Pre-game interview with Evansville's acting head coach:
https://www.courierpress.com/videos/sports/college/evansville/2020/01/03/bennie-seltzer-news-conference-before-valparaiso-game/2804297001/
The spread: Evansville -1.5
https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/valparaiso-evansville-odds-january-4-2020-1195347
Setting the Scene (From Evansville website)
- Looking to build on its 5-1 home record, the Purple Aces take on a Crusader team that it has enjoyed great home success against
- Evansville is 41-5 in home games against Valpo and has not lost to the Crusaders in Evansville since Feb. 1, 1969
- Last year, the Aces swept the season series including a 64-53 win at the Ford Center
===================================================================
(NationalRank of Player/# of qualifying players eligible for National Rank)
Evansville:
The Beast: DeAndre Williams 6-9 So.
Offensive Rating(Dean Oliver's Rating) (18/2224)
Effective FG% (2/1248)
True Shooting% (1/1248)
Offensive Rebound% (420/2224)
Defensive Rebound% (68/2224)
Assist Rate (105/2224)
Fouls Drawn Per 40 minutes (300/2224)
Free Throw Percent (250/1248)
2-Point Percent (4/2224)
Stop the Beast!
A must win? Perhaps not but a critical game nonetheless for the confidence of our team. The bad news is that we haven't won there since 1969. Now is the time!
I have a bad feeling now about this game. Both teams need the confidence building win and Valpo has pretty much been screwed by the refs in Evansville. I think it will be a close one with the refs making a blown call in the last minute to give the Aces the game.
Valpo 71
Evansville 74
Need to play better on the road these two games, especially after the home loss. Need to keep Evansville off the FT line.
Valpo 78
E'Ville 72
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mileek goes 3/4 from deep and Valpo rolls 🤪
Quote from: wh on January 04, 2020, 10:12:53 AM
Pre-game interview with Evansville's acting head coach:
https://www.courierpress.com/videos/sports/college/evansville/2020/01/03/bennie-seltzer-news-conference-before-valparaiso-game/2804297001/
No surprise that his game plan is to focus on stopping Javon and he mentions Donavon.
Every team knows what to do to gain an advantage against us. Javon's numbers are going to go down in conference play. The question is will the coach have a plan to counter what he knows every team will do to stop Javon.
Repeatedly coming back from slow starts and deep holes against all levels of competition, both home and on the road, requires talent, depth and a disciplined never-give-in attitude. Conversely, constantly digging deep holes speaks to a lack of focus or the wrong player combinations at key times in the game. It's easy to imagine that we would have a completely different record, if not for this 1 deficiency. Once again, today's outcome probably will hinge on "holes dug." Big hole = close loss. No big hole = 5-10 point win.
BTW it's the coaching staff's responsibility to put winning player combinations on the court. I continue to believe that Matt is playing John Kiser too much at the start of each half. He does not have starter scoring capability, and he is overmatched at the 4. Also, immediately bench Mileek if he shoots a 3 early in the clock.
Quote from: wh on January 04, 2020, 01:34:22 PMRepeatedly coming back from slow starts and deep holes against all levels of competition, both home and on the road, requires talent, depth and a disciplined never-give-in attitude. Conversely, constantly digging deep holes speaks to a lack of focus or the wrong player combinations at key times in the game. It's easy to imagine that we would have a completely different record, if not for this 1 deficiency. Once again, today's outcome probably will hinge on "holes dug." Big hole = close loss. No big hole = 5-10 point win. BTW it's the coaching staff's responsibility to put winning player combinations on the court. I continue to believe that Matt is playing John Kiser too much at the start of each half. He does not have starter scoring capability, and he is overmatched at the 4. Also, immediately bench Mileek if he shoots a 3 early in the clock.
That pretty much sums up the whole story of the game.
Like your analysis, "wh". Without a doubt we need more offensive threats on the floor. Any word out yet on when Ryan F will return? Tonight would be a good time :) !
Valpo by 18.
Quote from: M on January 04, 2020, 12:57:22 PM
Mileek goes 3/4 from deep and Valpo rolls 🤪
:thumbsup: Great but that would only raise his 3 point average to 26.4%. :'(
Quote from: valpo64 on January 04, 2020, 02:21:33 PM
Like your analysis, "wh". Without a doubt we need more offensive threats on the floor. Any word out yet on when Ryan F will return? Tonight would be a good time :) !
With the left wrist injury as his limiting factor, I would guess he could immediately see major minutes upon his eventual return. Thoughts?
No clue on this one , 10+ point game either way. Hopefully javon/coaching staff figure out the inevitable traps /doubles.
Valpo-72
Purple 2s- 60
The cool thing about road games is I can drink before the game and not worry about driving to the ARC. I find I have much less stress about the game this way.
Good start for crusaders
Shoot. Thought this game started at 7pm CST. Missed Todd's pregame.
Any highlights?
Quote from: valpo64 on January 04, 2020, 02:21:33 PM
Like your analysis, "wh". Without a doubt we need more offensive threats on the floor. Any word out yet on when Ryan F will return? Tonight would be a good time :) !
I'm sure whatever his timetable is, he's progressing nicely.
2 McMillan fouls in about 3 1/2 minutes. Not good!
18 of our 36 points coming from the bench, including 8 pts. ea. from Ben and Eron. Eville with 2 points off the bench. If we have a strong 2nd half start, we've got a good chance to prevail. If Javon gets hot, we could win this going away.
EVille play by play guy is really good. But The color guy is neck and neck with Booger McFarlane for worst color guy I've listened too tonight.
Mileek needs to not be starting anymore.
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on January 04, 2020, 07:09:39 PM
Mileek needs to not be starting anymore.
He's hit 2 3's, but his interior defense is atrocious.
55.6% 3Pt% thus far as a team.
51.4 2pt%
We need to quit settling for jump shots and get back on defense.
If we lose , I'll get lottich fired myself 😂🤣😆
Sackey can't help but turn the ball over when he's going full speed. Dude needs to slow down.
Looks like they sell beer at Evansville games..
So tired of both early and late game mental breakdowns on both ends of the court. I honestly don't know if I have the patience for yet another long drawn out slog to Thursday night in St Louis.
I didn't know we haven't won at Evansville since the 60s. That's embarrassing.
Evansville only has three scorers. Lottich can't figure anything out again like normal.
Absolutely bone-headed passes down the stretch here. Sackey did the same thing again, where he underestimated someone's height/jump, on a very easy pass, and then lazy passes. Nothing irks me more than a lack of fundamentals, except that the refs are trying to gift this game to Evansville. Several ticky-tack fouls to get the Aces to the line, and don't get the same on our end.
Well, I was pleased that we played a good first half, but looks like we just deferred our 5-7min stretch of awful play to the second half instead.
I'm not sure if that's progress or not.
I sure wish we could see some fire out of Lottich right now, whether towards the refs or his own guys.
Idk how folks can keep supporting this debacle. Evansville has transfers who are playing in their first year, too. And, they have an interim head coach. As others have said, Kiser does NOT need to start or get this much PT. Mileek does NOT need to start. His PT will take care of itself whether he's making his shots and/or staying out of foul trouble. Need more pure basketball players. Kiser and Mileek are not and it's not their fault. Krikke is a pure player. As is Eron. No wonder we have waaay more bench points. Because they're better than 2 of the starters ....
Quote from: PlumStreetBum on January 04, 2020, 07:43:10 PMWell, I was pleased that we played a good first half, but looks like we just deferred our 5-7min stretch of awful play to the second half instead. I'm not sure if that's progress or not. I sure wish we could see some fire out of Lottich right now, whether towards the refs or his own guys.
We'd better see some fire out of Lottich or we'd better see some fire out of the administration at season's end. So tired... So so so tired...
Support this debacle? There are only A couple Lottich lovers left. Good ol WH and MLB.
We going to to win this though. Just lucky we are more talented.
Well. I guess it's nice to see JFL take the last shot. We better come out on fire in OT...
This really is amazing. 15 games in and I still don't know if this team is good or not.
Are we ever going to NOT get outrebounded? It's embarrassing to see this happen EVERY GAME. But who cares? WE'RE GOING TO WIN A ROAD MVC GAME!!!!
:o :thumbsup: :thewave: :dance: :dance: :dance: :clap: :clap: :clap: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
I am still on the Lottich train. I don't view him any different than Bryce as a HC. Great recruiters, but need work on the x and o's.
Notice what happens when you let the pure basketball players .... play.
Lots of frustration along the way, but a win's a win!!!! Never say die!
Vu owes me a six pack after this game. Maybe a couple.
Quote from: GoldenCrusader87 on January 04, 2020, 08:07:40 PM
Notice what happens when you let the pure basketball players .... play.
Amen to this!
To put Bryce and Matt in the same category is laughable. Sorry. And I don't think he'd disagree with you on that. He's not there *yet* at least...
THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A TEAM TO LEARN TO NEVER GIVE UP! ...I'll admit...I did. :-[ (still kept watching though).
Good to get a road win. Especially at Evansville.
Heady play by Robinson to miss the free throw on purpose. Broke a long and horrible streak in Evansville. Thank goodness. Hopefully this is the start of an uphill climb that builds our confidence in Lottich.
Weird...I said it, and I am not laughing. I remember tons of posters saying very similar things about Bryce and his clutch time coaching. I also remember that I was one of the biggest complainers about how Bryce utilizes timeouts throughout a game. You could even say that Scott Drew is a HC of the same cloth, in that they can all recruit, but x's and o's aren't their strongest traits.
What a win and this time Matt was the better coach. As for Mileek, I suggest he read this board more often! Great play against one of the best in the Valley. With out his effort we lose.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 04, 2020, 07:52:33 PM
Support this debacle? There are only A couple Lottich lovers left. Good ol WH and MLB.
Time to get happy, Mick.
I was sure I was going to post that we were just good enough to lose close....again. Happy to post that we were just good enough to finally win a close one. Also nice to finally overcome the free throw disparity and win one in Evansville, first since my freshman year. 👏
Great effort to win, finally! First win in about 50 years at Evansville? Amazing! Lots of credit to the team and coaching staff for coming back and staying composed after that lull with about 5 minutes to go in regulation. I think this game will be a good learning experience for a young team. Now lets get after SIU on Tuesday!
I hate to do this but how much do you think we lose by if the McCarty scandal hadn't taken him off the sidelines for Evansville?
Very very few people in the college basketball weird would put Lottich and Bryce in same category. I guess Tex is one.
I will give credit where credit is due. Congrats to Lottich for winning in Evansville (without their coach) nonetheless it's something crusaders haven't done in many many attempts. So congrats to Lottich.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on January 04, 2020, 08:23:01 PM
I hate to do this but how much do you think we lose by if the McCarty scandal hadn't taken him off the sidelines for Evansville?
Zero. Dude, we shot 46% from the 3!
We would win by 15! :)
Two ways to view this win: (1) stealing this one in Evansville balances the game stolen by Loyola at Valpo for 1-1, or (2) Valpo should be 2-0 and in first place. Either way, what a difference when hitting shots: 12 3-pointers made, and a real key to the win, 11-11 at the free throw line until Robinson's intentional miss at the end. One of those free throws missed and Valpo doesn't win the game.
I know it's only a difference of a game but starting 1-1 is so much better than 0-2
One note on the referees....
KJ Riley doesn't hit a single shot but scores 12 points from the free throw line. Refs shouldn't let a guy play them like that for an entire game. He deserved maybe 4 because a lot of those were 1and1's after we were over 7 fouls.
That said... I WISH WE HAD A GUY who could draw minuscule contact and sell it to get to the line. Nice job KJ, can't fault you for getting away with it.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 04, 2020, 08:28:04 PMI know it's only a difference of a game but starting 1-1 is so much better than 0-2
It is critical for a team that starts 0-1 to bounce back and get to 1-1 from a psychological and from a general competitiveness standpoint. This was a game we had to have. The upcoming game against SIU is another. It's a game we should win.
Regardless of how it happens, you can never be disappointed with a conference road victory.
Great win in the River City first win in 51 years I must be getting old ;D
Great moment: Mileek comes down the floor and stops--Williams runs into him and bounces off to the floor. Don't mess with Mileek!
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 04, 2020, 08:27:10 PM
Very very few people in the college basketball weird would put Lottich and Bryce in same category. I guess Tex is one.
I will give credit where credit is due. Congrats to Lottich for winning in Evansville (without their coach) nonetheless it's something crusaders haven't done in many many attempts. So congrats to Lottich.
You guys are not getting what I am saying. I am not saying that Lottich is currently at the same level as what Bryce achieved, or that he is about to rattle off several conference titles. All I am saying is that both of them are better recruiters, versus in-game coaches. Scott Drew is exactly the same, but gets super athletes to come to Baylor. In that vein, they are the same TYPE of coach.
Quote from: VUfan on January 04, 2020, 08:42:21 PM
Great win in the River City first win in 51 years I must be getting old ;D
They got trouble in River City when they play Valpo.
Seven of fifteen games decided by four or less points :o :o :o a good sign of a competitive team. :clap: :clap: :clap:
So now we are in an eight way tie for second place in the Valley.
If my memory is still working one of Valpo's greatest coaches, Clean Gene Bartow won the game in Evansville back in 1969 :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
The record versus Evansville is slightly discorded as we haven't played them in many years until we joined the Valley and most of those wins were in the ICC when they won five National championships. Can you say Jerry Sloan and Larry Humes??
Mileek 3/4 from 3 and we won....sounds familiar. I only saw box scores but any win on the road is a good win in my book.
Remembering the tragic loss that the Purple Aces encountered when their plane crashed in Dec 1977. The entire team and coaches died in that tragedy. RIP
Quote from: M on January 04, 2020, 09:44:01 PMMileek 3/4 from 3 and we won....sounds familiar.
Great prediction but that still only gets him to 26.4%. :'(.
:o 5 fouls in only 12 minutes! Is that his new record?
Nah, he's had to have fouled out quicker then that....as for the percentage it can't go up if he stops shooting. Let it fly! Be a threat, bring their bigs out of the paint so our guys can attack (this really isn't that complicated). Keep shooting and keep hitting big fella!
He's only a threat and he only draws the opposing big out of the paint if he hits consistently which he hasn't done all season except for today. If it's a good shot in the flow of the offense sure take it but I don't want to see him forcing it until he proves more consistency.
Quote from: M on January 04, 2020, 10:17:58 PM
Nah, he's had to have fouled out quicker then that....as for the percentage it can't go up if he stops shooting. Let it fly! Be a threat, bring their bigs out of the paint so our guys can attack (this really isn't that complicated). Keep shooting and keep hitting big fella!
As a stretch 5 Mileek needs to defend and hit some 3's. Going 3 of 4 will keep him closely covered at Carbondale but is there somebody in this league that he can defensively contain without fouling out?
It's great that Mileek hit some 3's, and his points were much needed. That said, his defensive play was awful. He gave up several baskets, his man drove on him at will, and his constant fouling puts the opposition in the bonus much sooner than they otherwise would be. He still hasn't learned to overplay his man on his strong side, thus he has no ability to stop dribble penetration. IMO Ben played a much better all-around game with 10 points in 17 minutes and much better position defense (albeit he got schooled at times too).
Quote from: Valpo Joe on January 04, 2020, 09:58:55 PM
Remembering the tragic loss that the Purple Aces encountered when their plane crashed in Dec 1977. The entire team and coaches died in that tragedy. RIP
I was a VU freshman that year and serving on the student senate. That evening, we were in a meeting when one of the VU vice presidents interrupted to share news that the VU basketball team may have been in a plane crash. Thank goodness it turned out not to be so, but our relief meant that others were grieving.
https://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/inside-vu-sports/valparaiso-s-connection-to-evansville-tragedy/article_d3513b52-522f-11e3-b622-0019bb2963f4.html
Quote from: David81 on January 04, 2020, 11:34:52 PM
Quote from: Valpo Joe on January 04, 2020, 09:58:55 PM
Remembering the tragic loss that the Purple Aces encountered when their plane crashed in Dec 1977. The entire team and coaches died in that tragedy. RIP
I was a VU freshman that year and serving on the student senate. That evening, we were in a meeting when one of the VU vice presidents interrupted to share news that the VU basketball team may have been in a plane crash. Thank goodness it turned out not to be so, but our relief meant that others were grieving.
I work with a guy who was a freshman in 1977 at Evansville. It took me about a year after getting to know him to tell him that Valpo also had a scare that night and how I was in high school at the time. He later overheard me telling the story to another colleague and he said there is no way that could have been easy and I said "at least our team played out the rest of that season and lived out their lives." If any of you get down to Evansville and are driving down US41 by the Evansville Airport and look to the hills opposite the airport (I was told some have been leveled out for subdivisions since that time) and think of a real foggy night when you can't really see anything. Taking off in a doomed airplane because someone forgot to remove the aileron control locks. Going down for the last time ever.
Here is intersection of US41 & St George Rd in Evansville just south of the airport. You can see some of the hills to the south and east of the airport.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0279892,-87.5385889,3a,75y,43.43h,96.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swfEVd0UniubcECT7yeugGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
The west side of Evansville Airport looking east. Runways in front of pic.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0426405,-87.5368728,3a,75y,90h,96.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spd0Wm3u72DBjHgTSL2Xg9g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
NTSB Final Report on Air Indiana Flight 216 from Evansville to Nashville.
https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1977/19771213-0_DC3_N51071.pdf
Actual sight of the crash. Housing has been built around the sight since 1977. Twickingham Dr., O'Hara Dr. & Ward Rd. were the only drivable roads there at the time. Ossenburg Ln. was built since 1977.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B002'11.0%22N+87%C2%B031'08.7%22W/@38.036375,-87.5212587,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x0:0x0!2zMzjCsDAyJzAwLjAiTiA4N8KwMzEnMDAuMCJX!3b1!8m2!3d38.0333333!4d-87.5166667!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d38.0363755!4d-87.51907
Trees were struck near O'Hara & Twickingham
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0350181,-87.5231314,3a,75y,320.78h,105.65t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMnVWzs730RQOYfv3frMdTQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DMnVWzs730RQOYfv3frMdTQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D254.01897%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
Ward Rd. no longer goes all the way to the railroad tracks. The crash sight is just beyond the trees.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0353288,-87.5190875,3a,75y,2.89h,80.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYTFjD43m3h9VWf7EF-MUuQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DYTFjD43m3h9VWf7EF-MUuQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D76.99349%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
The Evansville Courier from December 14, 1977
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Evansville-Courier-Dec-14-1977-UE-Basketball-Team-Dies-In-Plane-Crash-Newspaper/273093469800?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Dea26676d732341aaa315d24768c7dc40%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D113735126696%26itm%3D273093469800%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
You can't read the stories but you can see the pics. Scroll down and click on the Evansville paper.
You might notice a story about SIU filling in for Evansville in a tournament.
Quote from: bbtds on January 04, 2020, 11:10:18 AM
I have a bad feeling now about this game. Both teams need the confidence building win and Valpo has pretty much been screwed by the refs in Evansville. I think it will be a close one with the refs making a blown call in the last minute to give the Aces the game.
Valpo 71
Evansville 74
Refs must be seeing us a fairly legit and more regular MVC team. We got some calls at the end of that game. O.T. on the road against a team battling outside distractions is a fair result too. Every game in the MVC seems to be close.
Quote from: justducky on January 04, 2020, 10:10:50 PM
Quote from: M on January 04, 2020, 09:44:01 PMMileek 3/4 from 3 and we won....sounds familiar.
Great prediction but that still only gets him to 26.4%. :'(.
:o 5 fouls in only 12 minutes! Is that his new record?
Did you watch the game? He was guarding a guy who could be the conference player of the year. How about a different spin: 9 points in only 12 minutes! Is that a new record?
Quote from: vu72 on January 05, 2020, 09:51:41 AM
Quote from: justducky on January 04, 2020, 10:10:50 PM
Quote from: M on January 04, 2020, 09:44:01 PMMileek 3/4 from 3 and we won....sounds familiar.
Great prediction but that still only gets him to 26.4%. :'(.
:o 5 fouls in only 12 minutes! Is that his new record?
Did you watch the game? He was guarding a guy who could be the conference player of the year. How about a different spin: 9 points in only 12 minutes! Is that a new record?
30+ game season so consistency is all that matters out of Mileek. I'm counting the days until coach "consistently" starts a freshman Krikke over inconsistent Mileek.
I had the end of the Texans-Bills game on my TV, the video of the VU game on my laptop and Todd on my phone for the audio.
So, I didn't pay 100 percent attention particularly in the first half.
It was a gritty, much-needed comeback victory in a place that is notorious for favoring the home team (see the free throw disparity).
However, remember folks - it is JUST EVANSVILLE. Sure, I know they beat Kentucky, but come on.
I won't be sold on this team until a legitimate win streak is put together and each game isn't a struggle.
Quote from: Valpo89 on January 05, 2020, 10:16:34 AM
I had the end of the Texans-Bills game on my TV, the video of the VU game on my laptop and Todd on my phone for the audio.
So, I didn't pay 100 percent attention particularly in the first half.
It was a gritty, much-needed comeback victory in a place that is notorious for favoring the home team (see the free throw disparity).
However, remember folks - it is JUST EVANSVILLE. Sure, I know they beat Kentucky, but come on.
I won't be sold on this team until a legitimate win streak is put together and each game isn't a struggle.
If anything characterizes the MVC it's that each game will be a struggle (for every team) and, while it was just Evansville, I'll say that few teams have represented kryptonite so thoroughly in my mind as they, especially on the road. As for being sold on the team? Well, if we wait until they already proven themselves, we won't be saying much, so I'll say that I'm at least sold on their potential. The key element for me is the improvement from Clay and Krikke, which will continue to put pressure on McMillan and Kiser to up their game or force Lottich to shake the lineup a bit more.
I realize Kiser has his role when he's in the game but he played 20 mins and took 2 shots, had one steal, one turnover and a PF. That's hard to do.
Quote from: JD24 on January 05, 2020, 12:57:10 PM
I realize Kiser has his role when he's in the game but he played 20 mins and took 2 shots, had one steal, one turnover and a PF. That's hard to do.
Probably by design he would have been our last option on offense. I didn't watch the replay yet but his defense looked acceptable (without major error).
Many of the Sackey turnovers come when he is out front leading the fast break. His judgements and execution on passing opportunities is shockingly :o bad. He almost never pulls up or pulls the ball out resulting in a 50% assist, 50% turnover rate. He has to fix this part of his game!
Kiser: 20 minutes, no points, no rebounds.....that is what we call no contribution on offense!! At least he didn't start. We are waiting for you, Ryan Fazekas. Although Ryan has only played 20 minutes of so in that first game, I can't wait to see how he will eventually fit in to our offense and open up the floor. His play could and should make J V-L even better and improve our inside/outside game(including perhaps Maleek?)
Quote from: valpo64 on January 05, 2020, 04:11:23 PMWe are waiting for you, Ryan Fazekas. Although Ryan has only played 20 minutes of so in that first game, I can't wait to see how he will eventually fit in to our offense and open up the floor. His play could and should make J V-L even better and improve our inside/outside game(including perhaps Maleek?)
Clay, Gordon, Robinson, Kiser and Fazekas all fit under the broad classification of shooting guard or small forward. Upon Ryan returning I'd expect expanded minutes of what could be called a 5 guard offense. McMillan and Krikke will need to step up their games to maintain their minutes at the 5 and Sackey could easily see his role shrinking at the point. Our offensive strategy already looks to be changing and Ryan returning could speed this along. The process should be fun to watch! :thumbsup:
Ryan seems like a good kid, and I always love the region players coming home. But let's be honest. The odds of him remaining healthy for the rest of the season are not very good. Even Derrick Rose thinks he's injury prone.
Quote from: valpo64 on January 05, 2020, 04:11:23 PM
Kiser: 20 minutes, no points, no rebounds.....that is what we call no contribution on offense!! At least he didn't start. We are waiting for you, Ryan Fazekas. Although Ryan has only played 20 minutes of so in that first game, I can't wait to see how he will eventually fit in to our offense and open up the floor. His play could and should make J V-L even better and improve our inside/outside game(including perhaps Maleek?)
It will be like waiting to open presents on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. You wait till the day happens & then it's all over.
Quote from: NativeCheesehead on January 05, 2020, 05:17:00 PMRyan seems like a good kid, and I always love the region players coming home. But let's be honest. The odds of him remaining healthy for the rest of the season are not very good.
Quote from: bbtds on January 05, 2020, 08:44:22 PMIt will be like waiting to open presents on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. You wait till the day happens & then it's all over.
Too much negative thinking around here! If some of you choose to focus your attentions on the inevitability of Javon transferring and Ryan finishing his career on a stretcher then have at it. Most on this board have optimistically planned and executed our lives while rolling with the punches and taking advantage of the brakes we get. With that in mind if Fazekas can give us a stellar Feb-March then I am happy as a lark. Its not like we need to peak before St. Louis. :)
Amen!, justducky. And the beat goes on.
Quote from: justducky on January 06, 2020, 09:13:55 AMWith that in mind if Fazekas can give us a stellar Feb-March then I am happy as a lark. Its not like we need to peak before St. Louis.
That's the thing. Ryan has never really had a stretch of maybe 8-10 games in his whole college career when he stayed healthy. There is just no history of his being able to withstand the rigors of the physicality of Div I college basketball. Sad for Ryan but very true. If he comes through that will be a pleasant surprise but I'm not falling for it. We have had too much hope in players not having good a good history coming through.