Valpo at Illinois State Game Thread, Sat., Feb. 15th, 2020, 6:00p CT

[vok22]

Tex - I didn't know illinois st. Was against Valpo joining the league.  How do you know this?  Illinois state seems to be the only team we have a winning record against since joining. 

Didn't we recruit a player that ended up choosing Illinois state over us?

Great win and that was fun.  Would like to enjoy it more but a big part of me is why should I be happy about beating the second to last place team.  It should be expected. 

They beat UNI. Record just does not matter when playing on the road in conference.

[tiny707]

Did Sackey play at all in second half?

[FieldGoodie05]

Did Sackey play at all in second half?

I didn't see him in the 2nd half.  Should he have played?

[JD24]

Tex - I didn't know illinois st. Was against Valpo joining the league.  How do you know this?  Illinois state seems to be the only team we have a winning record against since joining. Didn't we recruit a player that ended up choosing Illinois state over us? Great win and that was fun.  Would like to enjoy it more but a big part of me is why should I be happy about beating the second to last place team.  It should be expected.

Taylor Bruninga is the player who ended up at Illinois St. He's battled injury nearly since he got there and looked terrible last night.

I thought the issue with ISU was their fans talking Valpo down which, considering their program, is laughable.

[bbtds]

many
frustrated
noises

Getting close to losing interest in watching this trash.

That was pathetic.

So frustrating.

They look lost. That was pitiful

That wasn't pretty.  Poor passing leading to turnovers.  No strength to the basket.  Apparently, getting to the game site early means nothing.

From down 7 with around 1 minute left, to down 17.  That was the worst stretch of basketball I have ever seen.

Correction. We stunk it up early, and we stunk it up late making the entire first half stink. Man, we just cannot play decent in consecutive games. We lose our "glue guy" and the team just falls completely apart. We don't play defense, we don't have an offense. Maybe we'll get it together and play an outstanding second half and only lose by ten. Pitiful performance, just pitiful. 

Thankfully I don't have a tv feed here so I don't have to see this performance. It was way painful listening it.

I didn't see the game I only saw the final score but I thought what a nail biter of a game this must of been to a team we probably should have beaten easily but then I read these comments and thought, wow, we really came a long way back to win this one.

[GoldenCrusader87]

What this team would be without Freeman ... i don't want to know. Nice to see him step up last night and take the game into his own hands.

Impressive to say the least. Put him on the payroll. Deserves it more then any coach.

[nkvu]

many
frustrated
noises

Getting close to losing interest in watching this trash.

That was pathetic.

So frustrating.

They look lost. That was pitiful

That wasn't pretty.  Poor passing leading to turnovers.  No strength to the basket.  Apparently, getting to the game site early means nothing.

From down 7 with around 1 minute left, to down 17.  That was the worst stretch of basketball I have ever seen.

Correction. We stunk it up early, and we stunk it up late making the entire first half stink. Man, we just cannot play decent in consecutive games. We lose our "glue guy" and the team just falls completely apart. We don't play defense, we don't have an offense. Maybe we'll get it together and play an outstanding second half and only lose by ten. Pitiful performance, just pitiful. 

Thankfully I don't have a tv feed here so I don't have to see this performance. It was way painful listening it.

I didn't see the game I only saw the final score but I thought what a nail biter of a game this must of been to a team we probably should have beaten easily but then I read these comments and thought, wow, we really came a long way back to win this one.

I was only off by thirteen points and the win. That's why I don't bet on sports.

[valpotx]

Yes, it was the Illinois State fans that really trashed Valpo joining the MVC.  There were a few UNI fans (not many), but ISUr fans were pretty outspoken about our joining.

[FWalum]

Missouri State and Drake win to create a 4 way tie for 5th in the conference with VU and Indiana State. Evansville gave Drake a pretty tough game, we need to go in there and just have a complete game. Winning on Wednesday would go a long way to keeping us out of the Thursday games.

[Pgmado]

Yes, it was the Illinois State fans that really trashed Valpo joining the MVC.  There were a few UNI fans (not many), but ISUr fans were pretty outspoken about our joining.

I've gotten to know a few ISUr fans at Arch Madness over the last several years. Spent some time with them last night. The people I've met love having Valpo in the league.

[oklahomamick]

Did anyone take the train to the game?

[Valpower]

Yes, it was the Illinois State fans that really trashed Valpo joining the MVC.  There were a few UNI fans (not many), but ISUr fans were pretty outspoken about our joining.

I've gotten to know a few ISUr fans at Arch Madness over the last several years. Spent some time with them last night. The people I've met love having Valpo in the league.

Fan message boards should never be taken as the voice of all fans, but at least one person on redbirds.net acknowledged the less-than-appreciative stance of ISU fans towards the addition of Valpo and Loyola.

Let's not forget how upset most were where the Valley added those pathetic underachieving Valparaiso and Loyola programs; two programs that have consistently beat us like a drum since they began MVC play.
We are now the dregs of the MVC.

[wh]

I will be departing NWI in a few hours and won't be back before the college bb season is over. I will be following when I can and as internet service permits. That said, would someone kindly start game threads from here forward? Go Crusaders!

[valpo64]

Regarding IL St fans being upset...it all started when Alec Peters chose VU over the Redbirds.  They were quite upset when they lost him to dear old Valpo   

[PlumStreetBum]

many frustrated noises Getting close to losing interest in watching this trash.

That was pathetic.

So frustrating.

They look lost. That was pitiful

That wasn't pretty.  Poor passing leading to turnovers.  No strength to the basket.  Apparently, getting to the game site early means nothing.

From down 7 with around 1 minute left, to down 17.  That was the worst stretch of basketball I have ever seen.

Correction. We stunk it up early, and we stunk it up late making the entire first half stink. Man, we just cannot play decent in consecutive games. We lose our "glue guy" and the team just falls completely apart. We don't play defense, we don't have an offense. Maybe we'll get it together and play an outstanding second half and only lose by ten. Pitiful performance, just pitiful. Thankfully I don't have a tv feed here so I don't have to see this performance. It was way painful listening it.

I didn't see the game I only saw the final score but I thought what a nail biter of a game this must of been to a team we probably should have beaten easily but then I read these comments and thought, wow, we really came a long way back to win this one.

These are the reason I've been trying to not comment until after games, and even then for an hour or so. This team is unpredictable from half to half and it's useful to just, you know... have a scotch and not get too high or low.


Though I will admit to a fist pump after the Freeman dunk 

[valpo64]

Has Matt's post game presser been posted?  It would be interesting to see both Matt's and  the IL ST portion of post game comments.

[4throwfan]

Regarding IL St fans being upset...it all started when Alec Peters chose VU over the Redbirds.  They were quite upset when they lost him to dear old Valpo   

The highlight from the game below is when the Redbirds defeated VU in 2018.  They were so proud of themselves for dunking on a then-freshman Mileek.

Good thing that their fans were so proud of them then, because since then, Mileek and his friends have reeled off 5 straight wins, culminating the humiliation on Saturday night on their home court.

Gotta love Karma.  I hope IL St fans are upset and seething about VU's entry into the MVC for a very long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo08A_WPfdM

[Just Sayin]

https://twitter.com/ValleyHoops/status/1229565441783156737