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This is so STUPID !!!!!

How about Spiro Dedes on the men's games?  Has he ever identified who a foul was on yet?  I was truly disappointed in his play by play, misidenfication of players and not letting us know who the foul was on....All this is basic Sports Announcing 101 stuff....not network

As good as he is, and he certainly is a good point guard, he's not what we need at the moment.  I think we have anought guards...

Hunter tried like heck to turn his Mid-Con championship into a money maker at a bigger school, but it didn't work....Not sure this one is a step up, or the one he was looking for, but all the best to him.  He's fun to watch....

I agree with '72....it's the rhetoric that I disagree with....Is Butler presently better than VU, or anyone else in the league, certainly....but I question are they Head and Shoulders above us at this time.  Kansas was, Purdue probably....but I don't think Butler fits quite in that class.  If the question had been is Butler the "class" of the Horizon League, or is Butler better than anyone else in the Horizon League I would have voted yes....but as the question stands, I had to say no.

rlh - You're not sure why others are embarrassed? Really? You're smarter than that, I know you are. I'll buy you don't think they should be embarrassed, but having your alma mater look like you dressed the first 11 guys who were in the parking lot before the game doesn't exactly make someone beam with pride. They were a very bad team last year, and just as the fans were estatic and proud when Bryce and co. went to the Sweet 16 in basketball, they have every right to be embarrassed when scores like 198-2 come across the ticker on ESPN. Like it or not the most visable part of a university is the mens basketball and football team.

Let's hope the team shows improvement this year, and this discussion will be null and void.

Concerned...disappointed ....certainly...embarassed certainly not....sorry if you are, but I am not.  The kids that were there were giving it all that they have and to me that speaks volumes....

As I've said before I'm not embarassed, not sure why others are....and I believe Coach Carlson is on the right track.  Why so many left the team, including two of our "skill" people starters I don't know...but if they don't want to be here, it's probably for the best.

That's the story I heard too...so I don't doubt it was true.  As I understand it, Scott's parents wanted him to go to Notre Dame all along.  Not sure why he went to Purdue first, unless it was because of Robbie, although both have said it had nothing to do with the other going there

I am an admirer of the Bulldogs, and really enjoy how they do things.  It will be very interesting to see what happens after Howard (who is better than many of our fans want to give him credit for) leaves, especially if Mack leaves too.  I think that Howard gives them an intangible that not many teams have....can they continue that...who knows...only time will tell...but I am enjoying watching them play for now.....this does not mean I don't want VU to beat their heads in everytime we play them.

they are amazing when it counts....

On bigs, it is a weak argument to say we haven't developed bigs. Chris Ensminger was a rail thin freshman who became a double-double machine, Joachim Gomes was terribly raw when he started at Valpo and left a hugely improved and stronger power forward and is an Olympic player today. Bouchie had huge upside had he stayed. Grafs and Viscovic and Tony V all became power bigs. Kenny Harris was improving and getting stronger. Our big issues started with the unfortunate health issues of Kenny, Bouchie would have solved that but left early. You don't just find 6'8" power guys in abundance. And, we recruit bigs all the time. We have had decent 7 footers come in for visits, but they pick other schools. We had a nice power guy potential transfer look seriously at us, but he picked elsewhere a couple years ago. We also had the big last year who bolted (good bad or indifferent). Biefeldt would really be a good get, so there's another power guy who we are recruiting. But suddenly Beilein sees who we are recruiting and now Michigan is recruiting him plus the Illinois situation so blame that on our coaches too. And Vucic will be better next year.

Second, this team didn't quit. They hustled and played hard the end of the season just like the first 26 games. They were gassed mentally and physically and were a step slow. Not from effort but because the step wasn't there. (I'm surprised we haven't discussed whether the early trip ultimately was good or a detriment later in the season). Harris hit the freshman wall but actually looked like the freshest v Iona. Little also looked fresher and was beating people to the hole. This team relied on being quicker. When Kenney went down again after the 2d Butler game, minutes piled up on a thin guard group, and Kenney wasn't as aggressive when he came back. He looked healthier but still not quite there. It is disappointing because of what might have been, but saying this team quit or wasn't playing hard are weak arguments. Putting yourself in holes early in games was a huge problem. That also takes its toll. This team still scrambled back to within 8 at the end against Iona after being down 17. That's not quitting. We've gone from 8 wins to 23 in 2 years, yeah these guys can't play or coach. (For rlh and stl, sarcasm clearly intended).

I'm disappointed about the season, but those players and coaches are also disappointed much more than you can imagine and much more so than some of the more biting critics on here. And look, criticism and analysis is fine and a spirited debate is great, and there is some tough analysis that can be brought to some games. But bring facts, examples and data too. Maybe all the situations around the world have made the commentary on here and other teams' boards and media sites more acerbic. But you know what, Valpo also teaches us and Homer is really good at teaching this too that Basketball or your job is not the most important thing in life -- your relationship with Christ is. And whether you win or lose a game, a promotion, a job, Christ is there always and forever. And, we should be very proud of this group for on and off the court behavior. There's no issues in the locker room. This was a great "team" and family. This past week's events in Japan and the other crises around the world bring that home. Not to get all preachy (it is a Lutheran school first and foremost), there is a bigger picture and our STUDENT-athletes get it, our coaches get it. Read the article about Cory again, read quotes from Jake or talk to him. Sparks is another example or Tonagel or JHawk. Talk to former players. Listen to Arden's music.

Not sure what you meant by pointing out StL and I, but we have never been negative about this team.  We've even been accussed of being too positive.  I agree with just about everything you said and I'm sure StL does also.  I believe you will notice that I posted how much I loved this team and enjoyed watching them play.  Not sure what else is to be said.

Interestingly, Rob Jeter is noted as a coach of interest for the Bradley job.  Not sure how much a step up that would be for him

Apparently some think that recruiting is easy.  Just tell a big guy we want him, and he comes....remember there are a lot of colleges looking for these guys and they have their choice of schools.  Purdue is a perfect example of how you hope you're right even at a big school, and sometimes you miss.  Their three bigs behind Jujuan Johnson are still developing, but are certainly not there yet.  I promise you that Homer, Bryce, Luke, Chris, Jake and anyone else involved is looking bigs that can play.  The problem is getting them.  If they are already developed, our chance of getting them away from a larger schools isn't that good.

I heard Bryce talking after the game and he said that Brandon, Ryan and another player were all struggling with illness or injury and had not been able to practise much.   I know for a fact that Ryan was really unwell in the last two games of the season and so was going to struggle with energy and fitness for this one.   A disappointing end but I am still really proud of the team and also Cory and Ryan for playing out of position in the 4/5 and being up against bigger and stronger bodies as rlh pointed out.

Homer said that Ryan has lost 11 pounds in the last week.  I thought he looked a little emaciated, but didn't realize it was that bad...and Brandon has a back problem and just couldn't get loose.  I was hoping that with the time off all that would take care of itself, but apparently not.  Not sure how much difference it would have made tonight anyway.

Tonight showed what I have said several times....in the past several weeks, teams have figured out how to play us.  Go inside, we can't do much about it if you have good strong men inside, like tonight, or Anthony Hill or Brown from Green Bay, Polka from Loyola.  We have to get bigger to make the next step and hopefully we will.  If we aren't hitting our outside shots like tonight, we are always going to be in trouble until we get an inside game of some sort.  Kudos to Cory and Ryan for the battle they put up all year, but Kevin, Hrvjoe and Cam have to step up next year and give us an inside presence, or we need to get one from a recruit.  Whichever, it has to be done to move up.....i loved this team, and loved this season....now we need to use this as a springboard for more.

Can you add the useful links to the other Horizon League message boards and the media as was on the original board to the forum?

There's a big difference in being disappointed (which we all are) and being negative.  The person in question has yet to post anything in a positive way all season.  I am not happy we didn't win the league as we probably should have, but I also realize we had a tremendously exciting year and it's great that the team gets to keep playing. 

Just in case, in the past when John Bowker has been unable to do the PA for the men's games...my son has filled in 3 times, and I have filled in 4 times...our record......7-0....looking to make it 8, and if you count the PFL Championship football game several years ago, we already have reached 8.....and I will be doing the PA for the game Wednesday night.....I'm just sayin'

There's no making some people happy...I'm just happy that the team is being rewarded for such an outstanding season with a chance to keep playing...and for you that aren't aware, IONA is not a patsy basketball team.  They have a long standing tradition of being pretty good....Jim Valvano started his head coaching career there and took them to the tournament with Jeff Rowland....anyway, let's hope the Crusaders get to play a couple more games against these "bottom" teams...damn I can't figure some of you people out.....

Just for those of you who care...yes, we accepted last week, but only on the condition that we not get picked for the NIT.  If we had been chosen for that, we would not be playing in the CIT.  This is a great opportunity to keep playing, in a field of pretty good teams.  Not as good as the NCAA or the NIT maybe, but it's not the worst field ever either.  I for one, am very happy this team gets a chance to play some more....

Isn't it interesting, that so many of us do not like the double bye, and said so from day one....and yet in the Big 10 tournament they are talking about how the bye is hurting some of their teams.  Purdue and Wisconsin lost and Ohio State had to go overtime, and they all had the bye.  I guess it's all in how you look at it.....I still don't like the double bye and never will....but I found this interesting

Not sure what this means, except we are under consideration....but the sports network has been sent the rules and regulations for the NIT radio coverage.  At least we're in the mix....still don't think we'll make it because of what's happening in conference tournaments, but at least we're being considered.

Still don't think we're NIT bound, although I hope we are....but we will certainly be in a post season tournament....

Things have certainly changed since I started the voy.com board so many years ago