Participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase, apparently.
https://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2023/4/4/23665918/2023-24-mens-college-basketball-exempt-multi-team-events-mte-thanksgiving-early-season-tournaments
EDIT:
Oops, posted somewhere else as well.
Roger Powell has some really good connections for scheduling: obviously Gonzaga, but also Illinois and Kansas (Self recruited him to Illinois and to my knowledge still has a close relationship with Coach Powell). Not sure that Valpo is ready for a tougher schedule yet (though an excellent buy game would be helpful), but I am hopeful that there will be marked improvements in scheduling within the next few years.
jtm you officially started a fun new topic, the 2023-2024 schedule!!! :thumbsup:
So what we are hearing:
Valpo will head south and play in the Gulf Coast Showcase that includes-
Buffalo 15-17 (9-9 in the MAC) 194 NET.
George Washington 16-16 (10-8 in the A-10) 211 NET.
Wright State 18-15 (10-10 Horizon) 197 NET.
What we believe: (return H/H)
vs. Samford 21-11 (15-3 in the SoCon) 135 NET
@ Elon 8-24 (6-12 CAA) 337 NET
What "I" would love to see.....
Ball State 18-12 (NET 156)
Loyola 10-21 (NET 269)
DePaul 10-23 (NET 155)
Southern Indiana 16-17 (NET 266)
AND WAGNER for the Lutheran Connection (only other Lutheran D-1 program) 15-13 NEC with a NET of 303)
Powell did say that he was looking at a schedule that "is not too crazy early and then sprinkle in a couple games where they are challenged at a high level to prepare us for this league".
Quote from: VALPO LI on May 16, 2023, 11:33:43 AM
Valpo will head south and play in the Gulf Coast Showcase
That same week, Gonzaga will be in Hawaii at the Maui Classic. Already, Coach Powell's sacrifice by coming to Valpo is on display. :)
I don't believe Valparaiso is participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Quote from: Pgmado on May 16, 2023, 02:23:02 PM
I don't believe Valparaiso is participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Interesting! :o. Are we rumored for something equal or better?
We don't have a team yet so hand picking any opponent has got to be a crapshoot.
Quote from: Pgmado on May 16, 2023, 02:23:02 PMI don't believe Valparaiso is participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
This site has us in the Gulf Coast Showcase but it could have changed with the coaching change.
https://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2023/4/4/23665918/2023-24-mens-college-basketball-exempt-multi-team-events-mte-thanksgiving-early-season-tournaments
I believe Valpo was out of the tournament even when the old coaching staff was still intact. Not sure what is happening now, but don't go booking trips to Gulf Coast.
Darn, I'm already down here excited to see them play.
Quote from: Pgmado on May 16, 2023, 05:59:06 PMI believe Valpo was out of the tournament even when the old coaching staff was still intact. Not sure what is happening now, but don't go booking trips to Gulf Coast.
??????
I can say with absolute certainty that I am 50% sure that Valpo will play Southern Illinois and Missouri State twice this year!
Quote from: VALPO LI on May 17, 2023, 03:34:26 PM
I can say with absolute certainty that I am 50% sure that Valpo will play Southern Illinois and Missouri State twice this year!
I am 100% sure we won't be playing the Loyola 'blers or the Creighton Bluejays in the MVC for the 23-24 season.
Selfishly, I hope Roger gets at least one of the three D-I UWs (Madison, GB, Milwaukee) and/or Marquette on the 23-24 schedule. Madison or Marquette "buy" games would really help the bottom line.
Here's a really crazy thought - ya think the school down south would condescend to schedule Valpo ever again now that we've changed the AD and MBB coach?
Quote from: VULB#62 on May 22, 2023, 07:30:05 PM
Selfishly, I hope Roger gets at least one of the three D-I UWs (Madison, GB, Milwaukee) and/or Marquette on the 23-24 schedule. Madison or Marquette "buy" games would really help the bottom line.
Here's a really crazy thought - ya think the school down south would condescend to schedule Valpo ever again now that we've changed the AD and MBB coach?
Need Paul to chime in with how many days it's been since Butler beat Valpo in hoops. Lol.
4,525 days
January 1, 2011 - May 23, 2023
I would think that, given Coach Powell's connections, Gonzaga, Kansas and Illinois are all possibilities for future buy games. I do not think a home-home with UW-Milwaukee is likely (they fired Pat Baldwin), but I think that Marquette is another possible buy game for sometime in the next few years.
Quote from: vu84v2 on May 23, 2023, 02:39:15 PM
I would think that, given Coach Powell's connections, Gonzaga, Kansas and Illinois are all possibilities for future buy games. I do not think a home-home with UW-Milwaukee is likely (they fired Pat Baldwin), but I think that Marquette is another possible buy game for sometime in the next few years.
Maybe a game against Michigan State before Izzo calls it a career? Swing a second game with Oakland before Kampe hangs up his whistle too?
Almost certain GB will be at the ARC this year in a game that was already finalized before Preston exit/Powell entrance.
Looks like we will play at Illinois as part of an MTE this year, as well as get two home game out of it. Maybe WIU and Southern? It looks like they are in the tournament.
https://twitter.com/TVBOren/status/1666551479371481088
So.....
@ Illinois, what a great opportunity for a first year head coach to compete against his alma mater!
Home against Western Illinois University who now competes in the Ohio Valley.
Home vs Southern who finished at the top half of their conference.
Possibly home vs Samford
and @ Elon 2 return games of a H/H
I have to say this is starting to look like a fun schedule!
Now go get Ball State and I will be elated ;D
That's cool on the Illini scenario. And I always like seeing Samford and Son on the docket.
Quote from: crusadermoe on June 15, 2023, 04:16:17 PM
That's cool on the Illini scenario. And I always like seeing Samford and Son on the docket.
Which pup is Samford's son? They are the unoriginal Bulldogs.
Valpo will play at Virginia Tech on the Saturday before final exam week.
[tweet]1678813412917116944[/tweet]
I think account may be a spoof as it's tweet under it is about Roman Penn getting another year eligibility and than stating it's false and it only has like 30 followers. I'd wait and see if another reporter picks it up before believing it.
Quote from: crusader05 on July 11, 2023, 02:11:44 PM
I think account may be a spoof as it's tweet under it is about Roman Penn getting another year eligibility and than stating it's false and it only has like 30 followers. I'd wait and see if another reporter picks it up before believing it.
Here is a second source...
[tweet]1678837108960636928[/tweet]
and a third...
[tweet]1678812035419602977[/tweet]
and a fourth from
The Roanoke Times, Valpo to be paid almost $100,000:
"The Virginia Tech men will host Valparaiso on Dec. 9. Valparaiso will be paid $95,000 for the game. Valparaiso went 11-21 overall and 5-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season. Valparaiso's new coach is Roger Powell Jr."
Well then. This is an exciting development!
Matt Olinger connection at Virginia Tech. Came from Vanderbilt when Bryce Drew and Roger Powell were there.
This $95,000 buy game won't hurt the budget. Good work. It sure helps to have a well connected coach!
Just a guess but playing the Hokies may be part of the East Coast trip to complete the Home and Home with Elon which is just about a 3 hour drive south of Blacksburg. Either way Valpo gets paid to play an ACC school....I like it!
The following was added yesterday online at Phear the Phoenix. Wouldn't it be great if Valpo could get Rowdy Broekhoff to visit for the game?
On Wednesday, November 15th, Green Bay will face the Valparaiso Beacons for the first time since they left the Horizon League for the Missouri Valley Conference in 2017.
Like GB, Valpo is also a program in transition after firing their head coach after last season. Since moving to the MVC the Beacons (formerly Crusaders) have struggled to reach the winning ways they had become accustomed to in their previous conferences and will look to rebuild under first-time head coach Roger Powell.
The game will be a one-off guarantee game instead of the start of a home-and-home series, a potentially winnable contest but certainly a nice chunk of change for the Phoenix regardless.
Quote from: valpopal on July 13, 2023, 08:21:13 AM
The following was added yesterday online at Phear the Phoenix. Wouldn't it be great if Valpo could get Rowdy Broekhoff to visit for the game?
On Wednesday, November 15th, Green Bay will face the Valparaiso Beacons for the first time since they left the Horizon League for the Missouri Valley Conference in 2017.
Like GB, Valpo is also a program in transition after firing their head coach after last season. Since moving to the MVC the Beacons (formerly Crusaders) have struggled to reach the winning ways they had become accustomed to in their previous conferences and will look to rebuild under first-time head coach Roger Powell.
The game will be a one-off guarantee game instead of the start of a home-and-home series, a potentially winnable contest but certainly a nice chunk of change for the Phoenix regardless.[/i]
Whoa. We are doing a
buy with UWGB? That's creative. To make this work, there's gotta be a heckuva lot of promotion to get at least 3,000+ butts in the ARC seats to pay for it. I like the go-for-it approach. So many things are changing around this program in so short a timeframe.
We paid for a UWGB game? Hopefully its a modest amount above travel costs.
But I guess we need to fill the schedule and we did get a windfall from Va. Tech.
Quote from: Pgmado on May 24, 2023, 07:39:12 PM
Almost certain GB will be at the ARC this year in a game that was already finalized before Preston exit/Powell entrance.
Quote from: VULB#62 on July 13, 2023, 10:39:34 AM
Quote from: valpopal on July 13, 2023, 08:21:13 AM
The following was added yesterday online at Phear the Phoenix. Wouldn't it be great if Valpo could get Rowdy Broekhoff to visit for the game?
On Wednesday, November 15th, Green Bay will face the Valparaiso Beacons for the first time since they left the Horizon League for the Missouri Valley Conference in 2017.
Like GB, Valpo is also a program in transition after firing their head coach after last season. Since moving to the MVC the Beacons (formerly Crusaders) have struggled to reach the winning ways they had become accustomed to in their previous conferences and will look to rebuild under first-time head coach Roger Powell.
The game will be a one-off guarantee game instead of the start of a home-and-home series, a potentially winnable contest but certainly a nice chunk of change for the Phoenix regardless.[/i]
Whoa. We are doing a buy with UWGB? That's creative. To make this work, there's gotta be a heckuva lot of promotion to get at least 3,000+ butts in the ARC seats to pay for it. I like the go-for-it approach. So many things are changing around this program in so short a timeframe.
Like this game or not I think credit goes to the old regime for this scheduled game. Despite the Phoenix 3-29 record last year I like this game, early in the season game vs. an old Horizon foe back at the ARC.
Green Bay is a good example of a program that has sunk to lower levels than Valpo, after one time being among the best mid-majors in the nation under Dick Bennett.
They've had some halfway decent teams since the 1990s, but not many.
So, as bad as things have been in Valpo the last 6-7 years, it's not as bad as what Green Bay has endured on the men's side at least.
Quote from: Valpo89 on July 13, 2023, 02:39:46 PMGreen Bay is a good example of a program that has sunk to lower levels than Valpo, after one time being among the best mid-majors in the nation under Dick Bennett.
They've had some halfway decent teams since the 1990s, but not many.
Dick Bennet always gets the credit but we played some pretty good Brian Wardle teams as well. We didn't appreciate his coaching skill back then. ;)
Wardle did a good job of recruiting, had some nice teams. Bennett was on another level good. Bunch of no name guys except for his son and Jeff Nordgaard. His upset of Cal and and near victory over Purdue the next year. Mike Hideman did a good job keeping the ball rolling and had some really good records. Kowalczyk was competitive, Not sure why Linc Darner didn't work out. Phoenix are a complete dumpster fire at the moment!
The Darner firing was totally swimming up stream against logic. Something behind the scenes was the cause.
The team name "Phoenix" always struck me as odd for Green Bay. I don't picture a bird rising from a fire very often in Green Bay when it usually about -10 in the winter and 40 in the summer. :P
The Green Bay Icemen or Snowmen might be a good re-brand to get some attention?
We need to see USC and Bronny at the ARC!
I just looked at Verbal Commits. I thought he have 12 scholarship players committed for '23-24, but I only see 11 on VC (I think). Does anyone know?
Quote from: wh on July 17, 2023, 03:46:42 PM
I just looked at Verbal Commits. I thought he have 12 scholarship players committed for '23-24, but I only see 11 on VC (I think). Does anyone know?
Kaspar Sepp is not listed.
Seems like at this point we have 7 games set. Looking for 4 more.
Thinking @P5, H/H, H/H, Buy
Quote from: NotBryceDrew on July 18, 2023, 11:20:30 AM
Seems like at this point we have 7 games set. Looking for 4 more.
Thinking @P5, H/H, H/H, Buy
No Non D1? - bold thinking 🤔
With Illinois and Virginia Tech on the schedule I would lean more towards a H/H, Chicago St type game, Non -D1 and per perhaps a MAC team.
Quote from: crusadermoe on July 15, 2023, 12:17:38 PM
The team name "Phoenix" always struck me as odd for Green Bay. I don't picture a bird rising from a fire very often in Green Bay when it usually about -10 in the winter and 40 in the summer. :P
The Green Bay Icemen or Snowmen might be a good re-brand to get some attention?
The indoor football team that also plays at the Resch Center where UWGB plays is appropriately named. Wouldn't you agree?
Green Bay Blizzard - Official Website (https://greenbayblizzard.com/)
(https://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net/sidearm.nextgen.sites/greenbayblizzard.com/images/2020/12/4/smz.png)
Hosting second Horizon League team vs IUPUI @ THE ARC!!!
https://twitter.com/RoccoMiller8/status/1682100955431706625
I really like the idea of playing past conference opponents. I think it is a chance to reconnect with some nostalgia for the fan base. I always seemed like in the past that was not even an option.
IUPUI has been one of the worst Division I programs in the country for the last 2-3 years.
They can only go up, theoretically.
Quote from: Valpo89 on July 21, 2023, 11:57:27 AMIUPUI has been one of the worst Division I programs in the country
They have been one of the worst and we had been trying to join them. For this moment in time we probably deserve each other. On the brighter side this could be a good chance for an out of conference win so I'm happy they are coming.
Better a weak D-I than a good D-II or NAIA, no?
Quote from: VULB#62 on July 21, 2023, 01:37:47 PM
Better a weak D-I than a good D-II or NAIA, no?
I'm glad you asked. From a team NET perspective, it's better to play a non-D1 than a weak D-1. From a "who's going to help make us better" perspective, schedule the weak D-1 team every time. Non-D-1 matchups are throw away games that benefit absolutely no one. The last thing we should be focused on in the beginning of a program rebuild is some minor theoretical difference in NET points.
Edit: Not to bash the previous coaching staff (now I will ;)), I got the feeling somewhere along the way that Luke's annual list of excuses for scheduling non-D1 teams had more to do with padding their season win total than anything else.
I don't feel any nostalgia vibe for a game with IUPUI. But if it makes practical sense, do it? Cheap travel.
The only Mid-Con/Horizon nostalgia for me (apart from Butler) would be playing Oakland and Coach Kampe again. The hockey-style fight with one of their thugs and the 60 foot shot by T. Price are in that mix along with dozens of buzzer beaters.
crusadermoe - Great points, though I would enjoy a home and home with UW-Milwaukee (just because I live in Milwaukee). Nothing at all interesting about playing IUPUI.
Yes, in joining the MVC we have a higher basketball profile. The game crowds on the road in the MVC seem MUCH larger.
But we also lost a few valuable road game cities where a lot of our alumni live. Or maybe there are a lot of alumni live in Evansville, Terre Haute, Springfield, MO, Waterloo, IA, Des Moines, Peoria and Bloomington. I would rather drive to Valpo from a Chicago suburb than go to UIC.
Does anyone know that data, excluding Chicago which is neutral in the comparison. I don't know the numbers, but there were a ton of Milwaukee, Detroit and Cleveland kids at VU when I was there.
This is the slightly wrong place to put this, yet wouldn't it be great to have all 11 D-1 teams in Indiana do an early season tournament every year?
One could set up a bracket so the in-conference opponents would not possibly face each other until the tournament final, and do a play in bracket of the six lowest ranking teams face each other to get it to a workable eight team bracket. Do a home and home setting that alternates every other year.
All it would take is a company (think Lucas Oil or similar) to put up a prize pool, and it could be made to work. The expenses and logistics would not be that difficult.
The big guys would never do that. Not on a neutral court. Not even on their home courts most likely. Would be fun, never going to happen. At most there might be a one year 4 team round robin featuring Indiana, Purdue, notre dame, and butler.
Quote from: vok22 on July 27, 2023, 03:24:45 PM
The big guys would never do that. Not on a neutral court. Not even on their home courts most likely. Would be fun, never going to happen. At most there might be a one year 4 team round robin featuring Indiana, Purdue, notre dame, and butler.
[/b]
The Crossroads Classic, involving these four teams, went on for the past 11 years but will not be played this coming season.
Samford to the ARC!!! :thumbsup:
Return of last year's H/H!
5 Home games on the schedule so far.
Western Illinois.
Southern.
Green Bay.
IUPUI.
Samford.
https://twitter.com/TVBOren/status/1686651579493998592
Samford gave us a 30 point beat down last year. None of their starters played more than 19 minutes. For years we dominated OOC matchups like that - until we didn't. I think about that when someone posts about Matt and Luke landing on their feet the way they have. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
We also landed on our feet too getting Roger Powell. I think he's going to turn this program around and return it to glory and I can't wait!
I get the reason why most of you hated the Non-D1 games under Luke and Matt's scheduling philosophy, but as Luke always said those games didn't count towards NET or RPI. and usually came after a tough Thanksgiving MTE, or Finals Break, where we could give the starters/regular rotation a little bit of a break. It also allowed some of the bench mob a bit of a chance to develop in a game, rather than just in practice. I have to see more of what will come of the 23-24 schedule, but for this season, the low D-1 games we are playing, again go with Luke's philosophy of keeping the guys in the classroom longer. The games with UWGB and IUPUI come with a really small payout, since GB might only need hotel, food, and bus, whereas the Jags only need food and bus. Low investment on our part, compared to an Elon or Samford, where you're talking plane tickets, bus, hotel, and food.
To me the non- D1 games take away from a potential competitive D-1 game. Give Valpo Chicago St. (which is not a given W anymore), IUPUI, PFW, Southern Indiana over a non-D1. I feel Ball State and Northern Illinois should be on the schedule every year over Trinity Christian and North Park.
Over the last 15 years Valpo played 10 seasons against (2) non D-1 schools. In 14-15 it was 3. Valpo has played at least 1 non-D1 every year since 2004-2005.
Quote from: vok22 on July 27, 2023, 03:24:45 PM
The big guys would never do that. Not on a neutral court. Not even on their home courts most likely. Would be fun, never going to happen. At most there might be a one year 4 team round robin featuring Indiana, Purdue, notre dame, and butler.
They would do it if there was enough money in the prize pool, plus national exposure.
Imagine a total prize pool of $2M+, the winner got say $800K, with appropriate payouts down from there. Add in that every other year, the big guys don't have to pay out say $95K for a buy game because it is included in the tournament. Would the big guys be interested enough to consider an in-state early season road game every other year? If not, how much money would it take to get them to do do it?
With the B10 expanding to an 18-team super conference, Purdue and IU have nothing to gain by continuing to play Butler and ND, both of which have fallen on hard times. Butler, especially, is regularly getting out recruited inside the state. They're mired in mediocrity in the BE. Why put your advantage at risk with head-to-head matchups? High risk, low reward.
Quote from: wh on August 14, 2023, 04:05:12 PM
With the B10 expanding to an 18-team super conference, Purdue and IU have nothing to gain by continuing to play Butler and ND, both of which have fallen on hard times. Butler, especially, is regularly getting out recruited inside the state. They're mired in mediocrity in the BE. Why put your advantage at risk with head-to-head matchups? High risk, low reward.
Well then the path forward is simple: Powell takes Valpo to prominence as a consistent force in the MVC. Butler takes notice realizing they can't get Purdue and IU anymore. Butler puts us back on the schedule and the rivalry is restored! Everyone's happy!
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on August 14, 2023, 06:04:00 PM
Quote from: wh on August 14, 2023, 04:05:12 PM
With the B10 expanding to an 18-team super conference, Purdue and IU have nothing to gain by continuing to play Butler and ND, both of which have fallen on hard times. Butler, especially, is regularly getting out recruited inside the state. They're mired in mediocrity in the BE. Why put your advantage at risk with head-to-head matchups? High risk, low reward.
Well then the path forward is simple: Powell takes Valpo to prominence as a consistent force in the MVC. Butler takes notice realizing they can't get Purdue and IU anymore. Butler puts us back on the schedule and the rivalry is restored! Everyone's happy!
This same general thought briefly crossed my mind as well. The problem with it is that even if Butler remains mediocre and we rise quickly to MVC prominence it would likely take 7 or 8 years for even a slim chance to see them back on the schedule. Never say never but it will take coach Powell a lot of work to get our program back into the annual at-large conversation. Meanwhile our only hope is taking a buy game with them in a season where we have no reasonable expectation of winning. Like this year? ;)
Quote from: justducky on August 14, 2023, 07:06:19 PM
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on August 14, 2023, 06:04:00 PM
Quote from: wh on August 14, 2023, 04:05:12 PM
With the B10 expanding to an 18-team super conference, Purdue and IU have nothing to gain by continuing to play Butler and ND, both of which have fallen on hard times. Butler, especially, is regularly getting out recruited inside the state. They're mired in mediocrity in the BE. Why put your advantage at risk with head-to-head matchups? High risk, low reward.
Well then the path forward is simple: Powell takes Valpo to prominence as a consistent force in the MVC. Butler takes notice realizing they can't get Purdue and IU anymore. Butler puts us back on the schedule and the rivalry is restored! Everyone's happy!
This same general thought briefly crossed my mind as well. The problem with it is that even if Butler remains mediocre and we rise quickly to MVC prominence it would likely take 7 or 8 years for even a slim chance to see them back on the schedule. Never say never but it will take coach Powell a lot of work to get our program back into the annual at-large conversation. Meanwhile our only hope is taking a buy game with them in a season where we have no reasonable expectation of winning. Like this year? ;)
Well I for one think it would be great to have them cut us a check so that we can go into Hinkle Fieldhouse and beat them. But that's just me.
I see the same rationale for DePaul. Except they are dead broke if you look at the other thread. Try to get a buy game with Marquette this year or next. I don't see us threatening them this year or in the next one.
We can only dream of these. But it is fun.
Quote from: crusadermoe on August 16, 2023, 09:45:10 AM
I see the same rationale for DePaul. Except they are dead broke if you look at the other thread. Try to get a buy game with Marquette this year or next. I don't see us threatening them this year or in the next one.
We can only dream of these. But it is fun.
Marquette has already released its non-conference schedule for this year...would love to see a game next year.
A problem with getting games with any Big East teams is that they do not have that many non-conference games to schedule. The 11 team conference plays a full double round robin - so that is 20 games. Each team plays a Thanksgiving tournament (Marquette is supposed to be in Maui this year), so that is three more games. The conference also plays annual challenge games against the Big Ten and Big 12 and Marquette always plays Wisconsin. That leaves only 5 other games to schedule in a given year.
https://twitter.com/RoccoMiller8/status/1694346722967728583
Three open slots to fill!!!
Only speculating here, but I could see a non D-1 game, a Chicago State kind of game, and perhaps a home and home round out the schedule. I would have thought the Virginia Tech and Elon games would have been played on one road trip together, but we see that did not work out. Perhaps an away game may still be in the cards that can piggy back one of these road games down south? Or will Powell bring in 3 more teams to the ARC to have 8 home games his first season coaching? Excited to see how it all pans out.
Right now we are hearing that Valpo has 5 home games scheduled and 3 on the road.
The non-conference schedule of 12 games has officially been released: there will also be 2 conference games within the non-conference time frame. I think it is a fine non-conference schedule with 8 home games (7 plus an exhibition) that should help develop the team—all of which could be winnable, though i guess Samford would be the toughest, and boost fan enthusiasm except that 4 are during Thanksgiving or Christmas break when students are off campus—plus a few difficult tests among the 4 road games that ought to be good for the squad: https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/schedule/ (https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/schedule/)
I'm not going to be harsh on the staff for this year's games since they have not had the time to put together an MVC worthy non-conference schedule. I will commend them on two things, they were able to secure 2 power conference road games and we only have one non-D1 this year where we have been playing at least 2 in recent seasons. This schedule will provide good opportunities for team chemistry growth, but the lack of quality mid majors does have me concerned for our conference slate.
I would say it's solid all considered. Wise not to spend a lot of money and travel time. They fly only to Va. Tech and Elon. Getting paid very well by the former.
I think it is a good schedule. Obviously don't know really anything about the meshing of the team, but I think this is a challenging schedule for a team with this many freshman on it. I think we go something like 4-7. A lot of these teams are better than they used to be, or teams we lost to last year. We have a much better and more experienced coaching staff, but that doesn't change the fact over half of our major contributors will be true freshman/no D1 experience. Still we won't be losing by 30 to teams like CSU this year.
Quote from: vok22 on August 28, 2023, 08:04:27 PMI think we go something like 4-7. A lot of these teams are better than they used to be, or teams we lost to last year. We have a much better and more experienced coaching staff, but that doesn't change the fact over half of our major contributors will be true freshman/no D1 experience.
Given the near total staff and roster change I think that 3-8 might be as equally likely as 4-7 or better. I am optimistic for our future but getting out of the gate in 23-24 could be a very slow process. As for our schedule I'm thinking it does an excellent job of fitting our short term situation. :thumbsup:
What a difference a year makes. If this schedule was announced with last years staff the bitching would have started immediately....no home games I want to attend, bad days of the week, games with the students gone, a non D1 game....
For the record I am fine with this schedule.
I think we are capable of going 6-5...
Did anyone see the Facebook release image of the non-Conference schedule? I don't know the names of the players anymore. Was the featured guy a senior? Just curious. I think I might have chosen to feature brand new coach Powell in a blazer or something with a bit of pizzazz.
Quote from: crusadermoe on August 29, 2023, 02:50:51 PM
Did anyone see the Facebook release image of the non-Conference schedule? I don't know the names of the players anymore. Was the featured guy a senior? Just curious. I think I might have chosen to feature brand new coach Powell in a blazer or something with a bit of pizzazz.
Leading returning scorer Connor Barrett.
Considering we had Krikke, King and Green last year a more "experienced team", and the results not good. Terrible performance at Samford and non competitive blowout loss to a bad Ole Miss team. A narrow win at home versus Elon. Does anyone think our schedule is way easier than last year?. Due to the youth we will be inconsistent, but I'm fairly certain we will be a lot more competitive in most of the games. Unrelated.......
John Calapari was recently quoted as saying that he thinks so many coaches have focused on the transfer portal that they are missing out/under recruiting a lot of potentially good freshman. I think that gave us better chance to recruit/land the current Freshman we have. I have a strong feeling that Powell and company landed a few guys that will really pleasantly surprise.
The conference added 2 teams a year ago, yet the number of scheduled conference games only increased from 18 to 20. Why didn't the number go to 22? Is is going to 22 this year? If not, why not?
The larger question is why aren't we taking full advantage of a larger conference? Why instead are we scheduling crap non-conference games that we shouldn't have to, suffering lost ticket revenue from games nobody wants to see, negatively impacting our SOS in the process, and worst of all throwing money down the drain "buying" non D-1 opponents?
Last year the MVC sent 1 team to the NCAA tournament, who earned a Mid Con type seed and quietly flamed out after 1 game. Valpo received a whopping 1/12 share of 1 NCAA tournament share. Where's the payoff?
Quote from: wh on September 05, 2023, 01:08:09 PMThe conference added 2 teams a year ago, yet the number of scheduled conference games only increased from 18 to 20. Why didn't the number go to 22? Is is going to 22 this year? If not, why not?
While I suspect that you brought this up right now more from summer boredom than any intense anger I've decided to jump in for the education, stupification and entertainment of us board members with not enough to do. I like the 20 game MVC schedule. :o When we rise back to mid-major respectability I think someone like coach Powell can do more with the additional non-con opportunities that the locked in 22 doesn't offer. Either way this debate should have happened prior to last season and I think we should give it a good test run before we tow it to the scrap yard.
Quote from: wh on September 05, 2023, 01:08:09 PMWhy instead are we scheduling crap non-conference games that we shouldn't have to, suffering lost ticket revenue from games nobody wants to see, negatively impacting our SOS in the process, and worst of all throwing money down the drain "buying" non D-1 opponents?
I'm expecting that our crap schedule improves as the team matures and our program rises. Meanwhile I am perfectly content with the 23-24 schedule because we are likely to be really, really bad especially early on.
Quote from: wh on September 05, 2023, 01:08:09 PMLast year the MVC sent 1 team to the NCAA tournament, who earned a Mid Con type seed and quietly flamed out after 1 game. Valpo received a whopping 1/12 share of 1 NCAA tournament share. Where's the payoff?
Good question but I'll reserve judgement on this for a few years as well. Remember that all of us were briefly optimistic while thinking that Loyola would remain and Murray and Belmont join. Now we all have slightly less hope for the league but much more hope for our future position in it.
In regards to the non conference schedule I feel that Valpo is playing the type of teams they should be at this point in time. New coach, new players, all needs to jell before they take on some major talent.
Valpo finished bottom 3 of the MVC last season. They are playing the bottom 2 teams in the Horizon League, bottom of the MAC, and Chicago St this season. Simply put, WIN and dominate these games, and I feel the non conference schedule should improve. WIN more conference games and this non conference schedule should improve.
A point that has not been discussed lately is will Valpo ever have a non conference rivalry?
With new leadership in place will a future non conference schedule introduce a new rivalry game or games for the Beacons? Will we see Ball St. back on the the schedule? Who wouldn't love Butler, Loyola even Oakland back on the non conference schedule. Could Western Michigan *under 2 hrs drive be considered the start of a new rivalry (battle between the brown and gold). I feel the program is missing a good consistent rivalry game that gets fans excited when scheduled.
Quote from: VALPO LI on September 06, 2023, 09:17:04 AM
A point that has not been discussed lately is will Valpo ever have a non conference rivalry?
With new leadership in place will a future non conference schedule introduce a new rivalry game or games for the Beacons? Will we see Ball St. back on the the schedule? Who wouldn't love Butler, Loyola even Oakland back on the non conference schedule. Could Western Michigan *under 2 hrs drive be considered the start of a new rivalry (battle between the brown and gold). I feel the program is missing a good consistent rivalry game that gets fans excited when scheduled.
Butler could certainly be a rival, same with Loyola - but both are only going to have 5-6 non-conference games that they need to schedule per year. Maybe Oakland, but is there a rivalry without Kampe?
Last year the conference schedule was released on Thursday, Sept 15th. Hopefully,this seasons schedule will be released next week. I'm looking forward to its release, mostly because I'm ready buy my season tickets!
MVCFans has a string about 2023 secret scrimmage results. By any chance, has Valpo had a secret scrimmage? If they did, they were pretty good about keeping it secret. 😀
Per Paul's twitter it sounds like they had one this weekend. Unsure where/against who.
I think we played Milwaukee. I heard it from one of the announcers on the volleyball game.
Doesn't seem like many details got out. Considering our lack of substantial D1 experience, I feel like that was probably some pretty stiff competition for us. Good to be exposed to that early before it can count against us.
Looking at the Milwaukee fan forum, it looks like Milwaukee won 100-90 in a game played in Illinois. Don't have any idea if that is true or not, or how Milwaukee is projected to be this year. However, it's promising to me we competed with a division 1 team with our lack of experience. Also: 90 points ! Also: 100 points :(
Seems to line up with our expectation of run and gun though!
Update: Milwaukee is picked to finish 2nd in the horizon league from their official preseason rankings.