Valpo@Evansville 3pm Sunday+6pm Monday

usc4valpo · February 01, 2021, 06:18:31 PM

Agree Alaska, but Valpo's commitment to basketball financially is probably on the low end in MVC, and definitely on the low end for other sports.

VUGrad1314 · February 01, 2021, 06:30:41 PM

Quote from: usc4valpo on February 01, 2021, 06:18:31 PMAgree Alaska, but Valpo's commitment to basketball financially is probably on the low end in MVC, and definitely on the low end for other sports.

So that's what "laser focus" looks like and commitment looks like huh? That's disappointing.

covufan · February 01, 2021, 06:33:46 PM

Different day, different team. This must be the day/night statistic the announcers were talking about yesterday.

Why can't this team show up each game?

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vuny98 · February 01, 2021, 07:14:27 PM

Can someone tell Sackey to stop shooting the ball???

He does some good things, but damn he is a liability when he tries to shoot.

nkvu · February 01, 2021, 07:14:40 PM

Sackey throwing up two air balls and getting a shot blocked to let Evansville back in the game. Just like three straight turnovers.

valpo64 · February 01, 2021, 07:18:45 PM

Why in ?&@% is Sackey still in this game?

Worthless on the court....do not let him touch the ball!

IndyEIT777 · February 01, 2021, 07:24:40 PM

Just 10 points in over 12 minutes... I just can't with this team right now!

nkvu · February 01, 2021, 07:41:09 PM

Sad, just sad. I can't even.

justducky · February 01, 2021, 07:43:21 PM

Much better half time adjustments by the Aces. Our first half may have been our best of the season but it takes 40 minutes.

vok22 · February 01, 2021, 07:43:58 PM

What a pathetic, pathetic effort. I saw a some fight from Edwards especially on defense. Other than that- nothing. Our starting PG can't even hit the rim on a 3 point shot. Evansville might be in 3rd place in the league after tonight but they are not good enough to blow a 16 point lead to.

AlaskaCrusader19 · February 01, 2021, 07:49:14 PM

There are just no positives to take away from these two games... I really thought this team was starting to turn a corner, but it's no different than any other year. Every step forward is followed by a step backward. Also... Why isn't Ognacevic playing more? This team clearly isn't going to win the conference or play in a postseason tournament, so why not get the freshmen more action?

NativeCheesehead · February 01, 2021, 07:50:44 PM

"Yeah, is this Amazon? I'm calling to inquire about your return policies on contract extensions?"

IndyEIT777 · February 01, 2021, 07:54:13 PM

Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on February 01, 2021, 07:49:14 PM
There are just no positives to take away from these two games... I really thought this team was starting to turn a corner, but it's no different than any other year. Every step forward is followed by a step backward. Also... Why isn't Ognacevic playing more? This team clearly isn't going to win the conference or play in a postseason tournament, so why not get the freshmen more action?

I was just about to say this. This team is not going anywhere, so why are we wasting all these minutes on Sackey and McMillan and not getting Jacob more reps. Also, why is Emile even dressing if we aren't playing him, either starting getting him in or shut him down for the year.

valpopal · February 01, 2021, 07:57:23 PM

When Sackey takes more shots than Krikke and more shots than anyone on the team except Clay, and Sackey ties for the most 3-point shots with Barrett and Edwards, and Krikke leads the team in assists with twice as many as Sackey, you know the offensive strategy is upside down and pitiful.

valpo64 · February 01, 2021, 08:06:13 PM

Point guard, point guard, point guard! Sackey IS NOT! He should be on the bench. For every good play he makes he then makes twice as many or more bad plays. A complete no show on offense and he is not a good defensive player. I have never seen a more incompetent shooter and point guard in Div. 1 this year. How many shots did he take tonight that did not even hit the rim or backboard? Unbelievable! I can't take it anymore! Sorry. He is probably a great kid, well liked and all, but it all ends there. He is not a Div. 1 point guard. He has not improved at all since his freshman year. What is he shooting from the 3 point line? Something like 2 for 27 or so? Are you kidding me!!!

vok22 · February 01, 2021, 08:08:50 PM

Quote from: valpo64 on February 01, 2021, 08:06:13 PM
Point guard, point guard, point guard! Sackey IS NOT! He should be on the bench. For every good play he makes he then makes twice as many or more bad plays. A complete no show on offense and he is not a good defensive player. I have never seen a more incompetent shooter and point guard in Div. 1 this year. How many shots did he take tonight that did not even hit the rim or backboard? Unbelievable! I can't take it anymore! Sorry. He is probably a great kid, well liked and all, but it all ends there. He is not a Div. 1 point guard. He has not improved at all since his freshman year. What is he shooting from the 3 point line? Something like 2 for 27 or so? Are you kidding me!!!

Yep. He couldn't hit the floor with his hat.

justducky · February 01, 2021, 09:03:47 PM

Quote from: IndyEIT777 on February 01, 2021, 07:54:13 PMwhy is Emile even dressing if we aren't playing him, either starting getting him in or shut him down for the year.

Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on February 01, 2021, 07:49:14 PMWhy isn't Ognacevic playing more?

Mileek is finally starting to play a bit better but we are nearing the point where 21-22 should become our primary focus. JO will not help us win additional games this year but he could learn a lot in the process of sometimes being embarrassed. Emil loses no eligibility by dressing but I'm thinking he must be far from 100% or he would be seeing some action. That leaves Goodnews and he also needs minutes to develop.

Purely speculation but Matt must believe that a late season upper class led run still has a chance to develop. Does it

VUGrad1314 · February 01, 2021, 09:47:57 PM

Quote from: justducky on February 01, 2021, 09:03:47 PM
Quote from: IndyEIT777 on February 01, 2021, 07:54:13 PMwhy is Emile even dressing if we aren't playing him, either starting getting him in or shut him down for the year.
Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on February 01, 2021, 07:49:14 PMWhy isn't Ognacevic playing more?
Mileek is finally starting to play a bit better but we are nearing the point where 21-22 should become our primary focus. JO will not help us win additional games this year but he could learn a lot in the process of sometimes being embarrassed. Emil loses no eligibility by dressing but I'm thinking he must be far from 100% or he would be seeing some action. That leaves Goodnews and he also needs minutes to develop. Purely speculation but Matt must believe that a late season upper class led run still has a chance to develop. Does it

So our philosophy is suck for most of the year and then pray we get hot and make a run at Arch Madness? Why are we bothering with the upperclassmen who will probably be gone anyway when we have high upside recruits who need minutes and are coming in. That is not a great program building strategy... I wish we'd work more on you know actually building the program to be consistently successful at the MVC level and maybe fight for at large bids and top 25 rankings. If Drake can do it so can we. I don't see much that they have that we don't? We just have to decide that we want that. Do we?

valpotx · February 02, 2021, 01:52:11 AM

Ah yes, the doom-and-gloom after a Valpo loss. I've been there on occasion. For those responding with these types of statements, if we beat Drake in one or both games next weekend, will you be back on the path of positivity?

Also, in regards to the stop playing the upperclassmen comments that come up from time-to-time on this board, that is just not going to happen, if they are still our best options THIS season. These aren't professional basketball players we are talking about, but student athletes, at this point in their lives. The 'play the young guys to give them experience' mentality is something that professional sports teams do, not as much the college level. How can you tell a Senior at the college level, that you are going to sit them, as this year is tanked, and we need to prepare for next season? That is complete BS. Mileek should get whatever minutes he deserves for his play this year, and it shouldn't be based on what we plan to do next season. It can't and shouldn't be, 'sorry Mileek, you have been a faithful member of this team for 4 seasons now, and had demonstrated tremendous improvement until you started experiencing health issues...buttttttt, we are done with you now.'

vu72 · February 02, 2021, 08:32:15 AM

A couple of thoughts. First, we witnessed why Evansville hired Lickliter. He out coached Matt in spades. He was the National Coach of the Year in 2007 for a reason. Second, I very much doubt Emil will want to hang around for an extra year. He is an engineering student. I'm guessing career may trump basketball.

We need to remember that in spite of our wish that Valpo would whip everyone, we are still a VERY young team. Witness the following in comparison to Evansville: Evansville got 26 points from Seniors and 30 points from Juniors and 2 points from sophomores. Valpo got 5 points from Seniors, 9 points from Juniors, 26 points from Sophomores and 11 points from Freshman.

In other news our Volleyball team beat Loyola and earlier beat that team from central Indiana.

Pgmado · February 02, 2021, 09:57:18 AM

Here's a rule regarding players. If they travel this year, they have to be in uniform. Lottich said on teleconference this morning that they want Emil to travel and help in practice on the road. Therefore he's in uniform, even if he might not be ready to return.

oklahomamick · February 02, 2021, 10:04:30 AM

The stats clearly suggest that our younger players are the contributors.

But my question is, how many years will this program be young?

wh · February 02, 2021, 11:30:20 AM

Quote from: oklahomamick on February 02, 2021, 10:04:30 AM
The stats clearly suggest that our younger players are the contributors.

But my question is, how many years will this program be young?

I think it's fair to say that Valpo's "youth movement" began in earnest with last season's 4-player freshman class. It continued this year with a another 4-player freshman class, plus Steve Helms. Next year will be yet another 4-freshmen class. Thus, along with Daniel Sackey, next year's entire roster will be composed of traditional freshman recruits. I would expect to see great team chemistry, familiarity, and buy-in. No one will have brought their services (and possible baggage) to Valpo from elsewhere. Even then, we will still be fairly young (8 of 13 will be freshmen or sophomores), yet well on our way to establishing symmetry and balance. Two years from now we will have achieved complete parity, and from that point forward the goal is to keep the players we have and maintain parity from year to year. That's how winning programs operate. If all goes as planned, next year's team should be very competitive, and the following year and beyond - lookout! Just my glass half full thoughts on the subject.

crusadermoe · February 02, 2021, 01:03:27 PM

Agreed. Stay the course even though it hurts. People seem to climb on and off the Lottich bandwagon pretty quickly.

Someone posted that 4 arrow cycle diagram a few months ago. I'm afraid that is a reality for most mid-majors. Lose players to transfer ups (Javon), start slow with a young team, build momentum upward to a tournament, lose the good players. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Yet....Drake and Loyola are breaking through. Loyola has an urban site and recent Final Four. But Drake is a private school our size. What are they doing differently?

crusader05 · February 02, 2021, 01:21:21 PM

My thoughts are that Alec Peters staying was really the rarity and that when you recruit underrecruited players who quickly become the star you will ALWAYS run the risk of them transferring. We all applaud Alec his loyalty but maybe, with a real clear eye towards career path (which is why all students go to college) maybe it would have been better for him to transfer his last year.
Drake doesn't have a super star just a really strong solid class working together. That's the way forward. Sometimes you get the stand outs that develop like Vashil and Rowdy but we need workhorses and coachable guys. I think we have a lot of them right now but the live by the star recruit/die by star recruit cycle is not going to be sustainable for mid majors, especially with more lenient transfer rules. but not even transferring. Look what happened to UNI when Green went out.