After finishing the nonconference slate with a winning record for the 10th straight season, Valpo will open the league slate at home for the second straight year.
Loyola leads the all-time series 39-15, including a 5-0 mark over the last two seasons since Valpo joined the Missouri Valley Conference. The most recent regular season meeting was Feb. 10, 2019 at the ARC, when Valpo held a nine-point lead with just over seven minutes remaining before the Ramblers scored the next 13 points and Valpo eventually fell 56-51 in front of a capacity crowd. The two teams also faced off in the MVC Tournament a year ago, a 67-54 victory for Loyola on March 8.
Tidbits:
•Valpo will attempt to snap its five-game skid against the Ramblers, which dates back to the final Horizon League meeting between the two teams on Feb. 19, 2013. Valpo prevailed 85-76 at Loyola.
•Valpo finished the nonconference schedule with a scoring average of 76.3, the team's highest nonconference scoring average since entering the 2013-14 league slate at 77.1.
•This marks the second time in the last three years Valpo entered Valley play as the conference leader in steals per game (8.7) after also doing so in 2017-18 (7.8 spg).
•Javon Freeman-Liberty (21.8 ppg) becomes the first Valpo player to enter conference action as the league's leading scorer since 2016-17, when Alec Peters started Horizon League play at 25.5 points per game.
•Freeman-Liberty (33) is also the first Valpo player to enter conference play leading the way in steals since 2016-17, when Lexus Williams topped the Horizon League at 1.8 per game.
•This is the first time Valpo started conference action atop the statistical leaderboard in assists (16.7 apg) since 2011-12, when Valpo started Horizon League action averaging 14.7 assists per game.
•Freeman-Liberty is trying to become the first player to lead The Valley in both scoring and steals since Drake's Curt Smith in 1993.
•Valpo is trying to become the first Valley team to lead the league in both assists and steals since Bradley in 2008.
Source: Valpo Athletics Website
We had too many disappointing games in the first two years of MVC play. This team has played very well at times, but is still searching for that defensive identity. I think we find it against Loyola.
Valpo 77
Loyola 71
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From Loyola's web site:
CHICAGO (December 26, 2019) - Loyola begins its seventh season of Missouri Valley Conference play Monday night when it visits local rival Valparaiso. The Ramblers had a five-game win streak, their longest since 2017-18, halted with a 59-56 loss to Davidson December 22.
Winning on the road has been key to Loyola's back-to-back MVC regular-season titles. Since the start of 2017-18, the Ramblers are 11-7 (.611) on the road in league play.
Since joining The Valley for the 2013-14 season, Loyola is 2-4 (.333) in MVC openers and last season dealt Indiana State a 79-44 loss to kick off league play. All time, the Ramblers are 19-21 (.475) in conference openers, but just 3-9 in their last 12 league lid-lifters.
Loyola – Valparaiso – The Series
Monday's game will be the 55th meeting between the Ramblers and Crusaders in a series that began in 1922. Loyola has claimed six of the last seven matchups, including each of the last five, and owns a 39-15 edge in the all-time series.
Loyola is 19-8 against the Crusaders in Valparaiso and has prevailed in four of the last five games at the ARC, including each of the last three. The Ramblers are 5-0 against Valpo since becoming a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
When the teams last met, in the MVC Championship quarterfinal round in St. Louis last March, Cameron Krutwig totaled 18 points to power Loyola to a 67-54 victory. The Ramblers built a 40-18 halftime advantage and led by as many as 27 points.
Scouting Valparaiso
Since winning four of their first five games of 2019-20, Valparaiso has stumbled in five of its last eight contests and has dropped two of its last three outings. The Crusaders have defended their home floor well this season and are a perfect 4-0 at the ARC, with three of those wins coming by 14 or more points.
Valpo has lost six of its last seven regular-season Valley games overall and five of its last six conference games at home dating back to last season.
Sophomore Javon Freeman-Liberty is off to a fantastic start to the season, averaging 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard was a teammate of Loyola junior guard Lucas Williamson at Whitney Young High School in Chicago.
STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
R. Fazekas 23 7-16 4-10 5-6 2 2 4 0 1 0 1 2 23
Game 1 - Toledo Ryan's only complete game this season. 23 points in 23 minutes - a career high. 16 highly productive shots - a team high. 4-10 from 3. Rest of the team was 2-11.
If/when Ryan returns and assuming he's in game shape when he does, Valpo will be instantly better.. Close losses will become close wins. Bottom 6 will become top 4, maybe better. Book it.
Quote from: VUBBFan on December 27, 2019, 11:22:04 AM
From Loyola's web site:
CHICAGO (December 26, 2019) - Loyola begins its seventh season of Missouri Valley Conference play Monday night when it visits local rival Valparaiso. The Ramblers had a five-game win streak, their longest since 2017-18, halted with a 59-56 loss to Davidson December 22.
Winning on the road has been key to Loyola's back-to-back MVC regular-season titles. Since the start of 2017-18, the Ramblers are 11-7 (.611) on the road in league play.
Since joining The Valley for the 2013-14 season, Loyola is 2-4 (.333) in MVC openers and last season dealt Indiana State a 79-44 loss to kick off league play. All time, the Ramblers are 19-21 (.475) in conference openers, but just 3-9 in their last 12 league lid-lifters.
Loyola – Valparaiso – The Series
Monday's game will be the 55th meeting between the Ramblers and Crusaders in a series that began in 1922. Loyola has claimed six of the last seven matchups, including each of the last five, and owns a 39-15 edge in the all-time series.
Loyola is 19-8 against the Crusaders in Valparaiso and has prevailed in four of the last five games at the ARC, including each of the last three. The Ramblers are 5-0 against Valpo since becoming a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
When the teams last met, in the MVC Championship quarterfinal round in St. Louis last March, Cameron Krutwig totaled 18 points to power Loyola to a 67-54 victory. The Ramblers built a 40-18 halftime advantage and led by as many as 27 points.
Scouting Valparaiso
Since winning four of their first five games of 2019-20, Valparaiso has stumbled in five of its last eight contests and has dropped two of its last three outings. The Crusaders have defended their home floor well this season and are a perfect 4-0 at the ARC, with three of those wins coming by 14 or more points.
Valpo has lost six of its last seven regular-season Valley games overall and five of its last six conference games at home dating back to last season.
Sophomore Javon Freeman-Liberty is off to a fantastic start to the season, averaging 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard was a teammate of Loyola junior guard Lucas Williamson at Whitney Young High School in Chicago.
Here's a couple of stats the author missed:
The combined record of the 7 D-1 opponents Loyola defeated is 34-56 (.378).
The combined record of the 6 D-1 opponents Valpo defeated is 31-44 (.413).
The combined record of the 5 opponents who defeated Loyola is 35-29 (.547).
The combined record of the 6 opponents who defeated Valpo is 50-20 (.714).
Quote from: wh on December 27, 2019, 01:14:07 PM
Quote from: VUBBFan on December 27, 2019, 11:22:04 AM
From Loyola's web site:
CHICAGO (December 26, 2019) - Loyola begins its seventh season of Missouri Valley Conference play Monday night when it visits local rival Valparaiso. The Ramblers had a five-game win streak, their longest since 2017-18, halted with a 59-56 loss to Davidson December 22.
Winning on the road has been key to Loyola's back-to-back MVC regular-season titles. Since the start of 2017-18, the Ramblers are 11-7 (.611) on the road in league play.
Since joining The Valley for the 2013-14 season, Loyola is 2-4 (.333) in MVC openers and last season dealt Indiana State a 79-44 loss to kick off league play. All time, the Ramblers are 19-21 (.475) in conference openers, but just 3-9 in their last 12 league lid-lifters.
Loyola – Valparaiso – The Series
Monday's game will be the 55th meeting between the Ramblers and Crusaders in a series that began in 1922. Loyola has claimed six of the last seven matchups, including each of the last five, and owns a 39-15 edge in the all-time series.
Loyola is 19-8 against the Crusaders in Valparaiso and has prevailed in four of the last five games at the ARC, including each of the last three. The Ramblers are 5-0 against Valpo since becoming a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
When the teams last met, in the MVC Championship quarterfinal round in St. Louis last March, Cameron Krutwig totaled 18 points to power Loyola to a 67-54 victory. The Ramblers built a 40-18 halftime advantage and led by as many as 27 points.
Scouting Valparaiso
Since winning four of their first five games of 2019-20, Valparaiso has stumbled in five of its last eight contests and has dropped two of its last three outings. The Crusaders have defended their home floor well this season and are a perfect 4-0 at the ARC, with three of those wins coming by 14 or more points.
Valpo has lost six of its last seven regular-season Valley games overall and five of its last six conference games at home dating back to last season.
Sophomore Javon Freeman-Liberty is off to a fantastic start to the season, averaging 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard was a teammate of Loyola junior guard Lucas Williamson at Whitney Young High School in Chicago.
Here's a couple of stats the author missed:
The combined record of the 7 D-1 opponents Loyola defeated is 34-56 (.378).
The combined record of the 6 D-1 opponents Valpo defeated is 31-44 (.413).
The combined record of the 5 opponents who defeated Loyola is 35-29 (.547).
The combined record of the 6 opponents who defeated Valpo is 50-20 (.714).
Those are good observations. Should be a barn-burner.
We'd be getting so much more respect if we had just finished against Cincinnati and Arkansas... Hopefully we see some encouraging results this year and next year is the year we really (finally) take off and compete for what we've all been hoping for since we moved to the MVC.
Hopefully the ARC will be packed and loud. The ARC was a difficult place to play on the road.
If it's anything like recent years it will be but it will also be full of Loyola supporters.
Quote from: wh on December 27, 2019, 12:51:03 PMIf/when Ryan returns and assuming he's in game shape when he does, Valpo will be instantly better.. Close losses will become close wins. Bottom 6 will become top 4, maybe better. Book it.
:thumbsup: Not only will our offense improve but our defense should also allow fewer openings. Ryan knows where to be on the floor and what he needs to do when he gets there. I realize that it sounds simple but freshmen are freshmen and seniors know the ropes.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 27, 2019, 02:14:30 PM
Hopefully the ARC will be packed and loud. The ARC was a difficult place to play on the road.
Unless VU is giving away tickets, it should be sparse crowd. No students
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Quote from: justducky on December 27, 2019, 02:43:51 PM
Quote from: wh on December 27, 2019, 12:51:03 PMIf/when Ryan returns and assuming he's in game shape when he does, Valpo will be instantly better.. Close losses will become close wins. Bottom 6 will become top 4, maybe better. Book it.
:thumbsup: Not only will our offense improve but our defense should also allow fewer openings. Ryan knows where to be on the floor and what he needs to do when he gets there. I realize that it sounds simple but freshmen are freshmen and seniors know the ropes.
Couldn't agree more with your thoughts on Ryan's affect on the teams defensive play. I think it has been easy for us to overlook the Fazekas injury with the way JFL has played, but if Ryan had remained healthy JFL might not even be our leading scorer or at the least I would expect that we would have two players scoring in the upper teens per game.
Could a would a should a made a huge difference in our OOC schedule wins and losses offensively not to even mention the potential for better defensive play.
Quote from: covufan on December 27, 2019, 04:14:29 PM
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 27, 2019, 02:14:30 PM
Hopefully the ARC will be packed and loud. The ARC was a difficult place to play on the road.
Unless VU is giving away tickets, it should be sparse crowd. No students
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The current/recent students don't show up regardless. I think that we will get 3,500+.
Valpo 79
Loyola 72
Honestly think someone wins this game by double digits. No idea which team.
Loyola's defensive efficiency is much better than ours. If we don't match or beat them on defense, they win, likely a close win as we have home court advantage which is about 3.5 points.
Quote from: VUBBFan on December 27, 2019, 11:22:04 AM
From Loyola's web site:
CHICAGO (December 26, 2019) - Loyola begins its seventh season of Missouri Valley Conference play Monday night when it visits local rival Valparaiso.........
Did Loyola actually call Valparaiso a rival???
Well we have plenty of shared history from the HL days we're their closest opponent both religiously affiliated private schools (Catholic vs Protetstant dynamic) but I think they just mean that we're rivals in the sense that we're rivals with all MVC teams because we're all vying for the same crown.
Quote from: valpotx on December 27, 2019, 07:17:06 PM
Quote from: covufan on December 27, 2019, 04:14:29 PM
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 27, 2019, 02:14:30 PM
Hopefully the ARC will be packed and loud. The ARC was a difficult place to play on the road.
Unless VU is giving away tickets, it should be sparse crowd. No students
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The current/recent students don't show up regardless. I think that we will get 3,500+.
Valpo 79
Loyola 72
Good call by tx. Valpo drew 3,800+ for a January 2nd game last season. Hopefully, no competition from HS events means parents will bring their kids to a game (or just send their HS kids to get them out of the house for a while!). Loyola still has name recognition from their Final 4 run and they will definitely bring some fans.
We hope for a big crowd but the students wont make that big of difference in terms of number. Noise and energy they will be a factor. It looks like the seats in the visitors area have been selling so I would expect a good LU representation.
Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency for Valpo and Loyola:
AdjOE Loyola 100.4 (Points scored per 100 possessions)
AdjDE Valpo 100.6 (Points allowed per 100 possessions)
Advantage: Loyola will likely score their average plus .2pts
AdjOE Valpo 100.6 (Points scored per 100 possessions)
AdjDE Loyola 94.8 (Points allowed per 100 possessions)
Advantage: Loyola will likely keep Valpo below its average points scored by 5.8pts.
Total Advantage Loyola, both offense and defense
5.8 + .2 = 6
Total Advantage 6
HCA to Valpo 3.5
Net Advantage to Loyola = 2.5 points.
KenPom's expected victor is Loyola by 1 point.
The difference, I'm guessing, is likely attributable to some type of calculation for strength of schedule.
Sagarin rank Valpo 161; Loyola 116
Pomeroy rank Valpo 164; Loyola 106
NET rank Valpo 138; Loyola 148
Sports-Ref rank Valpo 159; Loyola 104
Realtime RPI Rank: Valpo 128; Loyola 208
Quote from: valpo64 on December 28, 2019, 08:59:41 AMIt looks like the seats in the visitors area have been selling so I would expect a good LU representation.
Yes. Only 1 seat remaining in E, one in D and one in C. B still has 14 and A has a bunch remaining. Chairbacks are also going pretty strong.
Quote from: EddieCabot on December 28, 2019, 08:47:47 AMGood call by tx. Valpo drew 3,800+ for a January 2nd game last season.
Looking at mezzanine sales I am going to venture a guess of 4100. I hope I am still too low.
Quote from: wh on December 27, 2019, 01:14:07 PM
Here's a couple of stats the author missed:
The combined record of the 7 D-1 opponents Loyola defeated is 34-56 (.378).
The combined record of the 6 D-1 opponents Valpo defeated is 31-44 (.413).
The combined record of the 5 opponents who defeated Loyola is 35-29 (.547).
The combined record of the 6 opponents who defeated Valpo is 50-20 (.714).
Good analysis ... thanks for compiling this.
I hope they bring in a local High School band so at least we have a pep band since the students are gone. That way the student section will have some people in it.
Quote from: VUBBFan on December 28, 2019, 12:25:49 PM
I hope they bring in a local High School band so at least we have a pep band since the students are gone. That way the student section will have some people in it.
Added bonus...the last HS pep band (Chesterton, maybe) had way more than 10 members.
New Year's wishes for the ARC:
• Make parking a problem again
• Make concession lines long again
• Make counting students hard again
• Make ears ring again
Early spread: EVEN
https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/loyola-chicago-valparaiso-odds-december-30-2019-1194332
It is interesting to review the season stats and in doing I found a couple of surprises.
First Mileek hasn't been fouling out on a regular basis so I had assumed his fouling was under better control. Ahh. yes and no ??? Last year he was called for a foul every 4.8 minutes on the floor and it has only been reduced to one every 5.3 minutes. Also Sackey is not our worst 3 point shooter. :o Daniel sits squarely at 25% while McMillan is at 23.1% compared to 31.3% in 18-19. What gives?
It seems like an eternity since our last game. Would be great to start the conference season with a win over Loyola.
Any word on Fazekas? All I've seen is "progressing nicely" :lol:
Quote from: wh on December 29, 2019, 03:42:38 PM
Early spread: EVEN
https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/loyola-chicago-valparaiso-odds-december-30-2019-1194332
Current spread: Valpo +3
Loyola has been up and down, Valpo has been up and down, it's 1 of 18 in conference play, and we're still missing our best shooter(I assume). But it's going to be hard to not have an outsized reaction to this one.
Quote from: wh on December 30, 2019, 09:21:24 AMQuote from: wh on December 29, 2019, 03:42:38 PMEarly spread: EVEN https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/loyola-chicago-valparaiso-odds-december-30-2019-1194332
Current spread: Valpo +3
If they are +3 that means an underdog in odds-maker lingo.
On that same page in your link, Loyola is shown to have a 57% chance of winning.
And the predicted score is Loyola 69.4 Valpo 64.4
Quote from: valpolaw on December 30, 2019, 09:11:46 AMIt seems like an eternity since our last game. Would be great to start the conference season with a win over Loyola. Any word on Fazekas? All I've seen is "progressing nicely" :lol:
He was supposedly going to have scans/x-rays done on his wrist at the end of last week to determine how he was healing. Then the Doctors could make a prognosis on his recovery and timetable for his return (or no return). So I imagine the coaching staff has a good idea of what is happening with him now. As to when we find out well ....... Feeling hopeful that we see him back on the court very soon.
Looks like a very solid crowd . I counted 84 seats available in chairbacks and 10 in reserved. Upstairs looks about half full but should have a decent walk-up though the weather might keep some away. 4000 sounds about right.
Quote from: vu72 on December 30, 2019, 01:22:19 PMUpstairs looks about half full but should have a decent walk-up though the weather might keep some away. 4000 sounds about right.
If no snow but a windy 32 temp keeps you home then its time for you to permanently move south. I may show up in shorts and a teeshirt. :thumbsup: If you've got 4000 I'll go with 4060.
Latest Predictions:
BPI:
Loyola by 1.5
Warren Nolan:
R1 Win Probability: Loyola 58%
ELO Win Probability: Loyola 51%
Massey Ratings:
Win Probability: 50%/50%; Predicted Score: Valpo 69 Loyola 68
RealTimeRPI: Will RealTimeRPI actually be in the ballpark for once?
Score: Valpo 83, Loyola 71
Pomeroy:
Win Probability: 52% Loyola
Score: Loyola 70, Valpo 69
Sagarin:
Ratings differential each team plus 3.23 for HCA to Valpo, Valpo win by 0.13 ranking margin. That's pretty damned close. :thumbsup:
Oddsshark Odds:
Win% Probability: 57% Loyola
Predicted score: Loyola 69.4 Valpo 64.4
Looking forward to watching this one live, on my back to Minnesota and thought I'd stop to see a game at the ARC. Let's keep Krutwig contained and I think we'll be alright . Mileek STAY OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE.
Valpo 68
Loyola 64
Looks like the Chesterton high school band is here , whoever made that call was using the matter in between their ears ! 👏
Still early... But like clockwork we're giving up a very high shooting percentage in the early going. Meanwhile Loyola is showing that defense travels. Sigh...
Love me some Kiser, but he is completely outmatched tonight.
Our offense looks all of out sorts.
Still within reach. I wish we would take it to the hoop more instead of launching a bunch of 3s
Glad to see Gordon back in there
We could not have played worse, yet we're only down by 7. Gives me hope for the 2nd half.
I hear Doug Elgin is at the game... Is this bad for us? Is he auditing us to reconsider our standing in the MVC?
Quote from: valpolaw on December 30, 2019, 07:49:26 PM
Still within reach. I wish we would take it to the hoop more instead of launching a bunch of 3s
Glad to see Gordon back in there
Our 3 bigs have launched 5 of our 14 3's. Those might as well be 5 TO's. If they can't score in the post, don't shoot the ball. Period.
VUGrad, he's up in the corner above the concessions. Walk by and yell "Add Murray State!!!"
Gladly if I wasn't out of town for the new year. I just hope they don't add Murray State at our expense...
Two horrendous calls on Kiser to start the second half.
Yes, major blown call gives them 3 free throws! Very impressed that these guys keep their cool.
Quote from: wh on December 30, 2019, 07:54:25 PMWe could not have played worse, yet we're only down by 7. Gives me hope for the 2nd half.
Quote from: valpolaw on December 30, 2019, 07:49:26 PMStill within reach. I wish we would take it to the hoop more instead of launching a bunch of 3s Glad to see Gordon back in there
These viewpoints seemed a lot more reasonable 5 or 6 games ago. We're a known quantity now. This shouldn't be 'within reach', it should've been tied at the half, but we took bad shots and gave up easy ones, like we do every single game in the early going. Lottich needs to find a way to get his guys ready to play a full 40, or we're a Thursday team again.
What do we do? We're recruiting better and there's really slow upward progress but we're just not good enough right now...
We are young, we will get better.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 30, 2019, 08:22:01 PMWe are young, we will get better.
I have heard that for three years now... I know it's true but it's getting tired... We need to be playing better before the end of the year and do well next year... Unfortunately this year is the decision year on Lottich...
It's a rebuilding year....
Truthfully the talent difference isn't all that much. They know every one of our out of bounds plays and how we run our entire offense.
We'll end up a 5-7 seed this year. But we won't compete for an MVC title with this coach. He's so far behind his counterpart on almost any given evening.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 30, 2019, 08:19:24 PMWhat do we do? We're recruiting better and there's really slow upward progress but we're just not good enough right now...
I'm going to regret responding to this question during a game, but we can't fire the players... Lottich at least needs to feel some heat under his chair. His guys don't play defense and start games slowly.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 30, 2019, 08:22:01 PMWe are young, we will get better.
Loyola is about as young as we are. So when they also get better, we'll continue to get schooled on our own court.
Seems like Lottich goes into a game with one plan.
Porter Moser developed a gameplan to shut down JFL.
And we're witnessing the results.
For the folks who are watching the game at home there was a nice halftime piece called the profile on Daniel Sackey. It went into his game winning shot in Canada and gave us a brief background of his family and passion for music.
How has Lottich not drawn a T? It's like they know they're beaten.
The energy from the crowd is good The players have given them nothing though... Refs sound like they've been hard on us but our play is such that we can't blame them for our misfortune... Oooh Here we go! Maybe this is the moment that sparks us!
COME ON! LET'S MAKE A RUN HERE!
-7 on the boards... You're not going to win that way... COME ON NOW! ONLY 8!
COME ON Y'ALL!
Nice little run. With JLF on the bench too. Our shots are always contested. Our movement, screens, switching the ball very seldom gives us open looks.
Rebounding... ALWAYS an issue... At least it's expected now because we lack size but still...
COME ON!!!
Oh good... NOW They're going to pay attention to flopping... Where was this in past years (namely against Indiana State)
COME ON!!!!
We are within 3. Don't panic. Run the offense, get a high efficient shot. relax guys!
We panicked.
Turnovers... Every time we make a run.... Every time...
I'm starting to think that Sackey is in his own head. Afraid to shoot, bad turnovers, indecisive passes. Hope he figures it out, when he's locked in he's dynamite.
Need a Buggs, Keith Carter, Lexus, even Ali, as point guard and this is a win.
Shoot Had the momentum and got sloppy. But we keep storming back.
And JFL finally got a long 3 to go down. I think it's not decided until the last 30 seconds.
Valpo in the MVC is Sisyphus Constantly pushing the stone uphill only to have it roll down again...
Milleek had a mismatch in the post and came up short. Would have cut it to 2. 30 seconds latter we are down 8.
Come on guys... Need to score here...
Such a terrible pass by Sackey when we pulled to within 1 point. Kiser was wide open in an ocean by himself for an easy lay-in or alley-oop lay-in, and Sackey throws it directly to Krutwig. There was literally a 1% chance that someone could mess that one up...and we did.
COME ON NOW!
So tired of Sackey's boneheaded turnovers late in the game.
YES!!!! PLEASE HIT THIS FREE THROW!!!
COME ON!
Kiser with a little hustle play and Clay another 3. Happy for Clay.
This is a bad loss, and what makes it so is a lack of preparation. We weren't ready to play, and Loyola had a solid game plan to shut down our best player. They executed, and we didn't even have a plan.
Lottich has shown he can recruit talent, and managed to retain Freeman. Maybe what we need is better Xs and Os from the supporting staff?
And Sackey takes the final shot. A fitting end.
What a crappy last play. However, I am impressed with our fight back, when it looked like we were dead in the water several times...especially without JFL in the game during those situations.
Same issues as the entire Lottich era and another winnable game slips away... When will these losses start to become wins again?
Support staff? You mean the rotating chairs?
Do you remember the MVC year we found our selves down by double digits and then come fighting back the last two minutes to make it a game. Nothing different.
Quote from: valpotx on December 30, 2019, 09:07:44 PMWhat a crappy last play. However, I am impressed with our fight back, when it looked like we were dead in the water several times...especially without JFL in the game during those situations.
Help me understand why you were impressed? I'm truly at a loss as to how anyone can look at a game where we only showed up for the second half and say it was impressive.
Now, Donovan Clay was impressive individually. But if we had been ready to play from the opening tip, we win by 7 or 8 points.
Rinse and freakin' repeat.
Great comeback. It is a shame that Sackey is in the game when it is a tight game...he can not shoot and should not do so, he is as turnover waiting to happen when he isn't fouling someone. Feel bad for Javon.
So is this who we are now? Are moral victories now good enough? "But we were so close though and we played so hard..." Results. Wins and losses. The only thing that matters and the only metric by which you are measured. Wins and losses. I am so glad to hear some frustration from Ickow. It sounds like he's right there with us in needing to start seeing some results.
The second half runs were not scripted or designed. It was more like street ball and kind of frantic. Similar to when we made fun of Detroit and lack of x and o's.
Always coming up short. It's like watching the same movie over and over and over again. It gets old.
Maybe some day we will show up to play a full game.
I guess on the positive side this team doesn't ever give up.
I will say this, though. I do fully believe that this team can still find it and get hot before the end of the year. Ryan or not. The team has shown that they never ever give up and that is admirable.
I don't get into officiating so much but the free throw disparity...at home...was 6-30! And those two calls on Kiser at the beginning were awful (it ended up a 3 pt game btw). Every drive seemed to be a charge...it's just unbelievable! Doesn't excuse the loss, but G-dD@Mit, I'm tired of all of this.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 30, 2019, 09:16:27 PMThe second half runs were not scripted or designed. It was more light street ball and kind of frantic. Similar to when we made fun of Detroit and lack of x and o's.
This. I think it's becoming obvious that Lottich is not an X's and O's type of coach. And he certainly not able to adjust on the fly. We're lucky we weren't blown out tonight.
Wait they put Siggy into the game and had no intention of giving him a look? Ugh...
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 30, 2019, 09:16:27 PMThe second half runs were not scripted or designed. It was more light street ball and kind of frantic. Similar to when we made fun of Detroit and lack of x and o's.
I can more or less live with the fast and loose offense because it frequently works with our talent level (though tonight we had 0.94 points per possession, not good).
What I can't live with is giving up 55% shooting in the first half, night in and night out. It's like instead of watching film ahead of time, we're using the first half to scout and the second half to actually play defense.
Are we "progressing nicely?"
I don't want to hear anymore about how much fight the team showed by coming back. The announcers called Valpo "the cardiac kids"; however, as they pointed out, that is because this is the sixth time the team had to come back from being down 10 points. As Chevy Chase says in the Vacation movie, "that's nothing to be proud of, Rusty!" All it shows is that this team repeatedly has been lacking in the first half too many times. That unpreparedness is on Lottich.
Also, I know I am not the only fan who was saying "anyone but Sackey" when the final play was underway. Yet, who takes the final 3-point shot? That's on Lottich for a poorly drawn play. In addition, I am just going to put it here that the officiating sucked. For example, replays showed the two fouls called on Kiser at the start of the second half were bogus. A couple of the charges were questionable as well. During the game, Moser went hard at the officials when his team was called for a questionable foul. I had hoped Lottich would be more forceful this year, but again he seemed much too timid. Eventually, his not having his guys' backs with the refs is going to cause players to defend themselves with the officials and receive technicals. We've seen that before.
Bottom line: this is the Missouri Valley and you have to defend home court. Nothing else matters.
We'd better go down and kick Evansville's butt this weekend... Get mad and get ready to play and let's win ourselves a road game.
We wasted a career night from Clay.
We were in the game because he was 4 for 4 from 3.
We were in the game because Loyola couldn't make ft's.
This would have been a blown out otherwise.
I know things are different and the programs are different but did Bryce ever lose to Loyola? Has Lottich ever beaten Loyola?
Henceforth, the laying an egg over the first quarter of the game shall be known as the "Lottich Special".
Example: The Packers pulled a Lottich Special to start the game on Sunday but managed to come from behind for the win.
Patent Pending.
One thing's for sure We wouldn't be losing these games under Bryce. No way whatsoever. As much as I want to see us become more than just the Drews I would welcome him back home in a heartbeat anytime he wants to retake the reins. Sadly until those Vanderbilt checks stop coming his way he has no incentive whatsoever to coach here or anywhere... But I wish he would come home sometime in the future. He may be our best and only hope in the immediate term of becoming a contender in this conference.
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on December 30, 2019, 09:35:35 PMHenceforth, the laying an egg over the first quarter of the game shall be known as the "Lottich Special". Example: The Packers pulled a Lottich Special to start the game on Sunday but managed to come from behind for the win. Patent Pending.
Breaking News: Native Cheesehad Sued by Matt Lottich for Copyright Infringement. Lottich trademarked that term years ago. You're too late. Call it something else.
I'll countersue for emotional distress.
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on December 30, 2019, 09:39:32 PMI'll countersue for emotional distress.
Your counterclaim is granted. Lottich your case is denied. That term falls under the Public Domain and is subject to fair use. Want it to stop? Stop laying more eggs than a factory farm and start winning games.
Bottomline on this is point guard play. Sackey needs to make shots and quit turning the ball over. At this point, give Lorange more time at the point position and see what happens.
Pretty good effort overall. It was nice to see the place decently full too. Were there some bad calls by the officials? Certainly. But we were out coached down the stretch. Silly stuff. And sorry I know he's the fan favorite but it's a problem if Kaiser is getting this much playing time. And seriously we're going to put Siggy in with a minute left??? He's cold because he doesn't get any playing time. Then again we don't have a play down the stretch with the game on the line. Sooo we blew it. So tired of Matt's mediocrity and excuses. Tired of the whole progressing nicely crap. It's time for accountability if this season doesn't work out. Unless that's the goal - mediocrity. In that case, fine. We'll settle. Sorry but that isn't the same Loyola team that went to the finals. Joke.
Summary of Valpo in the MVC so far:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APOk7phgafE
Looking at the box score you realize that it's the little things that add up. McMillen 0-4 from 3. Freese-Villen 0-2 from 3. Morgan 0-1 from 3.
That's 7 missed 3s from guys who have no business taking those shots. 7 empty possessions. 7 missed opportunities. And we end up losing by 3. Ugh.
Mileek won't miss that many 3s ina game again.
Donovan played great, let's keep it going!
Sackey should've stayed on the defensive end of the court tonight.
Javon forced it too much.
Kiser played like a freshman.
Nick shot well but had some real ding ding plays.
Good thing Loyola stinks or Valpo loses by 20+. I'm encouraged that they played so poorly much of the night and still had a shot at it.
Quote from: mj on December 30, 2019, 09:07:40 PM
And Sackey takes the final shot. A fitting end.
I've said this before. Sackey should never be the go-to guy during crunch time at the end of a game. This has happened before with the same result. What the hell was the coach thinking? What play did he draw up for situations like this? You should tell certain players not to shoot in these kinds of circumstances.
Sackey for the win? Get real. No wonder we lose close games. smdh
He's a horrible 3-pt shooter. We all know this. The coach doesn't.
I thought I'd look at the stats to see if that would give me a more objective view. However, the stats show Valpo shot better than Loyola with field goals (43.1%-42.9%) and Valpo made more field goals (25-21). VU also made 9 3-pointers to 5 for Loyola. In rebounding, Valpo was beaten by only 3 (33-36). Valpo only had two more turnovers (13-15) due to the numerous charges called, some questionable. The big difference was in fouls: Valpo was called for 23 while Loyola only got called for 12, and the free throw discrepancy was 6 for Valpo but 30 for Loyola. Also, Javon was eliminated from the end of the game because of the 5 fouls he got, at least two were questionable. The final score: 66-63. You're not supposed to say it, but sometimes poor officiating does matter in the results, especially when Valpo gives the opponent a double-digit lead and must rely on coming out ahead in a tight game.
Quote from: M on December 30, 2019, 10:04:24 PMJavon forced it too much.
I'd argue that Porter Moser figured out how to bottle JFL up. And Lottich didn't know how to adjust his game plan.
Quote from: M on December 30, 2019, 10:04:24 PM
Mileek won't miss that many 3s ina game again.
Donovan played great, let's keep it going!
Sackey should've stayed on the defensive end of the court tonight.
Javon forced it too much.
Kiser played like a freshman.
Nick shot well but had some real ding ding plays.
Good thing Loyola stinks or Valpo loses by 20+. I'm encouraged that they played so poorly much of the night and still had a shot at it.
If Loyola stinks... And we still lost... What does that say about us?
I dont disagree with that. Moser laid the framework on how to slow JFL. JFL needs to be a little smarter. He had 7 assists...he also gambled on a few steals early on and left his teammates in bad shape on defense. He will bounce back.
These kids deserve better coaching.
I hate to say it but losing Lottich would likely do more bad than good. He is a heck of a recruiter and without him we probably don't have most of these players that make this team have the potential that is does.
Good points but I don't think Kiser air balling a 3 helps matters either.
Quote from: Just Sayin on December 30, 2019, 10:14:27 PMThese kids deserve better coaching.
Hear! Hear! Hands down THIS is the answer! I hate to bring it up... BUT After a 32-9 start to his tenure Matt Lottich is 29-42 with a 14-26 mark in conference. Those are not good marks. That works out to a .350 winning percentage in conference (including Arch Madness) And a .408 winning percentage overall. Take out the conference games that's 15-16 (.484) in NON-Conference Take out 3 non D1s and that's 12-16 .429. There's struggling but this feels like another category of struggling. Most teams aren't under .500 in nearly 3 years of non conference play. This feels like Porter Moser ISUr era. Lottich simply wasn't and isn't ready to be an MVC coach. The question is what do we do with it? Is this similar to Homer Drew's early struggles where he later built the program we enjoy today? Unfortunately the competition is ratcheted way up and so are the expectations from those days. We may not get the chance to find out but the question is will we even want to? So much rides on these final 17 games+ St Louis and I hope Matt understands that.
Quote from: vok22 on December 30, 2019, 10:22:44 PM
I hate to say it but losing Lottich would likely do more bad than good. He is a heck of a recruiter and without him we probably don't have most of these players that make this team have the potential that is does.
Sadly and scarily, this is most likely very true and something we need to acknowledge when weighing whether or not to jettison Coach Lottich at the end of the year. He's got 17 games and St Louis to show me he can get this team where it needs to be. If we are still having these issues late in the season we might just have to take the risk of enduring some transfers and finding a guy that can actually coach up the talent he gets. Wichita State Creighton and UNI rarely won on superior talent. They won on the sidelines because they had X's and O's. Loyola didn't make that final four run because they were more talented than those teams. They did it because they had better strategy and they played together as a cohesive unit. Maybe we need to stop worrying so much about recruiting stars and high school accolades and focus more on the sidelines where right now we are SEVERELY lacking and it's cost us so many games.
This talent is not any more talented than previous coaching regimes.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 30, 2019, 10:08:15 PM
Quote from: M on December 30, 2019, 10:04:24 PM
Mileek won't miss that many 3s ina game again.
Donovan played great, let's keep it going!
Sackey should've stayed on the defensive end of the court tonight.
Javon forced it too much.
Kiser played like a freshman.
Nick shot well but had some real ding ding plays.
Good thing Loyola stinks or Valpo loses by 20+. I'm encouraged that they played so poorly much of the night and still had a shot at it.
If Loyola stinks... And we still lost... What does that say about us?
I don't think Loyola stinks per se, but they are what their record says they are - pretty average. Moser coached an ok game, but nothing earthshaking. In other words, this game wasn't about what Loyola did, it's about what Valpo didn't do. As Todd noted in the postgame, this game was there for the taking, and we just flat out blew it.
One more thing - someone said Mileek won't go 0-4 from 3 again, like tonight was a 1-off or something. He is now 6-30 from 3 for the season, a pathetic 20%. This is his 7th game missing every 3 he launched. He hasn't made more than 1 3FG in any game this year. It's completely counter intuitive to think he should ever be shooting a 3. Moreover, Todd pointed out and Gore agreed that all the big man 3 point attempts tonight were on the first 15-20 seconds of the shot clock, which never Javon a chance to work through the defense without the ball to shed a defender and get himself open. Gore said the big men could get open looks any time because no one was coming out on them. Mileek needs to take a lesson from Loyola's big and work on his post moves.
Leek shot over 36% as a freshman and over 31% as a sophomore. He will find that range again.
Maybe it's been it's been mentioned already, but why in the world did Freeman foul himself out when none of those other 4 guys on the court at that time had more then 1 foul. Is our team basketball IQ really that low?!
Somebody actually asked when the last time we beat Loyola was and I had to look it up... We have to go all the way back to February 19, 2013 for our last win over the Ramblers. They have won the last six meetings counting tonight. And even before that we were only 6-5 against them... So we went 7-5 against them in the HL (which surprised me) and are now 0-6 against them in the MVC... It seems as peers in the HL we were only a smidge better than them but since we've both gotten to the MVC you can see how their investment has paid off and you can see their potential. I hope I'm wrong but it may be awhile before we beat them again.
Quote from: vok22 on December 30, 2019, 10:22:44 PM
I hate to say it but losing Lottich would likely do more bad than good. He is a heck of a recruiter and without him we probably don't have most of these players that make this team have the potential that is does.
What talent?
Well JFL and Clay for starters... Then you've got Robinson (at least for this year and next) but yeah everyone else has been pretty inconsistent at best.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 30, 2019, 11:55:28 PM
Well JFL and Clay for starters... Then you've got Robinson (at least for this year and next) but yeah everyone else has been pretty inconsistent at best.
JFL might make an MVC all 1st team, but the rest are role players. There's nothing resembling an impact player that has a chance to play in the NBA one day. It's not like this is a roster of 3 and 4 star recruits straight from high school.
Wow, a lot of folks are understandably down at the moment, but take a step off that ledge. We lost a lot between last season and this season, and I went into this season just hoping that we didn't embarrass ourselves each game. This team has impressed me quite a bit, even with the annoying starts and required fight backs. I think that Loyola will be top 3 in the MVC again, so it isn't like we just lost to Chicago State at home. Someone questioned how I can be impressed? Every time we get kicked in the teeth and could just give up, the team fights back. It can be extremely demoralizing and used to be common in some of our losses, to get back to a single possession, give up a key 3/basket, and then just let the game slide back to a double digit loss. Whether it is because of unscripted or scripted plays, I don't care...they fight back. In prior years, I would question our team's cojones when they would get down, and just get blown out after that point. This team cares, has a fight to it, and makes each game exciting, for good and for bad. Yes, I yelled out at Sackey after that bone-headed pass to Krutwig, which should have been so easy to drop to Kiser to take the lead. Yes, my wife had to take the kids out of the room at that moment :). However, this team walked me back, and gave me belief that we will solve these close games in the very near future, and all without two of our best players in at crunch time (JFL and Fazekas).
Quote from: a3uge on December 31, 2019, 12:01:39 AMQuote from: VUGrad1314 on December 30, 2019, 11:55:28 PMWell JFL and Clay for starters... Then you've got Robinson (at least for this year and next) but yeah everyone else has been pretty inconsistent at best.
JFL might make an MVC all 1st team, but the rest are role players. There's nothing resembling an impact player that has a chance to play in the NBA one day. It's not like this is a roster of 3 and 4 star recruits straight from high school.
Do a lot of MVC teams have a roster full of 3 and 4 star recruits? That seems to be the exception not the rule. For the record I think Robinson was a 3 star and if JFL wasn't so thoroughly slept on he probably would have been. Was Clay? I don't remember. But we haven't had a lot of luck with 3 and 4 star players we've brought in. Burton Evelyn both disappointed so much. Fazekas has been injured and his case is just sad. I don't think he'll ever be consistently healthy and able to show us what he can do for our offense over an extended period. Which is a shame because we might have had a contending team this year maybe even a fringe at large contender if he was healthy. Yes I believe that. And that's in spite of poor coaching. Which is what makes all of this losing so frustrating. One player shouldn't make that much of a difference. That's a coaching issue.
Quote from: valpotx on December 31, 2019, 12:03:35 AMWow, a lot of folks are understandably down at the moment, but take a step off that ledge. We lost a lot between last season and this season, and I went into this season just hoping that we didn't embarrass ourselves each game. This team has impressed me quite a bit, even with the annoying starts and required fight backs. I think that Loyola will be top 3 in the MVC again, so it isn't like we just lost to Chicago State at home. Someone questioned how I can be impressed? Every time we get kicked in the teeth and could just give up, the team fights back. It can be extremely demoralizing and used to be common in some of our losses, to get back to a single possession, give up a key 3/basket, and then just let the game slide back to a double digit loss. Whether it is because of unscripted or scripted plays, I don't care...they fight back. In prior years, I would question our team's cojones when they would get down, and just get blown out after that point. This team cares, has a fight to it, and makes each game exciting, for good and for bad. Yes, I yelled out at Sackey after that bone-headed pass to Krutwig, which should have been so easy to drop to Kiser to take the lead. Yes, my wife had to take the kids out of the room at that moment :). However, this team walked me back, and gave me belief that we will solve these close games in the very near future, and all without two of our best players in at crunch time (JFL and Fazekas).
I want to be optimistic like you in this situation... But I just can't do it... This crap just keeps beating me down and I need a tangible reason to believe again.. I don't trust Lottich to provide that for me... I hope he proves me wrong... Look at the numbers I posted earlier in the thread. They speak for themselves. And loudly at that. He doesn't have a track record that gives anyone any reason to believe anything will change for the better because it's the same issues every single game. It's like he doesn't learn and he doesn't progress and he doesn't get better.
Quote from: M on December 30, 2019, 11:20:55 PM
Leek shot over 36% as a freshman and over 31% as a sophomore. He will find that range again.
He hasn't found his range even once in 13 games. This team can't afford to give away any more possessions waiting for Mileek to find something he hasn't had since last February. Mileek has made some progress, but he's still a project with a long way to go. For instance, if Jubril Adekoya was on this team, Mileek would be getting mop-up minutes. The same holds true for Jon Kiser. Neither one is going to help win games at this level, and I doubt either one would start for any other MVC team. There's a reason no one recruited these guys out of high school.
Here's the press conference if anyone cares.
Some takeaways: Criticizes our work down the stretch Doesn't address the slow start hardly at all or the 5+ minute scoring drought in the second half. Simply said he's looking of "A three" at the end but again no mention of trying to get Siggy (our "three point specialist that we supposedly put in for this purpose) a look. From this I don't expect anything to get better because he's not addressing the root of the problem. Fourth year as a coach Third year in the MVC and the man still doesn't get it. AGAIN uses youth as an excuse "We made some mistakes that we're going to learn from." I wait with bated breath. Is asked "What's it going to take to get over the hump?" and COMPLETELY DUCKS AND DEFLECTS THE QUESTION by referencing Loyola's pedigree and simply saying "We've just gotta find a way and I think we will." Ugh. Disgustingly uninspiring. Reminds me of a politician. No true answer in his answers. Always has a plan but no specifics to share because in reality he doesn't have a plan but he can't say that or everyone will know he's incompetent. Matt Lottich might be able to recruit good players but he certainly can't motivate a fanbase or motivate a team to play a full 40 minutes apparently.
Listen to Nick Robinson from about two thirds into the press conference. Hits the nail COMPLETELY ON THE HEAD. Addresses the issues we all see. "We have fight but the next step for us is to get to the point where we don't need to show that we have fight." "We keep digging these holes that's consistent but if we can fight back we can hold a lead so that's our next step." "Once again our second half was the better half and we just need to come out with better energy in the first half." "Our problem was a lack of energy at the start" "everyone from the starting five to the last man on the bench needs to look in the mirror and ask what can we do to make us better in that first 20 or the first few minutes that's when we keep digging holes and we've proven we can get out of holes but we need to stop digging holes." Maybe we should save some money and make him a player coach? He understands this team's issues better than Lottich does and that's scary because he's only playing his first season and his second year in the program. Please don't leave as a grad transfer Nick. You're a leader and we need you badly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_t5T-zaK2g&feature=youtu.be
Clay continues to impress as a freshman. I think he could have Rowdy kind of upside. JFL has to make adjustments now that MVC teams have seen what he can do and have schemed ways to stop him. Seemed like they planted a player in his favorite driving lanes and had a player steering him into the stationary player to get the charging call. And sure, maybe a couple of calls were questionable but it shouldn't take a whole game to figure out what they were trying to do. Posting him up towards the end helped him avoid this, but it came much too late. As for Sackey, we are asking a lot of a second year player to be the primary point guard. In a perfect world he would have a senior to learn from but unfortunately he is it. How well we do will largely depend on how well he can run the team this year. So far I'm afraid it's been too much for him. Oh, and by the way, it would be nice if our fives could step out and hit a three, but so far they have shown no ability to do that, and their attempt s have only have the effect of turnovers. Our players have got to recognize who has the hot hand and particularly in crunch time, work to get the the ball to him in a place where he can get a decent shot. This clawing back in to the game only to come up short is already getting old.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 30, 2019, 09:31:21 PM
We'd better go down and kick Evansville's butt this weekend... Get mad and get ready to play and let's win ourselves a road game.
Probably not smart to dress up like a pregnant cheerleader. Maybe like a Title IX investigator?
Quote from: wh on December 27, 2019, 12:51:03 PMIf/when Ryan returns and assuming he's in game shape when he does, Valpo will be instantly better.. Close losses will become close wins. Bottom 6 will become top 4, maybe better. Book it.
Unfortunately we are still waiting for something that may never totally happen.
Quote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:15:49 AMHe hasn't found his range even once in 13 games. This team can't afford to give away any more possessions waiting for Mileek to find something he hasn't had since last February.
He is now 6 of 30 for a painful 20%. Even Buggs stayed above that number! :o Krikke and Freese-Villian both sit dead on 25%. My point being that our 3 stretch forward, stretch centers need to hit some outside shots to keep the driving lanes open for penetration. That and not posting up is how this offense is designed.
Quote from: nkvu on December 31, 2019, 01:03:05 AM
Clay continues to impress as a freshman. I think he could have Rowdy kind of upside. JFL has to make adjustments now that MVC teams have seen what he can do and have schemed ways to stop him. Seemed like they planted a player in his favorite driving lanes and had a player steering him into the stationary player to get the charging call. And sure, maybe a couple of calls were questionable but it shouldn't take a whole game to figure out what they were trying to do. Posting him up towards the end helped him avoid this, but it came much too late. As for Sackey, we are asking a lot of a second year player to be the primary point guard. In a perfect world he would have a senior to learn from but unfortunately he is it. How well we do will largely depend on how well he can run the team this year. So far I'm afraid it's been too much for him. Oh, and by the way, it would be nice if our fives could step out and hit a three, but so far they have shown no ability to do that, and their attempt s have only have the effect of turnovers. Our players have got to recognize who has the hot hand and particularly in crunch time, work to get the the ball to him in a place where he can get a decent shot. This clawing back in to the game only to come up short is already getting old.
Nice post. The only thing I might say a little differently is I think it's the coach's job to make adjustments when the opposing defense has his star player bottled up. That said, when your Star player is being doubled, it's up to his teammates to make them pay. Mileek didn't, Kiser didn't, and Daniel certainly didn't, Eron didn't, Krikke didn't, etc.
The fighting back and not rolling over praise that this team receives is granted and old.
Some may say gritty.
To me I think it's just points in garbage time. No different then when a football team is down by two scores and they go down the field and score against a prevent defense with little time left.
Mrs. Elephtheria47 and myself walked out after the game again talking about the missed opportunities to win the game. The team fought back, and I will again say that there is a lot of young talent on the team but we are missing the senior/older leadership. Fazekas has been injured and as great of a person Kiser is, he is limited on the basketball court. Once some of the bigs can beef up and the frosh/soph get some more experience, there will be something there. In the meantime, I hope Lottich will keep improving but after the 4th year I think we can all see he needs to upgrade his staff in x's and o's. I thought the two quick whistles on Sackey in the 1st half really put us behind, and then Gordon got injured too, and after that we were playing catchup. Robinson was on fire, we needed to find a way to get him more shots but we didn't.
Positives: the crowd, the pep band (can we just get them for every game?), Clay, Robinson, the fight to come back
Negatives: the refs (hate to say it, but the main ref was horrible), the boneheaded plays down the stretch, interior defense, the oooing and aahing of a $25 kelsey's giftcard during a time out late in the game, sackey taking the final shot.
Morning After Thoughts:
I do think we need to recognize the tough situation Lottich is in regarding end of game scenarios. (Granted, the team's constant slow starts get them there, but I digress.) By all indications, Sackey and Kiser are true Valpo guys through and through. They work their tails off in practice, they set a great example for the community, and their faith shines through. When they do all that, it's tough to make a public statement that you don't trust them by taking them off the floor in crunch time.
That being said, late game situations have plagued Lottich's tenure almost as much as the first ten minutes. I half expected Bakari to emerge from the locker room to fire up the last three. Even the end of the Toledo game was not coherent, the shot just happened to go in. In year four this shouldn't still be a thing. We all knew Lottich would have to grow on the job a bit, but his flaws keep putting this team in bad positions. His recruiting has improved, but we're at best a mid tier MVC team unless he grows as a coach.
It's not impossible. Scott's first couple of years (post sanctions) at Baylor he had some talent but we being badly out coached most nights in the Big 12. He's evolved and learned, and his success is the result. Lottich may be one of those coaches who needs a few more years as an assistant and a second go round to find consistent success. But what I know is when we trail our conference mates in almost every conceivable way off the court (facilities, etc) the on court product has to be better to keep this program from stagnating for the next decade.
1. Sackey -- I don't care that he is just a sophomore. I care that he seems to be getting worse as the season progresses and looks worse now than he did to start conference play as a freshman. BAD does not describe what he was last night. What the heck is going on? It is like he has completely lost his feel for the game. Those 2 turnovers he had in the last 5 minutes were HORRIBLE.
2. Flops -- On 3 different occasions Loyola players were falling down before the contact came. The last one on JFL being the worst and completely changed the game. Not only would that have been a technical foul on them for it being at least their 2nd time doing it, but JFL would have never fouled out of the game. The charge calls in this game were bad and I am about as an objective fan of refs you are ever going to find.
3. Our Defense -- I sat in the stands tallying the number of times we were beat the hoop 1 on 1 and I stopped counting at 12 and there was lots of game left. JFL alone got beat off the dribble 4 times and got all the way to the basket or was able to kick to an open guy. WTF defensive strategy we running? It looked like we were allowing them to go to their off hand ON PURPOSE, but not like to the side, like all the way to the basket.
4. SLOPPY TURNOVERS -- Good god some of our turnovers are mind boggling. The timing of these plays make a person want to choke somebody. I know we are young and you are going to have some turnovers and sloppy play because of it, but the high level of ineptitude on some of the unforced turnovers last night made me want to leave the building. Like, JV high school type stuff.
5. Kiser getting called for a foul for boxing out on a play where the ball bounced really high off the rim. I mean, he just boxed out throughout the duration of the play. Worst foul calls in the history of foul calls and they did get 2 free throws out of it in a close game, so it mattered.
6. Mileek gets a miss match under the basket against a guy half his height (bad Loyola switch) and he proceeds to chuck the ball up awkwardly and quickly instead of just turning and going up strong through the guy for what probably would have been 2 points and a foul. He of course missed the shot and I think that was with 5 minutes or so to go.
So, that is why we lost. Clay and Robinson came to play. I even thought Mileek played pretty well apart from his 3 point shooting and #6 on my list. I have not reached an opinion if he should stop shooting or not. I mean, part of me says what is the point of having a 6'8" center if he can't step out and hit one from time to time? but at the same time he is hitting 20%....soooo, yeah.
Quote from: nkvu on December 31, 2019, 01:03:05 AMClay continues to impress as a freshman. I think he could have Rowdy kind of upside. JFL has to make adjustments now that MVC teams have seen what he can do and have schemed ways to stop him. Seemed like they planted a player in his favorite driving lanes and had a player steering him into the stationary player to get the charging call. And sure, maybe a couple of calls were questionable but it shouldn't take a whole game to figure out what they were trying to do. Posting him up towards the end helped him avoid this, but it came much too late. As for Sackey, we are asking a lot of a second year player to be the primary point guard. In a perfect world he would have a senior to learn from but unfortunately he is it. How well we do will largely depend on how well he can run the team this year. So far I'm afraid it's been too much for him. Oh, and by the way, it would be nice if our fives could step out and hit a three, but so far they have shown no ability to do that, and their attempt s have only have the effect of turnovers. Our players have got to recognize who has the hot hand and particularly in crunch time, work to get the the ball to him in a place where he can get a decent shot. This clawing back in to the game only to come up short is already getting old.
MVC should give a new award category. Only one we seem to be best at:
Clawing Back Into The Game Award Only To Lose By A Hair1. Valpo
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on December 31, 2019, 09:21:33 AMMorning After Thoughts: I do think we need to recognize the tough situation Lottich is in regarding end of game scenarios. (Granted, the team's constant slow starts get them there, but I digress.) By all indications, Sackey and Kiser are true Valpo guys through and through. They work their tails off in practice, they set a great example for the community, and their faith shines through. When they do all that, it's tough to make a public statement that you don't trust them by taking them off the floor in crunch time. That being said, late game situations have plagued Lottich's tenure almost as much as the first ten minutes. I half expected Bakari to emerge from the locker room to fire up the last three. Even the end of the Toledo game was not coherent, the shot just happened to go in. In year four this shouldn't still be a thing. We all knew Lottich would have to grow on the job a bit, but his flaws keep putting this team in bad positions. His recruiting has improved, but we're at best a mid tier MVC team unless he grows as a coach. It's not impossible. Scott's first couple of years (post sanctions) at Baylor he had some talent but we being badly out coached most nights in the Big 12. He's evolved and learned, and his success is the result. Lottich may be one of those coaches who needs a few more years as an assistant and a second go round to find consistent success. But what I know is when we trail our conference mates in almost every conceivable way off the court (facilities, etc) the on court product has to be better to keep this program from stagnating for the next decade.
Yeah, these guys are great and they work hard and show their faith so let's let them take the shots they have proved not to be successful at making. We owe them that. :crazy:
EDIT: You don't have to take them off of the floor. Just draw up a play where they do what they do best depending on what is needed. When you need a three, Sackey's job, IF he gets his hands on the ball, (his strength is assists) is to get it to the Plan A player or Plan B player or Plan C player who is one of our best three 3-pt shooters. If you need a two to tie, use Milleek in the best way possible as a plan A inside shot or Plan B (?) looking to his strengths. But telling everyone to take the open look during crunch time is stupid. Sackey will want to take that shot when he shouldn't. It's natural to want to be the hero. Can't blame him. But why does the coach allow this to happen over and over?
Top 3-point Shooters in Conference (Minimum of 40% minutes played and 2 shots per game to qualify)
Qualifying List shows only 38 Players
3-Pt %
1. Trae Berhow Northern Iowa 50.9
2. Isaiah Brown Northern Iowa 48.5
6. Donavon Clay 42.9
7. Eron Gordon 42.9
23. Nick Robinson 36.1
25. Javon Freemon-Liberty 34.5
36. Daniel Sackey 25.0
38. Mileek McMillan 20.0
Play the odds during crunch time. Draw up a play or two so that the best 3-pt shooters during crunch time are the ONLY ones to be shooting if we need a 3.
Which Valpo players shot 3's near the end of the Loyola game? Where do they rank? Which Valpo player took the final shot? This ain't rocket science coach.
Edit Not having listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, I was unaware of the their game plan. Coach Lottich did draw up a 2-option play so the ball could get into the hands of our good 3-pt. shooters but Loyola blew up the play and Sackey was forced to take the 3. My apologies to the coaching staff.
Quote from: SanityLost17 on December 31, 2019, 09:40:43 AM5. Kiser getting called for a foul for boxing out on a play where the ball bounced really high off the rim. I mean, he just boxed out throughout the duration of the play. Worst foul calls in the history of foul calls and they did get 2 free throws out of it in a close game, so it mattered.
Agree. There also was another phantom call against John. I thought Mileek played very well against the top center in the League. The bottom line was that Matt was out-coached. :(
A fan on the Loyola forum mentioned how bad of a call it was against Kiser.
Apparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Quote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:05:53 PMApparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Fair enough point made on last play. I did not listen to Todd's postgame interview.
Edit Not having listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, I was unaware of the their game plan. Coach Lottich did draw up a 2-option play so the ball could get into the hands of our good 3-pt. shooters but Loyola blew up the play and Sackey was forced to take the 3. My apologies to the coaching staff.
Quote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:05:53 PM
Apparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Keith Carter was fouled
In a vacuum, the final play was well defended. But the early game and last minute coaching has been a trend for quite some time. Last night was yet another chapter.
Quote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:05:53 PMApparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
I heard the postgame interview. They said they drew it up for Clay or Eron if I recall correctly. Which means that Siggy (a supposed three point specialist in the game for this purpose) didn't even figure into the play or their plan? Then why even bother putting him in the game if he's not an option to shoot? I believe I commented on this in real time shortly after the interview too. That's bad coaching.) So you really think we're in the right hands going forward despite the galling litany of evidence that show that maybe Matt Lottich is overmatched as a HC? I can pull them up for you again if you'd like but here's a quick rundown (this is since the 8-0 start that everyone knew was smoke and mirrors)
.350 winning percentage in MVC play
.408 winning percentage overall
Below .500 in non conference play (15-16)
That number drops to 12-16 when you factor out non D1s
And I didn't even get into home\road splits but I can't remember any time under the Drews after Homer got us going where we have lost so much at home. Part of that is competition sure but our consistent inability to defend our home court is ridiculous. Don't blame the fans or crowds. We seem to lose whether there's 2500 or 4500 in the house so it doesn't matter.
Yet despite these numbers that show an obvious problem, you persist in calling people reactionary and overly critical or using that tired "Like you could do any better" argument So just because I've chosen a different line of work\life path I can't have an opinion when I see something obviously wrong with this situation? I'M not the one getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to get this group to show up ready to play every night. It is not MY responsibility to win these basketball games and deliver results. It's Matt's. And so far he is failing miserably at it.
Honestly the struggles wouldn't bother me nearly as much if it wasn't the SAME CRAP OVER AND OVER EVERY GAME EVERY YEAR WITH NO END. A steady drumbeat of fall in a hole\ climb back into it\ Make stupid plays and take stupid shots\ dig another hole\ Fight back into it. Give up another run and go cold for several minutes\ Try to win it at the end with a last minute feverish rally (almost invariably without success.) It's old. It's tired. And more people than just me are reaching the end of their patience as we wait for Matt to figure it out. He's usually mild mannered and optimistic but Ickow sounded as close to pissed frustrated and fed up as I've ever heard him and he's paid to keep things positive. I can only imagine how the university leadership feels about the program behind closed doors knowing it's the university\athletic department's one path to national relevance.
Furthermore, I gave five years to this university and I pay to attend athletic events (even if I missed this one from being out of town) so I think I get to have an opinion on how things are going regardless of where I sleep on any given night.
I urge you to listen to the post game press conference. Compare Matt Lottich's answers to Nick Robinson's and tell me who has a better grasp of the issues facing this program. If your answer isn't Lottich (and it won't be) That's a big problem. When a player has his finger on the pulse of what is needed moreso than the coach then the coach is not providing effective enough leadership because if he was he would diagnose and treat the problem and it wouldn't be a problem anymore. I've even linked it here for you again for your convenience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_t5T-zaK2g&feature=youtu.be
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on December 31, 2019, 12:34:28 PMIn a vacuum, the final play was well defended. But the early game and last minute coaching has been a trend for quite some time. Last night was yet another chapter.
That's the problem. Everything that has happened in the Lottich era as one off rare events you think "Well fine. It was well defended and we lost. Tip your cap to the opponent." It is all perfectly justifiable in a vacuum. But when a series of events perfectly justifiable in a vacuum continuously occur in the same situations. Then the justification goes away because that's no longer a vacuum. That's a trend That's a pattern That's a problem. And Matt needs to recognize that and get better.
Quote from: vu72 on December 31, 2019, 11:21:04 AMQuote from: SanityLost17 on December 31, 2019, 09:40:43 AM5. Kiser getting called for a foul for boxing out on a play where the ball bounced really high off the rim. I mean, he just boxed out throughout the duration of the play. Worst foul calls in the history of foul calls and they did get 2 free throws out of it in a close game, so it mattered.
Agree. There also was another phantom call against John. I thought Mileek played very well against the top center in the League. The bottom line was that Matt was out-coached. :(
We had several bad calls and they were made by the same ref. The other two refs were OK, just that one kept calling fouls on us and not Loyola. Still should have won the game regardless, but it makes it tough when you get critical blown calls against you.
The description by Luke Gore of the final play does not excuse the basic flaw in its implementation. Even if "Loyola blew up the play," that doesn't explain why Sackey has the ball in his hands instead of Siggy, also a point guard but who is shooting 67% from the 3-point line. Siggy never even got a touch. Switch Siggy for Sackey in the positioning on the court and perhaps there is a better chance. Everyone in the stands knew to keep the ball away from Sackey, just as last year everyone knew the final shot of a game should not be left to Evelyn. Yet, here we are again!
Quote from: valpopal on December 31, 2019, 12:52:46 PMThe description by Luke Gore of the final play does not excuse the basic flaw in its implementation. Even if "Loyola blew up the play," that doesn't explain why Sackey has the ball in his hands instead of Siggy, also a point guard but who is shooting 67% from the 3-point line. Siggy never even got a touch. Switch Siggy for Sackey in the positioning on the court and perhaps there is a better chance. Everyone in the stands knew to keep the ball away from Sackey, just as last year everyone knew the final shot of a game should not be left to Evelyn. Yet, here we are again!
Or rather at least A chance.
Well said.
WH going to stand up for Lottich even after we lose a Thursday night game again (although I don't think that will happen this year). He will also want to extend his contract at the end of the season. We are better than this.
Quote from: VUBBFan on December 31, 2019, 12:43:44 PM
Quote from: vu72 on December 31, 2019, 11:21:04 AMQuote from: SanityLost17 on December 31, 2019, 09:40:43 AM5. Kiser getting called for a foul for boxing out on a play where the ball bounced really high off the rim. I mean, he just boxed out throughout the duration of the play. Worst foul calls in the history of foul calls and they did get 2 free throws out of it in a close game, so it mattered.
Agree. There also was another phantom call against John. I thought Mileek played very well against the top center in the League. The bottom line was that Matt was out-coached. :(
We had several bad calls and they were made by the same ref. The other two refs were OK, just that one kept calling fouls on us and not Loyola. Still should have won the game regardless, but it makes it tough when you get critical blown calls against you.
How many minutes did we have the lead? Felt like a little (us) to a lot (them).
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 31, 2019, 01:13:12 PM
WH going to stand up for Lottich even after we lose a Thursday night game again (although I don't think that will happen this year). He will also want to extend his contract at the end of the season. We are better than this.
Conversely he'd have to go .750 win percentage for consecutive years for you to want him to stay Mickey!!! Cuts both ways my friend!
I would be happy with just one of those .750 years. Two is just crazy talk.
Exactly. Just a year that shows us he has it in him to make this team a contender would be enough to get me on board with seeing if he can sustain it (or quickly build it back up in a cycle which is more likely what we'll have to accept in the MVC anyway).
In case you were wondering about the occupancy rate at the Holiday Inn, "wh"....I think it was full to the brim. I didn't realize that we had so many basketball coaching experts on this panel. And now the "Drew Crew" appears again. One thing I am completely in favor of is finding some way to keep minutes of playing time away from Kiser and Sackey. Hopefully injuries and experience will let that happen. Now let's beat Evansville and hopefully we will see more positive comments on this board.
Quote from: valpo64 on December 31, 2019, 02:15:36 PM
In case you were wondering about the occupancy rate at the Holiday Inn, "wh"....I think it was full to the brim. I didn't realize that we had so many basketball coaching experts on this panel. And now the "Drew Crew" appears again. One thing I am completely in favor of is finding some way to keep minutes of playing time away from Kiser and Sackey. Hopefully injuries and experience will let that happen. Now let's beat Evansville and hopefully we will see more positive comments on this board.
Thanks for joining the expert panel of coaches.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 31, 2019, 06:36:50 AM
The fighting back and not rolling over praise that this team receives is granted and old.
Some may say gritty.
To me I think it's just points in garbage time. No different then when a football team is down by two scores and they go down the field and score against a prevent defense with little time left.
Stay gritty my friends.
Quote from: valpo64 on December 31, 2019, 02:15:36 PM
In case you were wondering about the occupancy rate at the Holiday Inn, "wh"....I think it was full to the brim. I didn't realize that we had so many basketball coaching experts on this panel. And now the "Drew Crew" appears again. One thing I am completely in favor of is finding some way to keep minutes of playing time away from Kiser and Sackey. Hopefully injuries and experience will let that happen. Now let's beat Evansville and hopefully we will see more positive comments on this board.
Calls us out when we make legitimate points but then hopes for injuries to underperforming players... Stay classy... We may not be experts but we are more than qualified to point out that the man who has been hired to be our "coaching expert" looks completely overmatched and out of his depth. That doesn't take much to see if you take your blinders off and your check your "My school and team can do no wrong" attitude at the door. Once again, WATCH THE POST GAME PRESSER. Robinson's answers outclass Lottich's by so much it's embarrassing. If you didn't know Valpo basketball and couldn't see the suit Matt was wearing because you were blindfolded you could be forgiven for thinking that Robinson is actually the coach because he actually said the things you would expect the coach to say. Once again Lottich ducked responsibility when he didn't have this team ready again...
For the record I'm not part of the "Drew Crew" per se. I was downright excited when we had a chance to move on and make our mark independent of the Drew family but it seems as though we may not be able to do that (at least not with this coach) so while it remains at least a semi legitimate possibility to bring back one of if not the best coach we've ever had in our history why wouldn't you advocate for it even if its a return to the training wheels and the bottle so to speak? It might just give us the time we need to grow into the program we need to be.
There seems to be some divided opinion on John Kiser (note the lack of an 'a' in his name, for crying out loud). It seems some see him as an experienced floor general who works hard at the little things and plays very good defense for his size at the 5, and there are others who can't seem to get over the fact that he doesn't look athletic, is an engineering major and started as a walk-on. You can probably tell which camp I'm in.
I've grown tired enough of the Kiser-bashing that it's time for lies damned lies statistics. First number is PER, then player name, with overall rank in the Valley in parentheses. No one else on the team qualifies for ranking (minimum 6 mpg so far this season, including non-conference).
26.57 Javon Freeman (4)
17.22 Nick Robinson (24)
16.04 Ben Krikke (27)
15.96 Mileek McMillan (28)
13.19 Eron Gordon (46)
12.61 John Kiser (51)
11.93 Donovan Clay (58)
8.07 Daniel Sackey (74)
Given that Kiser plays decent defense at a position he's undersized at, and it's generally agreed that hard work, leadership and GritTM are intangibles he possesses but are not measured in box scores (and thus in PER), I'd say he's a good 6th man and serviceable 5th. Since Mileek fouls out like crazy, he and Kiser are the de facto 5a and 5b on this team, although Robinson played 31 minutes last night off the bench, and Gordon would have played ~20 if not for the first half injury.
I'm now willing to admit that Kiser is a fringe starter and, if we had another option, that would be preferable. It's a long way from Javon down to Robinson/Krikke/McMillan. If Ryan Fazekas wasn't a glass cannon, he'd be a good alternative. But on the team we have - and frankly, on a lot of other bottom-half teams in this league - Kiser has to play a lot of minutes, and deserves less than half of the abuse he gets on this board.
I'm not gonna defend Sackey though, he's lost his game and I hope he finds it soon. In the meantime, I agree that we have to give Lorange a shot.
Quote from: PlumStreetBum on December 31, 2019, 04:04:37 PMSince Mileek fouls out like crazy
Mileek had fouled out four times in 19 games.
Quote from: vu72 on December 31, 2019, 04:18:13 PMQuote from: PlumStreetBum on December 31, 2019, 04:04:37 PMSince Mileek fouls out like crazy
Mileek had fouled out four times in 19 games.
Fouling out of 21% of games seems like a lot to me, especially when you play 17mpg.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 31, 2019, 02:30:38 PM
Quote from: valpo64 on December 31, 2019, 02:15:36 PM
In case you were wondering about the occupancy rate at the Holiday Inn, "wh"....I think it was full to the brim. I didn't realize that we had so many basketball coaching experts on this panel. And now the "Drew Crew" appears again. One thing I am completely in favor of is finding some way to keep minutes of playing time away from Kiser and Sackey. Hopefully injuries and experience will let that happen. Now let's beat Evansville and hopefully we will see more positive comments on this board.
Calls us out when we make legitimate points but then hopes for injuries to underperforming players... Stay classy... We may not be experts but we are more than qualified to point out that the man who has been hired to be our "coaching expert" looks completely overmatched and out of his depth. That doesn't take much to see if you take your blinders off and your check your "My school and team can do no wrong" attitude at the door. Once again, WATCH THE POST GAME PRESSER. Robinson's answers outclass Lottich's by so much it's embarrassing. If you didn't know Valpo basketball and couldn't see the suit Matt was wearing because you were blindfolded you could be forgiven for thinking that Robinson is actually the coach because he actually said the things you would expect the coach to say. Once again Lottich ducked responsibility when he didn't have this team ready again...
For the record I'm not part of the "Drew Crew" per se. I was downright excited when we had a chance to move on and make our mark independent of the Drew family but it seems as though we may not be able to do that (at least not with this coach) so while it remains at least a semi legitimate possibility to bring back one of if not the best coach we've ever had in our history why wouldn't you advocate for it even if its a return to the training wheels and the bottle so to speak? It might just give us the time we need to grow into the program we need to be.
I believe (or hope) that 64 is hoping that Sackey and Kiser play fewer minutes when Fazekas returns from injury and the freshmen get experience. :twocents:
I would not say that Mileek is the second coming of Jim Stueve, however.
There are still some who believe in Lottich, (that camp is decreasing) and that's fine. This is a forum and everyone has their opinion.
In regards to Lottich, the only opinion that matters is the AD.
My opinion is we could get a new president, athletic director and coach all at the same time.
Could be great or could be a disaster. Roll the dice.
One thing hopefully we can all agree on is that the conference season will turn out to be successful, and those calling for Matt's head with 17 of 18 games yet to be played will be proven wrong.
I look forward to being proven wrong That means Valpo is successful and we all get what we want. It's not personal with Lottich. He wins and succeeds we have no problem. I've said it repeatedly please prove me wrong. However what does success look like? .500? Avoiding Thursday? 5th place? 3rd? 11-7? 12-6? I feel like I'll know we're progressing when I see it. Right now I darn sure don't feel it and I'm not confident. However I'm open minded. He needs to step up and deliver though but 17 games is plenty of time. It's just up to him.
Quote from: Just Sayin on December 30, 2019, 10:14:27 PMThese kids deserve better coaching.
1000% agree, Lottich is avg AT BEST, I was at the game and watched him like a hawk, very little emotion from him on those bad calls, two in particular that drove me nuts. Javon got his 1st offensive charge call, defender was moving/in the cylinder, clear as day to me(I'm an expert ya know), and the 2nd was the foul on the 3 by Kiser. nothing there. Matt is weak, speak the :censored: up and fight for your players, its not like the tech shot would have hurt us. Lottich just stands there with his lips pursed and might talk to the official if he works up the courage. Porter Moser out coached him by a mile. If Porter coached us and Matt them we win by 10+. Ughhhhhh. I thought Javon did ok, he was trapped and doubled most of the game, he would pass it out quickly(he did force a few plays) but the next guy couldn't make a play or pass to the open man. Great sign that we have a freshman go 4-4 from 3. We need a better coach folks, its that simple, you cant expect young men to figure it out. The grown ass coaches need too. Loyola is as bad or worse than EMU, ughhhhh this was frustrating, not the end of the world though, hopefully we can take down the up and down Evansville team Saturday. This team could bounce back and rattle off 4 in a row!!!
Quote from: Just Sayin on December 31, 2019, 12:08:00 PM
Quote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:05:53 PMApparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Fair enough point made on last play. I did not listen to Todd's postgame interview.
Edit Not having listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, I was unaware of the their game plan. Coach Lottich did draw up a 2-option play so the ball could get into the hands of our good 3-pt. shooters but Loyola blew up the play and Sackey was forced to take the 3. My apologies to the coaching staff.
Just Sayin - If I take issue with someone's comment, rest assured it isn't yours I'm taking issue with. Never is. Never will be.
On a lighter note, the atmosphere at the ARC was better than it's been in a very long time. Chesterton High School brought a nearly 50-member pep band and 2 choral groups. One sang America the Beautiful and the other did the National Anthem. The Crusader mascot was on hand after serving an extended sentence in PC prison. A cute group of elem. boys played a game at halftime. I think they were from Chesterton too. Maybe the best was a guy (adult not student) I've never seen before that handled the on-floor activities during timeouts. He got the entire crowd involved in everything he did. Gave lots of Hungry Howie Pizza certificates away. He was a real pro, as good as you'll find anywhere. And, he was loud and you could understand his every word.
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 12:39:29 AMQuote from: Just Sayin on December 31, 2019, 12:08:00 PMQuote from: wh on December 31, 2019, 12:05:53 PMApparently, no one listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, where Todd asked Luke about that last play. They drew up 2 options. The first was designed to set up Eron for a corner 3 (I forget the second), but Loyola blew up the play and Daniel was forced to take the 3. The way he explained it sounded perfectly logical to me, it just didn't go as planned. Just like the play Bryce designed to set up AP to take the final shot against Maryland in the NCAA tournament blew up and KC was forced try to throw up a crazy, off-balance 3 at the buzzer. Decisions are split-second in situations like that, and they fail far more often than they succeed, especially when the other team knows all they have to do is guard the 3-point line, and so they place all 5 defenders at the arc. Judging from some of these hypercritical, over-reactionary comments about our coaching, it appears to me that we've got too many posters that stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Fair enough point made on last play. I did not listen to Todd's postgame interview. Edit Not having listened to Todd's postgame interview with Luke Gore, I was unaware of the their game plan. Coach Lottich did draw up a 2-option play so the ball could get into the hands of our good 3-pt. shooters but Loyola blew up the play and Sackey was forced to take the 3. My apologies to the coaching staff.
Just Sayin - If I take issue with someone's comment, rest assured it isn't yours I'm taking issue with. Never is. Never will be.
Ok, thanks. I didn't think you were referring to me. No problem.
I did make a critical comment that was unwarranted for this particular last minute play. So I was wrong. Didn't have enough information.
We all are the armchair Monday morning quarterbacks and as members of the expert coaching panel, we say what we think and feel about what is going on in our program. As fans, that's what we do. Since we all want our program to return to prominence, we care enough to point out what we see is happening, what we think is wrong and needs to be fixed. This forum, in a limited way helps us to blow off some steam about program weaknesses and from time to time try to recognize what is working as well. Probably should be more of the positive. But it is what it is.
Second, while so much of the constructive criticism on this board is certainly valid and spot-on, I'm pretty sure the coaching staff doesn't rush to this forum for my (or anyone else's) coaching advice. They probably don't even read what goes on here. So essentially we are preaching to choir within an echo chamber. But that's a good thing for fans. Now there may be a few players and/or family members who read this board and wonder what the hell is happening and why are they so negative. To them I would say that the criticism has merit and we only want the team and the coaches to get better.
Players who may visit this forum need to put on their big-boy pants and realize that the fans want you to win and to play at the highest level of which you are capable for every minute of every game. And the pressure from your coaches and fans won't cease until you do that. You have to be held accountable for your mistakes and work like hell to get better and learn from them. And this is the place where you will get the kind of feedback (as well as from your coaches) that will help you to do that. It may not look like the criticism is warranted, but for the most part the fans on this board are fair with their comments. And we don't often totally agree with one another. But this is the life of fan who loves their team and wants it to succeed.
the on the floor guy is Jason. he's been the Gary South shore railcats promotion guy for years.
Quote from: talksalot on January 01, 2020, 09:50:31 AM
the on the floor guy is Jason. he's been the Gary South shore railcats promotion guy for years.
Is he a going to be doing this from now on? Hopefully?
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 09:53:34 AM
Quote from: talksalot on January 01, 2020, 09:50:31 AM
the on the floor guy is Jason. he's been the Gary South shore railcats promotion guy for years.
Is he a going to be doing this from now on? Hopefully?
I think I found him. Thanks for the assist.
Like the Blues Brothers, Portage's Yurechko is 'on a mission from God'https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/like-the-blues-brothers-portage-s-yurechko-is-on-a/article_b7b8ab5b-82d6-57a2-a1d8-819724da2e92.amp.html
People who keep buying into the same rhetoric and excuses play into the problem and why we won't be better in the years to come. I have no respect for coaches who continually give excuses instead of owning up to the problem. The man still gets paid likely what $200k+??? Accountability is key.
Valpo's W-L record is now below .500 in Division 1 competition.
For those defending Lottich, what is the reasoning? I'm just trying to understand. His wins/loses over his coaching career were posted and they aren't good. What's going to change? Are we accepting mediocrity? I know we still have a lot of games left this year but we are constantly looking forward to next year, and saying next year will be the year, we are too young, etc. There's always some excuse and it's exhausting.
We continue to get good recruits and none of it has transferred to wins on the court. We also had good recruits pre-Lottich so I'm not sure he's really stepped up the recruiting that much from where it was already.
Your comment, "eddiecabot" is exactly what I meant. I realize the situation we now face with injuries, etc has made I necessary to give more minutes to Kiser and Sackey. However I do appreciate the hard work both of these guys have put in and especially the behind the scenes efforts of J K. I also appreciate Kiser"s reputation as a leader, outstanding student and being a great representative of the University. I think we all are waiting for the time when we can put our best team on the floor this season. Let's get back on track with as win at Evansville on Saturday.
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 03:19:58 AM
On a lighter note, the atmosphere at the ARC was better than it's been in a very long time. Chesterton High School brought a nearly 50-member pep band and 2 choral groups. One sang America the Beautiful and the other did the National Anthem. The Crusader mascot was on hand after serving an extended sentence in PC prison. A cute group of elem. boys played a game at halftime. I think they were from Chesterton too. Maybe the best was a guy (adult not student) I've never seen before that handled the on-floor activities during timeouts. He got the entire crowd involved in everything he did. Gave lots of Hungry Howie Pizza certificates away. He was a real pro, as good as you'll find anywhere. And, he was loud and you could understand his every word.
I welcome a lighter note on this board. The ARC looked great on TV. The stands in the arena (gym) looked full 4,364 fans. What a pleasure to see. Bringing in a local High School band and their parents was a great idea!!! Our cheer squad was on hand with our mascot who got a great deal of exposure on TV. Was that the Chesterton band in the student section? If so great move giving them Gold Rush Valpo Tee Shirts :thumbsup:
My next question is how was the crowd?
Where there numerous fans from Loyola there? I ask this because I noticed a fair amount of maroon in the stands. Now this could be because Loyola is in close proximity to Valpo an hour away. On the other hand, Chesterton a regional High School wears the same colors maroon and gold!
Count me as another vote for keeping the promo guy. He's exactly what you need for that role. Engaging the crowd, upbeat and fun.
Which means he probably won't be back.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 31, 2019, 12:34:55 PMI heard the postgame interview. They said they drew it up for Clay or Eron if I recall correctly. Which means that Siggy (a supposed three point specialist in the game for this purpose) didn't even figure into the play or their plan? Then why even bother putting him in the game if he's not an option to shoot?
If a player is on the court at the end of the game, he's an option to shoot because no play is foolproof.
I'm not a big fan of Sackey. He's really fast which may be the lowest quality required in a guard amongst about 5 or 6 other issues. He's a decent defender but a black hole in any situation in which he can be a shooter. The opposition knows this and, if I'm them, I'm giving him room to shoot which increases the concern I can give to other players.
The play of Clay will need to be there as I see he as the only player on the roster capable of giving the team another high quality performance from time to time when JFL is bottled up or having an off game. The rest of the roster is way to inconsistent to consider anything else and Clay is a freshman which probably will lead to a lot of inconsistency from he as well.
The issues with the program are multi-faceted and includes some issues in-game....I think offensively Valpo is playing too "outside" right now....which leads to the fouls committed difference too often. With that said, some of these guys have to make some shots. I'm also not sure the talent level is as high as some believe. All can be traced back to the coaching staff.
However, there also seems to be a race to be the first to declare the Lottich era over and some of the negative reaction to that is that for some it comes across as a 4 year old stomping their feet when they aren't happy. That's just a few not all critical comments of the staff.
Quote from: JD24 on January 01, 2020, 01:30:00 PM
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on December 31, 2019, 12:34:55 PMI heard the postgame interview. They said they drew it up for Clay or Eron if I recall correctly. Which means that Siggy (a supposed three point specialist in the game for this purpose) didn't even figure into the play or their plan? Then why even bother putting him in the game if he's not an option to shoot?
If a player is on the court at the end of the game, he's an option to shoot.
He was a decoy first, a potential shooter second.
Quote from: justducky on January 01, 2020, 01:43:57 PMQuote from: JD24 on January 01, 2020, 01:30:00 PMQuote from: VUGrad1314 on December 31, 2019, 12:34:55 PMI heard the postgame interview. They said they drew it up for Clay or Eron if I recall correctly. Which means that Siggy (a supposed three point specialist in the game for this purpose) didn't even figure into the play or their plan? Then why even bother putting him in the game if he's not an option to shoot?
If a player is on the court at the end of the game, he's an option to shoot.
He was a decoy first, a potential shooter second.
....and there's nothing wrong with that. The play was designed for two guys who had been in the game for the bulk of the game and one of them was 4 for 4 from three. I don't know why there would be criticism of that design over pointing to a guy coming off the bench for the first time all game (I think).
Quote from: GoldenCrusader87 on January 01, 2020, 10:15:43 AM
People who keep buying into the same rhetoric and excuses play into the problem and why we won't be better in the years to come. I have no respect for coaches who continually give excuses instead of owning up to the problem. The man still gets paid likely what $200k+??? Accountability is key.
It was reported as at or near $400k for Lottich. He's the 2nd highest paid staffer at a university in the business of educating. I get why his head would be on the chopping block.
What I don't get is how do we benefit from his departure unless resources are given to athletics? Bring in the best coach available and you think he stays around when he's continually given inferior resources compared to our present conference?
IF (big if) we agree changes need made, how is it anything short of Board / President on down? I don't think we chase a coach out of town when the resource allocation is the bigger issue. The best we hope for in this environment is catching lightening in a bottle again (Casey Schmidt, Bryce Drew and forward). But why coach hop?
Given all the slow starts, I think a major starting lineup shakeup is in order for Saturday's game. My starting 5:
PG Eron
SG Javon
SF Nick
PF Donovan
C Mileek
•Everyone is a scoring threat.
•Defenses can't overplay Javon.
•Eron, Javon, Nick and Donovan have some of the best HS pedigrees in the league. They weren't recruited to be role players.
•Lock that lineup in and don't screw with it for the rest of the year.
• This entire starting lineup will be back again next year - hardened and battle tested.
• DO NOT automatically substitute any of these guys out at the first media timeout (short of Mileek taking a wasted 3 early in the clock). That's only 4 minutes into the game. Ride this group longer to start both half's. Stop trying to preschedule player minutes. This isn't the NBA.
•Stop rewarding "toughness" over talent (sorry Jon).
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on January 01, 2020, 02:24:36 PM
Quote from: GoldenCrusader87 on January 01, 2020, 10:15:43 AM
People who keep buying into the same rhetoric and excuses play into the problem and why we won't be better in the years to come. I have no respect for coaches who continually give excuses instead of owning up to the problem. The man still gets paid likely what $200k+??? Accountability is key.
It was reported as at or near $400k for Lottich. He's the 2nd highest paid staffer at a university in the business of educating. I get why his head would be on the chopping block.
What I don't get is how do we benefit from his departure unless resources are given to athletics? Bring in the best coach available and you think he stays around when he's continually given inferior resources compared to our present conference?
IF (big if) we agree changes need made, how is it anything short of Board / President on down? I don't think we chase a coach out of town when the resource allocation is the bigger issue. The best we hope for in this environment is catching lightening in a bottle again (Casey Schmidt, Bryce Drew and forward). But why coach hop?
Lottich was paid $395k for the year ending 6/30/18 per the school's latest tax filing available. Here's how his salary compares to the rest of the MVC
1. Ben Jacobson (~$900K)
2. Brian Wardle (~$708K)
3. Dan Muller(~$600K)
4. *Porter Moser (~$492K)
5. Bryan Mullins (~$475K)
6. *Raymond Giacoletti (~$419K)
7. Matt Lottich (~$395K)
8. Dana Ford (~$375K)
9. Marty Simmons (~$305K)
10. Greg Lansing (~$248K)
*Loyola and Drake's most recent filing was for the year ending 6/30/17
Two more points about the starting lineup issue:
•This sends a clear message to Eron, Nick, Javon and Donovan that they will be central casting on what could be a championship team if they return next year. The last thing you want from our 4 highest profile players is wondering what their role will be if they come back.
•When Nick articulated that they need to figure out why they keep digging themselves in deep holes and put a stop to it, he's undoubtedly wondering why we keep starting a PG who is a poor shooter and turns the ball over at an unacceptable rate, and an undersized former walk-on with limited offensive capabilities.
• If Ryan returns all bets are off I suppose, but I still wouldn't be too quick to throw him back into the starting lineup.
•Last but not least, wouldn't it be nice to start a season with the same lineup you finished the prior season with? No more of this "well it takes time for people to lean new roles, play new positions, know when their shot is the best shot for the team" and all the rhetoric about never ending learning curves and adjustments.
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 05:49:09 PM
Two more points about the starting lineup issue:
•This sends a clear message to Eron, Nick, Javon and Donovan that they will be central casting on what could be a championship team if they return next year. The last thing you want from our 4 highest profile players is wondering what their role will be if they come back.
•When Nick articulated that they need to figure out why they keep digging themselves in deep holes and put a stop to it, he's undoubtedly wondering why we keep starting a PG who is a poor shooter and turns the ball over at an unacceptable rate, and an undersized former walk-on with limited offensive capabilities.
• If Ryan returns all bets are off I suppose, but I still wouldn't be too quick to throw him back into the starting lineup.
•Last but not least, wouldn't it be nice to start a season with the same lineup you finished the prior season with? No more of this "well it takes time for people to lean new roles, play new positions, know when their shot is the best shot for the team" and all the rhetoric about never ending learning curves and adjustments.
All great points. No matter how the rest of this year goes, keeping Eron and Nick (who I assume will be grad-transfer eligible) on board is key. Also, we know Javon was looking after last season, so knowing he can come back with the same core group may keep him from looking around again.
The only question I have is whether Eron would be comfortable at the point as I've always viewed him as more of a shooting guard. Maybe Javon at the point (as hinted by Lottich before the season) is the answer. Put the ball in his hands and surround him with shooters ... sounds like a plan for success.
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 03:31:54 PMGiven all the slow starts, I think a major starting lineup shakeup is in order for Saturday's game. My starting 5: PG Eron SG Javon SF Nick PF Donovan C Mileek •Everyone is a scoring threat. •Defenses can't overplay Javon. •Eron, Javon, Nick and Donovan have some of the best HS pedigrees in the league. They weren't recruited to be role players. •Lock that lineup in and don't screw with it for the rest of the year. • This entire starting lineup will be back again next year - hardened and battle tested. • DO NOT automatically substitute any of these guys out at the first media timeout (short of Mileek taking a wasted 3 early in the clock). That's only 4 minutes into the game. Ride this group longer to start both half's. Stop trying to preschedule player minutes. This isn't the NBA. •Stop rewarding "toughness" over talent (sorry Jon).
Defenses can't overplay Javon is the key here. I think Sackey brings a burst of energy that would be great off the bench, but he has had way too many issues to maintain the minutes he's getting. Apart from one breakout game, he has not made more than 3 baskets in a game all year, and he's had two 1-12 performances in games that were very close losses. A marginally better shooting performance in those games would turn a L to a W.
And turning a few Ls into Ws will go a long way towards keeping the wolves at bay and easing the pressure on Lottich. It's on him to recognize and implement whatever changes need to be made to make that happen. Of course we're not privy to a lot of what goes on in practice and maybe Lorange hasn't shown a firm enough grasp of the offense to trust him to run it during games.
Quote from: vuny98 on January 02, 2020, 10:47:42 AMQuote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 03:31:54 PMGiven all the slow starts, I think a major starting lineup shakeup is in order for Saturday's game. My starting 5: PG Eron SG Javon SF Nick PF Donovan C Mileek •Everyone is a scoring threat. •Defenses can't overplay Javon. •Eron, Javon, Nick and Donovan have some of the best HS pedigrees in the league. They weren't recruited to be role players. •Lock that lineup in and don't screw with it for the rest of the year. • This entire starting lineup will be back again next year - hardened and battle tested. • DO NOT automatically substitute any of these guys out at the first media timeout (short of Mileek taking a wasted 3 early in the clock). That's only 4 minutes into the game. Ride this group longer to start both half's. Stop trying to preschedule player minutes. This isn't the NBA. •Stop rewarding "toughness" over talent (sorry Jon).
Defenses can't overplay Javon is the key here. I think Sackey brings a burst of energy that would be great off the bench, but he has had way too many issues to maintain the minutes he's getting. Apart from one breakout game, he has not made more than 3 baskets in a game all year, and he's had two 1-12 performances in games that were very close losses. A marginally better shooting performance in those games would turn a L to a W.
I also wouldn't call him a great ball distributor nor does he seem to have great court awareness. Whatever was supposed to happen on the last play the other night, he appeared to run them right out of it once it broke down.
Sackey is definitely experiencing a sophomore slump of some sort but I have faith in can pull out of it but keeping him in could end up frustrating him more and making it harder to pull out. Let me play less minutes even if he still starts.
Lorange can shoot but my guess is that he's still pretty easy to push around in more physical games and I wouldn't be surprised if the staff wants him to bulk up a bit more before he gets more time.
The thing about this season is the losses are so close that it's frustrating because it's easy to point to our weakness and say it's because of this. But I will take close losses that don't come with the agonizing break down in attitude and team cohesiveness like last year.
Fundamentals and on court issues can be fixed (although never as fast as we'd like), whatever happened last year was just painful to watch in a while different way
Wins and losses aside, Valpo is a better team this year despite being younger overall. Interestingly, their offense is much improved over last year, mostly because of the turnovers generated on the defensive end. Having said that, taking so many chances has hurt the defensive side of the ball overall.
I'd be much more concerned that Lottich was losing the team if they weren't competing in games, but really other than Nevada, that hasn't been the case. Ultimately results do matter, but I think with experience, games like Cincy and Arkansas could turn in Valpo's favor next year, or even in February against UNI. Last year they didn't play anyone on their schedule with those kind of ratings in the non-conference (or conference), and the big name opponents they did play (WVU and Texas A&M) were games they didn't really threaten to pull off a win. Just my opinion.
Quote from: IrishDawg on January 02, 2020, 01:52:43 PM
Wins and losses aside, Valpo is a better team this year despite being younger overall. Interestingly, their offense is much improved over last year, mostly because of the turnovers generated on the defensive end. Having said that, taking so many chances has hurt the defensive side of the ball overall.
I'd be much more concerned that Lottich was losing the team if they weren't competing in games, but really other than Nevada, that hasn't been the case. Ultimately results do matter, but I think with experience, games like Cincy and Arkansas could turn in Valpo's favor next year, or even in February against UNI. Last year they didn't play anyone on their schedule with those kind of ratings in the non-conference (or conference), and the big name opponents they did play (WVU and Texas A&M) were games they didn't really threaten to pull off a win. Just my opinion.
Last year's group was 5-12 without Ryan. They had no staying power, no ability to come back when they were down. They scored 50 or more on a good night. Smits, Golder and Evelyn were terrible team leaders and role models that were painful to watch. Thank God they left.
I'm proud to call this year's team my team - win or lose. They're working hard, they play team bb, and they'll get it right.
Quote from: IrishDawg on January 02, 2020, 01:52:43 PM
Wins and losses aside, Valpo is a better team this year despite being younger overall. Interestingly, their offense is much improved over last year, mostly because of the turnovers generated on the defensive end. Having said that, taking so many chances has hurt the defensive side of the ball overall.
I'd be much more concerned that Lottich was losing the team if they weren't competing in games, but really other than Nevada, that hasn't been the case. Ultimately results do matter, but I think with experience, games like Cincy and Arkansas could turn in Valpo's favor next year, or even in February against UNI. Last year they didn't play anyone on their schedule with those kind of ratings in the non-conference (or conference), and the big name opponents they did play (WVU and Texas A&M) were games they didn't really threaten to pull off a win. Just my opinion.
Again "could, would, should" in the words of Rick Blaine played by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca "doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." "But we'll always have Ole Miss (Paris)"
Quote from: wh on January 01, 2020, 03:31:54 PMGiven all the slow starts, I think a major starting lineup shakeup is in order for Saturday's game. My starting 5: PG Eron SG Javon SF Nick PF Donovan C Mileek •Everyone is a scoring threat. •Defenses can't overplay Javon. •Eron, Javon, Nick and Donovan have some of the best HS pedigrees in the league. They weren't recruited to be role players. •Lock that lineup in and don't screw with it for the rest of the year. • This entire starting lineup will be back again next year - hardened and battle tested. • DO NOT automatically substitute any of these guys out at the first media timeout (short of Mileek taking a wasted 3 early in the clock). That's only 4 minutes into the game. Ride this group longer to start both half's. Stop trying to preschedule player minutes. This isn't the NBA. •Stop rewarding "toughness" over talent (sorry Jon).
Data from Sports-reference.comWH's starting 5: PER
PG Eron 13.0
SG Javon 26.0
SF Nick 16.2
PF Donovan 13.7
C Mileek 15.7
Highest PER of non-starters or out w/injury
Fazekas 32.4
Siggy 19.8
Krikke 19.1
Morrill 18.6
Kiser 12.8
Sackey 8.5
Zion Morgan 8.1
Emil 7.8
Pappas -8.5
Looks like a good starting five. Without looking at other stats, the PER numbers might also consider Krikke and obviously Fazekas. The rest of the players with high PER don't get enough minutes. Perhaps they should get more minutes????
Every Valpo team is "my team" if they wear the brown and gold. Granted, some I'm more proud of than others.
When did they draw up that last play? There was no timeout or any real stoppage of play was there?
Quote from: M on January 03, 2020, 10:20:01 PMWhen did they draw up that last play? There was no timeout or any real stoppage of play was there?
There was a review of the foul on Robinson with 9.3 secs left prior to the two Clemons FTs. Whatever was drawn up and I applaud Coach Gore for not throwing anyone Valpo related under the bus, it wasn't run nor did it appear anyone had any idea what to do if the play broke down considering the crappy spacing.
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 31, 2019, 06:09:57 PM
I would not say that Mileek is the second coming of Jim Stueve, however.
Was fun to watch, but had to average 4.5 fouls per game!
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