Men's Basketball Press Conference on Tuesday (Reports: Bryce to be Head Coach)

[hoopfan22]

I wasn't going to touch that.

[dcvalpo]

I wasn't going to touch that.

I'm with ya on that one...things are getting a little hot in here 

[valpogal]

Freeman, really? 

[valpo04]

Freeman, really? 

(I'm not serious, of course)

Selective reading I suppose...

[mj]

I've been busy so I haven't been able to post anything, but all I can say is that I'm excited for next season. I'm sad to see Homer leave, but I'm glad that he's going to remain at Valpo in some capacity. I look at Bryce and think of Shaka Smart, Brad Stevens, etc. Hopefully we can get some of the same results. 

[vu72]

I've been busy so I haven't been able to post anything, but all I can say is that I'm excited for next season. I'm sad to see Homer leave, but I'm glad that he's going to remain at Valpo in some capacity. I look at Bryce and think of Shaka Smart, Brad Stevens, etc. Hopefully we can get some of the same results. 

Couldn't agree more.  Someone once described Bryce as having "the face of a choir boy and the heart of an assassin"  I would always take the points when Valpo played in the tourney with Bryce on the team.  He just wouldn't let Valpo get too far behind.  We all remember the 98 run but in 97, against Boston College, Bryce almost got us our first tourney win.  He made something like 7 or 8 3's.  Suffice it to say he doesn't like to lose.

[dcvalpo]

Freeman, really? 

Yet again, a "one-post wonder" comes in here to flame and troll...maybe you should build a little street cred around by posting more than ONE TIME and your opinions would be taken a little more seriously.

Valpo04, I think it is time to send this one to the woodshed.

[dcvalpo]

DCvalpo--I did see Scott at the presser but not sure he's ready to come back

Boy, wish I could be a fly on the wall at THAT family dinner!! 

[ValpoHoops]

Freeman, really? 

Yet again, a "one-post wonder" comes in here to flame and troll...maybe you should build a little street cred around by posting more than ONE TIME and your opinions would be taken a little more seriously.

Valpo04, I think it is time to send this one to the woodshed.

Easy now...

Remember that there are a lot of people who were posters on the old board as well, and some of them are just now migrating over here.

[KL31NY]

Ah, another interesting tidbit!  (I'm quoting from one of the Times articels)

"helping the university raise money for the athletics department in general, as well as a new basketball area, [sic]"

The typo seems to be theirs.  But, interesting to hear of a new arena.  Were there any details?

I haven't heard anything about a "new arena" per se, but I know at the least that there's talk in the campus master plan for possible renovation and addition to the ARC.

On a different note, given that Oren has written about 10 stories this week (and it's only Wednesday), I'm not shocked about the typo. Didn't even notice it until you brought it up. Oren's been doing work, though.

[valpo84]

My preference would be a big man coach. Luke is good, but someone like Ivan Vujic to be brought in to teach some toughness and interior play. Also relates to the kids we have from Croatia and Eastern Europe.

You dont' need to be a big guy to be a big man coach. Also, there's only 1 Croatian/Eastern Europe player on the team. You want a coach hired to relate specifically to him?

There's two from Split Croatia, and maybe a 3d coming. And it also helps with recruiting big men from that area.

[dcvalpo]

My preference would be a big man coach. Luke is good, but someone like Ivan Vujic to be brought in to teach some toughness and interior play. Also relates to the kids we have from Croatia and Eastern Europe.

You dont' need to be a big guy to be a big man coach. Also, there's only 1 Croatian/Eastern Europe player on the team. You want a coach hired to relate specifically to him?

There's two from Split Croatia, and maybe a 3d coming. And it also helps with recruiting big men from that area.

As noted above, we should probably refrain from making this a race thing.  Valparaiso University does not discriminate on the basis of race and we should not either.

Ok, moving on people...will Bryce keep the entire same staff or will wholesale changes be made?

[agibson]

He'll presumably make at least one hire, right?

And, I don't particularly see a need to re-discuss in detail whether (or how much) we should prioritize hiring a black, or maybe some other racial minority, assistant coach.  But, at Valpo, I guess race _is_ a factor in admissions and hiring, right?  I'd have to double check, but I assume there's some intentionality about making the campus a racially/ethnically-diverse (not only spiritually-diverse) place.

[agibson]

On a different note, given that Oren has written about 10 stories this week (and it's only Wednesday), I'm not shocked about the typo. Didn't even notice it until you brought it up. Oren's been doing work, though.

To clarify: I didn't mean to make a big deal out of it.  I was just a bit startled to notice it after copying-and-pasting.  It's not a normal thing, but also isn't a big deal. If we wanted to assess blame, I'd blame it on the copy editor more than on the writer.

I've been quite impressed by the work of Paul and others at the Times, this season and post-season especially.  And, indeed, the flurry of articles in the last couple of days has been very impressive.  (And, as I say, even the copy editors seem to do fine work!  I don't regularly notice such typoes in the Times.)

[wh]

He'll presumably make at least one hire, right?

And, I don't particularly see a need to re-discuss in detail whether (or how much) we should prioritize hiring a black, or maybe some other racial minority, assistant coach.  But, at Valpo, I guess race _is_ a factor in admissions and hiring, right?  I'd have to double check, but I assume there's some intentionality about making the campus a racially/ethnically-diverse (not only spiritually-diverse) place.

The popular thinking among today's most progressive (non-political definition) corporate business decision-makers is to value the broad spectrum of diversity as a major business strength.  Race is only one of several considerations.  Other dimensions of diversity include such things as age, gender, ethnicity, work experience, education, geographic orientation (e.g., urban vs. rural), etc., etc.  The theory is that heterogeneous groups function more effectively and make better comprehensive business decisions than do homogeneous groups.  That said, from a business perspective Bryce should take all of these dimensions into account in making hiring decisions.  Thus, the successful candidate may or may not be white, may or may not be young, may or may not be male, etc., etc.  Having someone "black" or "female" or whatever on staff for the sake of looking p.c. is an outmoded, designed-to-fail mechanism will never get us where we need to go in American society. 

[hoopfan22]

Agreed. It's going to be interesting to see who's on staff.

[dcvalpo]

He'll presumably make at least one hire, right?

And, I don't particularly see a need to re-discuss in detail whether (or how much) we should prioritize hiring a black, or maybe some other racial minority, assistant coach.  But, at Valpo, I guess race _is_ a factor in admissions and hiring, right?  I'd have to double check, but I assume there's some intentionality about making the campus a racially/ethnically-diverse (not only spiritually-diverse) place.

The popular thinking among today's most progressive (non-political definition) corporate business decision-makers is to value the broad spectrum of diversity as a major business strength.  Race is only one of several considerations.  Other dimensions of diversity include such things as age, gender, ethnicity, work experience, education, geographic orientation (e.g., urban vs. rural), etc., etc.  The theory is that heterogeneous groups function more effectively and make better comprehensive business decisions than do homogeneous groups.  That said, from a business perspective Bryce should take all of these dimensions into account in making hiring decisions.  Thus, the successful candidate may or may not be white, may or may not be young, may or may not be male, etc., etc.  Having someone "black" or "female" or whatever on staff for the sake of looking p.c. is an outmoded, designed-to-fail mechanism will never get us where we need to go in American society. 

Well said, wh.

Speaking of being progressive, here is an idea that might be a little out there, but roll with me.  What about the idea of the men's and women's programs "sharing" coaches?  If we have a talented "bigs" coach, why not have that person do double duty and work with the bigs from both teams?  If you have an exceptional scouting director, let him/her break down film for both teams.  If one head coach is more experienced and has had more success, let him or her handle the head coaching duties for both teams. 

I know this is really outside-the-box thinking, but I would love to see how it would work out.  It builds more of a basketball "program" instead of separate "programs."  And if this idea is a stinker, I can handle that too.  (That said, flames, trolling or put downs will not be tolerated by the admins here)

[agibson]

I guess conflicting travel schedules would get in the way of some of that?

[bbtds]

It is an idea that doesn't pass the first test of the physical demension. How does a coach occupy two places at the same time? Until they make exceptions to the schedule for it which probably would never work that person can't physically do both jobs.

[dcvalpo]

Well, the ball is now squarely in Mark Labarbara's court.  If we really wanted to pursue something like this, it would be on him to work with Horizon officials to get scheduling issues ironed out.  Maybe we would have to have women's and men's practices back-to-back?  I think this is an idea worth exploring, even if just for fun.

[bbtds]

Well, the ball is now squarely in Mark Labarbara's court.  If we really wanted to pursue something like this, it would be on him to work with Horizon officials to get scheduling issues ironed out.  Maybe we would have to have women's and men's practices back-to-back?  I think this is an idea worth exploring, even if just for fun.

Scheduling is never easy even now. Remember how scheduling hurt Valpo against Loyola (okay, that was at least Bryce's opinion--and he's now the head coach). I'd like to see you come up with a schedule that even works without any input from the other teams. One that works just for Valpo. I think you'll find it impossible.

[dcvalpo]

Well, the ball is now squarely in Mark Labarbara's court.  If we really wanted to pursue something like this, it would be on him to work with Horizon officials to get scheduling issues ironed out.  Maybe we would have to have women's and men's practices back-to-back?  I think this is an idea worth exploring, even if just for fun.

Scheduling is never easy even now. Remember how scheduling hurt Valpo against Loyola (okay, that was at least Bryce's opinion--and he's now the head coach). I'd like to see you come up with a schedule that even works without any input from the other teams. One that works just for Valpo. I think you'll find it impossible.

Hey, this is why Mark L. makes the big bucks! 

[DMvalpo18]

He'll presumably make at least one hire, right?

And, I don't particularly see a need to re-discuss in detail whether (or how much) we should prioritize hiring a black, or maybe some other racial minority, assistant coach.  But, at Valpo, I guess race _is_ a factor in admissions and hiring, right?  I'd have to double check, but I assume there's some intentionality about making the campus a racially/ethnically-diverse (not only spiritually-diverse) place.

The popular thinking among today's most progressive (non-political definition) corporate business decision-makers is to value the broad spectrum of diversity as a major business strength.  Race is only one of several considerations.  Other dimensions of diversity include such things as age, gender, ethnicity, work experience, education, geographic orientation (e.g., urban vs. rural), etc., etc.  The theory is that heterogeneous groups function more effectively and make better comprehensive business decisions than do homogeneous groups.  That said, from a business perspective Bryce should take all of these dimensions into account in making hiring decisions.  Thus, the successful candidate may or may not be white, may or may not be young, may or may not be male, etc., etc.  Having someone "black" or "female" or whatever on staff for the sake of looking p.c. is an outmoded, designed-to-fail mechanism will never get us where we need to go in American society. 

Well said, wh.

Speaking of being progressive, here is an idea that might be a little out there, but roll with me.  What about the idea of the men's and women's programs "sharing" coaches?  If we have a talented "bigs" coach, why not have that person do double duty and work with the bigs from both teams?  If you have an exceptional scouting director, let him/her break down film for both teams.  If one head coach is more experienced and has had more success, let him or her handle the head coaching duties for both teams. 

I know this is really outside-the-box thinking, but I would love to see how it would work out.  It builds more of a basketball "program" instead of separate "programs."  And if this idea is a stinker, I can handle that too.  (That said, flames, trolling or put downs will not be tolerated by the admins here)

well, i certainly never did consider that as an option. as much i trust freeman to get things turned around soon, i don't see how plausible this is. at all!

[dcvalpo]

People also said a dunk shot or a three pointer shot wasn't a plausible addition to the game, and I think we all know how that turned out.

Listen, it wouldn't take much.  Some handy scheduling, bumping up the pay scale a bit, some unique practice schedules, and this program will be making some national headlines....maybe this time we will capitalize, unlike the lack of action taken following the Sweet 16 run.

[Valpo89]

Having coaches work for both the men's and women's programs? That's absurd. And it's also probably against NCAA rules.

Sometimes you guys amaze me.