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I'm really surprised to see the complete lack of conversation about the most awkwardly failed play in NCAA tournament history since Chris Webber's ill advised timeout. 

Questions:

- Did Bryce yell for an intentional foul?  I was listening to the radio broadcast and the announcers insisted that Bryce was calling for a foul.
- Why did Bryce not have any timeouts left?
- Will Bryce return to Valpo after he is fired in a few weeks?
- Do we want him back?

All valid questions!

Hold on... Let me see if I got this straight.  Bashing the Trinity students for holding up their fists is OK, solely because ValpoPal did it first and linked to an article?  But I counter his point and it's not ok because I was second, and I didn't like to an article?

I just need to say this feels like selective squashing of dissent.  Feels familiar these days so whatever, moving on.

And how exactly is raising their fists disrespectful to the national anthem?  Have you lived a day in their shoes in America?

Besides, as a proud Valpo grad, I would think you would have obtained a better understanding of the distinction between Patriotism and Nationalism.  Maybe you didn't pay attention that day in Geiman's class.

For your reference:  https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-if-any-between-nationalism-and-patriotism

To respond to various points on this thread:

Yes, I suspect there is bad blood with Bryce.  It's becoming more clear by the day.

Yes, key relationships held together by the Drew family are quickly unraveling.

Yes, the longstanding repercussions of a program in a downward spiral have already begun and are irreversible.

Yes, we are still headed back to 4-24 without the Drew family.

And finally, yes, I will enjoy watching all of you come around to my early identification of reality.

I reacted very strongly when Traitor boy (formerly known as golden boy) left as our head coach in search of fame and fortune.  I said he was dead to me.  Many of you criticized me for this comment.

Now you see why I made it.

I said this because the departure of the Drew family sets in motion a chain of dominoes which will be impossible to halt.  Within three years we will be back to the pre Drew era (4-24) and you will all be left holding the bag.

I for one am bailing early.  Thanks Bryce.

I will cheer against him.  He's dead to me.  He betrayed his father and his families, and I do mean families, just for the almighty dollar.

Pathetic.

Yesterday: These middle school kids can go shove off! Today: How can we get these guys to buy tickets to our game?

Yep, as long as you're not using the floor when we need it (despite having a signed contract) you guys are all our best buddies.

So tired of hearing about this signed contract.  I guarantee there is an out clause for significant Division One basketball use of the ARC, and unless you've seen the contract it's ridiculous to assume that out clause doesn't exist.

I don't think I've ever seen someone get so worked up over the NIT before.

And I don't think I've ever seen someone who calls himself a Valpo basketball fan get so NOT worked up over the NIT #1 seed before.  Looks like home court advantage was something worth fighting for, doesn't it?!?

Yesterday: These middle school kids can go shove off! Today: How can we get these guys to buy tickets to our game?

Yep, as long as you're not using the floor when we need it (despite having a signed contract) you guys are all our best buddies.

So tired of hearing about this signed contract.  I guarantee there is an out clause for significant Division One basketball use of the ARC, and unless you've seen the contract it's ridiculous to assume that out clause doesn't exist.

I stand by my former statement.  If Valpo advances to a game which conflicts with the Middle School tournament, and does not move or cancel the Middle School tournament, myself and thousands of other Valpo fans are done with this program.

You don't forfeit an advanced round NIT home game for anything that has "Middle School" associated with it.  You can list all the names you want, they will get over it.  Consider it a "life lesson".

Frankly, I don't want to hear another word about a middle school tournament.  We are a division one basketball program, number one seed in the NIT, which we have never done before.

The tournament can move, cancel, cry.  I don't give a damn.  Time to grow up and stop being so small time.

NativeCheesehead said: "If someone reading this article has a negative opinion of Valpo or Bryce after reading it due to their faith we don't want their support, their dollars, or their kids."

Hmmm... I can't help but wonder, what was Bryce praying for all season? 

Wins over crappy opponents like Green Bay and Wright State?  That didn't work. 
Sweet 16?  That didn't work either. 
Health for the players?  Ask T Walker about that one.
Using basketball to spread God's word across the nation through the NCAA tournament?  Nope.
Using basketball to bring fans to Valpo to watch the conference tournament?  Haha, not anymore.
The first NCAA tournament win in 18 years?  Nope.
Happiness?  No Valpo fan is happy about this season.
Sportsmanship?  OK that worked but isn't that more of the Golden Rule anyway?

Does prayer really work?  Just asking.  Oh that's right, I forgot.  God operates on his own terms, and man couldn't hope to understand the complexity of his master plan with our feeble little minds.

If you haven't guessed, this proud Valpo grad is also a proud atheist, a quality that I picked up in large part from my many fantastic religion and philosophy classes at Valpo.  I wouldn't trade my days on campus for anything.  I do find the constant prayer on court ridiculous and silly, though not necessarily offensive.  Though it certainly may be offensive to the many non Christian students on campus.

Anyway, thanks for letting me know that myself and my kids won't be welcome on campus anymore.  I'll be sure not to send them or my dirty atheist money to my proud alma mater.  So much for an inclusive university...

Previous comment redacted.  I misread BB's original post.  Sorry BB!

And Go Valpo!!!

Paul -

Every single game we play you come onto the forum at half time and talk about how unimpressive we are playing, and we end up winning 90% of those games.

It gets old, honestly. 

Thanks for the valuable contribution though.

Paul - If you can't be a bit more of a realist, I don't understand why you insist on hanging around here.

Even the number one team in the country can struggle with the 200th team in the country for a half, especially early in the season.  Eventually class wins out.  After the amount of time you've spent here and with your notorious skepticism for Valpo basketball, you should know that.

No more "this wasn't supposed to be the year anyway".
No more "we have at least two more years".
No more "we should have been a 12 or Maryland should have been a 3".
No more "they will out-physical us" or "we will be a step slow".
No more "we are too beat up from a long season".

Today is the day.  This is the moment.  Play like there will be no other moment.  Play like this is the last moment on Earth.

We've waited 17 years for this day.  Let's live in it.

Go Crusaders!

This is indefensible.  How can a 13 seed ever play the number 8 team in the country, regardless of geography?

Funny... I was just thinking the same damn thing.  I'm done with this arbitrary process.  What can we do aside from running the table to get a seed 12 or better?
 
RPIs of 13 seeds:  Valpo 50, Harvard 54, E. Wash 78, Irvine 90!

So if we are the top 13 seed (as Bracketmatrix predicted) then why are we playing arguably the best 4 seed?

Ridiculous.  This feels like Michigan State at Michigan all over again.  At least we're not playing in Baltimore.

I was thinking the tie goes to the runner.   

Dear Coach Drew -

You've outdone yourself this time.  I was watching the game with some friends a few states away from dear ole Valpo (near the heart of opposition country).  At halftime, one of the skeptics said, "You guys are going to need some serious halftime adjustments to pull this one off."  I said, "I'm not worried."  And I wasn't.

You and your staff taught Vashil how to DOMINATE the lane defensively, and his progression on offense is epic.  I remember his catch and dunk from his first year, and I compared it with joy on multiple occasions tonight with great respect for you and your staff.

You and your staff taught Peters how to play at a measured pace and DOMINATE when it matters.  He didn't look to shoot first tonight (that's what Coach Wardle taught Sykes to do), and he contributed when it mattered.

You and your staff taught Carter and Nickerson how to play defense with passion and rip the ball away late, preventing much needed desperation threes.
 
You and your staff coached this team through multiple seemingly catastrophic injuries, making necessary adjustments to near-perfection. 

You and your staff showed a group of mostly Freshmen and Sophomores how to play as a team and how to win with class.

You and your staff taught the entire team how to shoot free throws under pressure.

You and your staff led a young team to a 28-5 record, the best in school history, and potentially the highest NCAA tournament seed in school history.

GB came out looking for their first tourney appearance in 19 years, and scored just 19 points in the second half.  You even adjusted the full court press break away from "6th man Brian Wardle", who infamously and repeatedly tried to block the sideline escape with his ample bosom, in a clear break of coaching decorum.

You would never do that, Coach Drew.  You wouldn't need to do that.

SO proud to be a Crusader tonight.  Good luck with your well deserved 12 seed.   

I am looking forward to the next few seasons with you and the Valparaiso Crusaders.

LOL!  The guy in the White Valpo hat and Black Valpo shirt right behind the Cleveland State bench is me.  The dude in the Yellow Valpo shirt is my son. 

We drove all the way from Wisconsin - about 4 hours - and headed all the way back after the game.  It was totally worth it.

That's awesome - great pic and thanks for posting.

It's really a neutral if Murray continues to win.  Would have been a huge positive had they lost though.  Still would be positive if they lose this weekend.

A little RPI analysis shows that there is 0 chance that Murray State would even get a tourney bid if they lose this game.  That is huge for us.  Eliminating a 12 seed competitor far exceeds the concern about a slight RPI drop for Valpo as a result.

In fact, the announcers just specifically called out that likelihood.

Gravy anyone?  Wooooooo.  Just need one win in last two games to ice this thing.  If we lose both the tiebreakers are insane, but I don't expect to need to worry about that anymore!

I'm not sure I buy the premise, "RPI is RPI".  For example, realtimerpi has had Valpo ahead of GB most of the season, and we are currently ahead by about 15 spots. 

Is realtimerpi using "fake" RPI math?

To summarize the thread, is the Horizon League really saying that because GB played Wisconsin (and got crushed) and we didn't, that makes GB more deserving to be the conference champions in the event of an unresolvable tie?  That's just sad...  We lost by 1 at GB and won by 6 at home.

And by the way... What about head-to-head points?

That's a ridiculous item to ignore if you're going to determine home floor based on RPI instead.