 60 points in a game since mid-February cannot match firepower with the Terrapins. Stretch four Peters cannot stretch a mobile Maryland front line. Bryce Drew the coach cannot match Bryce Drew the player's heroics, but does match brother Scott Drew's desire for a bigger job and leaves after the season.
Quote from: a3uge on March 18, 2015, 08:07:19 AM
Worst Case: Crusade for respect runs into a Maryland team that recognizes a dangerous opponent and adequately prepares for it. Team that has not scored more than 60 points in a game since mid-February cannot match firepower with the Terrapins. Stretch four Peters cannot stretch a mobile Maryland front line. Bryce Drew the coach cannot match Bryce Drew the player's heroics, but does match brother Scott Drew's desire for a bigger job and leaves after the season.
They forgot the part where Alec and Tevonn go with Bryce and Smits decommits to play for a high major and goes on to be a top 5 NBA draft pick.
This is more press on the tournament than Valpo in particular, but if anyone watches the Daily Show and Nightly Show on Comedy Central they will have seen that Larry Wilmore is going to do a dare for his show based on the NCAA tournament. Each school represents a dare and the winning team is the dare he has to do.
Valpo represents the dare "Larry has to go into a vertical wind tunnel". Frankly that doesn't sound so bad to me which is why it's a 13 seed. The worse ones are the one seeds. You can check out the dares here: http://www.cc.com/shows/the-nightly-show/dares (http://www.cc.com/shows/the-nightly-show/dares)
Games to watch Thurs-Fri edition article:
http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/03/ncaa-tournament-schedule-watch-games/ (http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/03/ncaa-tournament-schedule-watch-games/)
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Valparaiso, 4:40 p.m. Friday, TNT
"We're not suggesting with any real bet of confidence that Valparaiso is going to do what it did in 1998 (make the Sweet Sixteen), but there's reason to believe this team could put a scare into Maryland. Valpo is coached by none other than Bryce Drew, the same guy who hit that famous shot way back when, and the Crusaders have a great mid-major player in Alec Peters. Aside from that, there's some size (Vashil Fernandez), a heady guard (Keith Carter) and some interesting if not polished perimeter players (including David Skara).
They're going to have to do a formidable job of shutting down one of the best guard duos in college hoops in Melo Trimble and Dez Wells, who helped propel Maryland to a 27-6 record in its first season in the Big Ten. With the always-intriguing Jake Layman as well, Maryland more than deserved its No. 4 seed. Let's see if it can play up to it on Friday."
A nice feature on Keith Carter
http://www.onebidwonders.com/2015/03/18/valparaisos-keith-carter-from-heartbreak-to-happiness/ (http://www.onebidwonders.com/2015/03/18/valparaisos-keith-carter-from-heartbreak-to-happiness/)
Lots of pieces from the Washington Post on the Valpo-Maryland game.
-)On Bryce, and the Valpo side generally
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/valparaiso-bryce-drew-ready-to-make-fresh-ncaa-tournament-memories/2015/03/16/b3bc82e8-cc21-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/valparaiso-bryce-drew-ready-to-make-fresh-ncaa-tournament-memories/2015/03/16/b3bc82e8-cc21-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html)
-)"Valparaiso's Alec Peters savors first trip to NCAA tournament"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/17/valparaisos-alec-peters-savors-first-trip-to-ncaa-tournament/?postshare=8631426632607753 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/17/valparaisos-alec-peters-savors-first-trip-to-ncaa-tournament/?postshare=8631426632607753)
For the Maryland side of the game
-)On using the seed snub, KY bracket, as bulletin board material
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/03/16/gary-williams-says-mark-turgeon-will-tell-his-players-they-got-screwed-by-ncaa-tournament-committee/ (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/03/16/gary-williams-says-mark-turgeon-will-tell-his-players-they-got-screwed-by-ncaa-tournament-committee/)
-)
"Terrapins quietly accept No. 4 seed in NCAA men's basketball tournament"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/maryland-basketball-draws-valparaiso-in-2015-ncaa-tournament/2015/03/15/0fdafb38-cb53-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/maryland-basketball-draws-valparaiso-in-2015-ncaa-tournament/2015/03/15/0fdafb38-cb53-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html)
-)
"Mark Turgeon on NCAA tournament bid: 'We're ready for anything'"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/15/mark-turgeon-on-ncaa-tournament-bid-were-ready-for-anything/ (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/15/mark-turgeon-on-ncaa-tournament-bid-were-ready-for-anything/)
-)
"Maryland can lean on three players with NCAA tournament experience"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland-can-lean-on-three-players-with-ncaa-tournament-experience/2015/03/17/a9efabf2-ccd3-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland-can-lean-on-three-players-with-ncaa-tournament-experience/2015/03/17/a9efabf2-ccd3-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html)
-)
"Terps hit the road for NCAA tournament with 'something to prove'"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/18/terps-hit-the-road-for-ncaa-tournament-with-something-to-prove/ (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2015/03/18/terps-hit-the-road-for-ncaa-tournament-with-something-to-prove/)
From the Washington Post story at the top of that list of stories:
Drew's brother, Scott, led the Crusaders to the National Invitation Tournament in 2002-03 before departing for Baylor, where he has won 226 games and has the Bears back in the NCAA tournament this week. The two brothers spoke Sunday, Bryce said, and they "prayed" for the schools not to be paired together in the second round.
This doesn't explain the reason the Drew brothers don't want to coach against each other but it does show the great desire they have not to make Homer, Janet and the rest of the family endure a contest between the two teams they coach.
Not an article, but we made the top banner of the WSJ.
http://goo.gl/B7lwhr (http://goo.gl/B7lwhr)
Quote from: Vale O. Paradise on March 19, 2015, 10:01:32 AMNot an article, but we made the top banner of the WSJ.
Not bad!
I put that on facebook to see if that was regional or national banner... I've heard from Detroit and New York City... it was in both of those cities~!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/03/19/coach-bryce-drew-valparaiso-bobby-hurley-buffalo-march-madness/25050823/ (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/03/19/coach-bryce-drew-valparaiso-bobby-hurley-buffalo-march-madness/25050823/)
And I didn't realize this one was _by_ Bryce!
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/bryce-drew-valparaiso-1998-game-winning-shot/ (http://www.theplayerstribune.com/bryce-drew-valparaiso-1998-game-winning-shot/)
Based on SAT scores, Valpo is in the top 25 at the tournament.
http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/ncaa-bas (http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/ncaa-bas) ... ncaab.html
Maybe try the link again? It seems broken. The story sounds interesting, but I'm having trouble finding it.
Quote from: valpo84 on March 17, 2015, 12:53:21 PM
Here's an interesting piece from SBN today:
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso (http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/17/8224923/countdown-to-march-bryce-drew-valparaiso)
As the article reminds us, today is the anniversary of the Indiana High School Basketball final game in which Valpo lost to South Bend Clay in overtime. I remember that day 21 years ago as if it were yesterday, and I still recall yelling for the defense to cover the 3-point line in the final seconds of regulation with a 3-point lead and let Clay score two, but I guess Coach Punter couldn't hear me from my seat in the stands. I also would have been happy with a deliberate 2-shot foul. But the Vikings played a sagging defense with some players inside, which permitted a game-tying 3-point shot that doomed Valpo to an overtime loss and the end of an undefeated season, despite 35 points for Tim Bishop and 34 points for Bryce. I had attended just about all the team's games that year, home and away, and the return home from Indianapolis that evening seemed one of the longest drives I have ever experienced.
QuoteThe King's stinking son fired me, and thank you so much for bringing up such a painful subject. While you're at it, why don't you give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it? We're closed.
Here is some surprise mention of Valpo as mentioned this week on the Jimmy Kimmel Show which some of you may have seen.
"Most NCAA office pools are illegal. That's what makes it so exciting - the thrill of potentially doing hard time for circling the word "Valparaiso" on a piece of paper. It's sad that the one thing we actually enjoy about work is against the law."