Game A - Exhibition vs Hillsdale Chargers Sat Nov 5, 2016 7:30pm

[talksalot]

38 days until tip-off.  They were 18-10 last year.  We have never officially played them (all previous games were exhibitions)

http://www.hillsdalechargers.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

They have a 7-1 320 Freshman; along with 4 guys who are 6-8 and one 6-9.

They have two returning starters (Badowski 8.1 ppg; and Stedman Lowry 13.9 ppg) both are 6-3 juniors.

so... let the fun begin!   Name your starting Valpo Lineup!

[vu72]

38 days until tip-off.  They were 18-10 last year.  We have never officially played them (all previous games were exhibitions)

http://www.hillsdalechargers.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

They have a 7-1 320 Freshman; along with 4 guys who are 6-8 and one 6-9.

They have two returning starters (Badowski 8.1 ppg; and Stedman Lowry 13.9 ppg) both are 6-3 juniors.

so... let the fun begin!   Name your starting Valpo Lineup!

Just a guess. Peters    Adekoya, Walker, Hammink and...Joseph.

[M]

Hammink, Walker, Peters, Adekoya, Smiths

Maybe Bradford in and Hammink off the bench to keep AP at the 3?

Oh and a 20 point Valpo win.

[VULB#62]

Hammink, Walker, Peters, Adekoya, Smiths

Maybe Bradford in and Hammink off the bench to keep AP at the 3?

Oh and a 20 point Valpo win.

Wait!  That's a starting 6 with the Smith brothers.

[vu72]

Hammink, Walker, Peters, Adekoya, Smiths

Maybe Bradford in and Hammink off the bench to keep AP at the 3?

Oh and a 20 point Valpo win.

Wait!  That's a starting 6 with the Smith brothers.

I was busily checked the roster for Smiths.  I suspect he meant Smits, but perhaps we have a new walk-on!  I doubt you will see Smits and Adekoya on the floor at the same time.  My reason for picking Joseph as the starting point is to give Bradford time to work into the lineup as he gets used to the speed of the D1 game. Looking back at video of early games last year, Max was the first guard off the bench.  As the season went on and Shane became the backup, Max ended up sitting most of the time.  Another year of experience and, with his Big Ten body, I suspect Max may be ready to step it up.

[bbtds]

My reason for picking Joseph as the starting point is to give Bradford time to work into the lineup as he gets used to the speed of the D1 game.

This is a strange statement. Bradford was one of the fastest players in Illinois HS basketball last season. Micah may need to get acclimated to Div. 1 basketball but I don't think it will be the speed of the game that he will need to adjust to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJKZ4aMV4h4

[vu72]

My reason for picking Joseph as the starting point is to give Bradford time to work into the lineup as he gets used to the speed of the D1 game.

This is a strange statement. Bradford was one of the fastest players in Illinois HS basketball last season. Micah may need to get acclimated to Div. 1 basketball but I don't think it will be the speed of the game that he will need to adjust to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJKZ4aMV4h4

Really?  Mr. Splitting Hairs.  I don't remember saying that Micah would need to gain speed. I said he would need to adjust to the SPEED OF THE GAME!!  Micah's speed is fantastic but, the folks he will be facing will be much bigger, stronger and FASTER then those he faced in high school.  Better?

[SanityLost17]

Starters:
Bradford
Walker
Peters
Jubril
Smits

After 1st round of substitutions:
Joseph
Walker
Hammink
Peters
Sorrolla 

After 2nd round of substitutions:
Bradford
Lexus
Hammink
Jubril
Smits   

Key Points:
Peters spends equal time at the 3 and 4 this year. 
Jubril primarily back at the 4
Lexus loses the point guard battle but gets some time this year at the 2 guard because of his 3 point shooting ability.
Hammink bringing energy off the bench and playing primarily at the 2/3 guard, but still gets "starter minutes" 

[vu72]

Great interview with Coach Gore, also shows some practice and short interview with Alec:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgr93qi6QP8

[a3uge]

Said this before, but I think it'll be:

Bradford, Hammink, Walker, Peters, Adekoya

Smits will start on the bench and Lexus will actually get playing time this year; I'm confident Lottich will have a point guard as a backup point guard this year.

[vu84v2]

I think that Valpo will experiment with Peters at the 3, but how much it is used will depend on a number of things. First, how fast has Smits developed and can he be effective and keep himself out of foul trouble. In general, I am more concerned about depth at the 4 and 5 - can Valpo get 60 quality minutes from Smits, Adekoya and Sorrolla. Second, do opponents play three true guards and Peters has trouble chasing them. I would not be surprised to see very few minutes where Peters, Adekoya and either Smits or Sorrolla are on the floor at the same time.

Hammink needs to average 28-30 minutes per game. He is the most likely alternative scorer to Peters and Valpo needs three scoring options on the floor at any given time to beat top opponents.

Biggest concern is still point guard. No idea who will step up, but this will make or break this team. If assist-to-turnover ratio for Williams, Bradford and Joseph combined is above 2, this will be a good season...but none has proven that they can do it.

[justducky]

I'm confident Lottich will have a point guard as a backup point guard this year.

If I didn't know what you were saying I wouldn't know what you were saying. Just saying.

Biggest concern is still point guard. No idea who will step up, but this will make or break this team. If assist-to-turnover ratio for Williams, Bradford and Joseph combined is above 2, this will be a good season...but none has proven that they can do it.

If Carter had been able to return my confidence and optimism would be enormous. Without Carter, predicting anything will be just a guess. I still say we could be anywhere between a 60 or 130 RPI team with point guard play determining much of the outcome.

[Chairback]

Walker to me is key for the season.

I'm hearing Sorrolla can really really play.

[wh]

I'm hearing Sorrolla can really really play.

Look at this!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK4x-9tB8Ym/

[M]

Complaining about someone splitting hairs when he calls me out for autocorrect calling him Smiths instead of Smits 🤔

[valpo84]

Just remember WH, Tim Duncan was a swimmer before becoming Tim Duncan, the basketball player.

[VUSWIM08-12]

Swimming is about the best cardio work out you can do so good work Sorrolla..I can run up and down the court at high speed with ease over the games I play in...I play OUT OF CONTROL and with no finesse but that's beside the point ...Why are we counting out Williams so much, I think Lexus and Max will be closer to splitting the time in the first few games... Hillsdale, SUU, TIU, and Coppin should, in theory, give Lottich a chance to see who will step up!

[vu84v2]

I am not counting out Williams. It is just that neither Williams, Joseph or Bradford played meaningful minutes for Valpo last year. College basketball is a guard driven game. If you don't have a point guard that can run the offense and occasionally go one-on-one when the offense breaks down, you are at a serious disadvantage. I hope that Lexus steps up and is that guy and lets Bradford play some PG and some 2.

[4throwfan]

bsmith21, I agree that a team can be successful in the HL without a true point guard (case in point, VU did fairly well in 2015-16 with EVic running the point, and he is not a true PG).  However, I disagree with your expectations.  It is not good enough that VU does well in the Horizon League.  There are 14 other games on the schedule, and if we want this team to be thought of highly come early March, then it must be successful against Oregon, UK, ISU, RI, etc.  For that, VU needs a REALLY GOOD PG.

[wh]

This is one year that I would start the most talented player at every position from the get-go - regardless of experience.  IMO that translates to Micah-1, Tevonn-2, Shane-3, Alec-4, Derrik-5.  This could be a Top-25 season - throw caution to the wind and go for it!

[motowntitan]

This is one year that I would start the most talented player at every position from the get-go - regardless of experience.  IMO that translates to Micah-1, Tevonn-2, Shane-3, Alec-4, Derrik-5.  This could be a Top-25 season - throw caution to the wind and go for it!

Top 25 with a new coach, with no previous head coaching experience and only 3 years asst coaching.  Really?

[oklahomamick]

This is one year that I would start the most talented player at every position from the get-go - regardless of experience.  IMO that translates to Micah-1, Tevonn-2, Shane-3, Alec-4, Derrik-5.  This could be a Top-25 season - throw caution to the wind and go for it!

Top 25 with a new coach, with no previous head coaching experience and only 3 years asst coaching.  Really?

maybe if keith carter and skara was back and and bryce. 

[a3uge]

This is one year that I would start the most talented player at every position from the get-go - regardless of experience.  IMO that translates to Micah-1, Tevonn-2, Shane-3, Alec-4, Derrik-5.  This could be a Top-25 season - throw caution to the wind and go for it!

Top 25 with a new coach, with no previous head coaching experience and only 3 years asst coaching.  Really?

I don't think this is a top 25 team, but eh... In game coaching is overrated in the college game. Player development and recruiting is where coaching is really important.

[vu72]

While I agree that recruiting and development are very important in game coaching can cover up a lot.Brad Stevens probably carried Butler to probably both of their final 4s despite having inferior talent and size. Mind you from what I saw Steven's might have been one if not the best in game coaches in basketball. Was definitely not a great recruiter

Really?  Two guys are starting in the NBA plus Matt Howard, probably the best college player to not make it to the NBA.

[VULB#62]

This string is veering a bit off the topic, but Stevens is demonstrating at least one praiseworthy trait, that has been brought up here, as the Celtics HBBC -- he is winning at the highest level with less than prime talent. He can motivate and adjust in-game.  Tough combination to beat. Not taking anything away from BD, but my gut tells me Matt has Stevens-like qualities.