Game #28 - Wednesday, Feb 14 8PM @ Loyola

[VU2014]

Our rotations are incomprehensible. Start the same players for 12+ straight games and then from there bench Mileek, never give Parker a chance, and are spotty with Micah's minutes from game to game. I don't get it. We're 5-15 after starting 8-0? Can't keep blaming it on youth or inexperience. Guaranteed a Thursday game. Play Parker and Mileek. Try some different rotations. What's to lose? Feel for Tevonn and Max.

To be fair Kiser was forcing Coaches hand to keep him on the floor. He played really well. Also Parker hasn't shown he deserves any minutes. Micah just can't make shots. He's solid at times at playing backup PG but he's a total liability on offense because defenders cheat on him because they know he can't shoot.

Need to accept that this is a team with unreliable depth which makes it tough to have consistent rotations. But for as much as you can criticize the 5-15 record if you look deeper they are making improvements.

[FWalum]

To be fair Kiser was forcing Coaches hand to keep him on the floor. He played really well.

I like Kiser, I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't think he is very athletic, but as soon as Krutwig came out of the game we either should have made a concerted effort to go inside to Sorolla or put Mileek in the game. Sorolla gave up some jump shots to Jackson because he did not go out and guard the smaller player. I was then surprised that we did not immediately go inside when Jay had a 6" height advantage on Jackson.   

[VU2014]

Spirited effort falls short for Valparaiso
Paul Oren Times Correspondent
55 min ago

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/basketball/college/spirited-effort-falls-short-for-valparaiso/article_0fdc0ca8-2fdc-53b8-833f-f25b5287bcdd.html


https://twitter.com/PostTribSports/status/963991417105403904

Another close call: Valparaiso pushes MVC leader Loyola before falling short
Michael Osipoff
Post-Tribune
February 14, 2018

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-mens-basketball-valparaiso-loyola-st-0215-20180214-story.html

[oklahomamick]

I don't have an issue with Bakari's technical but it seems we have had more players get T'ed up this year than in years past.

[Just Sayin]

Progress is our most important product.

[mj]

This team is improving. Hopefully we can play the spoiler during Arch Madness.

[vu72]

So we out rebound them, have 14 assists to only 12 turnovers, shoot 90% on 20 free throws and we lose?  Loyola is really good and we are clearly getting better.  Imagine if we had Joe. 

And the Loyola fans clearly were out supporting their first place team!!  It is good that Loyola has the smallest gym in the league so the 2091 fans didn't look quite so bad   

[VU2014]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysZ6wSBYqCE

[bigmosmithfan1]

Does the NWI Times have photographers anymore? They have literally used the same stock shot of the Crusader mascot and cheerleaders for nearly every VU story on their website this season. I know this is an editorial decision and not Paul's but the web editor needs to understand how half-ass this looks.

[VU2014]

They have a guy named Kale Wilk (@KaleWilk) who would probably be in charge of the stock photos. I wonder if Valpo Athletics would provide their photos to NWI Times. I'm not sure they send a photographer to the games anymore. I exchange for the free photos maybe they could start do small previews in the paper again for at least the home game. I miss those. Or maybe they could get a VU journalism student to intern for them and write the previews for them if its a money thing. Ideally I'd like to see Paul write them, but I just want them back because a) I enjoy reading previews b) they let the community know about the upcoming games.

https://www.nwitimes.com/users/profile/kale%20wilk/

Valpo's game photos: https://valpoathletics.exposure.co/mbb-vs-illinois-state
https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/962885942439743488