Game #8 - #21/#25 Rhode Island Tuesday Nov 29 7pm in the ARC

[talksalot]

and THAT folks is why I'm driving to Lexington with pgmado in one of the other seats... 

[FieldGoodie05]

Thanks Rhody.  I speak for myself, but your opinion is well received.  We know the pain of underachieving.  Our team last year was setup for a great Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament but we couldn't get out of our conference championship.  Last year was probably our best team since the 90s.  Which in my head is just yesterday but it's been over 16 years...

[vu72]

Thanks Rhody.  I speak for myself, but your opinion is well received.  We know the pain of underachieving.  Our team last year was setup for a great Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament but we couldn't get out of our conference championship.  Last year was probably our best team since the 90s.  Which in my head is just yesterday but it's been over 16 years...

It certainly was but I'm not quite ready to say this year's team isn't as good.  Clearly we had more depth last year and we did have the nation's best shot blocker.  This years team is completely different. As an example, look at center.  Last year we had Vashil backed up by Jubril.  They averaged a combined 11.7 ppg and 11.4 boards.  This year we have Jubril, backed up by Derrik and J.  They combine for 11.3 ppg and 7.7 boards.  Obviously Vashil will easily beat the combined this year's centers for blocks.

Looking at the point, Keith averaged 10.3 ppg, 3.3 boards and 4.5 apg.  He had some back up but did average averaged 29 minutes per game.  This year we have Lexus and Max with a combined 12.5 ppg, 6.4 boards and 4.2 apg.

The big equalizer is the combined play of Alec, Shane and Tevonn.  Their combined average ppg have increased 15 ppg over their output last year and they have 5 more boards.

At this point the tight rotation is working very nicely and perhaps better than the full backup five emerging every game last year.  Over a long season however we may see our boys fade unless we can get more minutes and production from the freshman.

[FieldGoodie05]

Truly valid points, my reasoning is that all but Jaume/Bradford were on last years team.  Smits was there, of course his injury had already occurred by this time last year.

We had Lexus and everyone else.  It was coaches choice to not play them.  I still think last years team was more developed....especially at 8 games in.  But man have we had a good two weeks😎

P.S.  Where Center is likely to be a strength this year in depth, SG/SF is not.

[vu72]

So big win for Cincy over @19 Iowa State.  That will help value our win over Rhody.  Keep it up!!

[StlVUFan]

Quote from: valpo84 on November 30, 2016, 01:20:28 PM
The really close Indiana game was 2000-01 season in the Hoosier Classic 63-60 at Conseco.  That was a very good team that started in the Alaska Tourney by beating Ohio State.  But, lost in the MidCon Finals to SoUtah (was that the infamous mono game?)  Dane Fife or Tom Coverdale (likely Coverdale) shot lights out.

I thought the Hoosier Classic game at Conseco in 2000-01 was against Purdue? I know I was at this game, as I had to change the time for my music jury to accommodate going to this game with the pep band. It was a fun trip on Fall semester Reading Day, that's for sure.

Valpo played at Conseco twice that season. Great story about the game against Indiana. It was during Christmas break and the morning of the game Karl Berner calls me and tells me he has an extra media pass for WVUR and that he can get me in. I drive the 280 miles from Milwaukee to Indianapolis and witness an amazing game. Coverdale knocked down a halfcourt buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first half which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game. I interviewed Mike Davis after the game and I remember he had the longest finger nails of any male I'd ever seen until that point in my life.

I was hoping to get back in my dorm room for the night back in Valpo, but they had changed the locks on Alumni Hall, so I ended up driving all the way back to Milwaukee. Around 3:30 in the morning, and 553 miles into my 560 mile trip, I hit a patch of black ice on the road during a blizzard and I spun into a ditch. The snow was fresh and loose so when I hit the ditch it lifted a bunch of snow in the air that cascaded onto my car almost like a waterfall. My car was immediately buried in snow and I had to climb out of the back to get out of the car. A tow truck came, pulled the car out and there was zero damage to my car. I drove the final seven miles gripping my steering wheel like crazy.

Oh my.  I went to the Purdue game at Canseco that year, and drove back home right after (to St. Louis).  Didn't get home until the following (Sunday) evening because the huge snowstorm closed I-70 for awhile.  With all the flurries, couldn't see much past my windshield anyway.  By the time the road cleared, I was in such a state that I kept having to stop every few exits and try to sleep some more.

But you certainly had the rougher ride after the IU game.  Trying to remember which game came first.

[wh]

It was deja vu for URI, following another 3-point loss on the road - this time to Providence. As in our game, they missed a 3-pointer that would have sent the game to O.T.  For the record, Rhody was favored in both games - 2.5 vs. Valpo, and 3.5 vs. Providence.

As might be expected, their message board in full cardiac arrest.

[oklahomamick]

I heard there is a VU hangover

[a3uge]

I'll update the rankings on URI after the polls come out on Monday

URI up to #21 in this weeks AP poll... no Valpo votes... yet.

Valpo got smoked by Oregon which was without best player. I highly doubt Valpo will be getting votes for a while.

Agreed. The only change to the top 25 with a Valpo win will be that Rhode Island will no longer be on it.

We're not going to crack the Top 25 with one win. But, I'll be surprised if we beat Rhode Island and don't pick up at least a few votes.

Yeah, Seth Davis already had Valpo in the "almost famous" category. He loves Valpo for whatever reason, so I can see him giving a few votes.

Just like that, Seth Davis is giving Valpo votes. Don't say I didn't warn you!

[NativeCheesehead]

So anyone have a (preferably digital) copy of this game? Wanted to rewatch it. Can't find it on youtube and Watch ESPN only goes back so far.

[justducky]

Rhode Island with a wire to wire 84-72 win over Creighton. Next up- Oregon. If the ducks are still short handed the Rams might make a trip back to the sweet 16. They are really playing well.

[VU2624]

Rhode Island with a wire to wire 84-72 win over Creighton. Next up- Oregon. If the ducks are still short handed the Rams might make a trip back to the sweet 16. They are really playing well.

Boucher is out for the season for Oregon. I'm not aware of any other injuries. Oregon should win this game although you never know.

[VU2624]

Rhode Island with a wire to wire 84-72 win over Creighton. Next up- Oregon. If the ducks are still short handed the Rams might make a trip back to the sweet 16. They are really playing well.

Right now looking like a solid prognostication!

[VU2624]

Not quite enough for Hurley's crew.

[valpolaw]

RI played great, but Martin was mia and they blew a big lead. Too bad, would've like to see them win but it was a great game. I remember when their fans were flipping out when we beat them early in the season.

[oklahomamick]

Witch year, this year or last year? 

I think Hurley was on the hot seat until he made the run at the end of the year and won the a10 tourney and a NCAA game.  They closed out the year well.

[vu72]

Witch year, this is year or last year? 

I think Hurley was on the hot seat until he made the run at the end of the year and won the a10 tourney and a NCAA game.  They closed out the year well.

SOUND LIKE A WITCH HUNT TO ME!! 

[bbtds]

Witch year, this is year or last year? 

I think Hurley was on the hot seat until he made the run at the end of the year and won the a10 tourney and a NCAA game.  They closed out the year well.

SOUND LIKE A WITCH HUNT TO ME!! 

Did you say "Witch Hunt?"