This is a must win. Well, at least, I feel it is.
This game is a should win - a game we are expected to and should win. Must wins are closely competitive games that we need (must) win. Anything less than a 10 point win will be unexpected.
Valpo 77
IPFW 59
IPFW has won three of the last four meetings.
I hope we play more to our strengths against IPFW, rather than playing down to theirs. Our weakness is not taking advantage of what we are because we want to play evenly to what the opponent is. I hope we can do what we're best at, and dominate IPFW with our strengths, rather than react more to what they've done to make it more of a game for us. Our game plan seems to suffer either because of the name on the opponent's jersey, or because we lose some confidence in our game individually.
Quote from: Valpo89 on December 04, 2012, 01:06:56 PMIPFW has won three of the last four meetings.
That's ... that's disgusting. I might actually cheer for them if this were their fight song, though.
Mr. Mastodon Farm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1kcxULtJoE#)
They beat Miami of Ohio recently. Not like beating Kentucky, but a MAC team nonetheless.
They are no pushover. They still have Frank Gaines who killed us last year and averaged over 28 ppg over the last six games last year. First team All Summit. They only have one other senior but a bunch of juniors so a very experienced team.
We should win by just as many points as some of these other wins this year, especially since our shots only seem to fall at home:
Valpo 76
IPFW 58
Fort Wayne 64
Valpo 59
I think we will pull it out,.....but we will need a B+ effort or better. Bryce probably tore into everyone. ;)
Valpo 67
IPFW 62
Valpo by a bakers dozen. I won't be in attendance since its my sons last game tomorrow.
Quote from: Valpo89 on December 04, 2012, 01:06:56 PM
IPFW has won three of the last four meetings.
Yep, and I think Valpo was favored in every one. This is not a team to take lightly.
If valpo loses this game, I will start questioning things.
Valpo brings it's A game, with the scoring spread around and Buggs does not have to be the shooting star and does what he does best. Valpo 82 IPUFW( I think)68 ( if Ball State becomes part of this School Would it be know as IPBSUFW?)
;D
Quote from: truth219 on December 04, 2012, 06:35:33 PM
If valpo loses this game, I will start questioning things.
wait, you haven't been to this point?
Quote from: vuweathernerd on December 04, 2012, 08:08:47 PMwait, you haven't been to this point?
I know, right? I'd say that maybe the following might not qualify as him rubber-stamping "things"!
QuoteAs in put rossi on the floor for 20 mins and see what he does. Bench boggs and bogan for some of the game. Once dority is eligible, he should start. I don't care if I've never seen him play. Buggs is garbage...he's fast...that's it. I wanna see some good post defense. Our zone today got picked apart.
QuoteHappy with what I saw...three things I didn't like
1 there is no sense in pump faking on wide open 3 pointers...that is so annoying we pass it around the arc and get wide open looks and just pump fake and pass...it gets old
2 turnovers against lousey opponents
3 defense...our defense is sub par...I don't think we defend well as a unit
QuoteSure we won by 21 tonight, but this team was terrible. We looked sloppy. I'm not a big capo fan...be just doesn't impress me that much. Van wijk looked like crap tonight,
QuoteVashil is too much of a liability to keep him on the court for any lenght of time. As good as he can be at times on defense, he has way to many turnovers. And bogan is our weakest guard. He can shoot, but so can everybody else...besides buggs. Coleman is good as well he should still get his minutes. Vashil,bogan, and boggs should lose the most minutes as far as I'm concerned. Rossi needs more, assuming he is healthy.
Good Lord, let's not make the man start questioning things! I shudder to think...
Ryan is feeling better this week, and Bobby is gradually healing from his surgery; however, I think Bryce will be experimenting with combinations. Therefore, though the early Vegas line has Valpo favored by 16 points, I think that might be a bit high. I predict a 14 point win:
Fort Wayne 62, Valpo 76
What was the matter with Ryan?
I think he was sick. Seems like our players get sick an awful lot?
Quote from: HC on December 04, 2012, 08:24:35 PM
I think he was sick. Seems like our players get sick an awful lot?
Wondering that myself. And at crucial times.
Quote from: vu72 on December 04, 2012, 02:01:01 PM
They are no pushover. They still have Frank Gaines who killed us last year and averaged over 28 ppg over the last six games last year. First team All Summit. They only have one other senior but a bunch of juniors so a very experienced team.
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 04, 2012, 01:52:49 PM
They beat Miami of Ohio recently. Not like beating Kentucky, but a MAC team nonetheless.
Frank Gaines can score in bunches, but let's not get carried away about IPFW ... they were picked 6th in THE SUMMIT LEAGUE! The win over Miami doesn't say much as they were picked DFL in the MAC. Every indication (Vegas, Pomeroy, RPIforecast.com) is that Valpo should win by 15 to 20 points. It should be over by halftime.
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 04, 2012, 08:26:38 PM
Quote from: HC on December 04, 2012, 08:24:35 PM
I think he was sick. Seems like our players get sick an awful lot?
Wondering that myself. And at crucial times.
There has been some sort of nasty virus going around campus the last few weeks, and I think about half the team has had it at one point. I have had it myself, and I can't believe Kevin, Ryan, and others have played in that condition.
Couldn't decide whether to post this in the SL string, where there was a lot of angst about the performance and questioning of the players, or here cuz it is the lead-in article to the game. Chose here. A bit of an explanation for the lower than expected performances of Rowdy and Capo.
Jankowski in the NWITimes:
VALPARAISO | Road trips west of the Mississippi River haven't been pleasant for Valparaiso's men's basketball team this season.
The Crusaders (5-2) looked like a different crew in road losses against Nebraska and Saint Louis, opponents from power conferences who theoretically were vulnerable. Valpo failed to score 50 points in either game, shooting 34.8 percent against the Cornhuskers on Nov. 15 and 32.6 percent Sunday against the Billikens.
"We're very upset," Valpo coach Bryce Drew said after the loss at Saint Louis. "It's not a very happy locker room right now."
It's been a different story at the Athletics-Recreation Center, where Valpo plays tonight against IPFW before a challenging three-game road swing.
The Crusaders are 4-0 at home. Certainly the competition hasn't been as tough, but Valpo has shot 49 percent overall, 47.6 from 3-point range and outscored its opponents by an average of 22 points per game.
But IPFW (5-4) will be Valpo's toughest opponent so far at the ARC. The Mastodons are coming off a huge win Saturday, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Miami (Ohio) 57-56 on a layup by Mario Hines with two seconds remaining.
Valpo leads the all-time series 8-3, but IPFW has won three of the last four meetings, including 85-76 last year in Fort Wayne.
"We have to evaluate the (Saint Louis) game, get better from it and get ready for IPFW which has played well against us," Drew said. "It will be a big test for our guys to turn around and see how they do."
Drew still is waiting for his team to be at full strength. Leading scorer Ryan Broekhoff (16 points per game) was sick enough last week to miss most practices, and Bobby Capobianco is still sore and recovering from Nov. 8 hernia surgery.
Capobianco was scoreless in 10 minutes of action against the Billikens. He had scored 10 points in his debut against Chicago State, and four points the next night in back-to-back appearances.
"The adrenaline got him through the first couple games," Drew said. "Now I think we have to get him where he's in better basketball shape. He didn't practice much last week, still has some discoloration in his stomach area."
IPFW has a big-time scorer in 6-foot-3 Frank Gaines. The fifth-year senior, who torched the Crusaders for 24 last year, is averaging 19.3 points which includes a 32-point effort in a season-opening loss at Auburn.
This should be a win for VU, but this game can not be taken lightly. IPFW has found a more balanced attack over the last 3 games because they have not been able to rely on Gaines as he as been going through some personal issues. He should be back and mentally prepared for this game. IPFW views this as a statement game for them and their athletic program, easily their biggest non conference game of the year. They need to validate that they can hang with HL teams and their success against us has given them the confidence to make this a very close game. Without that confidence this is a blow out when just comparing talent. Will be making my first trip to the ARC this year and will probably be sitting near the IPFW media crew. Just look for the guy with the Concordia Cadets (Concordia Lutheran High School) black sweater.
Quote from: VUfan on December 04, 2012, 07:58:49 PM
Valpo brings it's A game, with the scoring spread around and Buggs does not have to be the shooting star and does what he does best. Valpo 82 IPUFW( I think)68 ( if Ball State becomes part of this School Would it be know as IPBSUFW?)
;D
It's called Fort Wayne.
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2012, 10:54:28 AM
This should be a win for VU, but this game can not be taken lightly. IPFW has found a more balanced attack over the last 3 games because they have not been able to rely on Gaines as he as been going through some personal issues. He should be back and mentally prepared for this game. IPFW views this as a statement game for them and their athletic program, easily their biggest non conference game of the year. They need to validate that they can hang with HL teams and their success against us has given them the confidence to make this a very close game. Without that confidence this is a blow out when just comparing talent. Will be making my first trip to the ARC this year and will probably be sitting near the IPFW media crew. Just look for the guy with the Concordia Cadets (Concordia Lutheran High School) black sweater.
Therein lies the problem of why we play so poorly against them. We are their marquee opponent each year, whereas we view them as someone we should stomp. They get up to play us, while we play down to their level each time recently...
Hopefully, we won't have any taunting technicals leading to a total implosion, as happened in 2009:
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/article_cc0ec7f6-4423-54eb-8660-e4060ccc197e.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/article_cc0ec7f6-4423-54eb-8660-e4060ccc197e.html)
Crap, forgot how frustrated I was at Bwood/Cory after that game. Memories....
Quote from: valpotx on December 05, 2012, 12:37:23 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 05, 2012, 10:54:28 AM
This should be a win for VU, but this game can not be taken lightly. IPFW has found a more balanced attack over the last 3 games because they have not been able to rely on Gaines as he as been going through some personal issues. He should be back and mentally prepared for this game. IPFW views this as a statement game for them and their athletic program, easily their biggest non conference game of the year. They need to validate that they can hang with HL teams and their success against us has given them the confidence to make this a very close game. Without that confidence this is a blow out when just comparing talent. Will be making my first trip to the ARC this year and will probably be sitting near the IPFW media crew. Just look for the guy with the Concordia Cadets (Concordia Lutheran High School) black sweater.
Therein lies the problem of why we play so poorly against them. We are their marquee opponent each year, whereas we view them as someone we should stomp. They get up to play us, while we play down to their level each time recently...
If this turns out to be a trap game -- again -- this year, the coaching staff should be seriously questioned. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Based on the comments from Homer in the 2009 article, it reminded me of the classic blowup by Dennis Green after the Bears came back to beat Arizona on Monday Night Football in Arizona..."They are who we thought they were, and we let 'em off the hook." "If you wanna crown 'em, THEN CROWN THEIR A$&".
Quote from: valpotx on December 05, 2012, 12:56:06 PM
Crap, forgot how frustrated I was at Bwood/Cory after that game. Memories....
seconded... that was not a particularly pleasant night...
OK, so Capobianco may not be fully recovered from his surgery. And Dority is not playing yet. And Rowdy has been sick (I agree our players get sick all _ the _ time, it seems). But so what? Are we going to crank up the excuse machine yet again? Truth is, if we lose to these guys then our team is in serious trouble and a disappointing season of epic proportions can be seen warming up in the bullpen.
We need this game badly. Hope the players realize it.
VU 70
IPFW 66
Paul
Just a reminder, if you want to chat and watch the game on this site, you can click on the "Game Day" link in the menu bar.
Quote from: valpopal on December 04, 2012, 08:47:02 PMQuote from: VULB#62 on December 04, 2012, 08:26:38 PMQuote from: HC on December 04, 2012, 08:24:35 PMI think he was sick. Seems like our players get sick an awful lot?
Wondering that myself. And at crucial times.
There has been some sort of nasty virus going around campus the last few weeks, and I think about half the team has had it at one point. I have had it myself, and I can't believe Kevin, Ryan, and others have played in that condition.
Apparently Rowdy has had mono for at least a couple weeks now. Found out last Tuesday.
I wonder why vashil only got 6 mins.
Quote from: truth219 on December 05, 2012, 10:05:26 PM
I wonder why vashil only got 6 mins.
He's playing behind a first team all-league player and a BCS transfer/stud in Capobianco ... he's going to have to earn his PT.
He's still a bit raw too. I see his minutes dwindling more soon.
I also noticed that Capobianco lost one of his Iverson-arm sleeves ... I think it helped his shooting a little bit. If he heals some more, maybe he can get rid of the other one too.
Quote from: MattCarter on December 05, 2012, 09:42:42 PM
Quote from: valpopal on December 04, 2012, 08:47:02 PMQuote from: VULB#62 on December 04, 2012, 08:26:38 PMQuote from: HC on December 04, 2012, 08:24:35 PMI think he was sick. Seems like our players get sick an awful lot?
Wondering that myself. And at crucial times.
There has been some sort of nasty virus going around campus the last few weeks, and I think about half the team has had it at one point. I have had it myself, and I can't believe Kevin, Ryan, and others have played in that condition.
Apparently Rowdy has had mono for at least a couple weeks now. Found out last Tuesday.
In talking to some people around the team they said it was "mono like". If he had had mono he would have missed some time. Was with the team during the "mono Mid-Con tournament" and there was no way the doctors let Stovall play.
This was another game where if Valpo had played a team who had an any offensive firepower in the 2nd half would have beaten the Crusaders. Again Valpo was sloppy on offense and missed a bunch of shots under the basket that should have gone in. Thank God Ft Wayne missed a bunch of under the basket shots also. The Mastodons only scored 20 points in the 2nd half. If Gaines had stayed hot this game would have been easily a Ft Wayne victory.
No doubt we did a bad job of finishing on the offensive end. That said I thought we played intense, lockdown defense, especially in the 2nd half. Their 20 points was no accident.
Quote from: wh on December 05, 2012, 11:01:08 PM
No doubt we did a bad job of finishing on the offensive end. That said I thought we played intense, lockdown defense, especially in the 2nd half. Their 20 points was no accident.
So Valpo scored 28 in the 2nd half and that had nothing to do with Ft Wayne? Was that an accident? You can't have it both ways.
Player of the game in my mind was Boggs...he played lock down defense on Gaines in the 2nd half and shut him down...if I recall correctly his only points in the second half came at the free throw line
Quote from: bbtds on December 05, 2012, 11:22:57 PM
Quote from: wh on December 05, 2012, 11:01:08 PM
No doubt we did a bad job of finishing on the offensive end. That said I thought we played intense, lockdown defense, especially in the 2nd half. Their 20 points was no accident.
So Valpo scored 28 in the 2nd half and that had nothing to do with Ft Wayne? Was that an accident? You can't have it both ways.
I'm not sure what you want me to say. I think we all agree that we're still a work in progress and need to continue to improve. How's that?
It's a win. We'll start with that. That said, they still have a long way to go to being a good team. Too many 8th grade mistakes being made...like not being aware of your surroundings and stepping out of bounds, or getting a rebound and throwing the outlet pass to the bench because the guy you were throwing the ball to wasn't paying attention and just started running up the court, or jumping in the air and not knowing where you are going with the ball, or picking up your dribble with minimal or no pressure and then getting pressured because you stopped dribbling.
*can somebody tell the bigs you don't have to wait for your defender to get position before you try to score. Valpo gives up so many free points because they either aren't aware or just are instructed to catch....wait....start your move...and put up a contested shot. This isn't a new issue, it goes all the way back to U. It's okay to catch, drop step and lay it in all in one motion. I promise. You might even catch your defender out of position more often if you do.
I watched Ft. Wayne go over the top on a pick and roll with Buggs...haha
If the oposing team is going to play man, there's absolutely no reason Valpo can't run sets to get Ryan open. I know they're generally against running an offense for one person, but it's something that will serve them well in the future. At least Ryan appeared to be willing to shoot Ft. Wayne out of the zone. Good for him! If he misses a couple, that's okay, as I can live with him gunning away from deep. The percentages work in Valpo's favor.
As for Capo...I'll reserve judgement until somebody tells me he's healthy.
1. If this is how Ryan plays when he is sick - he should try to stay sick...
2. It was a win but I guess I was hoping we could make a statement and run away with it
3. When teams put so much defensive pressure on Ryan we need someone else to make them pay for it.
4. Only 9 days til Dority (it will be nice to have one more scoring option.)
5. NEED to hit our short shots - against a "good" team that would have been a death sentence
6. Yes we looked good on defense - but we should have looked good against them.... (No disrespect to IPFW)
7. Keep Bobby in the paint and he should become a pretty good addition (short shots missed though - but super impressed that he is as healthy as he seems already. I've had my share of surgeries and I can't believe he is as healthy as he seems already.)
Still love Valpo basketball and I think we need to improve if we want to win conference. I have watched a couple games in our conference and this team has a lot of talent but also has too many weaknesses that "good" teams will be able exploit....
[SMJ STEPS DOWN FROM HIS SOAPBOX]
Milanmiracle,
Totally agree on plays for Ryan.... On zone make them pay when they double Ryan by somebody else becoming a scorer... Then on man run a couple plays just to get Ryan open. (Like your thinking)
Your comment on 8th grade mistakes - hard to believe a team with this many seniors have had as many turnovers as they have.
We usually do not have bigs that do that fluid motion move. They seem to like to get set and then move. However, KVW usually moves well with the ball as long as it is only a few steps. I feel like he gets defenders out of position and attacks the board often? last night I liked when capo saw two defenders and waited for them to get in position faked and then jumped between them.
:twocents:
Quote from: milanmiracle on December 06, 2012, 07:00:54 AMAt least Ryan appeared to be willing to shoot Ft. Wayne out of the zone. Good for him! If he misses a couple, that's okay, as I can live with him gunning away from deep. The percentages work in Valpo's favor.
I think that's right. Sad to see it take him from 3-3 to 4-8. But, I think we can live with him "merely" shooting 50% from the 3.
Quote from: MattCarter on December 05, 2012, 09:42:42 PMApparently Rowdy has had mono for at least a couple weeks now. Found out last Tuesday.
Wow! I was skeptical just reading this on an internet forum. But, Paul Oren confirms, and it's the title for his recap.
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html)
Quote
VU's Broekhoff reveals mono after dominant performance
Quote
As if to add to his legend, Broekhoff revealed after the game that he was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week and was still feeling the ill effects.
"I still have my ups and downs," Broekhoff said. "I can't really put a percentage (on how I'm feeling). There are a couple days when I'm pretty good and a couple days where I'm pretty lethargic."
It seems like this could be really bad news. I mean, I guess it's good if he's had it for a few weeks already. But, mono can really take it out of you for... months?
Googling a bit... Fatigue and flu-like symptoms for... 3-7 weeks? With the usual recommendation, apparently, that you stay home (from school, from athletic practices) at least until the fever's gone. First few weeks?
Danger to the spleen is sometimes discussed... but may be overrated?
I'm surprised more hasn't come of this. I wonder what the repercussions will be?
Quote from: agibson on December 06, 2012, 09:14:06 AM
Quote from: MattCarter on December 05, 2012, 09:42:42 PMApparently Rowdy has had mono for at least a couple weeks now. Found out last Tuesday.
Wow! I was skeptical just reading this on an internet forum. But, Paul Oren confirms, and it's the title for his recap.
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html)
Quote
VU's Broekhoff reveals mono after dominant performance
Quote
As if to add to his legend, Broekhoff revealed after the game that he was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week and was still feeling the ill effects.
"I still have my ups and downs," Broekhoff said. "I can't really put a percentage (on how I'm feeling). There are a couple days when I'm pretty good and a couple days where I'm pretty lethargic."
It seems like this could be really bad news. I mean, I guess it's good if he's had it for a few weeks already. But, mono can really take it out of you for... months?
Googling a bit... Fatigue and flu-like symptoms for... 3-7 weeks? With the usual recommendation, apparently, that you stay home (from school, from athletic practices) at least until the fever's gone. First few weeks?
Danger to the spleen is sometimes discussed... but may be overrated?
I'm surprised more hasn't come of this. I wonder what the repercussions will be?
Then this is simple...sit Ryan until he's healthier. There's nothing to be gained by beating IPFW. Heck, there's not even much to be gained in conference unless you're getting a top 2 seed, which Valpo might get again. This season comes down to the HL tournament, and everybody needs to be healthy when that time comes.
Since we're complaining elsewhere about the sound system, I'll comment on the video feed. (For these evening games I often stay at home with the Mrs., unless we have a sitter.)
I thought the quality of the video stream was actually really good. A few ill-advised cuts to alternate cameras, but the videography wasn't bad as a whole. There were a few issues with lost continuity - maybe my local connection, maybe not.
Very frustrating, however, was the audio sync. The radio call, dubbed as usual onto the video feed was... about 7 seconds behind? Almost bad enough to just mute it. I've had one other viewer, at least, confirm the missed sync.
Todd was, as usual, very solid on the call. So, I hung in there. But... seven seconds... goodness!
I caught the second half online and was also getting frustrated with the delay on the audio feed. Glad to know it wasn't just an issue with my computer, hopefully it will be fixed for the next broadcast. I noticed that they did have it synced up correctly in the highlight video so I'm assuming that they caught their error.
I thought this was interesting. Attached below is a link to an "alternative" index to the RPI for college basketball. It is called the NPI (Nolan Power Index). It weights a team's record and strength of schedule and only factors in Divison 1 games. Valpo currently has an NPI of 91, based upon a record of 6-2 against D1 teams (ranked 59th), and a current Strenght of Schedule of .4428 (ranked 284th).
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2013/npi (http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2013/npi)
Quote from: mvandersee on December 06, 2012, 10:17:05 AMI caught the second half online and was also getting frustrated with the delay on the audio feed. Glad to know it wasn't just an issue with my computer, hopefully it will be fixed for the next broadcast. I noticed that they did have it synced up correctly in the highlight video so I'm assuming that they caught their error.
That issue is because they are now using HD cameras (which delay feed a bit to the place its mixed with audio). Also, the actual processing of the video to flash adds a delay. Most programs do offer an "audio delay" feature that will better sync things up. Seeing that HLN uses UStream, I don't remember that feature on its streaming software or not. I use a program called VMix that allows you to set audio delays in milliseconds and it shows you the delay time the processing it taking. It takes some trial and error to get right. Fred mentioned that the IPFW game was the first with the new cameras...so I bet its something they'll be playing with for a while to get right.
Very impressed with Ryan's toughness for playing. He shouldn't do anything terribly foolish, but if the doctors say he is OK to play - then kudos to him for toughing it out (he also must have toughed it out at St. Louis where he was constantly swarmed).
I liked that the big men felt they need to get tougher...because they do. Saw a little of it last night from Capobianco for the first time (some good strong defense in the second half). Still, he needs to get stronger going after the ball. Perhaps if the big men's toughness doesn't improve, they will volunteer to touch every step in the ARC (instead of Bryce telling them to).
Audio sync was awful last night. Its a pretty poor organization that does not resolve simple things like that (have HD now is not an excuse).
Quote from: vu84v2 on December 06, 2012, 01:59:18 PMAudio sync was awful last night. Its a pretty poor organization that does not resolve simple things like that (have HD now is not an excuse).
If it were a paid service I would totally agree. But since there aren't even ads on the thing I don't think its fair to call them out for organization. Its not something that you would anticipate.
Quote from: milanmiracle on December 06, 2012, 09:19:31 AM
Quote from: agibson on December 06, 2012, 09:14:06 AM
Quote from: MattCarter on December 05, 2012, 09:42:42 PMApparently Rowdy has had mono for at least a couple weeks now. Found out last Tuesday.
Wow! I was skeptical just reading this on an internet forum. But, Paul Oren confirms, and it's the title for his recap.
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/broekhoff-reveals-mono-after-dominant-performance/article_013b9743-f8de-59f6-981c-6c3b8cd8a282.html)
Quote
VU's Broekhoff reveals mono after dominant performance
Quote
As if to add to his legend, Broekhoff revealed after the game that he was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week and was still feeling the ill effects.
"I still have my ups and downs," Broekhoff said. "I can't really put a percentage (on how I'm feeling). There are a couple days when I'm pretty good and a couple days where I'm pretty lethargic."
It seems like this could be really bad news. I mean, I guess it's good if he's had it for a few weeks already. But, mono can really take it out of you for... months?
Googling a bit... Fatigue and flu-like symptoms for... 3-7 weeks? With the usual recommendation, apparently, that you stay home (from school, from athletic practices) at least until the fever's gone. First few weeks?
Danger to the spleen is sometimes discussed... but may be overrated?
I'm surprised more hasn't come of this. I wonder what the repercussions will be?
Then this is simple...sit Ryan until he's healthier. There's nothing to be gained by beating IPFW. Heck, there's not even much to be gained in conference unless you're getting a top 2 seed, which Valpo might get again. This season comes down to the HL tournament, and everybody needs to be healthy when that time comes.
Agree if you'd be satisfied with a 15 or 16 seed. If we want a 10, 11 or 12 then the IPFW game was a must win as are all the games against lesser opponents. There is more to it than just the conference championship. Obviously it's the most important thing, but none of us want to be in the play in game.