The Packers have bowed out of the playoffs, so my viewing schedule has been freed up for Beacon b-ball.
This game will determine which team has sole possession of 6th place in the conference standings.
SIU is on a three game losing streak, but two of those games were to Loyola (the other was an eight point loss to Bradley). The Salukis beat VU by three in the ARC a few weeks ago, and their other two wins were against Evansville and Indiana State. Our defensive focus has to be on containing Marcus Domask; however, when teams have paid too much attention to him, Lance Jones has stepped up.
We started the year with fifteen scholarship players, and five of those were unavailable for the last game. We know that Trevor is gone for the season, but will Kithier be back (or how is Kithier's back)? Does anyone know what's up with Conner? Luke says that Emil may be able to play before the season ends, but does that mean soon?
I love Valpo basketball, but the Burrow vs. Mahomes matchup takes precedence. Chiefs win 34-24
I know this game is rescheduled due to SIU having Covid issues a few weeks ago, but come on Missouri Valley Conference. How can you schedule a game during NFL championship Sunday?
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 30, 2022, 07:03:19 AM
I love Valpo basketball, but the Burrow vs. Mahomes matchup takes precedence. Chiefs win 34-24
Multitask my friend and watch both!!!
Quote from: VALPO LI on January 30, 2022, 12:16:13 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 30, 2022, 07:03:19 AM
I love Valpo basketball, but the Burrow vs. Mahomes matchup takes precedence. Chiefs win 34-24
Multitask my friend and watch both!!!
One of these games I don't care about and the other one I shouldn't.
Painful as it was I watched SIU at the ARC and maybe I will backslide and watch today also. It is amazing how far my expectations have fallen in that short period of time! :'(
Could be like a 62-54 game. 1) What defensive intensity will show up today, can we guard all 30 seconds of the shot clock? 2) Health of Kithier? We lack any interior defense without him. 3) Post up Taylor more, he has height advantage. Curious what fight the team will show today, especially if they go through scoring droughts. Season slipping away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj8eAHn_2YM
Still an opportunity to not play on Thursday , and therefor anything is possible lol! Still tough to watch VU this year , wish we could put it on someone in the league! Win by 12+ I mean . Ruedinger needs to hit open shots , any news on Kithier ?
Quote from: AB on January 30, 2022, 12:52:06 PM
Could be like a 62-54 game. 1) What defensive intensity will show up today, can we guard all 30 seconds of the shot clock? 2) Health of Kithier? We lack any interior defense without him. 3) Post up Taylor more, he has height advantage. Curious what fight the team will show today, especially if they go through scoring droughts. Season slipping away.
We have a defense?
KC playing well today. What time does pregame for Rams-49'ers start?
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Geez, Darius is playing like sh!t. He keeps picking up his dribble, allowing the defender to come up on him, he dribbled right into a guy for a turnover, he is almost causing a backcourt violation when giving it to Kevion at mid-court, not waiting until he crosses, etc.
We have a (football) score 17-14 bad guys. We had 9-7 lead, then fell behind 17-9. Small comeback
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Preston, Trey, and Darius and not MVC level players. Im sorry but I just don't see it. I know they are young but they are just not athletic and skilled enough for this league.
I just don't understand lob passes when a defender is sagging off you. We do this all of the time. Do we seriously think that the defender is just going to let it happen?? WTF?!?!
ML also isn't an MVC coach either , they are picking us apart , I wish someone on this team had some attitude or any fire , ML is supposed to be the leader , has anyone heard him get on his guys with any fire? I'm being serious , I've only been to a a couple live games in the ML era. You don't have to go Bobby Knight on em but I'd rather see something that the same pursed lip pacing ML
I missed the first half and I guess I can miss the rest of the game as well. Even better, I am heading out of town and I won't being going to the next two home games. I have heard over the years that Matt is really competitive and wants to win! I just don't see it and the teams energy reflects his energy. I am sorry but I tired of it.
Turning it off. Haven't left a game this early in a long time
Shake this one off. 2 easy games coming up. Win those two and we are in reach of a 6th place.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 30, 2022, 05:20:02 PM
Shake this one off. 2 easy games coming up. Win those two and we are in reach of a 6th place.
Thanks for being positive
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Glad I chose to flip over to the Chiefs/Bengals game.
This Team is wildly underachieving.
Will there be any accountability? No.
https://twitter.com/valpobasketball/status/1487925136665759748?s=21
Glad I missed it. Hopefully MLB and President Padilla saw, at least. Pathetic.
Lottich has already demonstrated he's a bad coach. Another year or so of this and he'll lose his reputation for being a good recruiter.
At this rate he'll be out of basketball in a few years.
Brandon - If you were thinking about a new Valpo Bi-Weekly, don't waste your time. I assure you, no one is interested anymore.
Didn't even bother to check the score as it was much more satisfying watching the unexpectedly amazing Bengals punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Who Dey!!
We came into this season with two questions.
1. Is Lottich "The Guy"?
2. If not, does the admin have the ability, and the will, to move on?
I think we now have the answer to #1. And in the next 6-8 weeks we should have the answer to #2.
There are no automatic wins without Anderson and Kithier.
Quote from: valpotx on January 30, 2022, 06:46:31 PM
There are no automatic wins without Anderson and Kithier.
There have been no automatic wins since Peters injury.
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Very little incentive to watch with Anderson finished and Kithier injured.
Quote from: Chairback on January 30, 2022, 04:38:24 PMPreston, Trey, and Darius and not MVC level players.
I'll agree on Trey but give a pass to the others. Preston and Darius both need muscle and weight to defend in the Valley but their ball handling and judgements are very promising. Part of their recent problems have been the absence of Trevor who was often on the floor with them as a 2 while they were learning the 1. Now we have nobody I would really classify as a 2 and it starkly exposes their raw point defects while occasionally pushing one to play as an out of position 2. I'll repeat that I like the freshmen DeAveiro better than the freshman pre injury Eric Buggs. Preston is a very different player but Im liking most of what I see. Truth be known I don't think that we need to worry yet about their developments because who knows if anybody will return to this team for 2022-2023. :o
So now we just going to say Lottich had a lot of injuries and just unlucky
SIU had 22 assists, Valpo had 7. Seriously.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 30, 2022, 07:28:52 PM
So now we just going to say Lottich had a lot of injuries and just unlucky
I think he is a bit unlucky and maybe his fortunes will change at a new location. ;)
I was looking hard for something to say about this game that wasn't negative, but even Taylor went 0-for-4 from the 3-point line to end his 84 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer. So, I got nothing! :banghead:
After today's poor showing, if the current extended weather forecast of 10-15 inches of snow holds for Wednesday, good luck getting any crowd at the Evansville game.
70 minutes from Ruedinger and the entire bench yielded 8 shots and 2 points.
Two games in a row with single digit team fouls. That can be an indicator of poor defense...or at the very least a lack of aggression.
Getting the snot kicked out of you as often as it has the last few weeks should have the players looking in the mirror at what they are bringing to the floor every night and the coach thinking about what he's going to do next year.
I suppose that I am as glass-half-full as anyone on this board, and even I feel discouraged after last night's game. I've always expected the team to fulfill its potential by February, but now I wonder if the potential is wearing a uniform this year. As I look at the season stats, there are a couple bright spots (mostly in Kithier's row), but when I have looked on the floor (and Thomas wasn't on it) it's hard to be optimistic.
I keep on waiting for Kobe's shots around the basket to start falling in. The number of eight foot shots that he takes should yield a higher percentage -- he's under 50% on 2 pt attempts for the year. I expected him to be Valpo's Isiaih Mosley. He isn't.
Preston had an uneventful game last night. In high school he was a scorer; he shot over 45% from 3 over his four years. I really like him, but I'm disappointed that he is only shooting 3s at a 24% clip when we need to find some scoring.
I understand why Sheldon has to be relegated to the bench as often as he is. With every burst of excitement he provides, he seems to follow it up with a move that makes me cringe. Of the six players who average more than twenty minutes per game, he has taken the most shots and has the lowest percentage of made shots.
I really like Kevion, and he has been the workhorse for the team, but what has happened to his three point shot over the last couple games. Is it just that he is getting more attention form the defense? He needs a lot of room to get his shot off, so it's hard to take advantage of his ability. I like his taking it to the hoop lately.
Similarly, Ben has been steady, but he needs much more support from an outside game.
Overall, our shooting just hasn't come around this year, and the droughts each game put us in holes that are tough to overcome. So many of our shots aren't contested, so it isn't because of an offensive scheme.
Just before Covid hit, I enjoyed watching Valpo win of Thursday, then Friday, then Saturday, and then fighting valiantly until their legs gave out on Sunday. It appears that Thursday will be the starting point for this year's tournament. If Thomas is back to health we have a chance to move forward.
Quote from: valpopal on January 30, 2022, 08:52:02 PM
I was looking hard for something to say about this game that wasn't negative, but even Taylor went 0-for-4 from the 3-point line to end his 84 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer. So, I got nothing! :banghead:
Ben played pretty good! Perhaps the biggest mistake was to redshirt Slim. We obviously need rebounding as well as the matchup problem he posed. If Thomas is out again we will lose to a much better coached Evansville team. And if we do--at home--there will be pitch forks and torches.
Quote from: justducky on January 30, 2022, 07:54:55 PM
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 30, 2022, 07:28:52 PM
So now we just going to say Lottich had a lot of injuries and just unlucky
EDIT:
*Mark LaBarbera will tell himself* I think he is a bit unlucky and maybe his fortunes will change at a new location. ;)
(https://c.tenor.com/fKIG2kiLVPgAAAAC/this-is-fine-its-fine.gif)
How many more years will he give Lottich before we hit rock bottom? Probably the same number of years he signed the extension to.
I hope the right people at Valpo care about what's going on.
Quote from: vu72 on January 31, 2022, 08:35:04 AMPerhaps the biggest mistake was to redshirt Slim.
It doesn't seem that there was much choice in this regard. He is expected to get surgery soon.
So is Matt unlucky?
So. Illinois shot 52.4% from the 3! Sounds unlucky but...that is the 8th time this season that our opponents have shot 40% or higher from the 3 and if you take out the 1 for 11 effort from Eastern Michigan, our opponents--for the season, are shooting 36.7% from the 3. Might want to make some adjustments... ::)
Quote from: vu72 on January 31, 2022, 10:05:03 AMSo is Matt unlucky? So. Illinois shot 52.4% from the 3! Sounds unlucky but...that is the 8th time this season that our opponents have shot 40% or higher from the 3 and if you take out the 1 for 11 effort from Eastern Michigan, our opponents--for the season, are shooting 36.7% from the 3. Might want to make some adjustments... ::)
There was a point, midway through the 2nd half, which the numbers were something such as 68% overall and 60% from 3. There is no "well they were just hot tonight" explaining that away. That's just bad defense and effort. Some simple non coach necessary concepts just not followed such as stop the ball from advancing not taken up by the players.
Quote from: VU2014 on January 31, 2022, 09:10:31 AM
Quote from: justducky on January 30, 2022, 07:54:55 PM
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 30, 2022, 07:28:52 PM
So now we just going to say Lottich had a lot of injuries and just unlucky
EDIT:
*Mark LaBarbera will tell himself* I think he is a bit unlucky and maybe his fortunes will change at a new location. ;)
(https://c.tenor.com/fKIG2kiLVPgAAAAC/this-is-fine-its-fine.gif)
How many more years will he give Lottich before we hit rock bottom? Probably the same number of years he signed the extension to.
Will we see Matt in September?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu-7DXBiVsA
The ability to let Matt go is probably the key, assuming that is actually a good idea. I think he has another year left?
If so, the faculty will show up at Padillas house with pitchforks if he releases Matt and also spends the money required to get a strong new coach.
Not gonna happen.
I think I will post one of these every time we lose by a lot and are feeling down. Remember this guy?
I disagree Moe if we are truly committed to Division 1 basketball. Managing your flagship sports program is different than how you manage your overall faculty. The basketball head coach is recognzed to the school nationally, more so than the math professor or the head of the business college.
Also, many faculty member have the opportunity for tenure, for which I doubt is available for the basketball head coach.
A $370K hit should not put Valpo in the poor farm... at least I would hope not. Valpo may be at more of a longterm loss sustaining this.
From Matt's comments, it sounds like we shouldn't expect to see Kithier suiting up anytime soon.
I am not offering an opinion of whether Matt Lottich should be dismissed, but I will point out that most schools who dismiss their coach and pay the early termination fee often do so using "special" donations from "friends of the program". I am not aware of Valpo's basketball program having donors who would, beyond their normal donations, be willing to make this amount of additional donations. Whether you agree or disagree, I think that there would be tremendous push back from faculty if Valpo pays $370K out of its current operating budget after recent pay cuts and temporary freezing of retirement contributions. Remember, even before the pandemic faculty at Valpo were taking less than the market rate for their services because they identify with Valpo's mission. In addition, if this pushes them to feel that Valpo has "lost its way" and more choose to leave (via early retirement or otherwise), Valpo will need to replace many of them with salaries that are closer to the market rate.
On the other hand, there is a long term negative financial impact from not having a winning basketball program. The basketball program at the university where I work has had a significant turnaround this year (so far). Our Dean, who is a tremendous fundraiser, recently said "alumni are happy when the basketball team wins and, whether you like it or not, they donate more money when they are happy with the team."
President Padilla has a tough needle to thread.
The faculty should read the parable of the workers and Valpo should find a good basketball coach or it is likely to wither on the vine.
Quote from: Just Sayin on January 31, 2022, 04:42:29 PM
The faculty should read the parable of the workers and Valpo should find a good basketball coach or it is likely to wither on the vine.
Parable is not applicable. The "last" are not very wealthy and the "first" did not have their pay recently reduced.
Again, I am not saying whether Valpo should or should not dismiss Matt Lottich. I am saying that if they choose to do so, President Padilla will need to very carefully manage the messaging and feelings among all employees. You may say that you don't care about their feelings, but if professors with important and unique skills (primarily in the professional schools) get angry and decide to leave - the university will likely have to pay more than the salaries of departing professors to get replacements.
Valpo isn't the type school to pay someone to go away. Sadly we're beholden to whatever was signed in his extension.
Quote from: vu84v2 on January 31, 2022, 04:38:16 PMI am not offering an opinion of whether Matt Lottich should be dismissed, but I will point out that most schools who dismiss their coach and pay the early termination fee often do so using "special" donations from "friends of the program". I am not aware of Valpo's basketball program having donors who would, beyond their normal donations, be willing to make this amount of additional donations. Whether you agree or disagree, I think that there would be tremendous push back from faculty if Valpo pays $370K out of its current operating budget after recent pay cuts and temporary freezing of retirement contributions. Remember, even before the pandemic faculty at Valpo were taking less than the market rate for their services because they identify with Valpo's mission. In addition, if this pushes them to feel that Valpo has "lost its way" and more choose to leave (via early retirement or otherwise), Valpo will need to replace many of them with salaries that are closer to the market rate. On the other hand, there is a long term negative financial impact from not having a winning basketball program. The basketball program at the university where I work has had a significant turnaround this year (so far). Our Dean, who is a tremendous fundraiser, recently said "alumni are happy when the basketball team wins and, whether you like it or not, they donate more money when they are happy with the team." President Padilla has a tough needle to thread.
While it's not of the donation level you're referring to, I do know of a couple older donors who contributed significant amounts to athletics who were very upset by the mascot change and will not be donating further.
Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on January 31, 2022, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: vu84v2 on January 31, 2022, 04:38:16 PMI am not offering an opinion of whether Matt Lottich should be dismissed, but I will point out that most schools who dismiss their coach and pay the early termination fee often do so using "special" donations from "friends of the program". I am not aware of Valpo's basketball program having donors who would, beyond their normal donations, be willing to make this amount of additional donations. Whether you agree or disagree, I think that there would be tremendous push back from faculty if Valpo pays $370K out of its current operating budget after recent pay cuts and temporary freezing of retirement contributions. Remember, even before the pandemic faculty at Valpo were taking less than the market rate for their services because they identify with Valpo's mission. In addition, if this pushes them to feel that Valpo has "lost its way" and more choose to leave (via early retirement or otherwise), Valpo will need to replace many of them with salaries that are closer to the market rate. On the other hand, there is a long term negative financial impact from not having a winning basketball program. The basketball program at the university where I work has had a significant turnaround this year (so far). Our Dean, who is a tremendous fundraiser, recently said "alumni are happy when the basketball team wins and, whether you like it or not, they donate more money when they are happy with the team." President Padilla has a tough needle to thread.
While it's not of the donation level you're referring to, I do know of a couple older donors who contributed significant amounts to athletics who were very upset by the mascot change and will not be donating further.
The price of trying to be woke.
A Vashil highlight reel will always bring a smile to a Valpo fan. Oddly enough, this video emphasized that he was the Valpo career blocks leader, led the nation in blocks one year, and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year while showing dozens of dunks and bunnies and showing exactly one block.
lol, yes I noticed that.
Teams were afraid to drive the lane.
Everyone knows Vashil has great character and was mayor of Valpo during his stay. However, Vashil was not a very good basketball player when he arrived on campus. His growth as a player was impressive.
Do we see any similar growth in the players since Lottich took over? I mean the few that stay more than a couple years. Each year we say this player is going to be good. Then they either don't develop or just leave.
Wow, seriously, whoever put together that Vashil highlight package, was either trying to play up his limited offensive ability for his pro ambitions, or had no idea who Vashil was as a player. You literally did see other teams immediately reverse course, when they ran into him in the lane. It was insane to watch the impact on defense in his final seasons.
The emergence of the transfer portal as a real-life version of a baseball card swap meet makes the longevity of players like Vashil increasingly difficult for mid-majors. Nowadays, the school that patiently develops a raw but talented player for a year or two may be rewarded by a transfer to a more prominent basketball program that has room for the polished version.
This loss pretty much guarantees that we will be playing on Thursday of Arch Madness. Even we tie for sixth, SIU will own the tie breaker.
Yep David81, welcome to NCAA sports today, with incredibly wimpy weak leadership and where the powerful become more powerful and the weaklings get weaker.