Messages

Fun, Fast and Free is working...

No matter the style. If you don't have the talent to compete, no system will work when there is a talent gap.

The coaches had to cobble a roster together quickly. There is talent on the Team, but most of it is young. It sounds harsh but there are guys on the roster who do not belong on any MVC roster (Barrett, Palm, Sciarroni all have scholarships that are eating up scholarships). Additionally, Scroggins (high upside red shirt) and Manyang (medical red shirt), all are not contributing this this season. A short bench...

Barrett and Palm can not be on this roster next season as they are dragging down this Team with their lack of ability to play at this level. Both guys will graduate and Valpo needs to part ways at the end of the season and not allow them to use their final year of eligibility on this roster. They need those scholarships for players that can actually help the Team. The coaches are within their right not grant them the final year of eligibility for college graduates who won't help the Team

Not great for Valpo if Notre Dame enters the mix.

https://x.com/inbballsource/status/1756390040635093496?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

I'm not sure what's going on with the Team the last few games. They are clearly very inexperienced but they should not be getting routed the way they have been by Indiana State and Belmont. They are better than this and significantly underperforming they're their potential.

I'm not expecting them to win, but they should significantly more competitive. The last two games have been embarrassing.

The coaches need to figure this out.

Sounds harsh, but Palm and Barrett have no business being on this roster next season...

Critical recruiting mistake by the last staff. I understand the Barrett recruitment, but Lottich completely ignored his injury history in high school and still made the offer.

Interesting exchange. Love that Coach Powell, is defending himself and the Team.

https://x.com/rogerpowelljr/status/1745988287041360060?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Just thinkin....  the kid could be the next Bryce Drew if he comes to the program. And look what Bryce did in getting NATIONAL attention to Valpo. Him playing in the "new" arena in his hometown would guarantee great gates.  The other thing is that he is a natural southpaw jump shooter which is thing defenders need to adjust to, but can go with either hand for everything else. It also looks like he has a high motor and looks for teammates. And that is what Roger is seeking.

He would pair really well with Justus McNair in the backcourt. As you mentioned, he's exactly what we need

Jack is playing so well he's getting high major looks.

I hope this isn't Brandon Newman and Sasha all over again. Those guys would have been legends in our program.

But I still don't think Lottich would have let them achieve their potential.

https://x.com/zt17hoops/status/1738228584966484040?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

This roster has some major holes.

I put this loss on the coaching search committee dragging their feet on the hire of Powell, to not give him and his staff enough time adequately recruit.

There is a lot of high upside young talent, but this Team has some glaring roster construction needs that the staff didn't have adequate time to recruit for in the offseason...

I've mentioned is before but I wouldn't mind if Palm and Barrett didn't use their final year of eligibility at Valpo... sounds harsh but we could really use those scholarships elsewhere

I feel bad saying this but I wouldn't mind if some of the Juniors (palm & conor) didn't take their final year of eligibility. We could really use those scholarships.

It's kind of morally questionable but coaches can revoke scholarships or highly encourage guys to transfer. There was a story about Bryce and Powell pushing to have Nick Davidson transfer back in the day. AP caught wind and was really pissed because Nick is one of his best friends.

Makes me wonder...

I don't even think we technically have a spot for McNair

We currently have 12 scholarship players and three walk-ons. Teams are allowed 13 full scholarships.

He's 2024 recruit. We don't technically have any available 2024 scholarships.

I do wonder if this will be Conor Barrett's last season. He technically has additional year of eligibility, but he's going to graduate and the injuries have been significant.

The Lottich regime took a big risk with recruiting Conor because he had a well documented injury history in high school

Both John Kiser and Preston R were preferred walk ons at Valpo. It means that there is a wink and a nod that if the kid proves he play at this level and contribute and there is an open scholarship, they will earn a scholarship.

I honestly can't tell his skill level from one YouTube clip, but reading the tea leaves, it seems John and Preston had a higher ceiling.

Taking nothing away from the kid. He could be a good glue guy who could  help the Team. They is no downside and only upside. He can push his teammates in practice. It's well known that preferred walk ons really get after it in practice. There are some great stories of Kiser really getting after it battling a senior Alec Peters in practice. Obviously he was out match defending AP but you can't teach effort & hustle from a kid who has a chip on his shoulder.

Interesting how low he keeps his hands when shooting, but he has a quick release. 

Yeah, I noticed the same thing. Wondering if that would cause any issues shots getting blocked against longer and more athletic defenders.

Valpo just landed a commitment from a SG from Chicagoland. I want to emphasize how little info is out there about him for this modern era of High school basketball in Illinois. Could only find a few tweets and one video. Seems to be a lefty sharp shooter type. A Conor Barrett type with a little less height. 6'0" from what I saw online.

Really smooth and quick shoot stroke. Hopefully he's an undiscovered gem. Have to trust the coaches.

Looking forward to Paul's reporting. Hopefully he can shed some light and give some insight.

https://x.com/itsnicklombardi/status/1731822363279229265?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

https://x.com/scottybscout/status/1525850375542145024?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Big recruiting visit

https://x.com/zion_10_/status/1715895615316467884?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Another Don Bosco Prep offer:

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

This says academic scholarship. Is he a walk-on, or is this unrelated to men's bb?

Good catch. Possible walk-on

Another Don Bosco Prep offer:

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

[3PT % 45.7]

Isaiah Stafford #24 G John A. Logan GP 35 PTS/G 12.5 FG % 50.6 3PT % 45.7 FT % 73.5 REB/G 4.0 • 45.7% is better than anyone in the MVC this year. • Valpo's best 3-pt shooters: Barrett 26th Nelson 35th

Probably drops at least 10% at the D1 level, but 35% is better than 25%

I'm trying to understand your point. I completely get the falloff from high school to college. The 3-point arc is a foot farther out, opposing players are faster, stronger and more physical, there are fewer uncontested 3's, players need to work off of picks and screens to get open, quicker release times are paramount, etc. Other than possibly more defensive intensity at D-1 than JC (if that's even true), I can't think of any other significant differences. The premier JC programs are well coached in every aspect of the game. Unlike generally less athletic D-2/D-3/NAIA players, generally JC players have D-1-level athleticism, speed, and physicality. I'm not trying to understate the difference, but it shouldn't be overstated either. What am I missing?

I think 10% is probably too high of a difference but there is a difference. There were 40 Div I players who had a 3pt shooting pct of 40% or higher. Three times that many at NJCAA but the cluster was closer to 40%. Those at or around the 40th player at the NJCAA level were at about 43%. So I'd expect that it's possible that Stafford could still be in the area of 40% for Valpo and, of course, that all depends on his usage. Scary thing is he wasn't the best shooter on the team.

JD24, great point. Thank you for looking up the stats.

Just a gut feeling, but I like our chance to land a commitment from Kasper. A very under the radar player.

https://twitter.com/kasparsepp21/status/1652265086453440512?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

Valpo has been extremely involved in the recruitment and scouting of Don Bosco Prep in recent weeks.

Wouldn't shock me if we landed another recruit from there in the near future.

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1653504454392533011?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

No. As long as he develops young talent. Establishes the culture and style of play it could still be a "successful" season.

This is definitely not going to be an overnight fix.

How ironic would it be if Ola (Don Bosco Prep prospect) is the first commit of the Valpo era.

The Lottich era began with all of Don Bosco Prep (David Maravilla) drama about try to force Lottich's hand on an assistant coach hire to the staff, which caused the David Skara transfer.

One of Powell's first recruiting visits was to Don Bosco Prep.

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1651941456809009154?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

I would classify Marquis Kennedy as a has-been.  He was not that effective in his last year at Loyola as I remember.

He just committed to UIC

https://twitter.com/nickschultz_7/status/1650527389171023872?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

I'm wondering if enter Marquise Kennedy's recruitment late in the process.

Matt Gordon is his old Coach and would be familiar with him. Maybe that opens the door for Valpo to have a shot

Interesting to note that Pat Baldwin was introduced as an Assistant coach and not an Associate Head Coach. Pat does have Hc experience.

The power of NIL.

https://twitter.com/amfkristensen/status/1648356078541844482?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw