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[Unless Witt isn't on the '11-'12 roster, his scholarship will be available for a 2012 recruit. Hard to make that call until we see how Bryce fixes the scholarship situation for this year.]

This recruiting stuff is facinating.  We have a full roster for next year and really no one on that roster who could be considered "just a bench warmer", particualrly if Vuc makes strides to begin getting regular minutes.  I can't remember team with all the scholarship players having as much talent, at least on apaper.

So what do we do?  We offer a 2012 kid a scholarship.  What if he accepts?

Unless Witt isn't on the '11-'12 roster, his scholarship will be available for a 2012 recruit.  Hard to make that call until we see how Bryce fixes the scholarship situation for this year.

If I'm not mistaken, that scholarship is taken by Bobby Capobianco.

Won't both Witt and Capobianco be on scholarship this year?

This recruiting stuff is facinating.  We have a full roster for next year and really no one on that roster who could be considered "just a bench warmer", particualrly if Vuc makes strides to begin getting regular minutes.  I can't remember team with all the scholarship players having as much talent, at least on apaper.

So what do we do?  We offer a 2012 kid a scholarship.  What if he accepts?

Unless Witt isn't on the '11-'12 roster, his scholarship will be available for a 2012 recruit.  Hard to make that call until we see how Bryce fixes the scholarship situation for this year.

Agree totally with wh and 72. 

As for the history question, you'd have to go back to '02-'03 to find a pair of teams with solid at-large resume`s.  Butler and UWM were #12 seeds, so in theory, they were both good enough for at-large bids.  The HL received two at-large bids in '97-'98, when UDM and UIC got in after Butler won the tourney.  Other than those two years, it hasn't happened nearly often enough.

Anyone have any updates on Fernandez?  Is he still on campus?  Will there be an official announcement?  Just curious.

Oops ... I don't like where this discussion is heading.  Just like extras in an old Western movie, I'm running for cover before the gunfight breaks out on the main street!   

Could have sworn I posted this brillance before, but, what the Butler faithful need is a fourth or fifth place finish in men's basketball to bring them back to reality.  This could be the year!   

So, is that your prediction?  Can I assume you have Valpo finishing better than fourth or fifth?

I'm on board with Stax.  I'm always optimistic that the Horizon becomes a consistent multi-bid league, but that takes more than one team to put together an at-large resume.  That starts with scheduling, but more importantly, requires that teams who are talented (like Valpo and Milwaukee last year) play with focus and effort in each and every game of the season.  The margin for error is razor thin for all non-BCS teams ... you can't afford to let early season games slip away.

IMO, the biggest obstacle the Horizon is facing is that too many (usually 9) teams/fan bases start the season with the mindset that pre-conference/conference games don't matter that much, because they have to win the league tourney to get to the NCAAT anyway.  Until multiple teams harbor and work toward NCAAT at-large aspirations, the Horizon will remain exactly what it is.

But like I said, I'm an optimist, so maybe this will be the year we see two (or three or four!) teams in the dance.    

Not to hyjack the thread but I enjoyed the Matt Howard interview, and, if you go back a little further, (7/1) you'll find an interview with Bryce.  I don't think it has been posted here before and it talks alittle about next year's schedule.  Lots of mid-majors.

http://www.1070thefan.com/podcast/Episodes.aspx?PID=2155

FWIW, I think Dan has done a great job with his radio show and ESPN game analysis.  I think his show was on 89.1FM in the region ... is it still there?  He's always talking up the region and promoting the local eating spots to anyone travelling to NW Indiana.

In case you haven't seen it, Howard has signed to play in Greece and Van Zant to play in Finland.  I wonder if Howard would have waited for the NBA if it weren't for the lock out.  I think more and more guys will be following their example soon.

Great question about the impact of the lockout on Matt's decision making process.  Here's a local radio interview where he talks about all the things to consider.  http://www.1070thefan.com/podcast/Episodes.aspx?PID=2155 (You have to page through the podcasts to find Matt's interview from 7/5/11).

We all have our own ideas of how it will play out....it will be interesting to see if any of us have even an ounce of knowledge....my guess is probably not......

Very true ... I've got no idea how this season will play out.

My rule of thumb for the Horizon is that it's very rare for teams to make huge leaps (good or bad) from year to year ... it's usually a gradual process.  Starting with the previous season's standings and moving teams up or down a spot or two normally gets you close.

In any case, I see the league race as wide open this year ... can't wait to get things started!

I'm feeling like maybe I put GB to low.  Haha, we shall see.  With YSU, they can't get much worse then they were last year.  With them I kind of felt like they need to show something before they could get much respect.  The only reason they took Valpo into OT at home was Valpo's awful free throw shooting that game (below 50% if I remember right).

I think GB is still a year away, but I like what Wardell is doing and Alec Brown is very good.

I also think Milwaukee will be better than the 5/6 predicted by SectionEE and friends.  They lose Hill and Boyle, but return 6 of their top 8 rotation.  They plug in a proven commodity in James Haarsma (Cory Johnson type player) and add Paris Gulley, a big-time scorer in the JUCO ranks (along with some very talented freshmen).  Not sure how they'll gel, but they certainly have enough talent and depth to compete with anyone in the HL.

I know nothing about this website, but it looks like a pretty objective analysis.  http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/691

With Valpo at #5 in the Horizon, I would guess that UDM, UWM, Butler and CSU will be the other 4 teams (not necessarily in that order).

I've been able to connect the dots a bit.  Griffyn's dad, Jack, did play for Bethel under Homer.  He was also a very good golfer (we were the same age, so I played against him in HS).

A quick visit to IHSAA.org would seem to indicate that Griffyn and his younger brother Quentyn are both very good golfers.  It's not impossible to do the golf/basketball combination in college, but the fall golf season really interferes with pre-season workouts.  Best of luck to Griffyn and congrats to his family!

Per his twitter, Triton HS shooting guard is heading to Valpo.

"Playing at Valpo, I was under the radar a little bit," he said, "but my experience there was great. They put me in a position to take advantage of this opportunity that has been placed before me. I take my hat off to them. They get all the credit I can give up. They helped me get better and grow, both as a man and spiritually."
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-king_wood_another_shot_michigan_state_071311

Getting all that credit must make you guys very proud.  Brandon also joins a rare group of college athletes to play for four different schools, a feat also accomplished by JUCO teammate Lamar Lee.  I'll give Lamar the nod because he was able to accomplish that in only 4 years.  Certainly a discussion starter on your resume`.

Brandon's resume will say:
B.A in Sports Marketing/Business from Valparaiso University
M.S in Advertising from Michigan State University
Professional basketball player

and

Great kid

yours?

My comment was out of line and out of character.  Please accept my apologies.  You are justified in being proud of his accomplishments.  

I've removed my original comments ... if I could remove everyone quoting it, I would.

Here are some photos from his time at IU.  http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/12992-bobby-capobianco-leaving-iu-men-s-basketball-program

Too bad he has to sit a year ... he could really help.  On the bright side, he may be even better after sitting a year.

When did Nebraska-Omaha join the Summit League?

Interesting website

Don't feel bad ... I've got a kid who plays in the Summit and I can't keep track!  I think Nebraska-Omaha joins in 2012.  University of South Dakota joins this year.  With Centenary gone and Southern Utah on the way out, the Summit is managing to compress their footprint while keeping the numbers up.   

One other consequence of taking transfers is that you can end up with a bunch of kids in the same class.  I may be wrong, but it currently looks like the '12-'13 roster for Valpo will include 7 seniors (Buggs, Kenney, Broekhoff, Van Wijk, Bogan, Boggs, Edwards) and two guys in their 4th year who may possibly have another year of eligibility (Vucic and Kurth). 

On the surface, that may seem like a bad thing for the '13-'14 season.  However, Butler faced a similar situation after the '07-'08 year, but followed it up with the recruiting class of Hayward, Mack, Nored, Stigall and Butcher (I know he isn't Cory Johnson, but he has nicer rings.  ). 

With Davidson as the cornerstone of the '13 class, Valpo is positioned to use the promise of immediate playing time to build a nice incoming class for the '13-'14 season. 

To me, it looks like Bryce is on the right track.

Interesting discussion, but not sure why Garrett Butcher needs to be brought into it?  Butch has done everything that's been asked of him and he's continued to contribute despite surgeries on both knees and ongoing arthritis that make it impossible for him to practice on a regular basis (and that may take is senior year from him).

This is really a question of how Valpo should be recruiting, isn't it?  If so, the real question needs to be "Cory Johnson or Hrvoje  Vucic", "Cory Johnson or Cameron Witt" or "Brandon Wood or Tommy Kurth".  I think Valpo hit paydirt with Johnson and Wood, and continuing to take transfers seems to make some sense.

There's nothing wrong with taking transfers.  Butler's success in the early/mid eighties was built on successful transfers (Brandon Miller, Mike Monserez, Mike Green, Pete Campbell, Julian Betko) who were key parts of Sweet 16 teams.  Most non-BCS teams who have had NCAAT success (George Mason/VCU) have had key players who were BCS transfers.  What Valpo is doing is very similar and it allows them access to kids who didn't consider Valpo as an option out of high school.

IMO, it's a strategy that's tough to maintain in the long term.  However, using it to elevate your program to the level where you can be more competitive in recruiting high school players isn't a bad idea at all.

Did the story say he is on scholarship for 3 years, when he only has 2 years of eligibility to play?  How many guys on the team are on scholarship now?  

I count 8 scholarship guys returning plus 5 new guys (Boggs, Edwards, Jakolis, Bogan and Capobianco).  That's the max, so some other move will be needed if Fernandez is added.

As stated before, while Matt Howard was not offered at Purdue, he was next in line had Scott Martin not accepted.  Purdue with Matt Howard would have been very good.   But, let's make no mistake about it, Butler was the PERFECT fit for Matt - two final fours, POY, Academic All American (probably wouldnt have gotten it at Purdue).

Not a big deal, but Purdue's last scholarship was offered to Howard and Martin ... Martin was the first to accept, so it was his.  I'd be interested why you think Howard wouldn't have been an Academic All American at Purdue.

Not sure if he meant not being the POY but if he meant not being an Acadmic All american, I'd wonder why also. Butler academics would measure up just fine against anyones.

Good point, 72.  It appears he was referring to accomplishing all of those things.

I would say that the HL first and second teamers MIGHT be able to contribute to a Big Ten team, depending on the year, position and team.

This might be an oversimplification on my part, but given that Butler was 9-2 vs. Big Ten teams over the last five seasons (including wins over co-champs OSU and MSU in '10), I tend to believe they have a few guys capable of playing at that level.  

During that period Butler is 23-11 against BCS teams.  I just don't see the huge gap in talent you guys do.

As stated before, while Matt Howard was not offered at Purdue, he was next in line had Scott Martin not accepted.  Purdue with Matt Howard would have been very good.   But, let's make no mistake about it, Butler was the PERFECT fit for Matt - two final fours, POY, Academic All American (probably wouldnt have gotten it at Purdue).

Not a big deal, but Purdue's last scholarship was offered to Howard and Martin ... Martin was the first to accept, so it was his.  I'd be interested why you think Howard wouldn't have been an Academic All American at Purdue.

if I ever get to Hinkle, I will let Zville buy me a beer! 

Deal.  I might even buy you two!

Fair enough, vu72.  And I only "call you out" to keep you on your toes ... nothing mean spirited intended from my end.   

Next year will be a tough one to call and it will be interesting to see how teams rebuild.