The results of this game will have no impact on the seedings for Arch Madness. i would guess that Kithier and Ruedinger will be given the night off to rest. I wonder how many Bradley players will be given a rest as well.
Bradley embarrassed us in the first outing. i hope that the team wants to avenge that debacle.
Quote from: humbleopinion on February 26, 2022, 03:48:05 PMThe results of this game will have no impact on the seedings for Arch Madness. i would guess that Kithier and Ruedinger will be given the night off to rest. I wonder how many Bradley players will be given a rest as well. Bradley embarrassed us in the first outing. i hope that the team wants to avenge that debacle.
Has anyone seen Ruedinger moving around? I haven't seen anything since the game he injured himself and it looked like a pretty bad injury. If it was an ankle, it was a bad sprain unlikely to heal in a couple of weeks.
Secondly...who'd have thought that Preston Ruedinger's availability was going to be a concern this season?
This upcoming offseason will be interesting
Will be an interesting off season. All bets are off. The press conference after the most recent Evansville game, the players appeared to have good chemistry with the head coach. Take that with a grain of salt. Should almost be a thread created. Over under 3 transfers this offseason?. Where has Connor Barrett been? Witness protection? Meaningless game tonight except to work on refining offensive and defensive sets for both teams. Unsure how motivated either team will be.
I've come to the realization that the off-season can't get any worse than the last 3 years. If a mass of players leave we have already been through that and that's the norm for us. Usually past history will predict the future so we should expect a ton of transfers out. I just worry that the current transfers that came in see it didn't work so future transfers will shy away from us.
Not sure what poster wrote this but they put it perfectly: valpo had a lot of transfers before it came cool.
Out Coached... it used to be the other way around when playing Brian Wardle...
What an absolute joke....13 points haha!
I've run out of things to say.
Matt has to go.
There have been a lot of embarrassments over the last season, years ... add this one to the list. Top of the list maybe?
13 points at half has to be a record low. Just embarrassing
Quote from: Chairback on February 26, 2022, 07:47:34 PMI've run out of things to say.
I'm also done.
But it gets worse. If we do beat Evansville then we get MSU. No chance. :'( I have never had a team and coach disappoint me more.
The frugal Beacers will not bag Lottich this year. Fricking embarrassing.
How many injuries are we supposed to struggle with? Yes, I could see a few transfers, but what I do expect is that Lottich will stick out the contract. I can't imagine Valpo buying out Lottich, when they are struggling to get money coming in, now that Covid isn't as financially draining as it was a year ago. Who do you think will transfer with certainty?
1. It was me who said players transferring out of valpo before transferring was cool. I stand by it.
2. Disappointment only happens when you have different expectations than the outcome. Probably been disappointed for 6 years now. So shame on you.
3. Matt's motion offense is laughable.
4. Over/under 3 transfers? Has it ever been under 3 the last 6 years?
5. Tex, please tell me you don't still support Lottich. Even wh and vu72 have finally come to releasation and left the denial house.
Quote from: oklahomamick on February 26, 2022, 08:20:14 PM4. Over/under 3 transfers? Has it ever been under 3 the last 6 years?
Hmmm. Will more coaches return than players? Will more coaches return than fans?
Not sure what Sheldon Edwards means by this tweet. 🤔
https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1497778777690185732?s=21
Hot mess
Quote from: VU2014 on February 26, 2022, 09:54:49 PM
Not sure what Sheldon Edwards means by this tweet. 🤔
https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1497778777690185732?s=21
Markus Golder's mother chimes in on the twitter post...
https://twitter.com/tomrechlin/status/1497799200616058883?s=21
https://twitter.com/jlg5297/status/1497804029929275392?s=21
If we have several guys looking to leave again, it is on them, just as much as it is on the coach. They are the ones losing, along with the coach. Might as well do a complete reset.
Quote from: valpotx on February 27, 2022, 12:37:06 AM
If we have several guys looking to leave again, it is on them, just as much as it is on the coach. They are the ones losing, along with the coach. Might as well do a complete reset.
If we're going to do a reset for the 3rd or 4th time in the Lottich era, that's a clear sign Lottich has overstayed his welcome. Unfortunately we're not going to get that this offseason and maybe not even until after the 2025 season because Valpo is too cheap buy out Lottich from his contract and Mark LaBarbera's mistake.
Lottich is doing irreparable harm to the program. Keeping him around will cost more long term than it would short term to show him the door. I still can't fathom there not being some out for the university in the contract. If my memory is right, he got the extension when many of us thought he shouldn't even be extended and should've been let go then. I would hope the university included an out in the contract to use in the event things kept going south
"Bradley may have the best homecourt advantage in the conference," Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich said. "They have a rabid fan base and they were into it tonight on Senior Night. With their energy and their pressure, it took us an entire half to get going.
Absolute horse :censored: response. Maybe it's our stand around offense and panic when the shot clock expires. Or the lack of in game adjustments or game prep. Or late game inbounds plays. He is the master of excuses except taking on his own accountability. We had the talent and enough healthy bodies to avoid 7th place.
We used to have an unbelievable fan base.
VU 2014 you may want to add Slim's Tweet from last night also...
Lottich is a decent person but he is over his head. With an open AD position and a university nickel and diming away, no changes will be made. For the flagship athletics program and considering the past success of basketball at Valpo, it is shameful and depressing.
What were the above tweets all about? Someone translate for me.
I would be interested in slim's twits if someone can share.
And for all the good ML did, that Lottich contract was dumb and hurtful.
It certainly was a "hot mess" and I really wonder not only about Matt's coaching but also about his talent assessments. We just don't have the athletes to compete in the Valley and our shooting?
We have two freshman point guards that went 0-5 last night from the three. Bradley has a freshman point guard (Hickman) who went 4-5 from the three. DeAveiro, it turns out is a slower version of Daniel Sackey who can't shoot as well!
Let's hope we win on Thursday or we will be the laughing stock of the Valley!
I don't think our players get wide open shots. The low shooting percentages is not just the players but also the schemes.
Quote from: tiny707 on February 27, 2022, 08:02:14 AM
VU 2014 you may want to add Slim's Tweet from last night also...
Not sure if I can read into anything here. It was a quote from a song.
Sheldon's tweet really concerns me.
https://twitter.com/som_slight/status/1497725405117259781?s=21
Quote from: vu72 on February 27, 2022, 09:28:15 AMWe just don't have the athletes to compete in the Valley and our shooting?
So often, the comment has been made' "we have the athletes to compete." I really don't see it. Virtually at every position, we are outmatched by every team finishing 1-6 in the MVC. I like our guys, but it's hard to say that they have better skills.
As for Sheldon, this may be an indication of his self-perception. He is very athletic, but his confidence is not backed up by consistent performance in game situations.
Slim's tweet also from before the game.
Quote from: VU2014 on February 27, 2022, 11:18:10 AM
Quote from: tiny707 on February 27, 2022, 08:02:14 AM
VU 2014 you may want to add Slim's Tweet from last night also...
Not sure if I can read into anything here. It was a quote from a song.
Sheldon's tweet really concerns me.
https://twitter.com/som_slight/status/1497725405117259781?s=21
Quote from: Pgmado on February 27, 2022, 02:36:22 PM
Slim's tweet also from before the game.
👀
https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1498029207603093513?s=21
I don't think anything of Slim's tweet/video, but was worried when he was healthy, and not getting PT. It wouldn't surprise me if he transfers. Sheldon will probably follow JFL and Clay, hoping to make a move after 2 seasons. Does Krikke stay? He is a focal point for Valpo, but wouldn't be at a P5 program, and though he has his moments on defense, he is routinely taken to the cup by the bigs in the MVC (Brodie, Mast, Prim, etc). I guess if he gets to play the 3 or 4, he makes a move up.
Quote from: valpotx on February 27, 2022, 02:46:02 PM
I don't think anything of Slim's tweet/video, but was worried when he was healthy, and not getting PT. It wouldn't surprise me if he transfers. Sheldon will probably follow JFL and Clay, hoping to make a move after 2 seasons. Does Krikke stay? He is a focal point for Valpo, but wouldn't be at a P5 program, and though he has his moments on defense, he is routinely taken to the cup by the bigs in the MVC (Brodie, Mast, Prim, etc). I guess if he gets to play the 3 or 4, he makes a move up.
Wouldn't shock me if assistant Coaches are already recruiting some of our guys through twitter DMs and reaching out to their Prep/High School Coaches.
Krikke would be highly recruited on the transfer portal.
https://twitter.com/sheldonnn13/status/1498029207603093513?s=21
Trevor Anderson liked this tweet... Sheldon seems really down the last 24 hours after that Bradley game.
Ben has done everything he possibly can for this team. He literally is playing is heart out each and every play. He is the only one I want to stay.
The rest including the entire coaching staff can go. We can't get much worse than we are currently.
Maybe the players speaking up in social media will help push Padilla to make a move quicker. The louder they are the more he might listen.
I didn't watch the game last night. Seem like I made the right choice.
Until recently, I thought the saving grace to this season was that the locker room wasn't a dumpster fire like last season. Looks like I was wrong and we're going to see another exodus.
Lottich needs to go now. I know the timing is wrong but a major asset of the university is being destroyed in real time. We need bold leadership, now.
Maybe we bring in a temporary coach on a one year? Give the job to Tonagel with the understand there are no promises after the season? Or Luke Gore? Or Homer Drew? Or anyone really at this point.
Quote from: valpotx on February 27, 2022, 02:46:02 PMhe is routinely taken to the cup by the bigs in the MVC (Brodie, Mast, Prim, etc). I guess if he gets to play the 3 or 4, he makes a move up.
Ben looks like a candidate to move sideways. A bit slow to guard a true center and much too slow to keep up with quality 3's and 4's. On top of that he has never consistently hit his 3 point shots. Despite all those flaws I would still love to see him return but am not expecting it to happen. When surrounded by 4 other scorers able to hit from the perimeter, he can be such a big threat on offense.
Wow! You all are making leaps from a couple of cryptic tweets (Sheldon) and a head-scratcher (Slim).
If I were to make a prediction, I would guess that we will be at three or fewer transfers this year. I think there is talent especially among the younger players, but not enough of that has been on display for them to be attractive in the pool. If the players pay attention to the results for last year's transfers, the grass on the other side might not be so lush and green.
Quote from: humbleopinion on February 27, 2022, 05:19:42 PMIf I were to make a prediction, I would guess that we will be at three or fewer transfers this year. I think there is talent especially among the younger players, but not enough of that has been on display for them to be attractive in the pool. If the players pay attention to the results for last year's transfers, the grass on the other side might not be so lush and green.
Good points and I hope you are correct. Meanwhile most have us are now viewing the Valpo program as being a sinking ship. If the players are viewing it likewise, then it may become a mass panic exodus. Whether they leave for perceived opportunity (last year) or disheartening program and coaching underperformance (this year) doesn't really mater. Either way we still have the mess to clean up.
I've felt that Sheldon would transfer since the beginning of the season, it isn't tied to his recent tweets. He could simply be venting that everyone is putting on a brave/positive face, claiming that they need to peak at the right time, but they really need to hold each other more accountable for the results for the season. The kid puts in the work, and would get to play at a solid program elsewhere. I would wish him well. He has been different than Clay, who was creating a ton of internal strife with his selfishness.
This year has obviously not gone as expected for the Brown and Gold. The injuries and covid issues really had effect on results, on court chemistry, continuity wins/loss etc. They rolled the dice on Anderson, and weren't so lucky. Kithier, when he is out, you really put a lot of pressure on Krikke on an already thin interior defense. Hedstrom and Emile are busts, Woodyard needs to get in the weight room. The team is completely different with Kithier out of the lineup. That's a lot of production lost. Of course coaching preparation plays a factor into late game management, shot selections, manufacturing points on inbounds plays through out the game or just putting the ball in the hands of a player to win the game. Oh and the lack of consistent effort on defense all year. The best case scenario, Keondre, Kobe, Kithier and Anderson play almost the entire season and likely the team prolly wins 3, 4 more games, but we will never know. Sheldon is obviously frustrated, but if he transfers it's likely a lateral move like last years transfers. None of them will taste post season except for Sackey's team. Golder's mom has too much time on her hands. Twitter will let us know who's staying or going right after the valley tournament. I would think if a coaching change happens, it's under the watch of a new AD.
It's been good to see Sackey's UNO team have conference success. He did his time at Valpo, and represented us well, regardless of his shooting woes.
Speaking of guys leaving, how about the guys staying--like the redshirts. That would be Slim, Connor and Cam. Then there is Joe, Emil (where would they go?) and presume Thomas and Kobe will also stay with only one year of eligibility and in Thomas' case the injury thing hanging over his head. I doubt someone like Preston,Trey or Darius will leave so that's ten with one signee coming in.
If Ben and Sheldon stay isn't that a full 13? (is the limit back to 13 next year?) So I guess I'm with humbleopinion on 3 or fewer leaving.
I debated putting this on here but I speak weekly to a person who is very close to Slim. I actually got to talk to slim via social media. Slim said he was here to stay. That was also 3 weeks ago and a lot changes.
over/under 3 transfers?
I'm taking the OVER.
I can make a case for every player leaving, or staying, depending on which side of the bed I woke up on.
The players I want to stay are those who feel a shared sense of responsibility for how we performed this season and want to be part of improving it. Or, in the case of Keyondre and others (including Max watching from afar), who are waiting their turn, to believe they will be difference makers next year, and work tirelessly to that end. If anyone feels like they've been victimized (e.g., the Clays and JO's of the world), go where you will be properly treated, better understood, and more highly valued. It certainly worked out for Derrik Smits, who told teammates in January that he was leaving:
College career
Smits played for the Valparaiso University men's basketball team from 2016 to 2019.[3] He was forced to redshirt the 2015–16 season due to an injury, and began playing the following season at Valparaiso.[4] He averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[5] As a junior, Smits averaged 12.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Most Improved Team honors. He graduated from Valparaiso in December 2018, taking graduate-level courses in the 2019 spring term to maintain his basketball eligibility; his graduation made him immediately eligible to transfer. Smits played his final season of college eligibility in 2019–20 at Butler University, choosing the Bulldogs over North Carolina State and Arizona State.[6] He averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs.[7]
Professional career
Smits signed his first professional contract with Real Valladolid in Spain for the 2020–21 season. On November 16, he asked for the termination of his contract for personal reasons.
The timing factors are real. New AD needs to come in first. No way they will try to land a new coach of caliber he will cost us and who won't know who his AD boss will be. If you want to eat the contract and plug in a caretaker as a step up, maybe thats needed. But you won't get a good hire in this off season.
They'll be transfers for sure. Edwards I would think is a leading candidate. From a distant perspective of a fan, I get the vibe that he thinks he should be one of the go to guys when I think he's a cog in the wheel ideally placed in the situation he has been in most of the season when he was removed as a consistent starter. Off the bench and get him out of there if he's mucking it up which he is prone to do offensively.
I don't see any player on the roster who, if they go to another program, will likely improve their individual basketball situation. In fact I could see a move making their situation worse.
Connor Barrett - Is this even a real person or just a figment of our imagination. Either way, I expect that unless there was some unknown reason he didn't play this year, he's gone next year.
Darius DeAveiro - Got to see the court a lot, I'm not real high on him, but he's still young. My guess is he's back next year.
Sheldon Edwards - I would not be surprised if he's gone. He'd be a loss for sure, but he's also not the star player we needed him to be.
Emil Freese-Vilien - Stay or graduate.
Joe Hedstrom - Guessing he's staying since he already transferred, if he leaves not a big loss.
Kobe King - Hope he stays (my guess is he will since he's already transferred, unless that didn't count since he sat out a year.) He would be the guy next year and now hes had time to get re-acclimated to the game.
Thomas Kithier - Hope he stays and like Kobe, my guess is he will since he's used his transfer already.
Ben Krikke - This is the one I'm most worried about. He would certainly be a target from some power 5 teams, but not as a star. Does he want to be a role player?
Cam Palesse - No idea, nor do I have an idea if I should care or not.
Preston Ruedinger - If we give him the scholarship he deserves, my guess is he stays, and I hope he does.
Trey Woodyard - Got minimal playing time, but he did see the court. I think he stays another year.
Keyondre Young - I really really hope he stays. I was most excited about him from the freshman class. He showed some strong signs early on, but also clear he needed to build some strength and needed time to adjust. Hopefully the year off gave him just that.
So I say 3 seems about the right number, but there will be a surprise in there as there always is, so I am going with 4 to transfer (not counting walk-ons other than Preston)
Isn't it great to read and hear from our so -called "Valpo supporters" who bad mouth almost everything and constantly comment about players having reason to transfer. I am sure these encouraging words are a big help to our program's stability and continuity, recruiting and overall team morale and I am sure the players enjoy reading these comments that originate with our loyal supporters.
Quote from: valpo64 on February 28, 2022, 02:07:31 PM
Isn't it great to read and hear from our so -called "Valpo supporters" who bad mouth almost everything and constantly comment about players having reason to transfer. I am sure these encouraging words are a big help to our program's stability and continuity, recruiting and overall team morale and I am sure the players enjoy reading these comments that originate with our loyal supporters.
Positive words of encouragement are not going to save the program. Food for thought.
Fans generally are pointing the finger at the Coach for the last 6 years (no small sample size), who has largely underachieved with the talent on the roster. I am far less critical of the players and I think we have a high character group with talent, but we are rudderless in terms of strategy at the Top. I agree it's important be positive and give people fair shakes, but it's just as important to be clear eyed and honest about the state of the program. You can't sugar coat it.
I'm sure some players read this board from time to time and I would advise them against it. It's not healthy to consume negativity like this, but I am no longer going to be silent about my lack of belief in the head coach for fear of impacting morale.
Programs don't fail due to fan critiques. They generally rise and fall base on the caliber of the Head Coach leading it. I genuinely hate that I am being this pessimistic, but I think Valpo's best crack at recovering and building the program back up is with a new Head Coach. That may be a few years away.
If players are reading a fans forum, that is on them. I know that it was 20 years ago, but we all knew of the Valpo Fans Forum, and had a laugh about such a thing, wondering why people had such time on their hands. Current athletes should have the same view of us :)
64 - I disagree. The truth will set you free and it should be expressed. You don't want to turn this into some totally pro Valpo propaganda board with critique is prohibited and we are overdosed with brown and gold Kool-aid.
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 01, 2022, 08:37:10 AM
64 - I disagree. The truth will set you free and it should be expressed. You don't want to turn this into some totally pro Valpo propaganda board with critique is prohibited and we are overdosed with brown and gold Kool-aid.
Correct. That's what the athletics web site is for, and their posts on Facebook.
Is the editing/deleting dissenters comments on the Athletics/Mens Hoops facebook pages a new development? There seems to have been a pretty deep cleansing of the Bradley final score post.
There is a lot of speculation on this board about players transferring. The reality is that we don't know how the players view the coaching staff and their fellow teammates, as well as what opportunities each may have somewhere else. The players know who can play, and can make the decision about future years may look like. Ultimately, those factors determine the decision.
Quote from: VU2014 on February 28, 2022, 11:17:17 PMQuote from: valpo64 on February 28, 2022, 02:07:31 PMIsn't it great to read and hear from our so -called "Valpo supporters" who bad mouth almost everything and constantly comment about players having reason to transfer. I am sure these encouraging words are a big help to our program's stability and continuity, recruiting and overall team morale and I am sure the players enjoy reading these comments that originate with our loyal supporters.
Positive words of encouragement are not going to save the program. Food for thought. Fans generally are pointing the finger at the Coach for the last 6 years (no small sample size), who has largely underachieved with the talent on the roster. I am far less critical of the players and I think we have a high character group with talent, but we are rudderless in terms of strategy at the Top. I agree it's important be positive and give people fair shakes, but it's just as important to be clear eyed and honest about the state of the program. You can't sugar coat it. I'm sure some players read this board from time to time and I would advise them against it. It's not healthy to consume negativity like this, but I am no longer going to be silent about my lack of belief in the head coach for fear of impacting morale. Programs don't fail due to fan critiques. They generally rise and fall base on the caliber of the Head Coach leading it. I genuinely hate that I am being this pessimistic, but I think Valpo's best crack at recovering and building the program back up is with a new Head Coach. That may be a few years away.
I am 100% in agreement that Lottich has failed to deliver and deserves to go. But that likely won't happen. So for a glimmer of optimism here is what I will say.
The Valley was STACKED at the top this year. The fact that Loyola ended up as a 4 seed tells you what you need to know. Those 4 teams would all be locks on their own talent for the NCAA Tournament in a normal year and all are prime candidates for a run in the tourney, who ever of them makes it. We competed well with many of these teams, and were probably a few plays (or in bound passes) away in key games to having a much better record.
Injuries happen to every team, but it hit us hard as always. We entered this year finally with a solid point guard that can score as well. We ended with two freshman that struggle to score and still make freshman mistakes. On top of that, maybe the most important player on the team from many angles, Kithier, was battling injury all year and sat for some key games.
Our biggest addition, Kobe, sat out half the year and had some significant rust to shake off as he played. We needed more out of him in many games, but he showed some signs on that special player we needed him to be.
The best recruit in many of our eyes, Young, barely saw the floor early on and wound up redshirting with some injuries. That could be a bad sign that he's not as good as advertised OR it could be a glimmer of hope that next year we get to see the special player we all expected him to be.
All it takes is one year to turn it around. Is it possible with Lottich and this group. Maybe. We have some talent. Maybe one of our players makes that leap next year from good to dominant.
Of the teams in front of us this year only Drake loses the majority of their starters. Everyone else loses just one starter among their top five offensive players. Murray State loses no one. Belmont loses two. UIC beat us. Can we expect anything better than the bottom half of the conference again next year? Especially with poor coaching that Lottich has shown year after year.
Valpo64, better to complain about something you care about. Unfortunately, most "Valpo Supporters" have checked out now which is worse. They don't want to take the time to post on here or watch a game. They have moved on to other things in their lives what ever that is. These game posts used to be 4 or 5 pages with multiple "Valpo Supporters" chiming in. This one is three with the majority of talk about Matt Lottich or transfer.. Not the game. Sad but I don't blame anyone. No longer have the energy or desire to invest their time.
My prediction is six players leaving:
Transfers: Connor, Darius, Sheldon, Ben and Keyondre.
Early Graduate: Emil
Think you guys are wrong about transfers. I really don't think anyone will unless they think they are over their head at playing in the Missouri Valley. If many do transfer then VU is in deep trouble with trying to put a team together for next. One recruit coming in and no one else even mentioned in scouting sites. Last year co-vid kind of saved VU's butt but next year transfers will not be able to play immediately.
RS, direct message me for a side bet that no one transfers. I like my odds.