2014-15 HL Tournament Thread

[wh]

Since the tournament begins this evening, I thought it would be good to have a thread for on-going discussion as the games progress. 

I found this new video on the HL website "Coaches talks about the feelings they have during the Horizon League Tournament," including comments from Bryce:

http://www.horizonleague.org/video.html?id=13855

Also, a new HL Men's Basketball Weekly giving a tourney overview:

http://www.horizonleague.org/video.html?id=13855

[valpopal]

Oren offer his tourney predictions sprinkled in with some good humor: http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/valparaiso-university/predicting-the-horizon-league-championship/article_bb1bb496-c1ef-11e4-82d1-53ed1d78a3a4.html

[covufan]

Oren offer his tourney predictions sprinkled in with some good humor: http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/valparaiso-university/predicting-the-horizon-league-championship/article_bb1bb496-c1ef-11e4-82d1-53ed1d78a3a4.html

Is he saying that his preseason predictions were hacked (like his o/u predictions)?

[LaPorteAveApostle]

"Coaches talks about the feelings they have during the Horizon League Tournament,"

followed by "Her Eyes On Leage Ofishuls Speak Pretty One Day"

[HC]

As everyone predicted, YSU is up 6 at Detroit at the half. Also, Howard didn't even start tonight for some reason?

[agibson]

As everyone predicted, YSU is up 6 at Detroit at the half. Also, Howard didn't even start tonight for some reason?

"Coach's decision" - but has been playing plenty of minutes, I think.  Not scoring much yet.

I missed this new thread.  From the other:

I just turned this game on a minute ago, pleasantly surprised to see YSU up 7.  But, they've already frittered it away...

Calihan looks pretty empty.  They are making some noise, however.

YSU's built the lead up a couple of times since frittering it away when first I tuned in.  YSU's had a bunch of turnovers, but also a bunch of steals.  Blown fast breaks, but at least one recovered after.  Both sides looking... dare I say... pretty beatable.  But hustling.

[agibson]

They're calling the ARC a high school gym, and saying it's their least favorite building in the league.  But acknowledging it as definitely a tough place to play.

[agibson]

Was that three fouls on one possession?  Detroit with its first lead of the game, under four minutes remaining.

[HC]

I quit watching the game....Captain America took over while my wife hosts a pampered chef party upstairs.

They can hate on the ARC all they want. It's a great atmosphere to take in a game and I can only imagine the energy the players feel when their home crowd is blowing the roof off the place.

I suppose a Detroit win will make the quarter finals a better game and hopefully wear out our opponent a lot more.

[vu72]

"Coaches talks about the feelings they have during the Horizon League Tournament,"

followed by "Her Eyes On Leage Ofishuls Speak Pretty One Day"

Dude, you get into the communion wine?

[a3uge]

"The Pavilion has erupted"

- overstatement of the year

UIC somehow up 1.

[a3uge]

Good thing no high school gym tho

[historyman]

UIC knocks off WSU by 3 and Jay Harris gets to play another game at the ARC!

Who told you so, baby?

[vu72]

And they win! After being down by 19!!  Clearly Jay Harris would have been a very valuable part of our team and perhaps put us in a different category.  He st the all time UIC record tonight, making his 153 free throw. As for the crowd "erupting", I can certainly undrstand the emotion.  Heck, there had to be 300 at the game !!!!

(let me just say that the idea of "campus" locations for first round games has clearly past its time)

[classof2014]

And they win! After being down by 19!!  Clearly Jay Harris would have been a very valuable part of our team and perhaps put us in a different category.  He st the all time UIC record tonight, making his 153 free throw. As for the crowd "erupting", I can certainly undrstand the emotion.  Heck, there had to be 300 at the game !!!!

(let me just say that the idea of "campus" locations for first round games has clearly past its time)

If Harris would've stayed at Valpo he would've graduated last year.

[a3uge]

If Harris would've stayed at Valpo he would've graduated 6 years ago.

FIFY

[LaPorteAveApostle]

If Harris would've stayed at Valpo he would've played with Rob Cavanaugh.

FIFY

IIFY

[talksalot]

Let's put it another way... "The Higher Seeds Advance... and I like that theme."

[bbtds]

"Coaches talks about the feelings they have during the Horizon League Tournament,"

followed by "Her Eyes On Leage Ofishuls Speak Pretty One Day"

Dude, you get into the communion wine?

No, the priest lost the key to the communion cabinet, even though it doesn't exist.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

If you read "Coaches talks about the feelings they have", and didn't notice anything, then *you* are the one tippling.

Or possibly living with Smeagol.

[Kyle321n]

(let me just say that the idea of "campus" locations for first round games has clearly past its time)

And how many people would have gone to these games last night if it was in Valpo? Detroit and YSU aren't going to bring anyone here 4 and 5 hours away to watch a first round game on a Tuesday and the same goes to Wright St. UIC might have brought a bus, but what would that have consisted of? 100 students and parents? As for the NW Indiana community, why would they show up to games for teams that are going to be eliminated before the home town team plays? I MIGHT have gone if the tickets were $5. Hell I had the games on my phone while I watched my regular Tuesday night TV shows (which means I cleaned out my DVR from the weekend/last week)

[valporun]

Not too many from the South Side of Chicago were going to go watch WSU-UIC on a Tuesday when IHSA 4A Regionals just got underway, and CPL teams are playing. More fans will go watch those games before they'll watch a 1st round HL tourney game at UIC between two teams they paid ZERO attention to all winter. It's just how it is in Chicago.

In terms of Illinois college basketball, it has fallen off the radar because the state knows that if you can't recruit Chicago because you don't know Chicago, then you won't get enough of the top Chicago kids to stay in state and play for the Illini, DePaul, Illinois State, Western Illinois, and Bradley. I didn't include Loyola or Northwestern as the top kids aren't looking at those schools due to more focus on education over basketball, athough Chris Collins is trying to balance that out in Evanston.

[talksalot]

and Valpo High lost in the Boys sectional last night... after sweeping the Duneland Conference... they lost to Crown Point in the Merrillville Sectional... had they kept winning, the sectional title game would be on Saturday opposite the VU game.   Sad for the HS... may help us round up the upper deck.

[valpopal]

Check out this article by Aaron Leavitt that details the 2012, 2013, and 2015 season championships highlighted in the new forum banner above: http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2014-15/14437/run-at-the-top-the-crusaders-success-under-bryce-drew/#.VPclvWTF9RY

[talksalot]

History of match ups being repeated on Friday night:

Oakland defeated UIC at Pavilion 81-56   
Oakland defeated UIC at ORena 91-77
Oakland is 1-3 at Neutral Courts, beat Chicago State, losses to Iowa State, Western Carolina and Georgia State
UIC is 0-2 at Neutral Courts, losses to Yale and Southern Illinois
=========================
CSU defeated Detroit at Wolstein 70-66
Detroit defeated CSU at Calihan 66-65
Detroit is 1-0 at Neutral Courts, Win over Maryland-Eastern Shore and Mike Myers.
Cleveland State has not played at Neutral Court this season