MBB 2020-2021

[vu72]

Vanderbuilt

Any talk about staying in Nashville and playing at Vanderbilt?  Maybe play the season opener on the 25th?

Since Vandy owes us a game, it would make sense to try and make that date happens. It seems logical, but when does common sense prevail when scheduling Power conferences with Mid-Majors?

Didn't they pay us something like $225,000 just to get out of the whole mess? Obviously "mess" would be viewing things from the Vandy perspective but do either they or we have any additional contractual obligations? Could somebody accurately bring us up to date?

I velieve the payment was to get out of playing at Valpo.  My understanding is they still owe us a game at Vandy.

[wh]

Vanderbuilt

Any talk about staying in Nashville and playing at Vanderbilt?  Maybe play the season opener on the 25th?

Since Vandy owes us a game, it would make sense to try and make that date happens. It seems logical, but when does common sense prevail when scheduling Power conferences with Mid-Majors?

Didn't they pay us something like $225,000 just to get out of the whole mess? Obviously "mess" would be viewing things from the Vandy perspective but do either they or we have any additional contractual obligations? Could somebody accurately bring us up to date?

This supports VUBBFan's contention that Vandy still owes us a game:

Valparaiso faces more scheduling challenges as Vanderbilt, George Washington buy out

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/valparaiso-faces-more-scheduling-challenges-as-vanderbilt-george-washington-buy-out/article_bff832b2-048a-5117-a3ed-855ed87966f2.amp.html

[VUGrad1314]

Why not just get a series with Belmont?

[VUBBFan]

Why not just get a series with Belmont?

Or we could try Lipscomb and see Parker Hazen again.

[justducky]

Why not just get a series with Belmont?

Or we could try Lipscomb and see Parker Hazen again.

I remember watching some brief minutes last year and he had definitely improved-some (still not to our earlier expectation level). Pre-virus I'm thinking Belmont was pretty well locked in with their schedule but either school should be candidates as quality schedule fillers going forward.

Valparaiso faces more scheduling challenges as Vanderbilt, George Washington buy out

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/valparaiso-faces-more-scheduling-challenges-as-vanderbilt-george-washington-buy-out/article_bff832b2-048a-5117-a3ed-855ed87966f2.amp.html

Part guessing and part reading between the lines it may have cost Vandy $160-190 thou just to not show up but we still have a contract to play there? So if and when we do play what will be our pay for actually showing? I think I asked this last year and maybe wasn't provided a clear answer. Asking another way-----if we had deep pockets what would it cost us to buy out our half of the contract?

[VUGrad1314]

Excellent interview with MLB here. Hope our schedule will be good but honestly I'll be happy we have any games at all (with the caveat  that it must be safe for the athletes to play which is something I have serious reservations about). 

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/valpo-culture-of-values/


It sounds like we initially had at least one if not more non D1s scheduled but he says (thankfully) that those are not going to be on the schedule this year. Can we please make that a permanent thing? No more non D1s? Please?

[wh]

I was somewhat surprised at how open and honest Mark was. He's usually pretty guarded and leaves me wanting to know more. Not this time. As for interviewers, if Paul Oren is the gold standard, Harry's not too far behind. An excellent exchange.

[VALPO LI]

We open in Nashville!

https://twitter.com/FatherHarry1/status/1309236090813980673

Looks like Towson is in a new MTE.

https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1313179017948921858


Lots of schedule's moving around.  We should be hearing more shortly.

[VALPO LI]

"Raider Nation" Wright St. message board have the Raiders playing in the Illini Invitational MTE along with Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina A&T.
That leaves Valpo and Georgia State the last two schools standing in the Music City Shootout.

https://wrightstate.proboards.com/thread/3456/2020-2021-basketball-schedule

[vu72]

Pre-season guesses are out. Valpo getting zero respect.

https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2020-21/19951/donovan-clay-named-to-mvc-preseason-second-team/

[wh]

Pre-season guesses are out. Valpo getting zero respect.

https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2020-21/19951/donovan-clay-named-to-mvc-preseason-second-team/

I know I say this every year, but I don't care what outsiders think about Valpo's prospects for the season.  Everyone on this board knows a hundred times more about Valpo than anyone who voted. And, if it's possible, I care even less about what they think of any other team. We need to conduct an internal poll as the season draws closer, simply asking our posters where they think Valpo will finish.  THAT will pique my interest.   

[VUBBFan]

Got to find another MTE to play in. Scheduling is HARD to do. We seem to get tossed around these last few years.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1316760535036293121

[VU2014]

Got to find another MTE to play in. Scheduling is HARD to do. We seem to get tossed around these last few years.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1316760535036293121

There were red flags when wright state joined the Illinois non-conf tourney

[vu84v2]

I have been very critical of prior scheduling efforts, but this year is an entirely different animal.

Does anyone know if Valpo is willing to (a) travel to games by bus the same day as the game and (b) accept road games with no compensation?

[NotBryceDrew]

Why would we be willing to travel somewhere same day and also be willing to accept no compensation? Unless it's a local MTE that's idiotic.

[VUGrad1314]

Why aren't we joining the Illinois Bubble. Sounds like a good way to get some good games. That MTE isn't a huge loss. Those programs (except for Wright State) are pretty meh.

[VUBBFan]

Why aren't we joining the Illinois Bubble. Sounds like a good way to get some good games. That MTE isn't a huge loss. Those programs (except for Wright State) are pretty meh.

I think that would be a great fit for us, nice and close. Been trying to find an updated list of Schools invited and haven't found any. Hopefully they consider us worthy enough for a spot and extend an invitation. In my mind it's a no brainer. Of course, in the past I've been accused of having no brains

[VALPO LI]

Got to find another MTE to play in. Scheduling is HARD to do. We seem to get tossed around these last few years.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1316760535036293121

I hear 3 1/2 hours north of us the Badgers are hosting their own MTE with none of the teams mentioned yet .  Several schools are starting to host their own MTE including mid majors like Howard, Milwaukee and Stony Brook.

[vu84v2]

Why would we be willing to travel somewhere same day and also be willing to accept no compensation? Unless it's a local MTE that's idiotic.

Because the market for getting road games with some degree of pay has gone to zero for this season. Every school in the midwest (and beyond) has serious budget issues and no way to generate significant attendance for any games.

[vu84v2]

Here is a conference scheduling model that you may see other mid-major conferences adopt. A team plays everyone in the conference twice, but no home and home. Instead, each weekend each team either travels to or hosts another team and plays both regular season conference games during the weekend.


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30117303/colonial-athletic-association-releases-limited-travel-basketball-schedules

[wh]

Valpo's Eron Gordon Has Basketball in his Blood
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2020-21/19954/valpos-eron-gordon-has-basketball-in-his-blood/

[FWalum]

I really hope that we see Eron and Nick playing at full strength and injury free this year.  It seems that in all the preseason predictions I am seeing that they are not seen as major contributors. I think that can change this season and that these two will surprise the league with some stellar play in 20-21.

[vu72]

I really hope that we see Eron and Nick playing at full strength and injury free this year.  It seems that in all the preseason predictions I am seeing that they are not seen as major contributors. I think that can change this season and that these two will surprise the league with some stellar play in 20-21.

I hope the same.  I would expect to see Nick in the starting lineup with Eron possibly the first guard off the bench.  I guess Sackey, Krikke, McMillan, Nick and Clay will start.  It will be very interesting to see if any of the new guys play serious minutes early in the season.

[vuny98]

I really hope that we see Eron and Nick playing at full strength and injury free this year.  It seems that in all the preseason predictions I am seeing that they are not seen as major contributors. I think that can change this season and that these two will surprise the league with some stellar play in 20-21.

I hope the same.  I would expect to see Nick in the starting lineup with Eron possibly the first guard off the bench.  I guess Sackey, Krikke, McMillan, Nick and Clay will start.  It will be very interesting to see if any of the new guys play serious minutes early in the season.

Krikke and Clay are the only two sure starters in my book. Sackey, McMillan and Eron were all very inconsistent last year, but all could start. Nick should be able to start, lets see how he comes back from injury. The new guys are all a question mark, but I expect at least one between Goodnews, Edwards and Jacob to start. Either way I'd expect those 9 to get big minutes and hopefully we are surprised by the development/contribution of a few others (EFV, Zion)

[wh]

Robinson Excited to Return to Floor for Valpo Basketball
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2020-21/19958/robinson-excited-to-return-to-floor-for-valpo-basketball/