Been waiting for this, so I might as well start it.
Might it be a Happy Valentine's Day?
Quote from: VULB#62 on February 13, 2018, 09:30:54 AM
Been waiting for this, so I might as well start it.
Might it be a Happy Valentine's Day?
I guarantee the trip to Chicago will be better than it was for these guys. :(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre)
The only way we win this game is if we limit the turnovers and shoot the lights out of the ball. We're also going to need Mileek to not pick up 2 fouls within 2 minutes. We need his size and athleticism to defend Loyola's guys. We also need Tevonn to find his shot and be more efficient on the offensive end. Basically everyone needs to step up. It would need to be a true team win.
I'm not very optimistic about tomorrow's game. We need to play our best game and for them to have a mediocre game and underestimate us.
Quote from: EddieCabot on February 13, 2018, 09:50:54 AM
Quote from: VULB#62 on February 13, 2018, 09:30:54 AM
Been waiting for this, so I might as well start it.
Might it be a Happy Valentine's Day?
I guarantee the trip to Chicago will be better than it was for these guys. :(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre)
I was just going to write "or a Valentine's Day Massacre"
Quote from: VU2014 on February 13, 2018, 10:03:21 AMWe're also going to need Mileek to not pick up 2 fouls within 2 minutes.
Over the last three games he has gotten a combined 7 fouls in 23 minutes. Marty on the other hand has 6 fouls in 4 minutes. Parker hasn't got any fouls or any minutes. Not exactly our best freshman class.
Oh, Marty didn't dress last game, any news on why?
Saw one post from a media guy that he was injured...
also Valpo 77-71 winners because I'm endlessly optimistic.
Quote from: vu72 on February 13, 2018, 10:41:11 AM
Oh, Marty didn't dress last game, any news on why?
Held out due to an "upper body injury" per Twitter. I'm guessing that's all the information made available due to Valpo's strict adherence to their "student privacy policy".
We CAN win this game. If we continue rebounding, and protecting the ball, and getting the ball to the open shooter, and hitting those shots. If we are in a close game, we need to hit FTs.
Valpo 73
Loyola 69
I'm optimistic...we're due for a good upset victory.
We need to pray really loud before the game...pray for a win....
and bring back Rowdy to silence the Rowdy Student Section.... that worked before.
oh, line on the game is Ramblers by 12 or 13...O/U is 131
I saw Jerry Palm has the Ramblers as his opening round upset special in the Opening NCAA round in the 12-5 game over ... Rhode Island.
The Ramblers have lost two games in 2018, by 4 to Ind St at the Gentile (their only home loss this year) and by 2 at Bradley. Most impressive.
They have also lost by 23 to Boise State; and by 17 to Milwaukee... so stranger things have happened.
We've been looking for a rival... beating them at their place when they are vying for seeding would certainly qualify as a "fire starter".
"upper body injury" -- that's an NHL term of art, maybe Mark Lazerus can come back and diagnose what that means... 8-)
Anyway, weren't Loyola's two big losses when they were without Richardson? If so, they should be considered for higher than a 12 and should be an at large candidate if they do not win the tourney.
Quote from: valpo64 on February 13, 2018, 12:27:14 PM
I'm optimistic...we're due for a good upset victory.
I hope you're right. That would be a huge confidence boost heading into the Arch Madness.
No chance we win this game. I do not believe we have won a single game this year we were not favored to win. Would be nice to have 1 legitimate upset. Gotta give Loyola coaching staff a lot of credit. They were a mediocre team in the Horizon during our shared time together, moved up conferences, and now are on top of that conference. No easy task.
I hope we're on a more timely winning track then Loyola was. Credit to LU for what they've built but it took them 5 season to really establish themselves. Porter Moser really has recruited on high level since joining the Valley and the fruits of that labor are showing this season. They have a good team and have real depth.
Also credit to the Loyola University administration for renovating Gentile. That clearly has given them a boost in recruiting.
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/963523669493534720
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/963525885667274752
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/963527902821339141
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/963528304484593665
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/963091380649316353
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/963527476113739776
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/963528187266420737
https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/963815086207983616
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8IMYeTGQWQ&feature=youtu.be
BTW, Doesn't the game start at 7:00?
Quote from: humbleopinion on February 14, 2018, 11:10:29 AM
BTW, Doesn't the game start at 7:00?
Yep. The game starts at 7pm
Something I find interesting. The "narrative" among most MVC fans has been that Porter was a good recruiter and a bad coach and that just changed this season. Even Loyola fans a few years ago were pretty down on Porter Moser but that changed the last few seasons and they love the guy. Porter is a strong ambassador for them and has done an amazing job at energizing their student body the last few seasons, specifically this season.
Catch N' Shoot covers Chicago area teams and he even acknowledges that Porter has grown a lot as a coach the last few years. Porter has had two previous stops as a HC Arkansas–Little Rock (2000–2003), Illinois State (2003–2007) and a stint as an assistant at his alma mater SLU under Majerus and then took the Loyola job back 2011 when they were in the Horizon League.
https://twitter.com/Catch_N_Shoot/status/963495277549309952
https://twitter.com/Catch_N_Shoot/status/963495544852221952
Loyola Ramblers (Horizon League) (2011–2013)
2011–12 Loyola 7–23 1–17 10th
2012–13 Loyola 15–16 5–11 7th
Loyola Ramblers (Missouri Valley Conference) (2013–present)
2013–14 Loyola 10–22 Conf: 4–14 10th
2014–15 Loyola 24–13 Conf: 8–10 6th
2015–16 Loyola 15–17 Conf: 7–11 8th
2016–17 Loyola 18–14 Conf: 8–10 5th
2017–18 Loyola 21–5 Conf: 11–3 (currently 1st place)
People have been harsh on Coach Lottich at certain points during this season but it's important to remember he's only been a HC for 2 seasons and just like the players he's still probably refining his craft.
Loyola game thread: http://www.ramblermania.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2216&p=23157&hilit=valpo#p23157
7:00 PM Valparaiso vs. Loyola-Chicago (M Basketball) espn3
Loyola will be a man down tonight. Shouldn't hurt too much because he was only bench player and they're deep.
https://twitter.com/NickSchultz_7/status/963928820746211329
Yikes...
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/963934860082597889
https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/963932954408910849
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/963930298806407175
Loyola freshman center getting the best of smits and sorolla
Geez. We're not the only ones with attendance issues.
True. But on the bright side,.....does Sorolla look quicker tonight than he has recently? He bobbled that perfect pass down low from Evelyn. But I do think he is moving quicker and more often to the ball.
Shooting a towering 19% from the field and 14% from three. Not going to win many games that way.
Not to mention the 9 turnovers.
Not aware of the shot clock... Not good... Wake up guys!
There's that nice baby hook with the left hand by Sorolla right before the half. That was big for him last year and it seemed a sure bet he would get stronger and use it more as a sophomore.
Left hand hook again. Where has that been?
That was a great sequence there. Two touch fouls called on Valpo on their big (including a phantom foul on Sorolla) then said big shoves Walker into the first row 20 seconds later to get an offensive rebound with no call. Thankfully he missed.
Could our coaches teach our interior players to make sure the guy doesn't get the damned shot off if they're going to keep giving up stupid arm fouls?
Too much Krutwig. Too much Custer. Hope we've got a run left.
Kiser big rebound.......pass out to Golder who drains a three again. Then Kiser blocks a shot by Krautwig and we tie up a jump ball. Kiser has impressed.
Impressive...we keep hanging tough.
Tough break for Sorolla on that foul call. I've been hard on him this year but give him his due he had a great game. His fifth was a really cheap foul.
How does McMillen not get back in the game. Would've definitely put him back in after Jay fouled out. I think that's a big miss by Matt.
I mean, Jay's gotta be smarter with four fouls, but that foul has literally not been called all night. LU's been hand-checking at will.
Welp. I don't blame Bakari there. After three chippy fouls against Valpo down the stretch then a no-call going to the rim? I get it.
Very frustrating when the other team scores on like 15 of 16 possessions but Loyola's a tough team.
I am not a fan of the shorter rotation in the 2nd half. It seemed like the same line up was out there for at least 10 minutes straight and we looked gassed on defense because of it
Great effort tonight. Loyola is very good and we were in it, just couldn't get a few stops when we needed. No issue with the Bakari T - if Coach was standing up for his team better near the end it probably wouldn't have come to that.
Maybe our best half of basketball this season. Improvement still needed everywhere but the big picture is slowly coming together. The 18-19 season should be a good one.
Despite the final score, I thought we played pretty well. They just hit the key shots down the stretch and we didn't.
Sorolla played better on offense than he has for a good while, and we hit free throws like we haven't all season.
Our inability to defend the post hurt, but again their ability to hit shots own the stretch was the difference.
Pretty decent game, no real issues on my side. However, Custer makes some of the most BS-looking shots. The guy is obviously good, but those bounces he got on several were complete horsesh!t.
Effort is getting better every night and games are at least competitive now.
Now for a couple of gripes:
How in the world does a senior throw that poorly of an inbounds pass?
Why do our inbounds play suck so bad?
Why did Mileek sit the last 17 minutes after scoring 7 points in 3 minutes and finally showing the aggressiveness that's going to make him a star in the future?
Quote from: M on February 14, 2018, 09:07:54 PMNow for a couple of gripes:
How in the world does a senior throw that poorly of an inbounds pass?
Max was angry and rightly so. Nobody cutting. I think people were gasping for air.
I saw he was frustrated with at least one guy (Sorolla I think) whonapprared to go to the wrong spot. Still, throw it high and deeper for your guy. Heck, throw it past halfcourt if you have.
Quote from: M on February 14, 2018, 09:07:54 PMWhy did Mileek sit the last 17 minutes after scoring 7 points in 3 minutes and finally showing the aggressiveness that's going to make him a star in the future?
One of his baskets looked like something that may have been drawn up at halftime to fit a Loyola defensive reaction.
Quote from: M on February 14, 2018, 09:07:54 PM
Why did Mileek sit the last 17 minutes after scoring 7 points in 3 minutes and finally showing the aggressiveness that's going to make him a star in the future?
Mileek did look really good but once Krutwig came in the game Coach took out Mileek and the pairing of Jay and Kiser were working really well for the most part till Jay fouled out. Kiser was doing all the little things well and was coming up with big offensive rebounds which probably made it tough to take him out because he didn't want to hurt the flow.
A very encouraging stretch coming out of the 2nd half for Mileek though. He looked confident and aggressive. So much potential in Mileek's game and future.
Our rotations are incomprehensible. Start the same players for 12+ straight games and then from there bench Mileek, never give Parker a chance, and are spotty with Micah's minutes from game to game. I don't get it. We're 5-15 after starting 8-0? Can't keep blaming it on youth or inexperience. Guaranteed a Thursday game. Play Parker and Mileek. Try some different rotations. What's to lose? Feel for Tevonn and Max.
Once Jay fouled out it sort of took the gas out of our defense. Smits just isn't as good on defense right now and it showed.
We were trading punches down the stretch but Loyola was hitting some really difficult shots with Valpo playing some good defense. Custer made some very difficult shots as well as Jackson. They just have so many guys that can get double figures in points on any given night and we don't have that yet.
Loyola may have dropped 80 but I'm pleased with our defense for the most part, although there are things that can be cleaned up. Loyola was making difficult shots all night. I thought overall this was an encouraging game.
Quote from: VU2010 on February 14, 2018, 09:43:50 PM
Our rotations are incomprehensible. Start the same players for 12+ straight games and then from there bench Mileek, never give Parker a chance, and are spotty with Micah's minutes from game to game. I don't get it. We're 5-15 after starting 8-0? Can't keep blaming it on youth or inexperience. Guaranteed a Thursday game. Play Parker and Mileek. Try some different rotations. What's to lose? Feel for Tevonn and Max.
To be fair Kiser was forcing Coaches hand to keep him on the floor. He played really well. Also Parker hasn't shown he deserves any minutes. Micah just can't make shots. He's solid at times at playing backup PG but he's a total liability on offense because defenders cheat on him because they know he can't shoot.
Need to accept that this is a team with unreliable depth which makes it tough to have consistent rotations. But for as much as you can criticize the 5-15 record if you look deeper they are making improvements.
Quote from: VU2014 on February 14, 2018, 09:49:59 PMTo be fair Kiser was forcing Coaches hand to keep him on the floor. He played really well.
I like Kiser, I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't think he is very athletic, but as soon as Krutwig came out of the game we either should have made a concerted effort to go inside to Sorolla or put Mileek in the game. Sorolla gave up some jump shots to Jackson because he did not go out and guard the smaller player. I was then surprised that we did not immediately go inside when Jay had a 6" height advantage on Jackson.
Spirited effort falls short for Valparaiso
Paul Oren Times Correspondent
55 min ago
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/basketball/college/spirited-effort-falls-short-for-valparaiso/article_0fdc0ca8-2fdc-53b8-833f-f25b5287bcdd.html
https://twitter.com/PostTribSports/status/963991417105403904
Another close call: Valparaiso pushes MVC leader Loyola before falling short
Michael Osipoff
Post-Tribune
February 14, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-mens-basketball-valparaiso-loyola-st-0215-20180214-story.html
I don't have an issue with Bakari's technical but it seems we have had more players get T'ed up this year than in years past.
Progress is our most important product.
This team is improving. Hopefully we can play the spoiler during Arch Madness.
So we out rebound them, have 14 assists to only 12 turnovers, shoot 90% on 20 free throws and we lose? Loyola is really good and we are clearly getting better. Imagine if we had Joe. :(
And the Loyola fans clearly were out supporting their first place team!! It is good that Loyola has the smallest gym in the league so the 2091 fans didn't look quite so bad :rotfl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysZ6wSBYqCE
Does the NWI Times have photographers anymore? They have literally used the same stock shot of the Crusader mascot and cheerleaders for nearly every VU story on their website this season. I know this is an editorial decision and not Paul's but the web editor needs to understand how half-ass this looks.
They have a guy named Kale Wilk (@KaleWilk) who would probably be in charge of the stock photos. I wonder if Valpo Athletics would provide their photos to NWI Times. I'm not sure they send a photographer to the games anymore. I exchange for the free photos maybe they could start do small previews in the paper again for at least the home game. I miss those. Or maybe they could get a VU journalism student to intern for them and write the previews for them if its a money thing. Ideally I'd like to see Paul write them, but I just want them back because a) I enjoy reading previews b) they let the community know about the upcoming games.
https://www.nwitimes.com/users/profile/kale%20wilk/
Valpo's game photos: https://valpoathletics.exposure.co/mbb-vs-illinois-state
https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/962885942439743488