Game 13: Valpo Crusaders vs PNW Pride, 12/29, 1pm CST

[VU2010]

PNW comes in at 4-8, 0-4 in conference on a 1-game winning streak. New to the d2 ranks. Mostly consists of Indiana HS grads, which is pretty cool.

Here's my questions:

1. what's the showing like? Competing vs college football playoff ...
2. Is there anything Valpo can do to garner some confidence heading into league play? If so, what?

3. Any chance this game is competitive?

4. What if PNW pulled the upset? Then what?

5. Do we come out flat? Mix things up with playing time and rotations? See a more energetic coaching staff and team?

[M]

PNW packs in a zone and lets Valpo shoot 3s all night. Valpo cooperates and goes 4-47 from the arc. PNW by 7....

Just kidding, with all our laundry done Valpo is ready to take care of business. 95-47 Valpo Victory

[justducky]

1. what's the showing like? Competing vs college football playoff ...

You couldn't hire me to show up.

[Pgmado]

I don't understand these laundry jokes.

[nkvu]

1.  Who cares.

2.  Yes.  Win by 50.

3. God I hope not, but anything is possible with this team.

4.  Contemplate suicide.

5.  Yes, unfortunately we will play down to the level of our competition - a Valpo tradition.  "Believe in the process"  (What does that actually mean anyway - turning a good mid major program into a joke?)

[VU2014]

I'm so disgusted I don't want to even watch this game. It wouldn't surprise me if they pulled a Trinity game.

[Valpo89]

Anyone who pays to see this game either has a screw loose or too much disposable income.

[elephtheria47]

I see your questions and raise you two questions: a) why are we actually playing this game and b) what can we possibly learn from this game that is going to prep us for the MVC? Hope everyone makes it out injury free.

[VU2014]

I see your questions and raise you two questions: a) why are we actually playing this game and b) what can we possibly learn from this game that is going to prep us for the MVC? Hope everyone makes it out injury free.

I actually think the timing of this game is pretty solid. The coaches may have known it could be a tough stretch coming back home from the A&M game and they may need a confidence booster or tune-up before going into conference play. Even if a win comes against a team we should blow out it's a psychological boost. This teams condidence is clearly shot. This team has been the same since losing to High Point on a last second shot.

[crusadermoe]

Yes, I'm not sure we have reached Armageddon yet.  Our good teams have been blown out on the road at times. 

PNW is just a meaningless scrimmage.  Let's re-frame and see what the Illinois State game brings.  Without class in session we will really have to motivate ourselves.  Conference play is a fresh start and they darn well better compete.  They get a new start.

The team will face the dreaded "travel challenges" to Springfield, MO for January 5.   If they lose badly to Illinois State at home and lose at Mo. State morale will probably come crashing down and Freeman starts looking to leave.  But that can all be reversed with a win vs. Illinois State.

[valpo64]

I am going to watch our elementary school game which should be an improvement from recent VU games, although the offense, defense and shooting should be about the same.  When things are not working and successful, why do we keep doing the same thing over and over game in and game out?

[bbtds]

I don't understand these laundry jokes.

Did anyone watch Valpo b-ball weekly? Literally for the first 2 minutes and 23 seconds he makes excuses.... flying here and there ... midterms .... doing laundry ..... like, seriously? I've never heard a coach make up so many excuses. Then he attributed the poor home performance to being too comfortable in a routine. Lol it's comical.

https://youtu.be/dYo0sZEc1c4

Sorry but the laundry comment really put me over the top ... literally laughing out loud ... ok maybe crying a bit ... but, mostly laughing

At least our uniforms are clean - with all that laundry we're doing. Team has SERIOUSLY regressed. Have a hard time believing they forgot how to play and became worse defenders and shooters. So, what gives?

[elephtheria47]

I can't imagine it being too much of a psychological boost to beat a DII team when you are a DI athlete. And IMO, any confidence they gain is going to be false confidence because what you are gaining confidence on (what is working during the game) is not likely to translate when you are playing a quality DI team. I get the whole getting reps, playing someone who doesn't know you, playing in front of a crowd, etc issues but those issues aren't the issues for this team. I just read an article that on average, 9 D2 teams beat D1 teams every season. If that happens, this whole thing turns into a dumpster fire. I don't see any reason for playing this game at this point in the season. ARC is going to be super empty with everyone on break, no interest in the game, having a rough couple of games, and college playoffs going on.

[talksalot]

 DATE            OPPONENT                       W/L    SCORE  ATTEND
   ------------    --------------------           ---    -----  ------
   11/09/18     vs Rockhurst                        L    73-103    207
   11/10/18     at William Jewell                   L    83-99     329
   11/14/18        LINCOLN CHRISTIAN              W     113-81     250
   11/23/18     vs Urbana                         W  OT 110-104    250
   11/24/18     at Tiffin                           L    83-95     185
  *11/29/18        DAVENPORT MBB                    L    76-88     100
  *12/01/18        GV MBB                           L    62-79     250
   12/04/18        MOODY BIBLE                    W     113-45     150
  *12/06/18     at Northern Michigan                L    69-108    265
  *12/8/18      at Michigan Tech                    L    62-78     959
   12/15/18     at Ill. Springfield                 L    67-97     230

[VU2014]

I'm wondering what kind of effort we'll see from this Valpo team. You know things aren't going well when you can't be sure of what type of effort we'll see.

The last few games the body language has been really poor from the guys. It's like they're all waiting for someone to get hot and be the catalyst for the team to raise everyone's spirits but it never came. I thought the guys. Would rebound after the long break leading into the Ball State game but that didn't come to fruition. Will this long break be positive for them?

I think we all expect this team to win and beat PNW to a pulp but this team has no right to come into this game with that mentality. They should have the mentality that PNW could win this game and therefore they need to bring the effort.

[tiny707]

This will be break out game for Javon. He will take over.

[JD24]

1. what's the showing like? Competing vs college football playoff 

1st playoff game isn't until 3pm. Full house should be expected.

[IrishDawg]

1. what's the showing like? Competing vs college football playoff 

1st playoff game isn't until 3pm. Full house should be expected.

I don't know about full, but as of this morning there are around 1100 tickets available per the etix site, not including available seats in the student sections

[humbleopinion]

I took a look at the PNW roster expecting to see names from the Porter County Conference. I was surprised to see few Northwest Indiana (and no PCC) kids on the list.  It seems that PNW's recruiting footprint is much larger than I thought.

[4throwfan]

I'm kinda hoping that the team works in a zone defense so that it will be ready to go for conference play.  Maybe they have played zone in the road games, which I have not seen.  But, I was at the ARC for the High Point and Ball State games, and it seemed like a zone defense would have worked nicely in a couple of circumstances.  For example, switch to the zone for High Point's final possession simply to give a different look.  They only had 4 seconds on the clock, and it would take at least 2 seconds (minimum) to realize a different defense, leaving only 2 seconds to get off a shot.  And in the Ball State game, when BS was driving to the basket for wide open layups, a possible strategy might have been to pack the lane with a zone defense, and force an adjustment from BS.

I think in the past that it was effective for Valpo to switch defenses from time to time.  They don't do that any more.  So, it would be nice to see the team use this game as a way to implement some game-scenario practice.

[NativeCheesehead]

We have run the same offense and the same defense for Lottich's tenure. We must be an assistant coach's dream. The week they play us they get to spend more time with their kids since the scouting report from the previous year is still valid.

[VU2014]

Lottich's first year with the veteran roster he would throw the zone at teams mid game and at the end of half's to confuse the other team and throw them off their game. It worked.

Those players were coached by Bryce (and Lottich/Gore as assistants also) their first 3 years. It seems we're doing less of that in this new era with a different roster. Maybe he doesn't trust them to properly execute? Either way that would fall on the staff for not coaching them up. Or maybe he doesn't want to run as much zone.

I'd like Paul to get a coach or a x's & o's savvy former player on the podcast to dissect what this Valpo team is doing correct and what they're doing poorly. I'm not sure he'd find someone who would publicly speak their mind and be willing to constructively criticize the Staff or players. I've talked off the record with some people and it's been a bit alarming with their reviews. Two people said the jury is still out and they thought the coaches don't currently have the roster they want to play the system they want.

[M]

I've heard similar from several people closer then the average message board chump.

[valpopal]

1. what's the showing like? Competing vs college football playoff 

1st playoff game isn't until 3pm. Full house should be expected.

I don't know about full, but as of this morning there are around 1100 tickets available per the etix site, not including available seats in the student sections

A number of local basketball fans will be out of town. Valparaiso High, with Mr. Basketball candidate Brandon Newman, plays Warren Central, the #1 team in the state, at a Hall of Fame tournament in New Castle during the same time the Crusaders will be on the court.

[4throwfan]

Sorry all, I don't know how to embed quotes, so I have to refer to the person posting in order to respond to a point.

2014, if you're correct in that the coaches aren't running what they want because they don't have the players that they want, and that somehow explains the deterioration in all around play (lack of zone defense, lack of layup defense, lack of inbounding plays, lack of rebounding, lack of offensive execution), THAT'S CONCERNING!

I'm no expert in college basketball, but I have excelled in other things, and that excuse is a cop out. 

I could rant, but instead, I'll simply say that I hope that you and/or your sources are very wrong.  If you're right, then Valpo needs to start a coaching search right now.

Note that I'm saying that as someone who hoped that Lottich would be Bryce's replacement at the time.