Messages

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What would it take for Whelliston to exempt them from mid-majority coverage?  He has a list of criteria, and discussed it recently - maybe even for Butler in particular. Past exemptions have included the likes of Gonzaga, Memphis, and Xavier.

A better TV deal would be one factor.

To me a BCS conference school will always be considered a major.  A school from a mid major conference can play at the "major" level but must continuously sustain that level of play or they can slip back to mid major status.  Indiana State when Larry Bird was there played at a major level.  As soon as he left, they slipped back.

Xavier is the program I'm most familiar with, and Butler certainly compares favorably with them.  X has probably sustained a high level longer, but Butler has done as well and better recently.  If X is major, then Butler certainly is now.  Doesn't mean either program couldn't slip back , though.  Let either school stop beating major schools frequently, fail to make the NCAA tournament for 3 or 4 years, or go one and done in the tournament consistently, and you would see their perception as major drop.

Can you name some schools that were once major and have slipped and dropped back to mid-major?  De Paul?

If you go back a ways, you have the University of San Fransisco who won back to back NCAA Tournaments in the 50's, and Loyola who won one in the 60's.  Indiana State during the Larry Bird Years played at a major Level, but quickly dropped back after he left.  De Paul if they weren't in the Big East would certainly fit the bill.

A

What would it take for Whelliston to exempt them from mid-majority coverage?  He has a list of criteria, and discussed it recently - maybe even for Butler in particular. Past exemptions have included the likes of Gonzaga, Memphis, and Xavier.

A better TV deal would be one factor.

To me a BCS conference school will always be considered a major.  A school from a mid major conference can play at the "major" level but must continuously sustain that level of play or they can slip back to mid major status.  Indiana State when Larry Bird was there played at a major level.  As soon as he left, they slipped back.

Xavier is the program I'm most familiar with, and Butler certainly compares favorably with them.  X has probably sustained a high level longer, but Butler has done as well and better recently.  If X is major, then Butler certainly is now.  Doesn't mean either program couldn't slip back , though.  Let either school stop beating major schools frequently, fail to make the NCAA tournament for 3 or 4 years, or go one and done in the tournament consistently, and you would see their perception as major drop.

Can you name some schools that were once major and have slipped and dropped back to mid-major?  De Paul?

If you go back a ways, you have the University of San Fransisco who won back to back NCAA Tournaments in the 50's, and Loyola who won one in the 60's.  Indiana State during the Larry Bird Years played at a major Level, but quickly dropped back after he left.  De Paul if they weren't in the Big East would certainly fit the bill.

Don't forget Houston after Phi Slamma Jamma and Guy Lewis.  Where has Houston been lately?  Houston, we have a problem.

Maybe UNLV after Tark the shark left?

my vote went to '76 indiana. bob knight's personality was a part of his teams. and as crazy as he was, i have to think 1960 ohio state would have a hard time matching that kind of intensity.

FYI:  Bob Knight was a part of the 1960 Ohio State team too......as a player

So he would have intimate knowledge on how Indiana should play them.  Further advantage IU

A

What would it take for Whelliston to exempt them from mid-majority coverage?  He has a list of criteria, and discussed it recently - maybe even for Butler in particular. Past exemptions have included the likes of Gonzaga, Memphis, and Xavier.

A better TV deal would be one factor.

To me a BCS conference school will always be considered a major.  A school from a mid major conference can play at the "major" level but must continuously sustain that level of play or they can slip back to mid major status.  Indiana State when Larry Bird was there played at a major level.  As soon as he left, they slipped back.

Xavier is the program I'm most familiar with, and Butler certainly compares favorably with them.  X has probably sustained a high level longer, but Butler has done as well and better recently.  If X is major, then Butler certainly is now.  Doesn't mean either program couldn't slip back , though.  Let either school stop beating major schools frequently, fail to make the NCAA tournament for 3 or 4 years, or go one and done in the tournament consistently, and you would see their perception as major drop.

Can you name some schools that were once major and have slipped and dropped back to mid-major?  De Paul?

If you go back a ways, you have the University of San Fransisco who won back to back NCAA Tournaments in the 50's, and Loyola who won one in the 60's.  Indiana State during the Larry Bird Years played at a major Level, but quickly dropped back after he left.  De Paul if they weren't in the Big East would certainly fit the bill.

A

What would it take for Whelliston to exempt them from mid-majority coverage?  He has a list of criteria, and discussed it recently - maybe even for Butler in particular. Past exemptions have included the likes of Gonzaga, Memphis, and Xavier.

A better TV deal would be one factor.

To me a BCS conference school will always be considered a major.  A school from a mid major conference can play at the "major" level but must continuously sustain that level of play or they can slip back to mid major status.  Indiana State when Larry Bird was there played at a major level.  As soon as he left, they slipped back.

Xavier is the program I'm most familiar with, and Butler certainly compares favorably with them.  X has probably sustained a high level longer, but Butler has done as well and better recently.  If X is major, then Butler certainly is now.  Doesn't mean either program couldn't slip back , though.  Let either school stop beating major schools frequently, fail to make the NCAA tournament for 3 or 4 years, or go one and done in the tournament consistently, and you would see their perception as major drop.

So maybe he can bulk up a bit and play some 4 with range on his shot.  I'm sure the tats could stretch to cover a bit more muscle.  After all, playing out of position has become a Valpo tradition.

The secret stash of European 7-footers is gone.  And skilled big men are going to go to bigger better programs.  I would settle for a muscle-bound, bruising 6-7 power forward if we could get one.  I am tired of 6-9, 185lb. power forwards with perimeter shooting skills.

And yet, other schools in the Horizon League seem to be able to find true bigs that can play.  Ours seem to wash out like Arden, Brian (the head case)Calum, Cam (though I really thought he might develop based on his Freshman year) and now maybe Vucic.  What is wrong with our recruiting?  Do we have a problem evaluating bigs, or do we just have to settle for the tallest guys we can find & cross our fingers that they might someday develop a low post game?  We have to fix this.

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.

I just don't see how you think Vucic will improve enough to make a real difference. I agree with what another poster said that he will have a career a lot like Calum MacLeod. Tall but no big man skills.

As I have said in the past, unless we can figure out how to recruit some skilled big people, we will be doomed to play people out of position.  Cory and Ryan did yeoman service in playing the 5 and 4, but it isn't really fair to expect them (and by extension) the team to excel with them playing out of position as they have the last two years.  And you can say that in the past, the Horizon League has been a guard dominated league, but I think that is changing.  Unless we figure out why we can't recruit skilled big guys, we will never seriously challenge.  I just don't see Cam (after 3 years of decreasing playing time) and Vucic doing this for us.  I haven't seen any report that Vucic will be a player.   As I observed before, he appears to be a Calum McCloud type - tall but not a contibuter.  as I see it, we have one scholarship left for next year.  Any hope for a big that can actually contribute?  

Sad.  Truely a sad end to the season.  Glad it wasn't in the NIT on National TV.  I think now we really overachieved during most of the season and only played to our true level at the end.  Iona has given the Horizon League a blueprint on how to play us next year.  Sag off ten feet on Buggs and make us play 4 on 5 on offense.  And unless we can dig up a true 5 with some skills, we will not be able to compete as we cannot shoot the 3 as a team consistantly enough to make up for it over the course of a season.

Made it.