Game #10 - Ball State @ Worthen Arena Muncie, Saturday, Dec. 9, 1pm ESPN3

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/939560586345697281

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/939562509824118784

[talksalot]

let's see... last year we played at Kentucky, got pasted... and enroute to Springfield, lost one of our stud players.... and we beat MoSt.  Sound familiar?

and Golder is getting the start.

[NativeCheesehead]

I hope the money Big Rik donates makes all these mental mistakes worth it.

[JBC1824]

Derrik is really starting to annoy me.

[FieldGoodie05]

Derrik is really starting to annoy me.

2nd that 1,000%.

[a3uge]

Hope the officiating evens out in second half, because that was garbage. Joseph fouled on the drive with 1:10 left, then gets called for a touch foul on the other end. We also had about 6 points wiped out from questionable offensive fouls.

[VU2014]

I have so many thoughts about this team right now... I'll just say: turnovers & mental errors are literally driving me nuts right now.

Bakari can make some special things happen on the court but he is turning the ball over WAY too much. It's not just him. It's the team. The half-court offense quite frankly looks like garbage today (its been tough all year). I don't expect us to be a well oil machine like last years team but I expect ball security and at least a bit more creativity. Does the coaching staff not trust these player yet?

Great defense (a few defensive lapses) and rebounding.

[vu84v2]

Offensive execution has generally been awful....but the effort and defense have been good. Not sure that can sustain for another half, but I hope that it does.

[crusadermoe]

Need to keep going to Burton.  Good rebounding. 

What is the deal with Smits catching a ball he could nearly step and dunk.  But he puts it on the floor and blows the layup.

The timing of the offense just isn't there. Lots of fits and spurts.  You see some real spurts of great passes so the talent is there.  Just zero consistency!       

[a3uge]

Hazen is killing this starting lineup.

[crusadermoe]

How does BSU's Walker get that far open for that 3 ?? !!!   

Just too many unforced errors like Hazen's.

[NativeCheesehead]

We can see which team made better adjustments at halftime.

[VU2014]

Just too many unforced errors like Hazen's.

I think the struggles are becoming mental. His jumper doesn't look good so he's trying to force it to the basket. He's in his own head right now. The struggles are real.

[JBC1824]

Time to bench Hazen, completely. I really can't understand why Matt continues to start him. It's not just that he hasn't had a good game. I can't recall him having a good moment -- although I'm sure there's been one. Not even close to ready. Start McMillan or really anyone else. Please.   

[a3uge]

Time to bench Hazen, completely. I really can't understand why Matt continues to start him. It's not just that he hasn't had a good game. I can't recall him having a good moment -- although I'm sure there's been one. Not even close to ready. Start McMillan or really anyone else. Please.

We can see which team made better adjustments at halftime.

They went at Hazen about 6 times to start the 2nd half. He looks lost on defense, and obviously he doesn't contribute on offense.

[vu84v2]

Valpo needs to stay in the zone until they solve it.

[NativeCheesehead]

As an aside, Worthen is a really cool place to catch a game.

[FieldGoodie05]

Young team is getting old to say, but it needs to be said.  But, how can we pass this poorly?  It really looks like lazy passing to my unskilled eyes.

[vu84v2]

This is one of Smits' best halves.

[a3uge]

Have to make free throws at the end.

[valpotx]

Hazen and Smits were lost in the first half, but Smits picked it up in the second.  I don't know what Lottich was thinking with that 1-3-1, but that killed us for their 12-0 run, as someone was always wide open under the hoop.  I don't know if it was because we didn't know how to play in that defense, or if they just knew how to beat it, but we stayed in it way too long.  Why in the world was Burton not up on their shooter on that last shot?  If he drives, the worst you get is a tie game.  That was just dumb.  This is not a good loss.  I don't care that Ball State just beat ND. 

[valpolaw]

Just ugly. We had so many chances to win that game. The ridiculous turnovers are getting old.

We don't look anything like a top 100 team.

[NativeCheesehead]

How do you give the same guy that hit the game winner against ND a three foot cushion on that shot?

[FieldGoodie05]

Anyone else getting a bit annoyed by this isolation that coach is letting Bakari do?  Have we made any % on those dribble iso's?  I mean what the heck, it sure takes the other 4 players out of the game.