Opponent Games and Scores

[a3uge]

So many free throws

[valpopal]

Okay, after watching the Oakland-Michigan State game, I'd like to hear a defense again from anyone who thought the Horizon League's tournament format change that takes away the benefit from winning the conference regular season and permanently gives Oakland (and Detroit) automatic home court advantage was a good idea. 

[SanityLost17]

So many free throws

I think we shoot wayyyyy too many 3's, giving up a lot of points at the line.  Kampe is a step ahead of Drew at adjusting to the new rules that allow guards to drive to the basket.   

[vusupporter]

Our FTA/FGA ratio currently ranks 165th in the nation (numbers from Ken Pomeroy website). Oakland ranks 156th.

[a3uge]

So many free throws

I think we shoot wayyyyy too many 3's, giving up a lot of points at the line.  Kampe is a step ahead of Drew at adjusting to the new rules that allow guards to drive to the basket.   

Oakland shoots more 3s per game than Valpo.

[SanityLost17]

So many free throws

I think we shoot wayyyyy too many 3's, giving up a lot of points at the line.  Kampe is a step ahead of Drew at adjusting to the new rules that allow guards to drive to the basket.   

Oakland shoots more 3s per game than Valpo.

I stand corrected.   Of course, that might be because teams start bringing help defense and Kay gets most of his assists off of dishes out to the 3 point line after he drives to the basket and pulls an off defender.  Or it could be their pace of play causes them to shoot more shots in general.  Not sure, and I could be wrong.  My gut feeling still tells me that we shoot too many for a decent but not great 3 point shooting team.

[valpospartan]

So many free throws

Ya think?
Oakland -          2 with 5 fouls, and 4 with 4.
Michigan State - 1 with 5         and 4 with 4.

[a3uge]

90 total free throws.

Michigan State: 29-42 (.690)
Oakland: 39-48 (.813)

Once conference play stars, the refs will stop calling so many fouls like last time.

[VULB#62]

90 total free throws.

Michigan State: 29-42 (.690)
Oakland: 39-48 (.813)

Once conference play stars, the refs will stop calling so many fouls like last time.

Despite their loss they made it clear: you don't want to foul Oakland.

[a3uge]

90 total free throws.

Michigan State: 29-42 (.690)
Oakland: 39-48 (.813)

Once conference play stars, the refs will stop calling so many fouls like last time.

Despite their loss they made it clear: you don't want to foul Oakland.

Yeah, not too often you make 39 free throws in a game.

But Horizon League games have historically shown to more resemble hockey than basketball. Bryce really built the team well to handle the slogfests, especially against Green Bay, Milwaukee, CSU, and Wright State. With Green Bay switching styles and Oakland entering the league, it'll be interesting to see how a bigger lineup handles these teams. I think a good, physical defense can shut down pretty much any style.

[VULB#62]

I'm glad that, so far, our team FT% has improved over last year (67.5% to 72%). Doesn't sound like much but it could be a difference maker over the long haul. Especially when OU is hitting at 81% against the likes of MSU.

[a3uge]

I'm glad that, so far, our team FT% has improved over last year (67.5% to 72%). Doesn't sound like much but it could be a difference maker over the long haul. Especially when OU is hitting at 81% against the likes of MSU.

Over time, players tend to get better at free throws. Having so many returning players, it was expected that our FT% would improve. Check out these progressions:

Alec Peters
2013 .773
2014 .829
2015 .870

Darien Walker
2013 .639
2014 .800

Jubril Adekoya
2013 .616
2014 .559
2015 .778

E. Victor Nickerson
2011 .547
2012 .675
2014 .707
2015 .743

The bad news is that Keith Carter seemed to have forgotten how to shoot free throws:
2013 .667
2014 .677
2015 .520

Oof!

[VULB#62]

Need to get on Vashil though...

2013 - .477
2014 - .511
2015 - .421

[SanityLost17]

Need to get on Vashil though...

2013 - .477
2014 - .511
2015 - .421

How are his stats in general compared to last year?  I find myself very frustrated with his play lately.  I am probably being overly critical in my head, I just really thought he would have a more consistent offensive game this year.  Seems like he has regressed a bit as far as catching the ball and going up strong, or catching the lob pass for that matter. 

[a3uge]

Need to get on Vashil though...

2013 - .477
2014 - .511
2015 - .421

How are his stats in general compared to last year?  I find myself very frustrated with his play lately.  I am probably being overly critical in my head, I just really thought he would have a more consistent offensive game this year.  Seems like he has regressed a bit as far as catching the ball and going up strong, or catching the lob pass for that matter. 

He's never been that great of an offensive player - he's scoring just 5.3 PPG vs 6.9 PPG last year. He's not shooting as well this year: 49.0% vs 56.4% last year. Also has 1.2 turnovers per game opposed to .9 last year. His offensive rating has dipped from 114.0 (2nd on team last year to only Peters) to 96.1   (9th on team). That's a pretty big drop off, but there's still enough season left to turn it around.

Defensively, he's as strong as ever. He has a 78.9 defensive rating, which is insane, and 4th in the entire country. Put it in perspective - he won defensive player of the year with a 88.5 rating, which was the best in the Horizon. The numbers are a bit skewed because Valpo plays great defense as a whole, but the next highest defensive rating is Shane Hammink at 82.7 (among non-bench warmers). In fact, every player has a defensive rating below 86.6 (Nick Davidson bringing up the rear). Vashil's blocks per game are a bit down (2.3 this year vs 2.9 last year), but his steals are up (.7 this year vs .4 last year) - steals and blocks are sometimes interchangeable, and blocks aren't all that telling due to shot alterations without touching the ball, players avoiding low post shots, etc.

I think he's been in a bit of a funk the past few weeks - he was the offensive focal point vs URI when he scored 12 points (shooting a career high 12 shots), but he really hasn't been involved much since then.

[talksalot]

Wednesday 12/23... Thanks Gaels... Valpo RPI falls to 24, SOS now at 84... that was about 7pm, now at 9:30, RPI is back up to 21

Bowling Green 62 Cleveland State (4-7) 47 as the falcons pulled away in the second half...
they beat Belmont by 2.... then lose this one to #230 BGSU... weird season

Akron 78 Iona (4-6) 64 at the South Point Classic in Las Vegas; Zips RPI 101, record in D1 9-2
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20151223_IONA@AKRON

Northern Kentucky (4-6) 88 IU-Kokomo 44

Milwaukee (9-4) 74 Minnesota 65  (Johnson 19 pts, 10 assists, 9 rebounds for the Panthers) Gophers RPI is now 215,Milwaukee is 114

Green Bay @ Wisconsin  (Phoenix down 24 at the first media break of the second half... Bo who?)

[valpo64]

Didn't Felder get alot of free throws against us last year as they called every tick tack touch against him?   

[justducky]

UWM with another win over Big-10 Minnesota 74- 65. Watched parts of the start and much of the end and they are the better team.

[bbtds]

Didn't Felder get alot of free throws against us last year as they called every tick tack touch against him?   

Yes, but there is a difference between Oakland's happy pics and Valpo's happy pics

[talksalot]

Back in the swing... No games for our opponents:
12/24
12/25
12/26
12/27

Monday 12/28
Green Bay @ Morehead State
Detroit @ Eastern Michigan
Chicago State @ Oakland
Drexel @ Iona

Tuesday 12/29
Alabama A&M @ Ball State
Cedarville @ Cleveland State
Northern Illinois @ UIC
Western Oregon @ Oregon

Wednesday 12/30
Oakland @ Virginia
Rhode Island @ Brown
Oral Roberts @ IPFW
Northern Kentucky @ Toledo
Indiana State @ Evansville
Missouri State @ Illinois State


Thursday 12/31
Belmont @ Southeast Missouri
Chicago State @ Ball State

Friday 1/1... no games

[talksalot]

Monday 12/28
Green Bay @ Morehead State
Detroit @ Eastern Michigan - ESPN3 6pm Central
Chicago State @ Oakland- ESPN3 6pm Central
Drexel @ Iona

[a3uge]

Chicago State had a lead in the second half @ Oakland, but Oakland now back up by a couple.

[agibson]

Chicago State had a lead in the second half @ Oakland, but Oakland now back up by a couple.

Felder with 10 assists in the first half. 

[talksalot]

Monday 12/28 Finals ... and after these are in... but before the VU game goes final... Valpo NolanRPI goes to 19

Green Bay (7-5) 78 Morehead State 72
Eastern Michigan 88 Detroit (6-5) 73
Oakland (8-4) 101 Chicago State (4-11)  93
Iona (5-6) 77 Drexel 70

[a3uge]

Monday 12/28 Finals ... and after these are in... but before the VU game goes final... Valpo NolanRPI goes to 19

Green Bay (7-5) 78 Morehead State 72
Eastern Michigan 88 Detroit (6-5) 73
Oakland (8-4) 101 Chicago State (4-11)  93
Iona (5-6) 77 Drexel 70

Remember when that voter picked Detroit to win the league?