Game #10 Valpo vs Central Michigan Chippewas Sun 12/19 1:00PM at the ARC ESPN+

[VUBBFan]

Since no one else seems to want to start the Game Thread. I guess I'll take a stab at it.

Central Michigan comes in with a 7-2 record with losses to Minnesota and DePaul. They beat our common opponent Trinity Christian 106-60.
This game appears to be another barn burner run and gun affair. These are the Stats so far for the Chippewas.

Team Stats
CMU is ranked the No. 1 scoring team in the nation averaging 95.1 points per game, while allowing 72.1 points per game, winning by an average margin of 23 points per game. San Francisco and Illinois are tied for second in the nation at 87.1 points per game.

CMU has scored at least 80 points in six of its eight games this season. The Chippewas have scored more than 100 in four of those games.

On the season, CMU is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from the 3-point line. They are holding opponents to 43.1 percent shooting from the field and 32.7 percent from the 3-point line.

CMU is forcing 19.5 turnovers per game with 11.5 of those turnovers are coming off steals. They are committing 10.3 turnovers per game.

Also don't forget this is Homer Drew day. Be at the game early (12:30) for the celebration.

[covufan]

Get there early.

Need to see defensive challenges to shots, as we can't afford a defensive fg % of 50% or more.

Valpo   85
CMU     77

I'm hoping for attendance north of 4300


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[vu72]

I'm hoping for attendance north of 4300

Based on the tickets currently available if the turnout is north 2500 it will be a surprise.

[covufan]

I'm hoping for attendance north of 4300

Based on the tickets currently available if the turnout is north 2500 it will be a surprise.

2500 would be unfortunate.


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[humbleopinion]

The attendance at Eastern Michigan was 1237 in spite of a very nice arena and a 20,000+ student enrollment.

[valpotx]

Valpo 84
CMU 81

[FieldGoodie05]

MVC went 6-1 today (Saturday) with only loss coming from Southern Ill on the road @ Southern Miss.  Way too early to tell but it truly does seem that the youth of Illinois State and Southern Ill is going to make it a shaky season for those teams.  (I'm not throwing shade because we certainly have our work cut out for us as well)

Wanted the 2nd half of Illinois State game and their offense looks as disjointed as ours does at times!  Also watched the 2nd half of the Drake game against SEMO and was saddened to see Tremell Murphy go down awkwardly with his left leg and had to leave the game.  Couldn't put weight on his leg as he exited the court.

Nice to be part of a conference where the teams enter conference play with winning records for the most part!

[FieldGoodie05]

Valpo 84
CMU 81

Hope you are right, we will continue to have difficulty playing defense against this team.  Supposedly they lead the nation in PPG . . .

[cornonthe]

I'll take a stab at it...offense versus offense...97-92 VU!!!

[talksalot]

over under is at 161.5.  Valpo gets the 2.5 homecourt bump.  first team to 90 wins. 

[NativeCheesehead]

4300 is dreaming, but this will be the first decent opponent, decent time, decent weather, not up against the Bears, Pregame event game.

If you don't pull 3500 for this.....

[vok22]

Looking at the tickets remaining, it's not gonna happen

[wh]

Valpo 84
CMU 81

Hope you are right, we will continue to have difficulty playing defense against this team.  Supposedly they lead the nation in PPG . . .

Javon and Daniel are 2 of the best lockdown defenders Valpo has ever had.  Our problem is interior defense. I don't like to call people out, but Mileek, Nick and Donovan are terrible on-ball defenders. As has been mentioned by others, they never overplay their opponent's strong side to stop or interrupt dribble penetration. It happens so often and results in so many easy opponent baskets that it should stand out like a sore thumb on game tapes. I think the first time a coach showed me techniques for slowing down dribble penetration was 7th grade. Doesn't Luke Gore work with the front court?  Why can't he change this?  Hopefully, he's a more effective teacher than he is a scheduler. This deficiency alone has cost us probably 2 wins already.

[EddieCabot]

I don't like to call people out, but Mileek, Nick and Donovan are terrible on-ball defenders.

This is disappointing.  I think everybody expected Nick and Donovan to be lock down defenders coming into the season.   I think we all knew about Mileek's struggles to defend without fouling.

[wh]

A good omen- fresh made popcorn!

Oh, and the team looks very loose and hitting a lot of shots in warmups.

[VALPO LI]

A good omen- fresh made popcorn!

Oh, and the team looks very loose and hitting a lot of shots in warmups.

You are in the Vale of Paradise which is one of six popcorn capitals of the world, so the popcorn better be fresh!

[VALPO LI]

Great to hear Homer and Todd on the mic together.

[oklahomamick]

Homer is so well spoken, but we already know that.  Hopefully he was on campus interviewing for the university president job. 

[Just Sayin]

Whoa! Valpo's Defense First Half:

CMUs:

FG%...........   27.3%

3-pt %.......     9.1%

That's what I'm talkin' about!!

[covufan]

Who is this Valpo defense, and where have they been all year!


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[wh]

Eron Gordon is quickly becoming the X-Factor of this team.

[Just Sayin]

Final Defensive Numbers for Valpo

CMUs:

FG%  33.9%

3pt%   5.9%

Hell Yes! Keep it Up.

[Just Sayin]

Kudos to Matt and the coaching staff who absolutely got after it in preparing the team to play tenacious D

[VUfan]

Well this is an up Game , EMU a  down Game who will come Next? Fun team  to watch grow...

[vu72]

Fewest point scored all season by the team that WAS leading the nation in scoring!  We out rebounded them, had 24 assists to their 6, 10 steals and 5 blocks.  Pretty much beating up on the other top team in the MAC!  Well done indeed!