About time to start thinking about the Bracketbuster game. This link gives a good sense of the range of potential games based on RPIs.
This will be an away game for us, with a pick up home game usually for the next year. We have a visit to Missouri State at some point from last year's. So a good opponent helps the schedule strength in future years.
George Mason, Kent State, Manhattan, Utah State and Illinois State would be all good from match-up/return game as well as some are good for marketing (GMU and Manhattan). A few more wins (without bad losses) could help to reach the TV games.
Annoucements of pairings will be January 30.
http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889 (http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889)
Quote from: valpo84 on January 15, 2012, 08:01:03 PMGeorge Mason, Kent State, Manhattan, Utah State and Illinois State would be all good from match-up/return game as well as some are good for marketing (GMU and Manhattan).
Of the teams on that short list, we'd probably get Kent State because of travel, if we don't have a tv game. The Bracketbuster loves to put us up against MAC teams. GMU and Utah St. might get tv games.
This killed us last year. On the plus side we got Dickie V in the house. On the other hand, it completely was a logistics nightmare and in my opinion was the reason for the season ending meltdown.
These made for TV events usually do not benefit student athletes.
lowposter
I do not understand how you could say the Bracketbuster killed Valpo last season. They knew that they would be playing a quality opponent at home on that day before the season really began. While it is (of course) a made for TV event, ESPN really does a great job of giving exposure to the mid-majors with this event and the event generates a lot of excitement around mid-major programs.
I think lowposter is referring to how our season sort of went downhill after that game. But I still like the Bracketbuster and agree that it is great exposure.
The Bracketbuster game against Missouri State was one of the highlights of the season, but it certainly was a mixed blessing at best. The game was great, the atmosphere at the Arc was sensational, and the promotion for the university was terrific. Unfortunately, the event was placed at the worst point in the schedule.
The team had to play at Milwaukee then come home for the Bracketbuster then go back to Wisconsin to play Green Bay then play Loyola at home. This led to a stretch of 4 games in 8 days, 5 games in 11 days, with lots of travel for a team that was filled with injuries and illness. Valpo won the Bracketbuster but lost to Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Loyola, which cost them the season championship or at least a tie for the championship.
I love playing the Bracketbuster, but I hated the scheduling last year.
Quote from: valpopal on January 16, 2012, 11:22:28 AM
The Bracketbuster game against Missouri State was one of the highlights of the season, but it certainly was a mixed blessing at best. The game was great, the atmosphere at the Arc was sensational, and the promotion for the university was terrific. Unfortunately, the event was placed at the worst point in the schedule.
The team had to play at Milwaukee then come home for the Bracketbuster then go back to Wisconsin to play Green Bay then play Loyola at home. This led to a stretch of 4 games in 8 days, 5 games in 11 days, with lots of travel for a team that was filled with injuries and illness. Valpo won the Bracketbuster but lost to Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Loyola, which cost them the season championship or at least a tie for the championship.
I love playing the Bracketbuster, but I hated the scheduling last year.
So what's your excuse for VU getting blasted at home to Iona after 11 days rest?
Quote from: crusaderjoe on January 16, 2012, 11:29:17 AM
Quote from: valpopal on January 16, 2012, 11:22:28 AM
The Bracketbuster game against Missouri State was one of the highlights of the season, but it certainly was a mixed blessing at best. The game was great, the atmosphere at the Arc was sensational, and the promotion for the university was terrific. Unfortunately, the event was placed at the worst point in the schedule.
The team had to play at Milwaukee then come home for the Bracketbuster then go back to Wisconsin to play Green Bay then play Loyola at home. This led to a stretch of 4 games in 8 days, 5 games in 11 days, with lots of travel for a team that was filled with injuries and illness. Valpo won the Bracketbuster but lost to Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Loyola, which cost them the season championship or at least a tie for the championship.
I love playing the Bracketbuster, but I hated the scheduling last year.
So what's your excuse for VU getting blasted at home to Iona after 11 days rest?
There was no excuse for the flat game against Iona. But I wasn't offering an excuse. In fact, I don't believe in excuses.
However, whether the team won or lost the games, I do believe 5 games in 11 days with lots of travel in February for a team within the middle of an important home stretch to the season championship when players are likely to be worn and injured is not a good scheduling situation. If I remember correctly, I believe Homer agreed as well.
I just looked at our schedule around this game. From 2/9-2/24, we have the Ohio trip with Cleveland St. then Youngstown St. followed by UIC at home on the Thursday before Bracketbusters, then Loyola on the Tuesday after, and we end the conference schedule with Butler on the 24th. This looks very favorable, but who knows what CSU/YSU will do by then, and UIC or Loyola could be a trap, as we're getting into the thick of the homestretch of the conference schedule. We can definitely guarantee that we might have another tv game, maybe not the marquee choice like last year, but we still have a few games before that becomes a major concern. We right now need to focus on winning the conference games for the favorable seeding at the HL tourney.
My point was that the Bracketbuster simply added considerable travel to an already busy time of the year. Let's see...Milwaukee (tough game and environment), then back to Valpo for an emotional game, then pack up the bus and drive to Green Bay (tough game and environment) then back home for a game with Loyola. Lots of travel.
With college basketball, you make a deal with the TV networks. In exchange for Dickie V, you potentially throw the conference out the window (they did). They made a few $$$, travelled a few more miles, and lost a few games. Butler, on the other hand didnt participate in the Bracketbuster and slept in their own beds for a couple of nights at a critical time of the year.
Good teams must fight thru adversity and we didnt on the Wisconsin road trips (note plural). Missed layups at the buzzer and two close losses. Result, pack the bags for the conference tournament. One cannnot say they would have won the conference and the tournament without the Wisconsin yo-yo trip, but at that stage of the season, one must do everything to provide the team opportunities to win.
Thats all I am saying,
lowposter
Joe Lunardi has his predictions up for the 13 Bracketbuster television games (with the caveat that there's still a week's worth of games to be played). He has Cleveland State hosting Northern Iowa and Valpo taking on Ohio in Athens. Interestingly, he also has Oral Roberts hosting Nevada.
It pains me to see ORU at 16-4 and 10-0 in conference.
Quote from: mgovalpo on January 23, 2012, 07:19:24 PM
Joe Lunardi has his predictions up for the 13 Bracketbuster television games (with the caveat that there's still a week's worth of games to be played). He has Cleveland State hosting Northern Iowa and Valpo taking on Ohio in Athens. Interestingly, he also has Oral Roberts hosting Nevada.
Speaking of "predictions": Stat Sheet predicts Cleveland State to win the Horizon League tournament and to be the only conference representative in the NCAA. The Big Ten is projected to have 9 teams in the NCAA tournament! The prediction is that Valpo will be invited to the CIT:
"StatSheet projects Valparaiso will go to the CIT. The Crusaders are #113 in the StatSheet StatRank with a 14-7 overall record and a 7-2 record in the Horizon. During its last four games, Valparaiso bolstered its record with wins against UIC, Loyola (Chicago), Cleveland State, and Youngstown State. Valparaiso has a 3-2 record against the RPI Top 100 but an 0-1 record against the RPI Top 50 and AP Top 25. While the Crusaders have no quality wins, they're weighed down by five bad losses including RPI #202 Wright State, RPI #109 Milwaukee, RPI #256 IUPUI, RPI #125 Oakland, and RPI #253 IPFW."
http://valpodaily.com/valparaiso-basketball/statseed-update/statsheet-projects-valparaiso-as-cit-team-01-24-2012 (http://valpodaily.com/valparaiso-basketball/statseed-update/statsheet-projects-valparaiso-as-cit-team-01-24-2012)
So losing to the #109 and #125 teams in the StatSheet ranking says that we might not be anything more than CIT participant? Those were winnable games, we just had a lapse that was untimely in each game. The others might have been Valpo underestimating the Summit League?
I'd rather just play the games, and let our play decide what happens, not our schedule strength.
Quote from: valpotx on January 24, 2012, 02:54:58 AM
It pains me to see ORU at 16-4 and 10-0 in conference.
And they're in all likelyhood going dancing...
Quote from: valporun on January 24, 2012, 11:08:46 AM
So losing to the #109 and #125 teams in the StatSheet ranking says that we might not be anything more than CIT participant? Those were winnable games, we just had a lapse that was untimely in each game. The others might have been Valpo underestimating the Summit League?
I'd rather just play the games, and let our play decide what happens, not our schedule strength.
I'd agree, let the play on the court decide what becomes of this team. IF they manage a top 2 seed, the chances of dancing go way up. The only way this team is going to the NCAA's is via automatic bid. Everything else doesn't really matter
Anybody's guess, but here are a couple of ESPN Bracketbuster projections:
Valpo vs. George Mason
Butler vs. Oakland
http://whiteandbluereview.com/?p=16421 (http://whiteandbluereview.com/?p=16421)
It is pretty doubtful that it will happen, but Valpo vs. Oral Roberts would be pretty interesting... I would love to see it because it would aslo commit ORU to have to play at Valparaiso.
I would not be surprised to see a Valpo at SDSU matchup. Nasty roadtrip for Valpo if that happens.
Quote from: vu84v2 on January 28, 2012, 04:12:42 PM
It is pretty doubtful that it will happen, but Valpo vs. Oral Roberts would be pretty interesting... I would love to see it because it would aslo commit ORU to have to play at Valparaiso.
Tulsa road trip anyone?
Quote from: vu84v2 on January 28, 2012, 04:12:42 PM
I would not be surprised to see a Valpo at SDSU matchup. Nasty roadtrip for Valpo if that happens.
i'd love this personally. i'd find a way, and grab a few other alums currently in the dak-rat states and go for a road trip.
Quote from: vu84v2 on January 28, 2012, 04:12:42 PM
It is pretty doubtful that it will happen, but Valpo vs. Oral Roberts would be pretty interesting... I would love to see it because it would aslo commit ORU to have to play at Valparaiso.
I would not be surprised to see a Valpo at SDSU matchup. Nasty roadtrip for Valpo if that happens.
We don't need to play a fourth Summit League team this year.
I live in Tulsa, would be nice to see valpo play in person. Last time I saw valpo in person they won the mid-con championship against iupui (I think that was the opponent) in ft. Wayne.
The next week the got blistered by Kentucky.
But it was the good old days when we were dancing consistently. We had a lit of foreign players at that time.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 28, 2012, 08:46:35 PMLast time I saw valpo in person they won the mid-con championship against iupui (I think that was the opponent) in ft. Wayne.
The next week the got blistered by Kentucky.
Yes, this was the 2001-2002 season where we ran over the Jaguars, 88-55 at Fort Wayne. I remember this because the next week, while the team was in St. Louis, and the band was busing all across the Midwest, I was out West in Eagle Rock, California with the track team for a Spring Break Training Trip.
Using WarrenNolan RPI as of about noon today...Valpo is the 10th ranked road team...
the top 12 HOME teams this year:
Creighton MISSOURI VAL 15
Murray State OHIO VALLEY 32
Oral Roberts SUMMIT 50
Iona METRO ATLANTIC 51
Cleveland State HORIZON 55
South Dakota State SUMMIT 63
Davidson SOUTHERN 68
Ohio MID AMERICAN 69
Loyola (Md.) METRO ATLANTIC 77
Missouri State MISSOURI VAL 80
VCU COLONIAL 84
Weber State BIG SKY 89
The Top 12 Road Teams:
St. Mary's (Calif.) WEST COAST 20
Wichita State MISSOURI VAL 30
Long Beach State BIG WEST 33
Northern Iowa MISSOURI VAL 57
Akron MID AMERICAN 60
Nevada WESTERN 61
Drexel COLONIAL 88
Drake MISSOURI VAL 94
Buffalo MID AMERICAN 98
Valparaiso HORIZON 112
Lamar SOUTHLAND 117
Oakland SUMMIT 123
I agree that we would probably get Ohio...with Kent State as #15 and Illinois State as #17 also in the running.
It sure looks like we would be in the running for one of the 11 TV games....I think the
St.Marys / Creighton
Wichita State/Murray State are locks...
Northern Iowa / ORU
Akron Gets / Iona
Cleveland State / Drexel
South Dakota State / Nevada
Davidson / Drake
Ohio / Valpo
Buffalo / Loyola MD
Oakland / Kent State
Lamar / Missouri State
See What Happens when they are announced!
Good predictions on games. I'd like to see Davidson or VCU instead of Ohio. We played there last year and both make equally good TV games and great home games for the future. We've already played some MAC teams this year and would like to see some other conferences.
I have seen other predictions online of a Valpo-Ohio bracketbuster match; however, I also have seen that the Ohio folks would not be very happy since there is such a disparity in the current RPI rankings of the two teams: according to Real Time RPI, Ohio is number 68 and Valparaiso is number 124.
Is there any stated or unstated rule that might prohibit a Missouri State-Valpo rematch? #10 home vs #10 road Neither team with any hope for a NCAA at large, and Missouri State with only a slight NIT at large hope. Yes I think they might like a higher RPI opponent but the home teams are averageing about 15 points higher RPI than their road equivalents..
If it did happen then would there be any need for a home and away rematch series? A couple teams with a little history, a revenge motive (for them), why not? We could certainly do worse, and so could they.
I think there is a written rule about not playing Missouri State again... since we have to play them next year down there as the return from last year as it is...
AND, In reviewing my selections... I see that I forgot to put Long Beach State in as a road team somewhere...but with any luck they'd put them at Weber State...or, maybe Cleveland State can have them... which would make for a nice road trip for them next year.
I see the Selection show is on ESPNU at 5:30 Central Time tonight....
Let's hope it's a nice short bus trip so we can get ready for the bug rematch with ...er uh... Loyola...on the 21st.
Quote from: talksalot on January 30, 2012, 09:18:16 AMLet's hope it's a nice short bus trip so we can get ready for the bug rematch with ...er uh... Loyola...on the 21st.
Don't forget what happened last year against Loyola at home after the Green Bay game. It wasn't pretty at all.
Sounds like it might be VCU in an actual BracketBusters (televised) home game.
Go represent the league with pride, Crusaders!
With the win over a very solid Milwaukee team, I'm hoping we are moved into a tv game. Ohio would be a good matchup. They lead or are near the lead in the MAC. Ohio or VCU would be great home games for us next year but both will be very tough opponents.
Right now we are ranked #132 in the Sagarin's, while VCU is ranked 57 and Ohio 75.
I am predicting that we get the 13th TV game, late night vs. New Mexico State...RPI 92.
Quote from: talksalot on January 30, 2012, 09:18:16 AM
I think there is a written rule about not playing Missouri State again... since we have to play them next year down there as the return from last year as it is...
Plus it would defeat one of the side benefits of the bracketbuster, which sets in the year after your first year in: a 2nd quality non-conference opponent on your schedule. The idea is we get to play Missouri State AND a new bracketbuster opponent.
Of course, that was supposed to be this year...
This latest projection has Valpo playing Loyola (MD), which would be okay though it would mean some more travel. Also, the game is ranked as the tenth highest in seeding, which would mean some television coverage.
It has Cleveland State hosting Akron, which makes a lot of sense; but the site also has Butler hosting Wofford. I bet that wouldn't be the kind of exciting home game Bulldog fans might wish to have.
http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889 (http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889)
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 12:48:25 PM
This latest projection has Valpo playing Loyola (MD), which would be okay though it would mean some more travel. Also, the game is ranked as the tenth highest in seeding, which would mean some television coverage.
It has Cleveland State hosting Akron, which makes a lot of sense; but the site also has Butler hosting Wofford. I bet that wouldn't be the kind of exciting home game Bulldog fans might wish to have.
http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889 (http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7889)
Yes please!!
I would love to go to that!
Sorry, Cleveland State can't get Akron...that is a rule in the matchups...
12/10/11 vs. AKRON Cleveland, Ohio W, 69-66
as for VCU... we lost to the Rams, at their place 1/29/72 86-76 ... 40 years ago yesterday...
ESPN-U 5:30pm (Central) is the Bracket Buster pairing show
I'm sticking with
Ohio (60%)
Kent State (20%)
Illinois State (10%)
VCU (5%)
Davidson (4%)
something else (1%)
HEY! Don't be planning a road trip for Saturday the 18th. The Crusader Women play at home against Loyola at 1:35!
Well...slowly but surely some matchups are beginning to leak out...Per an ISU assistant's twitter feed, Indiana State will play at Butler
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 05:41:48 PM
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
And the prognosticators take a beating again.
Just sickens me seeing a cartoon character on the panel. Has anyone ever gained more respect by doing less?
PantherU's retweet earlier today turned out to be mistaken as I thought it would be. Had us matched up with Missouri State ;) (He was just retweeting somebody else's "leak" -- the mistake wasn't PantherU's).
CSU vs. Drexel is second HL TV game
I wish they'd just get on with the list and skip all the commentary and all the cliched story lines, including host trying to start something between Murray State's coach and the Mr. Bracketology cartoon character. Paradoxically, I'm also pissed that the only game so far that has not merited one syllable of commentary has been our game.
God, I hate ESPN.
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 05:41:48 PM
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
LMU is who? loyola university Maryland?
Quote from: okinawatyphoon on January 30, 2012, 05:57:58 PM
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 05:41:48 PM
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
LMU is who? loyola university Maryland?
Loyola Marymount University, which should please the players because they get to travel to Los Angeles. Hard to believe Butler got shut out of the television games.
Quote from: okinawatyphoon on January 30, 2012, 05:57:58 PM
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 05:41:48 PM
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
LMU is who? loyola university Maryland?
Loyola Marymount... http://www.lmulions.com/ (http://www.lmulions.com/)
Sweet! One of my favorite sports memories as a kid (I was 9 in 1990) was the LMU story in the tournament that year. Such a fun team to watch as a kid, as offense is all that matters to a child that age ;D
LMU will be a brutal test. These guys have wins over UCLA and St. Louis, among others and close games against St. Mary's and Gonzaga. If we can win this one on the road, then we will really ope some eyes bracket wise should we make the dance.
BTW, Adam Amin is doing the play-by-play right now on ESPNU. Go Adam!
Quote from: valpotx on January 30, 2012, 06:07:03 PM
Sweet! One of my favorite sports memories as a kid (I was 9 in 1990) was the LMU story in the tournament that year. Such a fun team to watch as a kid, as offense is all that matters to a child that age ;D
That was the team that lost Hank Gathers during the season if I remember correctly.
I thought this was a typo, until I saw it repeated so many times. Often, the Bracketbuster folks go pretty strictly by RPI. Our inclusion makes sense, by that metric (and, indeed, the Milwaukee win might have just squeaked us in!). But, by RPI, Loyola (MD) would make more sense than Loyola Marymount. Marymount's RPI is still better than ours, but they're the #17 home team by RPI (to our #10): Home happens to be ~8 teams ahead of Away in the RPI rankings.
Anyhow, good to get a TV game! Even on ESPNU. Now I'll have to figure out where to watch it... (I guess these are usually simulcast on ESPN3?)
Quote from: vu72 on January 30, 2012, 06:24:31 PMBTW, Adam Amin is doing the play-by-play right now on ESPNU. Go Adam!
What's the game?
This game stinks. Puts 3 games in 6 days to end the year plus its a lot of travel, not to mention there isn't much reward in winning this game. I wish these could be played in December.
Much better travel than last season. Much Much better.
Quote from: sectionee on January 30, 2012, 06:47:43 PM
This game stinks. Puts 3 games in 6 days to end the year plus its a lot of travel, not to mention there isn't much reward in winning this game. I wish these could be played in December.
What I would have loved to hear from the <cough>, <cough> roundtable was some discussion about this aspect. They could have definitely found a coach to give them some perspective on that.
But, of course that would make too much sense for the booyahs :snore:
Loyola Marymount was the school with Hank Gathers, who tragically collapsed during a WCC conference tournament game, and died while on the way to the hospital. He was a big time recruit who transferred to LMU, and played for Paul Westhead in a run and gun style, a bit like how Grinnell College plays basketball. LMU was the school that CBS followed thru the 1990 tournament, and has the famous scene of Bo Kimble shooting a left-handed free throw in memory of his teammate and friend.
ESPN had a 30-for-30-like movie about this team, and how the nation responded to this story.
Quote from: Pgmado on January 30, 2012, 07:31:38 PMMuch better travel than last season. Much Much better.
Obviously you were there so you would know better then I, but what was bad last year? Just the amount of games? It looks like it went Milwaukee, Home, GB, Home, Home, Home...that was all in a short time frame. Do you think last years schedule at the end will take a tougher toll on the guys then this years, Home, LA, Home?
A non-stop flight to LA takes 4 hours 15 minutes. If I recall correctly, the bus trip to Green Bay last year was during a heavy snowstorm and it took the team about 7 hours to get there, not to mention the 5+ hour trip back late, late Monday night following a rough loss. Plus the fact we play Friday night gives us an extra day to recover prior to our Loyola game.
Quote from: sectionee on January 30, 2012, 08:40:35 PM
Quote from: Pgmado on January 30, 2012, 07:31:38 PMMuch better travel than last season. Much Much better.
Obviously you were there so you would know better then I, but what was bad last year? Just the amount of games? It looks like it went Milwaukee, Home, GB, Home, Home, Home...that was all in a short time frame. Do you think last years schedule at the end will take a tougher toll on the guys then this years, Home, LA, Home?
Last year was tough Milwaukee game on the road on Wednesday, then Missouri State game on Saturday afternoon. The team left Sunday morning for Green Bay and drove 7+ hours through a blizzard. Team returned early Tuesday morning and then played at home two days later in blowout loss to Loyola. The only game that Valpo won of the four was the one that "didn't matter."
This year Valpo plays UIC at home on Tuesday, then will travel to LA on Thursday afternoon and come back presumably on Saturday morning. The next game isn't until Tuesday and it's also at home against Loyola. In theory these are two easier games sandwiching the BracketBuster, even if the LMU game is on the road and a flight trip. If I'm a player/coach, I'd much rather have this schedule breakdown than last season. Playing on Friday night is icing on the cake.
I'm excited about playing LMU. Unfortunately, Valpo finally makes a trip to Southern California and I'm not there to watch them play. Hopefully they have a good experience on the West Coast and consider scheduling other teams in the future.
Thanks for clearing that up Pgmado. I think this is going to be rough, but hopefully they won't experience they same thing (conferencewise) that happened last year.
Quote from: mj on January 30, 2012, 09:27:53 PM
I'm excited about playing LMU. Unfortunately, Valpo finally makes a trip to Southern California and I'm not there to watch them play. Hopefully they have a good experience on the West Coast and consider scheduling other teams in the future.
yeah, i was kinda hoping to see them up here somewhere too. maybe next year.
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2012, 05:41:48 PM
Valpo vs LMU on ESPNU!
Hopefully the game will also be on ESPN3, for those of us that don't have ESPNU.
I don't think anyone mentioned our good luck in the tv scheduling. The Valpo game is positioned in prime time at 8 p.m. Central Time. The other Horizon League team on television is Cleveland State, whose game is 10 a.m. Central Time.
Times article: Crusaders heading to California for Bracket Buster
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/crusaders-heading-to-california-for-bracketbuster/article_ed848cb8-b4fa-5715-973b-119042acb1d0.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/crusaders-heading-to-california-for-bracketbuster/article_ed848cb8-b4fa-5715-973b-119042acb1d0.html)
Overall, I think that it is good to get a TV matchup in prime time. LMU is a tough matchup, though the win over St. Louis is far more impressive than the win over a miserable UCLA team.
While the travel is a concern, it could have been much worse. What if Valpo went to South Dakota State - lots of flying and driving. LMU is very near LAX, so despite the 4+ hour flight it is pretty simple. Having games several days before and after at home helps.
An interesting question will be, what strategy will Bryce take with the bracketbusters game? Will he go all out or would he hold a player back that might be a little nicked up? When you are a mid-major, it is hard not to go all out when you play on national TV, so my guess is that he will treat this with the same seriousness as a conference game.
The travel to LA is nowhere near as bad as what we used to do to Southern Utah for games, at least on the baseball side. Flying into Vegas, and then a several hour bus trip. There is no excuse in regards to travel with this matchup...
Thinking about Loyola Marymount and the Bo Kimble-Hank Gathers years brought back some memories. I attended the Xavier-LMU game in Cincinnati in 89-90 season. Besides Kimble and Gathers, they had a dead-eye 3 point shooter in Jeff Fryer (who was a lot like Casey Schmidt) and Terrell Lowery. X had Derek Strong and Ty Hill and Jamal Walker who could dazzle, plus strong depth including Aaron Williams and Michael Davenport. That was a Pete Gillen coached X team, and LMU played the Paul Westhead fast break style, push the ball up the court and get a shot in about 10 secs. Gathers was a terrific player and with Kimble they were final four material that year. Even without Gathers but with an inspired Kimble, they blew the doors off the defending champion Michigan team and scored about 150 points that 2d rd game. BTW, Xavier went to the Sweet 16 that year after beating Georgetown's Mourning and Mutombo in the Indianapolis 2d rd game (that sub-regional also included a Texas upset of Purdue in the 2d rd game for a most enjoyable doubleheader that day as I was there for that weekend). Also had the chance to see Gathers/Kimble in the 1989 NCAA 1st rd at Indianapolis. Valpo connection to that LMU--Dave Wolter who worked with Paul Westhead and imported the "System" to Valpo women's hoops in the late 1980s-early 1990s preceding Keith Freeman.
Don't forget the Human Bruise, Tom Peabody, and Per "steamer" Stumer (or was it Steumer or Stuemer?).
God that was a fun team to watch. I still have several of their games on tape.
I don't think they quite play that way now, of course. It was a short window, maybe 3 years. I recall Westhead's successor tried to carry on with it the following year, but he didn't have the horses any more. I recall a diminutive point guard and a tall, lanky center, both of whom were lesser known backups the previous year, but everybody else seemed new. They were still playing the same way, only they were losing by 20-30 points every game (or so it seemed). I was sorry to see the phenomenon end.
A Valpo vs ORU match up would have been a lot of fun. We still follow you and wish you the best.
I definitely would have been at a Valpo/ORU matchup as well.
To be fair in regards to the Xavier/ORU game STL, I believe they were missing 4-5 of their main players due to those violations. I would say that is a REALLY good reason to get creamed in D-1 basketball. Can you imagine our back-ups playing a whole game against a solid team's starters?
Quote from: StlVUFan on January 31, 2012, 10:12:46 AM
Don't forget the Human Bruise, Tom Peabody, and Per "steamer" Stumer (or was it Steumer or Stuemer?).
God that was a fun team to watch. I still have several of their games on tape.
I don't think they quite play that way now, of course. It was a short window, maybe 3 years. I recall Westhead's successor tried to carry on with it the following year, but he didn't have the horses any more. I recall a diminutive point guard and a tall, lanky center, both of whom were lesser known backups the previous year, but everybody else seemed new. They were still playing the same way, only they were losing by 20-30 points every game (or so it seemed). I was sorry to see the phenomenon end.
Great memory, Stl. Here's a link to LMU's year-by-year stats and results. http://www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/Year-by-Year.html (http://www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/Year-by-Year.html) I was there for an exhibition game in November, 1991 and they committed 29 turnovers in a 130-107 loss. (http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-15/sports/sp-1409_1_loyola-marymount-basketball (http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-15/sports/sp-1409_1_loyola-marymount-basketball)) On a side note, we lost to Valpo a few days later (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852D7246F631B1.html (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852D7246F631B1.html)) ... I blame it on the LA to Chicago flight!! ;)
On a side note, that was the same week that Magic Johnson made his HIV announcement. Being in LA during that week was very strange, to say the least.
Quote from: talksalot on January 29, 2012, 01:32:34 PMSt.Marys / Creighton
Wichita State/Murray State are locks...
Northern Iowa / ORU
Akron Gets / Iona
Cleveland State / Drexel
South Dakota State / Nevada
Davidson / Drake
Ohio / Valpo
Buffalo / Loyola MD
Oakland / Kent State
Lamar / Missouri State
OK.... so I got ONE right.... (Cleveland State and Drexel)
Oakland wound up getting Illinois State
Lamar gets George Mason in the "I Wanna Be on TV" game
Loyola (MD) gets Boston University
Everyone else got a TV game...
I think the "pairings Meister" for this event has stock in Southwest Airlines...Here are the driving distances...
Nevada to Iona: 2,707 miles
St. Mary's to Murray State: 2,223 miles
Valpo to Marymount: 2,071 miles
Long Beach State to Creighton: 1,563
...and 5 other matches are in the 1100-1200 mile range.
the two shortest commutes for a game NC-Asheville to Ohio - 357 miles, Drexel to the Wolstein center: 429 miles.
(Not to gripe, but Long Beach State and Marymount did not play each other this year... they are 26 miles apart...)
Strength of Schedule within the 26 BBuster teams?
Team and the Number of other teams within the 26 they have defeated this year:
Mo State - 4
St Marys - 3
No Iowa - 3
Creighton - 3
Ohio - 3
Valpo - 2
ORU - 2
Drake, Nevada, Cleveland State and Akron have all defeated one
and these schools have not defeated any of the other to 25-teams in the bbuster...
New Mexico State, South Dakota State, Iona, Davidson, Murray State, Drexel, Virginia Commonwealth, Weber State, Loyola-Marymount, Old Dominion, NC-Asheville and Long Beach State
Speaking of Ohio... did anyone else find it humorous that OU is playing Asheville? Asheville's RPI is 15 points worse than ours!
Speaking of Loyola Marymount... ya gotta love their schedule coming into this game... @ Gonzaga on 2/11 and @ St. Marys on 2/15 before playing us on the 17th.
Quote from: zvillehaze on January 31, 2012, 01:15:37 PM
Quote from: StlVUFan on January 31, 2012, 10:12:46 AM
Don't forget the Human Bruise, Tom Peabody, and Per "steamer" Stumer (or was it Steumer or Stuemer?).
God that was a fun team to watch. I still have several of their games on tape.
I don't think they quite play that way now, of course. It was a short window, maybe 3 years. I recall Westhead's successor tried to carry on with it the following year, but he didn't have the horses any more. I recall a diminutive point guard and a tall, lanky center, both of whom were lesser known backups the previous year, but everybody else seemed new. They were still playing the same way, only they were losing by 20-30 points every game (or so it seemed). I was sorry to see the phenomenon end.
Great memory, Stl. Here's a link to LMU's year-by-year stats and results. http://www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/Year-by-Year.html (http://www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/Year-by-Year.html) I was there for an exhibition game in November, 1991 and they committed 29 turnovers in a 130-107 loss. (http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-15/sports/sp-1409_1_loyola-marymount-basketball (http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-15/sports/sp-1409_1_loyola-marymount-basketball)) On a side note, we lost to Valpo a few days later (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852D7246F631B1.html (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852D7246F631B1.html)) ... I blame it on the LA to Chicago flight!! ;)
On a side note, that was the same week that Magic Johnson made his HIV announcement. Being in LA during that week was very strange, to say the least.
Thanks for the links. Apparently Tom Peabody was still on that 91 team, didn't remember him. The two I was thinking of were Terrell Lowery (diminutive PG) and Chris Knight (tall lanky center). In truth I only checked in on one game and they were losing badly. Could have been this one:
12/15/90 at Oklahoma L 112-172
Quote from: valpo84 on January 31, 2012, 02:29:09 AMValpo connection to that LMU--Dave Wolter who worked with Paul Westhead and imported the "System" to Valpo women's hoops in the late 1980s-early 1990s preceding Keith Freeman.
His seven seasons are the seven highest average per game in our history. At least two times we averaged over 90 points per game, scored 128 in one game. Marginal success as we were a little under .500 but so much more enjoyable to watch than the current version. Debbie Bolen played 3.5 years and has an over 500 point and 200 assist cushion as our all-time leader.
Quote from: valpotx on January 31, 2012, 01:04:58 PM
I definitely would have been at a Valpo/ORU matchup as well.
To be fair in regards to the Xavier/ORU game STL, I believe they were missing 4-5 of their main players due to those violations. I would say that is a REALLY good reason to get creamed in D-1 basketball. Can you imagine our back-ups playing a whole game against a solid team's starters?
It's a reason. REALLY good? I can't agree, not with much higher profile program, presumably better recruiting, etc. Another way to look at it is that their wounds were self-inflicted.
I can see rationalizing the loss -- obviously they were not at full strength and ORU is underrated at the very least. But a home loss by 20+? Maybe at the Mabee Center, but not at Xintas.
I merged the BracketBusters talk from the RLH thread into this one. Want to keep that thread on topic.
Carry on.
Quote from: valpo04 on January 31, 2012, 05:16:19 PM
I merged the BracketBusters talk from the RLH thread into this one. Want to keep that thread on topic.
Carry on.
Good for you. I regretted the threadjacking as soon as I realized it (just after I posted it).
Westhead, currently struggling with the same "run and gun" offense as head coach of the University of Oregon women.
Quote from: vusupporter on January 30, 2012, 08:46:18 PMA non-stop flight to LA takes 4 hours 15 minutes. If I recall correctly, the bus trip to Green Bay last year was during a heavy snowstorm and it took the team about 7 hours to get there, not to mention the 5+ hour trip back late, late Monday night following a rough loss. Plus the fact we play Friday night gives us an extra day to recover prior to our Loyola game.
If we're just comparing travel, I'd take the bus trips.
To your 4h15 flight time add 1-2 hours from Valpo to the airport, 1-2 hours for check-in and security, at least half an hour local transportation in LA, etc.
Hopefully they enjoy the trip, and the weather. But, I don't think it's so much easier.
If there are extra travel _days_ this year, then this schedule could definitely be better.
Gotta figure one day each way for travel. This is not going to be good for the conference chase.
lowposter
They have a few days in-between games to prepare as well as recover. Again, we cannot use travel as an excuse if we lose this game. As an athlete, it is your responsibility to keep your mind and body prepared to do these types of things...