12/29, 2:00 p.m. Valpo @ Murray State Game Thread

[historyman]

Valpo  69
Murray State  70

[crusadermoe]

I see more upside in this team lately, but I don't see us putting it together already at Murray State against an experienced quick team.   

I also see the "Racers" going at a faster pace and higher points.

Murray   81
Valpo     72

[LaPorteAveApostle]

VU 79
MSU  78

on two underhanded FTs by Erik Buggs, inexplicably in game on offense in the crunch.
http://movieclips.com/m6Xvh-hoosiers-movie-ollie-sinks-his-free-throws/

[HC]

I don't think the key to this game is Isaiah Canaan, but instead I think Ed Daniel holds the key to a Valpo Victory.
http://cbbpps.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/murray-state-vs-valpo/

[vu72]

I don't think the key to this game is Isaiah Canaan, but instead I think Ed Daniel holds the key to a Valpo Victory.
http://cbbpps.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/murray-state-vs-valpo/

Love the analysis, way over my head. Can't wait for the game!

[HC]

I don't think the key to this game is Isaiah Canaan, but instead I think Ed Daniel holds the key to a Valpo Victory. http://cbbpps.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/murray-state-vs-valpo/

Love the analysis, way over my head. Can't wait for the game!

Thanks.  I heard one time that the WSJ is written at an 8th grade reading level, so I try to use to fancy of words (my vocabulary doesn't have fancy words in it even if I wanted to use them). Fancy (well not really) formulas though are another thing.  As long as what I write isn't too long I'm happy.  As soon as things I post get too wordy I'm done!

[wh]

I try to look for anything and everything positive with our Crusaders, and the PPS analysis is helpful in that regard.  That said, the fact is we are 2-4 on the road, culminating with a bizarre late game collapse against a bad Oakland team just a little more than a week ago.  I realize we have made some line-up changes since then, but I'm afraid I'm from Missouri right now.

[StlVUFan]

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/26/is-murray-state-an-elite-mid-major-program-or-just-a-good-team/

[vu72]

I try to look for anything and everything positive with our Crusaders, and the PPS analysis is helpful in that regard.  That said, the fact is we are 2-4 on the road, culminating with a bizarre late game collapse against a bad Oakland team just a little more than a week ago.  I realize we have made some line-up changes since then, but I'm afraid I'm from Missouri right now.

Yeah, but who do you like in the Valpo-Murray State game? 

[historyman]

I think the key to this game is the other 3 point shooters on Murray State. If Fields, Zay Jackson or Wilson can hit some threes Valpo will be in trouble. We basically know what Daniel and Canaan can do and even if they score 17 points and 20 points like they did against Dayton the Racers could still lose. The key in that game was the 0 for 7 that Stacy Wilson shot from three. If Murray State had been way ahead when Dayton made their run the Racers still could have won that game.

Also any time that a team has a player named Rambo you have to watch out for him. Tyler Rambo is a freshman from the Kansas City area.

[vu72]

I think the key to this game is the other 3 point shooters on Murray State. If Fields, Zay Jackson or Wilson can hit some threes Valpo will be in trouble. We basically know what Daniel and Canaan can do and even if they score 17 points and 20 points like they did against Dayton the Racers could still lose. The key in that game was the 0 for 7 that Stacy Wilson shot from three. If Murray State had been way ahead when Dayton made their run the Racers still could have won that game.

Also any time that a team has a player named Rambo you have to watch out for him. Tyler Rambo is a freshman from the Kansas City area.

Not to pick on your post but couldn't the same be said of Valpo?  If players other than Rowdy are hitting their 3's (Matt, Jordan, Ben, etc) then it will make it difficult to stop our bigs as they won't be able to sag in, and thus Valpo will be hard to beat.  We haven't lost any games where we hit 35-40% of our 3's (I think  )

[bbtds]

I think the key to this game is the other 3 point shooters on Murray State. If Fields, Zay Jackson or Wilson can hit some threes Valpo will be in trouble. We basically know what Daniel and Canaan can do and even if they score 17 points and 20 points like they did against Dayton the Racers could still lose. The key in that game was the 0 for 7 that Stacy Wilson shot from three. If Murray State had been way ahead when Dayton made their run the Racers still could have won that game.

Also any time that a team has a player named Rambo you have to watch out for him. Tyler Rambo is a freshman from the Kansas City area.

Not to pick on your post but couldn't the same be said of Valpo?  If players other than Rowdy are hitting their 3's (Matt, Jordan, Ben, etc) then it will make it difficult to stop our bigs as they won't be able to sag in, and thus Valpo will be hard to beat.  We haven't lost any games where we hit 35-40% of our 3's (I think  )

Yes, but has Valpo's supporting cast every hit their three point shots on the road this season or last season? Valpo simply does not shoot well from three on the road.

[vu84v2]

I just do not feel that Valpo has shown the ability to have enough options on offense to beat a higher tier team.

Valpo 58
Murray State 70

[vu72]

I think the key to this game is the other 3 point shooters on Murray State. If Fields, Zay Jackson or Wilson can hit some threes Valpo will be in trouble. We basically know what Daniel and Canaan can do and even if they score 17 points and 20 points like they did against Dayton the Racers could still lose. The key in that game was the 0 for 7 that Stacy Wilson shot from three. If Murray State had been way ahead when Dayton made their run the Racers still could have won that game.

Also any time that a team has a player named Rambo you have to watch out for him. Tyler Rambo is a freshman from the Kansas City area.

Not to pick on your post but couldn't the same be said of Valpo?  If players other than Rowdy are hitting their 3's (Matt, Jordan, Ben, etc) then it will make it difficult to stop our bigs as they won't be able to sag in, and thus Valpo will be hard to beat.  We haven't lost any games where we hit 35-40% of our 3's (I think  )

Yes, but has Valpo's supporting cast every hit their three point shots on the road this season or last season? Valpo simply does not shoot well from three on the road.

I understand and agree that its been hard on the road, but, it can happen.  Last year we shot 11 of 22 from the 3 at CSU, 8 of 20 at Detroit and 8 of 19 at Loyola. We even went 5 of 16 (not as good of course) in a win at Butler.  In unfirmiliar space with unfirmiliar lighting and background it is hard for any team. Hopefully we breakout this time.

[HC]

If you take Will out of that Detroit game I think Valpo shoots 1/12 from 3

[vu72]

If you take Will out of that Detroit game I think Valpo shoots 1/12 from 3

He was 4 of 8, so the net is 4 of 11, still a pretty high %.

[HC]

Yea that's not bad, here is the game I was referring to.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/media/basketball-men/2011-12/boxscores_stats/mb16-udm.htm

[DMvalpo18]

I don't think the key to this game is Isaiah Canaan, but instead I think Ed Daniel holds the key to a Valpo Victory. http://cbbpps.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/murray-state-vs-valpo/

Love the analysis, way over my head. Can't wait for the game!

Thanks.  I heard one time that the WSJ is written at an 8th grade reading level, so I try to use to fancy of words (my vocabulary doesn't have fancy words in it even if I wanted to use them). Fancy (well not really) formulas though are another thing.  As long as what I write isn't too long I'm happy.  As soon as things I post get too wordy I'm done!

Yeah, I can be bad about the fancy words thing sometimes....

[covufan]

We need to get one of these road wins as an underdog.  I think we can play with Murray State, but will we?

Murray State   75
Valpo              71

[justducky]

I just do not feel that Valpo has shown the ability to have enough options on offense to beat a higher tier team.

Valpo 58
Murray State 70

With a wealth of options now available I think this team soon starts performing like the well oiled machine that many of us have been waiting for. Even with excellent play a victory at Murray St will be hard to get, so maybe a 65-62 Valpo loss. I think your 12 point spread number is much too large. In fact we should stand a better chance at a narrow win than a 10 point plus, blow out loss.

[humbleopinion]

This is the "Fan Zone" forum.  There seems to be an awful lot of realism and too little fanaticism (or fantasy or wishful thinking). 

Valpo           80
Murray St.    73

The game will see-saw back and forth (a belief to keep me watching even if Valpo falls behind), but Valpo inches ahead at the end of the game forcing Murray St. to foul.  Valpo hits its free throws down the stretch to account for the difference.

[valpopal]

Early lines have Valpo an underdog by 6-7 points. Although I would love to see an upset, I expect VU to follow the Vegas odds once again and fall to 9-5 in non-conference games, exactly as I had predicted at the beginning of the season. I just want everyone to stay healthy and ready for conference play.

Valparaiso  68
Murray St.  77

[valpo84]

Under Bryce, when this team has scored 70 pts, they have generally won nearly all games. This year, Valpo has scored 48, 49 and 52 in losses, with 68 in a loss to Oakland. Murray has been a more uptempo team (unlike SLU and New Mexico (did you see their win against Cincy last night)). I'm struggling with why offensively we have struggled as generally Bryce's 2 teams, plus when he helped the O under Homer, have not had huge issues scoring, including against Butler's "stifling D" in their NCAA runner up teams. Even in the 3 losses to SLU, NM and Neb, we were close at the half.

Notwithstanding,
Murray        78
Valpo.         70

Game will be 2 points at half. We wil go cold from after 16 min TV timeout til after 11 min TV timeout and we fall behind by 10-12 and then we cut to 4 but cannot cut it farther missing open 3s twice then having to foul and Murray is delivered to promised land by Isaiah Canaan.

[KL31NY]

VU 79
MSU  78

on two underhanded FTs by Erik Buggs, inexplicably in game on offense in the crunch.
http://movieclips.com/m6Xvh-hoosiers-movie-ollie-sinks-his-free-throws/

Then we go home to face Loyola and run the "picket fence" at 'em! Don't get caught watchin' the paint dry!

[bbtds]

Since we have had 2 different references to the movie "Hoosiers" in 2 different threads I thought I would throw in this picture taken in 2006 at the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, IN where the movie's home court scenes were shot.




http://mikefender.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Hoosier-Gym-Knightstown/G0000IObok69h_24/I0000UPJ7lFatTjk


Can you name the four in this picture who played members of the Hickory Husker team?