Per the NCAA website we have the early game. ESPN, 6 PM CDT.
Glancing at the roughest KenPom numbers (offense, defense, overall, tempo) it looks like BYU might be roughly in the vein of UWGB. Strong offense, quick tempo, but some defense as well. Supposed to be better than GB, of course. I have no idea if they aim for something RP40-like on defense, and haven't checked to see if they e.g. match GB's steal numbers. Offense not quite as high powered as Oakland, but better defense, and a slightly quicker tempo.
[tweet]712715314262310913[/tweet]
tickets purchased, section 119 tenth row...figure I should go to NYC and MSG at least once and this is the perfect excuse!!
Quote from: VUSWIM08-12 on March 23, 2016, 02:22:35 PM
tickets purchased, section 119 tenth row...figure I should go to NYC and MSG at least once and this is the perfect excuse!!
I will be represented by my son, who lives in Hartford, CT, and is an IU grad. He roots for VU, because of me. He purchased a ticket shortly after the win, last night.
Quote from: agibson on March 23, 2016, 12:40:11 PM
Glancing at the roughest KenPom numbers (offense, defense, overall, tempo) it looks like BYU might be roughly in the vein of UWGB. Strong offense, quick tempo, but some defense as well. Supposed to be better than GB, of course. I have no idea if they aim for something RP40-like on defense, and haven't checked to see if they e.g. match GB's steal numbers. Offense not quite as high powered as Oakland, but better defense, and a slightly quicker tempo.
Sagarin has it almost a dead heat as BYU is ranked #41 and we are #42. The play 7 deep and start 6'7, 6'8, 6'10, 6'2 and 6'3. Main guy off the bench is 6'6 and some time for their 6'11 guy. They only outrebounded Creighton by 2.
Quote from: vu72 on March 23, 2016, 03:58:23 PMSagarin has it almost a dead heat as BYU is ranked #41 and we are #42. The play 7 deep and start 6'7, 6'8, 6'10, 6'2 and 6'3. Main guy off the bench is 6'6 and some time for their 6'11 guy. They only outrebounded Creighton by 2.
KenPom's not so close. Valpo #32, BYU #52. My simple KenPom analysis was pretty good at predicting Vegas lines for our first three games, but those were maybe dominated by the home court advantage. The same analysis would suggest we'll be maybe 2 or 2.5 point favorites on a neutral court - we'll see. (The people actually setting the lines might worry also about how many "fan" bets the two sides are likely to attract, would could depend on size of alumni or other fan support, etc. But maybe mormons don't gamble?)
Quote from: VUSWIM08-12 on March 23, 2016, 02:22:35 PM
tickets purchased, section 119 tenth row...figure I should go to NYC and MSG at least once and this is the perfect excuse!!
The alumni bus trip details are out - if anyone doesn't have them let us know, we could probably post them here. $200 for the bus trip from Valpo, leaving Monday just before midnight! I think that does _not_ include tickets. Maybe I'll give that info at least.
Quote
Game Tickets
Tickets in section 106 can be purchased through the Valpo Athletics ticket office by calling 877-MY-VU-TIX (877-698-8849) or 219-464-5233.
Additional tickets in section 104 may also be purchased directly through the Madison Square Garden box office at the following link. Use the code GOVALPO to take advantage of this offer. Users must create a ticketing account to proceed, and tickets must be downloaded and printed off at home.
Pregame dinner/pep rally at Stout NYC.
OK - and here's a public version of the advertisement
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2015-16/15376/tickets-available-for-crusaders-trip-to-msg/#.VvMjXhIrLUp
But, they don't list ticket prices.
Could someone give us a sense what tickets are going for? I can't make the trip, but I'm curious.
Buddy and I got tickets from stub hub last night for $19 each. Double header tickets too. We are in the 100 level (middle up) in the corner. Better tickets closer to center court range anywhere from $40-80, most expensive in the 100's, some up in the rafters for $14 and up.
We live in the area so we aren't taking the bus or staying in a hotel or anything like that so I can't be of much help there.
Since we are going into the nit final four and are the only #1 seed remaining...does that mean we are heavily favored to win the whole thing? ;D
Quote from: gamelord on March 23, 2016, 07:17:31 PM
Since we are going into the nit final four and are the only #1 seed remaining...does that mean we are heavily favored to win the whole thing? ;D
When my son asked I suggested maybe 1:3 favorites, but I've not thought hard at it.
Quote from: agibson on March 23, 2016, 05:36:12 PM
Quote from: VUSWIM08-12 on March 23, 2016, 02:22:35 PM
tickets purchased, section 119 tenth row...figure I should go to NYC and MSG at least once and this is the perfect excuse!!
The alumni bus trip details are out - if anyone doesn't have them let us know, we could probably post them here. $200 for the bus trip from Valpo, leaving Monday just before midnight! I think that does _not_ include tickets. Maybe I'll give that info at least.
Quote
Game Tickets
Tickets in section 106 can be purchased through the Valpo Athletics ticket office by calling 877-MY-VU-TIX (877-698-8849) or 219-464-5233.
Additional tickets in section 104 may also be purchased directly through the Madison Square Garden box office at the following link. Use the code GOVALPO to take advantage of this offer. Users must create a ticketing account to proceed, and tickets must be downloaded and printed off at home.
Pregame dinner/pep rally at Stout NYC.
OK - and here's a public version of the advertisement
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2015-16/15376/tickets-available-for-crusaders-trip-to-msg/#.VvMjXhIrLUp
But, they don't list ticket prices.
Could someone give us a sense what tickets are going for? I can't make the trip, but I'm curious.
. All tickets in 106 gone.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/story.cfm/story/1756967
This link shows the odds of winning for the entire 32-team field. Of the 4 finalists Valpo's odds are considerably better than the other 3. We should be a lock for favorite to win the championship.
mine in 119,10th row, were $55 each plus fees so $125 total...I'll probably end up in the BYU section... I'll have to yell Jimmer each time we make a 3 :crazy:
Valpo 75
BYU 67
I look forward to seeing us in-person again!
Stats for the NIT, only:
| Team | Avg Score | Avg Opp Score | Margin |
| BYU | 88 | 79 | 9.00 |
| George Washington | 84 | 76 | 7.67 |
| San Diego St. | 81 | 63 | 18.33 |
| Valparaiso | 76 | 62 | 14.33 |
from the VU Alumni facebook page as the lead in to the funding link...
"You asked and were heard: If you would like to help donate to help the Pep Band go to the NIT, please click the following link. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a gift receipt for tax purposes."
Apparently VU picks up the costs for the pep band to travel to the conference tourney and, should they make it, NCAA tourney (because the NCAA provides funds). There was no budget for the pep band to travel for the NIT tourney. This is why there is a plea for funds - so the pep band can make the trip.
PS - The band found out about this yesterday (Wednesday)
from the VU Alumni facebook page as the lead in to the funding link...
"You asked and were heard: If you would like to help donate to help the Pep Band go to the NIT, please click the following link. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a gift receipt for tax purposes."
This will be a close game, but with the way Alec has been playing and his leadership, I believe we pull out a win!
Valpo 77
BYU 73
BYU Losses this year:
@ #82 Long Beach State 66-65 (in the ESPN Kickoff Marathon)
@ #9 Utah 83-75
@ #46 Colorado 92-83
Diamond Head Classic: to #87 Harvard 85-82 - OT
@ #28 St. Mary's 85-74
@ #250 Portland 84-81
@ #133 Pepperdine 71-65
HOME - #255 Pacific 77-72
HOME - #29 Gonzaga 71-68
WCC Tourney - #29 Gonzaga - 88-84
They are 16-2 at home, 6-6 on the road and 4-2 Neutral court
BYU VALPO
RPI top 50: 2-5 2-1
51 - 100: 5-1 4-1
101-200: 5-2 11-4
201+ 13-2 10-0
Here's the link to their stat-sheet:
http://byucougars.com/stats/m-basketball/2015-2016
One big advantage they have is that they have played in cavernous arenas....
ATTENDANCE
Home games-Avg/Game 18-14,699
Away games-Avg/Game 12-4,776
Neutral site-Avg/Game - 6-8,432
Common Opponents:
Belmont: BYU 95- Bruins 81
St Marys: Gaels 85 Cougars 74 (New Years Eve)
St Marys: Cougars 70 Gaels 59 (Feb 6)
Here's the recap on their loss to Pacific:
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball suffered its first home loss of the season in a 77-72 setback to Pacific Saturday afternoon in the Marriott Center.
"We got off to a good start and shared the ball well, but defensively we were a step slow," BYU head coach Dave Rose said. "We've watched this team over the last three or four weeks and they play everybody really close. We know it's a team that has really talented individuals that are tough matchups for us. They guard us really well and they're very physical."
The Cougars (17-8, 8-4 West Coast Conference) shot just 33.9 percent in the game and 23.3 percent in the second half while the Tigers (7-15, 5-7 WCC) came away with their second road win of the season. The game was close throughout as it featured 17 lead changes and 12 ties.
Chase Fischer led all scorers with 23 points, including three 3-pointers and 14 of 14 shooting from the free-throw line. Kyle Davis shot a team-best 8 of 11 from the floor for 21 points to go along with five rebounds, while Kyle Collinsworth added nine points, 12 boards and four assists.
BYU held a 34-32 lead at halftime as Davis scored 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Chase Fischer hit 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
Despite struggling from the field in the beginning of the second half, BYU led 43-40 at the 14:21 mark.
Pacific, which held the upper hand in second-half shooting at 40 percent, moved ahead for the first time in the second half on a pair of DJ Ursery free throws for a 49-48 advantage at the 10:45 mark.
Down 59-56 BYU tied it up with 4:33 left in the game as Emery was fouled on a 3-pointer attempt and converted all three free throws.
The Cougars took a 1-point lead on a Collinsworth free throw, but the Tigers pushed back in front, breaking an 0-for-5 streak on a T.J. Wallace 3-pointer for the 62-60 advantage with 3:30 left in the game.
With 1:38 to play Pacific extended the lead to its largest of the game, 68-62 on a pair of Alec Kobre free throws. BYU cut the deficit to three points with 10 seconds left, but the Tigers kept the Cougars at bay with two more free throws for the eventual 77-72 final tally.
Wow, Valpo playing at the same venue where the King of Entertainment, Frank Sinatra, has his Main Event comeback concert on October 13, 1974. I could hear Howard Cosell doing the introduction as they welcome Frank comes to the entire western hemisphere ...
Line opens as PICK 'EM
OVER/UNDER 147.5
No respect?
I hope we do better than we did last time at Madison Square Garden.
Quote from: agibson on March 24, 2016, 04:22:29 PM
No respect?
(http://wallpaperus.org/wallpapers/04/15/rodney-dangerfield-4312x4608-wallpaper-635879.jpg)
Great video clip.
I'm going to try and manufacture some useless VU uniform trivia from it. The uniforms worn in the MSG clip read "Valparaiso" and not "Valpo" on the front. In what year did the men's team last wear uniforms with the name "Valparaiso" on the front of the jersey?
You have gotta love the long distance set shots and Valpo's striped socks.
So who does Valpo match up against Kyle Collinsworth? I realize that BYU has other good players, but Collinsworth is the guy that makes them go (and they are definitely up tempo). I would expect Tevonn Walker to get more minutes on Collinsworth since he is Valpo's best defensive guard, but would expect Darien Walker and Hammink to also get some time covering Collinsworth.
That looks like the footage they show in Space Jam when showing the monstars what basketball is.
Line has not moved.
OVER/UNDER has dropped to 147 as consensus, but as low as 146 on some boards.
Great clip!
So many missed bunnies! So few lines on the court! (Gives "between the circles" a whole different dimension.)
Was that an underhand pass?
And some very long 2's! The bank shot looked like maybe an NBA range 3.
Quote from: agibson on March 24, 2016, 06:29:23 PM
Great clip!
So many missed bunnies! So few lines on the court! (Gives "between the circles" a whole different dimension.)
Was that an underhand pass?
And some very long 2's! The bank shot looked like maybe an NBA range 3.
And so little contact, palming, traveling, and ball rotation.
Quote from: vu84v2 on March 24, 2016, 05:04:41 PM
You have gotta love the long distance set shots and Valpo's striped socks.
From those clips it looked like Janisch and the Warnkes got mugged a lot. I guess Valpo kids didn't play such a rough and tumble game as those Long Island kids did.
Yes, but LIU's basketball history took a horrible turn a few years later -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCNY_point_shaving_scandal
The lane is very narrow!
I hope Valpo gets a similar introduction as what the King of Entertainment got back in 1974.
I had forgotten how grinding and monotonous Cosell's voice would get in just a few minutes.
First pre-NIT Final story in the Times
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/crusaders-gearing-up-for-new-york-byu/article_d484e4a4-9a3d-58a1-8677-d1cebaa06173.html#utm_source=%5Bdomain%5D&utm_campaign=%2Femail-updates%2Fdaily-headlines%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Crusaders gearing up for New York, BYU
VALPARAISO — Alec Peters isn't sure what to expect when he visits New York City for the first time in his life next week. The Valparaiso junior is going in with an open mind, particularly when it comes to stepping foot in Madison Square Garden for the first time.
"Bright lights and busy streets," Peters said of his New York impressions. "I'm looking forward (to the Garden). I hope it overwhelms me to the point that I need to take a step back."
The Crusaders are stocked full of Chicago natives on the roster, but even residents of the Second City are looking forward to taking in some of the sights and sounds of New York. Tinley Park resident Jubril Adekoya talked up the fashion of SoHo and the appeal of New York pizza.
"I might have to sneak a couple (of slices)," Adekoya said. "Don't tell Coach Bryce, obviously."
Drew said earlier this week that the team would attempt to see some landmarks if they were given the time prior to Tuesday's National Invitation Tournament semifinal against BYU. Drew estimated that more than half the players on the roster had never been to New York.
As much as the players are looking forward to the experience of the biggest city in the country, they are also going there with the full intent of winning two basketball games and coming back to Valparaiso as NIT champions.
"We're just trying to go win a championship," Adekoya said. "We have to treat it like any other game. We'll go out there and go through the same pregame routine."
The Crusaders face a tall task in the order of BYU. The Cougars feature three players averaging more than 15 points per game and despite being from the same conference as St. Mary's, they play a much more up-tempo offensive system than the Gaels. BYU is led by Kyle Collinsworth, the NCAA's all-time leader in triple-doubles.
"You don't have to watch tape to know what he brings," Peters said of Collinsworth. "He's a complete player. He's got a pretty special game. They're a team that can really score. They're going to shoot a lot earlier (than St. Mary's). It's learning how to adapt to the game as it goes."
Interestingly, BYU is a very left handed team. I remember when we were more that way and it can cause early confusion. Collingsworth is good, is he much different than Felder or Sykes? Chase Fisher is a dynamic shooter. He started as a Wake Forest recruit but the bzdelik era imploded and most of those early classes transferred. Better fit at BYU.
Oakland is a very left-handed, high-tempo team as well. That worked out OK for us.
34 hours to game time We have the highest seed, best record and one of the deepest team talent wise. Lets enjoy the ride, the team has worked all year to get here. ;D
Valpo wins it 75-70
I think we might be an underdog when we face San Diego State in the finale.
We all know that technically we have been shorthanded all year with Derrik out. Given our normal 9 deep playing rotation, we have actually only lost one game all year where we were at full strength and that was at Wright State. Every other loss we were either short a player or had a player only able to give it a try for a couple of minutes.
Tonight we are at full strength and presumably as healthy as we've been in a long time. Being healthy, on a neutral court, I like our chances. Valpo 81-77
Quote from: vu72 on March 29, 2016, 03:09:03 PMWe all know that technically we have been shorthanded all year with Derrik out. Given our normal 9 deep playing rotation, we have actually only lost one game all year where we were at full strength and that was at Wright State. Every other loss we were either short a player or had a player only able to give it a try for a couple of minutes. Tonight we are at full strength and presumably as healthy as we've been in a long time. Being healthy, on a neutral court, I like our chances. Valpo 81-77
Even in the WSU game we were missing Keith with an ankle injury down the stretch
Gutted that one out. Hamink and Skara really came through to win it. On to the finals!
Woodford Reserve bourbon to celebrate this one!
Hell of a game, all I can say.
OK now, who do we want to face in the final...
Brian
From game tracker it appeared tha Alec couldn't hit anything in the final 8 minutes. Why all the attempted 3s when we were up by as much as 6? I could not see what was happening - no tv.
Lucky to win this one. Did the guys forget how to hit free throws, protect the ball and box out? Fortunately, BYU clearly had an off night. We gave them plenty of chances, though.
I'll take it, but the 2-pt margin will bug me for the the interminable jaw flapping that will be done by the BYU faithful about the missed goaltending call (sorry, they had ample opportunity to add two more points after that). Very much to their credit, they came out with more intensity offensively and defensively. Hammink; he giveth and he taketh away...and then he giveth again. Yikes.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 29, 2016, 08:15:58 PM
From game tracker it appeared tha Alec couldn't hit anything in the final 8 minutes. Why all the attempted 3s when we were up by as much as 6? I could not see what was happening - no tv.
BYU was very disruptive to our less-than-snappy passes and slowness in the second half. We were afraid to take it inside like they were in the first.
That was not a goal tend. Look up the rules. In colege you can block a shot after it hits the backboard as long as it's still on upward flight. The announcers were wrong. It was a great LEGAL block.
Watched the first half at the office on ESPN App, nice 14 point lead, we looked great. I eventually made it home, turn on ESPN ... tie game with 40 seconds left. Yikes! Exciting finish, glad to be on the winning end. (And I'm REALLY thankful the officials didn't pull a phantom foul of nowhere on that final 3 attempt / Hammink block.)
One more and I bust into the cellar for the good Valpolicella!
Quote from: rink on March 29, 2016, 08:29:58 PM
Watched the first half at the office on ESPN App, nice 14 point lead, we looked great. I eventually made it home, turn on ESPN ... tie game with 40 seconds left. Yikes! Exciting finish, glad to be on the winning end. (And I'm REALLY thankful the officials didn't pull a phantom foul of nowhere on that final 3 attempt / Hammink block.)
One more and I bust into the cellar for the good Valpolicella!
Go Valpo...licella! One of my favorites, though my wife insists its only because it's got "Valpo" in the name.
BYU has great personnel for that 1-3-1 zone. We had seen almost none of it this season. We turned the ball over 20 times as a result. BUT- we got the WIN even with them killing us in the second half. :thumbsup:
Quote from: wh on March 29, 2016, 08:28:54 PM
That was not a goal tend. Look up the rules. In colege you can block a shot after it hits the backboard as long as it's still on upward flight. The announcers were wrong. It was a great LEGAL block.
First of all, congrats on another win. Thought you guys should have been in the NCAAT, but kudos for making the best of your opportunity in the NIT.
Regarding the block, I did look it up and the NCAA changed the goaltending rule in 2008. http://www.hoopville.com/2008/05/13/ncaa-ncaa-tweaks-goaltending-rule/ (http://www.hoopville.com/2008/05/13/ncaa-ncaa-tweaks-goaltending-rule/)
Good luck in the Final!
Quote from: zvillehaze on March 29, 2016, 08:56:02 PM
Quote from: wh on March 29, 2016, 08:28:54 PM
That was not a goal tend. Look up the rules. In colege you can block a shot after it hits the backboard as long as it's still on upward flight. The announcers were wrong. It was a great LEGAL block.
First of all, congrats on another win. Thought you guys should have been in the NCAAT, but kudos for making the best of your opportunity in the NIT.
Regarding the block, I did look it up and the NCAA changed the goaltending rule in 2008. http://www.hoopville.com/2008/05/13/ncaa-ncaa-tweaks-goaltending-rule/ (http://www.hoopville.com/2008/05/13/ncaa-ncaa-tweaks-goaltending-rule/)
Good luck in the Final!
So as I read it if the shot was going up after it hit the backboard it was not a goaltend. It looked to me that the shot was going up so it was a good block. That's my story and I'm sticking to it !
Love the kid, but someone tell E.Vic to quit shooting 3's.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 29, 2016, 08:15:58 PM
From game tracker it appeared tha Alec couldn't hit anything in the final 8 minutes. Why all the attempted 3s when we were up by as much as 6? I could not see what was happening - no tv.
We attempted so many threes because that's what their 1-3-1-1 zone gave us (or whatever it's called). We seemed incapable of handling it in the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half before finally exploiting it.
I'm not a basketball expert, but it seemed like the way to beat it was to swing it around the perimeter without dribbling, then patiently wait for an open shooter, or finally find a lane to drive. Valpo got a few open looks in the second half that they just flat out missed (airballed 3 or so) before finally sinking them. It was a frustrating game offensively - Valpo is centered around high ball screens and lots of offensive sets, and they just didn't gel against the zone. Lots of plays (alley oops) ended up stolen, and nice drives to get inside were blocked.
Overall, I liked the way Skara and Shane responded after their lackluster play in the second half. Skara had a great first half, but struggled down the stretch on both offense and defense. That three was clutch. Shane missed that free throw at the end, but of course responded with the game winning block.
RPI at 27
Quote from: oklahomamick on March 29, 2016, 10:40:56 PMLove the kid, but someone tell E.Vic to quit shooting 3's.
6 for 38 (.158) on the season. Don't know if that includes 0-2(?) tonight.
That was a fun game to watch, even though both teams had a ton of turnovers. I am surprised that we didn't have many offensive charges in this game. When they were playing in the 1-3-1, we would drive down the lane on occasion, and they seemed to just let us pass by. You would think that with 3 guys in the middle, that someone would take a charge.
The weakness of the 1-3-1 is at the baseline and extended. You have to swing to the low baseline quickly and open corner Js are abundant. If they gamble, then you attack the basket from the baseline. The 10-12 footer along the baseline is also very open but the lost art of the mid-range J starts to come into play. EVic had a couple open looks from the corner, but not the guy you want there. Shane out high and Alec in the corner also provided some big offensive relief. The other missing piece for much of 2d half was Darien with 3 fouls. He had been attacking from the corner and hit a couple 3s from there too. The big lineup helped offensively but couldn't contain the small guards. Good composure late in making plays. Thought that was a pretty good ballgame to watch. The GW vs SDST game was brutal. By the way, in 1996 NCAAT in Phoenix, GW was the first game of the night session before our game.
Just remember in a tourney a win is a win is a win -- survive and advance. Enjoy the ride!!
Just some random stats: We were out rebounded 45-42 (pretty rare). Both teams had 17 free throws. (Can't complain about the refs)We had 20 Turnovers to their 18 but, we had 18 assists versus their 8 (we played a better team game) We had five guys in double figures to their three (better team game) We had 22 bench points to their 6! (much deeper team)
Just heard a nice shout out from Ginger Zee on Good Morning America! Apparently some Valpo fans had gone to see the broadcast! Great Stuff!!
Not sure how many are aware of the Valpo Athletics exposure page. Here is a link to last nights photos and press conference. https://valpoathletics.exposure.co/valpobasketball-vs-byu-32816 (https://valpoathletics.exposure.co/valpobasketball-vs-byu-32816)
Had a great evening in the city yesterday! Buddy and I took the train in, had a nice dinner, and settled in for some...exciting basketball. The atmosphere really picked up in the second half and I sensed that many of the neutral parties took up the cause of BYU as the "underdog." The entire row behind us was from a local business that bought 20 tix to reward employees and they were rooting for BYU by the end (also rooting for the over/under to hit 147...bummer guys :P).
Overall impressed by the Valpo showing, a lot of local families took advantage of spring break to go together, including the family sitting across from us on the train in (95 grads). No Pep Band from BYU, glad ours came to give that collegiate atmosphere! It felt like the whole second half that Valpo was trying to stop a freight train rolling downhill, but somehow we figured out just enough to win. Gutty performance in what became a really charged atmosphere!
My experience of the BYU fan base is overall positive. They are passionate and loud, but polite and even were gracious in defeat in the aftermath. One couple even offered my friend and I their tickets to the championship game!
Glad we were able to go and even more glad to see a Valpo Victory!
Quote from: govalpogo on March 30, 2016, 10:13:42 AM
Had a great evening in the city yesterday! Buddy and I took the train in, had a nice dinner, and settled in for some...exciting basketball. The atmosphere really picked up in the second half and I sensed that many of the neutral parties took up the cause of BYU as the "underdog." The entire row behind us was from a local business that bought 20 tix to reward employees and they were rooting for BYU by the end (also rooting for the over/under to hit 147...bummer guys :P).
Overall impressed by the Valpo showing, a lot of local families took advantage of spring break to go together, including the family sitting across from us on the train in (95 grads). No Pep Band from BYU, glad ours came to give that collegiate atmosphere! It felt like the whole second half that Valpo was trying to stop a freight train rolling downhill, but somehow we figured out just enough to win. Gutty performance in what became a really charged atmosphere!
My experience of the BYU fan base is overall positive. They are passionate and loud, but polite and even were gracious in defeat in the aftermath. One couple even offered my friend and I their tickets to the championship game!
Glad we were able to go and even more glad to see a Valpo Victory!
so how full was The Garden?
Quote from: vu72 on March 30, 2016, 10:33:56 AM
Quote from: govalpogo on March 30, 2016, 10:13:42 AM
Had a great evening in the city yesterday! Buddy and I took the train in, had a nice dinner, and settled in for some...exciting basketball. The atmosphere really picked up in the second half and I sensed that many of the neutral parties took up the cause of BYU as the "underdog." The entire row behind us was from a local business that bought 20 tix to reward employees and they were rooting for BYU by the end (also rooting for the over/under to hit 147...bummer guys :P).
Overall impressed by the Valpo showing, a lot of local families took advantage of spring break to go together, including the family sitting across from us on the train in (95 grads). No Pep Band from BYU, glad ours came to give that collegiate atmosphere! It felt like the whole second half that Valpo was trying to stop a freight train rolling downhill, but somehow we figured out just enough to win. Gutty performance in what became a really charged atmosphere!
My experience of the BYU fan base is overall positive. They are passionate and loud, but polite and even were gracious in defeat in the aftermath. One couple even offered my friend and I their tickets to the championship game!
Glad we were able to go and even more glad to see a Valpo Victory!
so how full was The Garden?
By mid way through the 2nd half, the lower bowl was pretty well full as SDSU and GW fans filed in. No one in the upper deck, they moved people down who had bought tix up there perhaps to make it look fuller/so security and ushers had less to worry about. I see they haven't released any attendance figures with the box score...maybe 8-10k? About half full in a ~20k arena. Didn't feel empty though.
Quote from: vu72 on March 30, 2016, 10:33:56 AM
so how full was The Garden?
As is typical of these events. It was half full at the start of the Valpo/BYU game but was full in the lower half as the SDSU and George Washington fans arrived about halftime so they could see who won the first game and see the full game their team was playing in.
Quote from: bbtds on March 30, 2016, 12:58:23 PM
Quote from: vu72 on March 30, 2016, 10:33:56 AM
so how full was The Garden?
As is typical of these events. It was half full at the start of the Valpo/BYU game but was full in the lower half as the SDSU and George Washington fans arrived about halftime so they could see who won the first game and see the full game their team was playing in.
I saw the official attendance listed at about 8,300.