Men's Basketball to Face Preseason Favorites in Nationally-Televised Matchup
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2019-20/19636/mens-basketball-to-face-preseason-favorites-in-nationally-televised-matchup/
Need to extend this to a winning streak. If we play well, we can beat this team.
Valpo 72
Mizz St 65
This game is big for avoiding Thursday. One of those games we just have to have. I think we can do it but this Missouri State team is extremely talented. It will take a strong effort to secure this road win.
Great information as always to get us ready for the game.
http://valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2019-20/19636/mens-basketball-to-face-preseason-favorites-in-nationally-televised-matchup/
A few things that stayed with me:
Javon Freeman-Liberty is the only player in the nation who is top 15 in scoring and in steals. Just shows you what a special player he is.
The last trip to Springfield was a good one: 82-66 victory when Fazekas lit it up from 3 point range.
Valpo is winless against the preseason favorite in MVC play. Let's change that Thursday! Go Valpo!
If UNI, Loyola, and Bradley prevail, we'll have the chance at sole possession of the 4 spot in the standings.
If we can win this one, particularly if we are still short-handed, will really say a lot about our chances going into St. Louis. MSU has an impressive--near win record--on the road, having lost to Xavier by 3, Miami by 4 and Loyola by 4. They also beat an Evansville team--again on the road by 10. Playing at home, this will be very tough.
Oops, forgot about Drake (they'd have to lose) and if Bradley loses, an opportunity for 3rd-place tie.
Actually Loyola and Evansville don't HAVE to win. We have head to head on them Drake and Indiana State. And Illinois St is 1-5 and would be behind us regardless. The Bradley game means nothing right now.
https://twitter.com/AlBillets/status/1220185039515897857
They look loose and confident ahead of this big road test. I hope they pass that test. Go Valpo!
Was at this game. First time that I saw Valpo play Mo State. Hopefully, highlights for upcoming game against Mo State are just as fun to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuONFC6eEqU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tCktnwwffc
FYI... the one of the Ref's working the Dick Vitale game above... was working the Kansas-Kansas State melee last night... He used to do a bunch of games in the ARC. One of our favorite guys to work with at the table.
Found this Sports Illustrated article about him...
https://www.si.com/college/2016/01/28/ncaa-basketballs-most-recognized-referee-well-traveled-john-higgins
https://twitter.com/AlBillets/status/1220213690122850304
UNI's loss means this game just took on added importance! The winner tomorrow finds themselves right in the thick of the conference race (especially if UNI turns around and beats Loyola at home this weekend) It's all in front of us guys! Can we rise up and take it?
Quote from: talksalot on January 22, 2020, 10:18:59 PM
FYI... the one of the Ref's working the Dick Vitale game above... was working the Kansas-Kansas State melee last night... He used to do a bunch of games in the ARC. One of our favorite guys to work with at the table.
Found this Sports Illustrated article about him...
https://www.si.com/college/2016/01/28/ncaa-basketballs-most-recognized-referee-well-traveled-john-higgins
Coincidentally, Higgins is working our game tonight at Missouri State.
LOL, those shorts were ridiculous back then :lol:
Shorts? I thought they were cut-offs. :)
That ARC crowd was crazy awesome.
Nationally televised game. Not just on the computer. Its not a MUST win but we really do need to justify our relevance as a good team in the Valley by winning some away games. Let's start doing that tonight.
https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1220385224191770625
National TV Broadcast CBS Sports Network.
Being channel 232 for Comcast customers
Wow, that '11 team. 5 guys on the floor that could bury a 3. And, Wood was a pure scorer.
A veritable Who's Who of Valpo talent on that roster!
Really cool to see how much quicker Rowdy's 3-pt shot has gotten since those years. He used to have a little pump action to his shot, which is completely gone now.
Valpo 78
MO State 74
That was one of the most fun VU games of the last 20-plus years.
Those Missouri State kids did NOT want to be there that day.
Atmosphere was great.
Not feeling as confident about tonight's game.
Quote from: valpo84 on January 23, 2020, 03:50:28 PM
Wow, that '11 team. 5 guys on the floor that could bury a 3. And, Wood was a pure scorer.
Just as a guess we are probably better this season with 3s as a team. The highlights showed Buggs and Johnson (both starters) hitting 3 pointers but my memory (sometimes wrong) has Erik in the low 20% season range with Cory even worse.
Btw, since nobody has posted this and the news came out like 20 minutes ago, Ryan fazekas is playing tonight. Seems important. Thought I might share.
Quote from: vok22 on January 23, 2020, 06:50:39 PM
Btw, since nobody has posted this and the news came out like 20 minutes ago, Ryan fazekas is playing tonight. Seems important. Thought I might share.
Robinson still out with back issues...
Quote from: vok22 on January 23, 2020, 06:50:39 PM
Btw, since nobody has posted this and the news came out like 20 minutes ago, Ryan fazekas is playing tonight. Seems important. Thought I might share.
Who? ???
It was supposed to be top secret until tipoff.
Secret or not, I'll take it, just like Oladipo coming back for the Pacers in 6 days LOL. IF Ryan stays healthy and can reasimilate we'll be tough to beat come March!
Please tell me that other game isn't going to go into OT.
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 07:29:54 PMPlease tell me that other game isn't going to go into OT.
Free throw to tie it, we'll see, ughhhhh! Damn wild finish! Delaware with the win, Switch games now!
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 07:29:54 PM
Please tell me that other game isn't going to go into OT.
No, Delaware wins with a traveling drive to the basket.
Another "Lottich Special" slow offensive start to this one.
It looks to me like it's our players who are stinking up the place. I don't know about ML.
12 3's in 13 minutes.
Ugly, ugly shooting.
We are shooting ourselves out of this game.
We are ice cold and they are hot. Unless we figure out how to get to the basket more this is gonna stay ugly without a change in our three point shooting
Team did not take the floor ready to play tonight. One step forward, one step back for this program year after year.
Laying a huge egg on national tv. We really know how to blow an opportunity. Getting open looks from three but couldn't hit the water from a boat. Laying enough bricks to build a house. Wonder if we'll get 20 by half.
If Mileek shoots 1 more 3, I'm turning the TV off. He's supposed to be a center.
A guy literally pushes your face into the floor and you don't respond. Cmon man.
20 3's in 20 minutes. A 3 a minute. I've never seen that before - anywhere.
Perhaps the worst shooting performance I've seen from a Valpo team. Many open shots at the beginning...forced and not confident looks at the end. Wasted the "good" shooting night at UNI. Seems like Valpo has been abysmal when on TV the last couple of years.
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 08:18:54 PM
20 3's in 20 minutes. A 3 a minute. I've never seen that before - anywhere.
With no inside game we live and die by the 3. I still wouldn't be surprised to see it close at the end but such a big hole.
Quote from: justducky on January 23, 2020, 08:24:57 PM
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 08:18:54 PM
20 3's in 20 minutes. A 3 a minute. I've never seen that before - anywhere.
With no inside game we live and die by the 3. I still wouldn't be surprised to see it close at the end but such a big hole.
And we are not a good 3-point team, unfortunately. Oh, we can have a good day from the perimeter, but it's far from being a strength. Let's see how much of a come-from-behind team we are.
back to one game below .500. Can't seem to get above it.
Sackey's got really bad hands.
Wish Mileek would get to shoot half the threes that JFL is bricking (of course there's no mention of that anywhere, but that's none of my business).
No one on this team has any business shooting the 3, but that's probably the only option when you dig such deep holes for yourself.
Sigh... We're a Thursday team again aren't we?
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on January 23, 2020, 09:22:17 PM
Sigh... We're a Thursday team again aren't we?
Maybe...maybe not. Depends on which Valpo team shows up more down the stretch. I expect up and down to a 9-9 record...wherever that gets you. They definitely have it in them to be better...
I mean...good on the team for fighting(again, WHY DO YOU NEED TO BE DOWN SO OFTEN!?!?!)...I daresay that JFL was making things worse by pressing down the stretch, not good. Gotta rebound at home against Evansville. Was there ever an explanation for the Tech on Ryan? That was a killer series of calls.
Quote from: Valpower on January 23, 2020, 08:32:37 PMAnd we are not a good 3-point team, unfortunately. Oh, we can have a good day from the perimeter, but it's far from being a strength.
Last I checked we were still top half in D-1 from 3. That contrasts to our #349 finish last year. There were a number of Valley teams in top 100 and that still puts us at a disadvantage from deep.
Who else noticed Krikke refuse an open 3 point shot so that Sackey could heave up a prayer before the buzzer? :o It was that kind of night.
As I've said before it's either feast or famine with this team. A terrible first half followed by a good second half. I want to believe that it's unlikely that we will go two for twenty from three in a half again but with this team, who knows. I mean if we just go five for twenty we would have had a good chance to win. So I'm going to try to not get too down after this game. If we bounce back and win the next one I'll feel better.
Lamont West (#15) is a thug.
Quote from: nkvu on January 23, 2020, 09:53:44 PMAs I've said before it's either feast or famine with this team. A terrible first half followed by a good second half. I want to believe that it's unlikely that we will go two for twenty from three in a half again but with this team, who knows. I mean if we just go five for twenty we would have had a good chance to win. So I'm going to try to not get too down after this game. If we bounce back and win the next one I'll feel better.
We'd better win the next game. It's at home against Evansville. That's one we've got to have. If we drop that one we're a Thursday team and you can book that.
That call on Kiser when the offensive player pushed his arm into him in mid-air, was complete BS. You should be able to review things such as that, as it was such an obvious miss by the ref.
Regardless, I appreciate the second half fight in the team, when it was ever so evident that we couldn't buy a 3.
Only 10 assists vs 11 TOs. I would have guessed it to be worse.
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 08:12:29 PMIf Mileek shoots 1 more 3, I'm turning the TV off. He's supposed to be a center.
His first couple 3 pointers looked bad but when the dust settled he was 3-6 and Krikke 1-2 for a combined 4-8 from our center position and both turned down numerous opportunities in favor of our reliable guys from distance. Those bread and butter guys combined for 4-31 from 3 ??? :o I'm just sitting here shaking my head. WE WERE NOT THAT WELL COVERED!
I think 3 point shooting is contagious. If we had hit our first couple we might have hit 7 or 8 of 20 in the first half. Conversely, we miss the first couple, and then miss the next couple, then misses become contagious. No, I don't have any stats to back this up. Totally gut feeling.
Something is going on with this team either mentally or physically at the start of these games. I have seen this happen before and after watching closely tonight I think our players come out with an adrenaline rush that causes them to shoot long and be generally unsettled, Clay's first 3 went completely over the basket, others hit off the heel. Practically every shot in the first ten minutes was long. This has become a pattern and they have become even more anxious to break it.
On a more encouraging note, the attention given to Fazekas by their defense was very telling. They were constantly holding him as he came off screens and cuts leading to several called fouls away from the ball. Really thought we could have driven to the basket more because they refused to help off of him in the corners. This should be obvious when they watch video.
Morning Headlines from Chicago, Springfield and NW Indiana!
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-spt-mens-basketball-valparaiso-st-012520-20200124-rugvpne5avglnhfim6kkixodzm-story.html
https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2020/01/23/missouri-state-basketball-bears-use-big-first-half-beat-valpo/4558782002/
https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/early-shooting-woes-doom-valparaiso-in-road-loss-to-missouri/article_2adcaf46-dd2e-5965-8871-46c69c801ec0.html
So much doom and gloom
Every team in the country has bad shooting nights
Ours was last night
We will beat Evansville handily then travel to Bradley for a tough road game
Hopefully we hit a few more there-
Going to take the short drive down from Naperville to see it
Should be a good one
Quote from: justducky on January 23, 2020, 08:24:57 PM
Quote from: wh on January 23, 2020, 08:18:54 PM
20 3's in 20 minutes. A 3 a minute. I've never seen that before - anywhere.
With no inside game we live and die by the 3. I still wouldn't be surprised to see it close at the end but such a big hole.
Very good call. Unfortunately the hole Valpo dug for itself was just slightly too large and MSU hit just enough FTs at the end.
Terrible 1st half, great 2nd half. If we are gonna shoot that many 3's we gotta shoot better. If we are not that good from 3, and we are inconsistent at best, we need to get more opportunities at the basket.
Still an incomplete team and a work in progress. incomplete = no consistent inside game thus relying on the 3 too much. Frustrating, but the sky is not falling.
As I said we'd better win this weekend or it will be falling...
First game I've missed in a long time and obviously didn't miss much. We now will be faced with another lineup change and different court time distribution now that Ryan is back. Starting 5 5 for 30 from deep? Javon's worst game of the season.
Frustrating, if shots aren't falling, lock down on D, get the ball inside or drive the lane.
I know the old adage that "shooters got to shoot" but I think that JFL is feeling too much pressure to score and it really has shown in conference play. When you are having a night like last night he should have taken the ball to the basket, there were lanes to drive when Ryan was on the floor. Oh, and if I never see another floater it will be too soon. Take it to the basket strong and get to the line, make a few free ones, see the ball go through the net and then maybe the 3 will start to fall.
Was there ever any clarification on why Fazekas was called for a technical foul?
Quote from: humbleopinion on January 24, 2020, 12:56:03 PM
Was there ever any clarification on why Fazekas was called for a technical foul?
Saw something on twitter that he glared at a MSU player. Higgins was horrible last night after allowing the Kansas debacle a couple nights ago. Yet, they allowed MSU to push off, hold, tug, and basically clogged the middle all night. And, then Ryan after watching what they did to Sackey on the and 1 late, glares at the MSU player and bam T.
Horrible display of reffing. Kiser was being beat on all night and couldn't get a call (at least 3x they missed something or called him on the push off by MSU on the drive).
Quote from: valpo84 on January 24, 2020, 01:01:28 PMQuote from: humbleopinion on January 24, 2020, 12:56:03 PMWas there ever any clarification on why Fazekas was called for a technical foul?
Saw something on twitter that he glared at a MSU player. Higgins was horrible last night after allowing the Kansas debacle a couple nights ago. Yet, they allowed MSU to push off, hold, tug, and basically clogged the middle all night. And, then Ryan after watching what they did to Sackey on the and 1 late, glares at the MSU player and bam T. Horrible display of reffing. Kiser was being beat on all night and couldn't get a call (at least 3x they missed something or called him on the push off by MSU on the drive).
We lost because we couldn't hit water if we fell out of a boat not because of the officiating... We need to do better We need to be better...
Did not say anything about officiating causing the loss. It responded to a question about what the T was for. The answer explained the why. It also commented on an important aspect of this game and why our motion offense stagnated. Holding and grabbing and impeding the free flow of motion is a way to stop motion offenses, as long as you don't get called. It amps up the physicality, however, and takes you mentally out of your game. Kudos to Ford. 2d half, we adjusted to the physicality and brought some of our own. Nonetheless, there were 3 occasions in the last 10-11 minutes, however, where momentum was snatched from us as we were mounting a comeback (the push off by MSU and Kiser called for the foul) is a prime example. Doesn't change the outcome now, doesn't excuse the poor start, doesn't excuse the 3 for 29 start on 3s. That was a woulda, coulda, shoulda game. Exceptionally frustrating.
While I'm on a rant today, and Tim Doyle is an atrocious announcer. We don't care about your pitiful St John's career. We don't care about your witty comments about Christmas shopping. We don't care about your over-obvious analysis ("As Gene Keady [and every other coach in America and elsewhere] said the first 5 minutes of 2d half are important"). We care about the "why" on the court. Why was there stoppage of play and a flagrant 1 called on MSU? Took minutes before they recognized that was going on. Why did Ryan get a T? Oh, look Fazekas is in the game for the first time since SLU game (this finally occurred 4 minutes after he was in the game). That was a big story he missed working off his notecards.
My take is that Keandre Cook came out and dominated with his shooting and by frustrating JFL from getting open with tight D. Then JFL and others started shooting up 3s in a panic and MSU just could not miss.
And yet I came away strangely encouraged for the long view of the season. I will view tonight's glass as 1/4 full. ;D
Clay continues to impress me with his body control and poise no matter the score and match up
JFL was zero for the first half but he will return to being JFL in the next game. C'mon he put up 28 against UNI on the road.
The big story: Fazekas played! He moved well and shot well. I hope he is strong enough now to play good minutes because he will stretch the floor for JFL, Clay and Robinson to maneuver better. Man the guy is thin.
Quote from: crusadermoe on January 24, 2020, 07:30:19 PM
My take is that Keandre Cook came out and dominated with his shooting and by frustrating JFL from getting open with tight D. Then JFL and others started shooting up 3s in a panic and MSU just could not miss.
And yet I came away strangely encouraged for the long view of the season. I will view tonight's glass as 1/4 full. ;D
Clay continues to impress me with his body control and poise no matter the score and match up
JFL was zero for the first half but he will return to being JFL in the next game. C'mon he put up 28 against UNI on the road.
The big story: Fazekas played! He moved well and shot well. I hope he is strong enough now to play good minutes because he will stretch the floor for JFL, Clay and Robinson to maneuver better. Man the guy is thin.
Fragile, weak, but also a great shooter and smart player.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on January 24, 2020, 01:13:28 PM
Quote from: valpo84 on January 24, 2020, 01:01:28 PMQuote from: humbleopinion on January 24, 2020, 12:56:03 PMWas there ever any clarification on why Fazekas was called for a technical foul?
Saw something on twitter that he glared at a MSU player. Higgins was horrible last night after allowing the Kansas debacle a couple nights ago. Yet, they allowed MSU to push off, hold, tug, and basically clogged the middle all night. And, then Ryan after watching what they did to Sackey on the and 1 late, glares at the MSU player and bam T. Horrible display of reffing. Kiser was being beat on all night and couldn't get a call (at least 3x they missed something or called him on the push off by MSU on the drive).
We lost because we couldn't hit water if we fell out of a boat not because of the officiating... We need to do better We need to be better...
I don't believe that anyone was thinking the refs lost Valpo the game. OTOH keep the passion. Valpo needs the passion in it's fans. See you in St. Louie? See you at the faire tournament.