Who should our "new" HL Rival Be?

[VULB#62]

GOVALPOGO asked the question -- so why not have a poll?  Poll ends in 14 days.

Even though the end of this season featured some friction between UDM and VU at the end, that doesn't make them a rival.  GOVALPOGO mentioned the contrast in styles, etc.  Still doesn't make them a rival, just have a lower level of respect for them.  Rivalries, IMO, have to contain a respect element.

[govalpogo]

Respect! I agree totally!  I think that's what our relationship with UWM has over our relationship with UDM. 

[SadersofthelostArc]

Honestly, this isn't really even open to debate.  With Keith now firmly entrenched at Wright State, they have become our top rival.  Next question, please.

[valpotx]

No respect for Detroit after their player and fan behavior last year, so not a rival, just disliked.  We have played UWM tough, and they have played us tough over the last decade.  They also have some solid fan support, that does not vandalize our campus.  UWM it is!

[vubballfan10]

Detroit.  We have played them 9 times in the last 3 years, and none of those 9 meetings have disappointed.  Detroit has won at Valpo twice during the Horizon League Tournament.  (2010 and 2012)  The most exciting game for Valpo was on February 6, 2010, holding on to win after blowing an 18 point lead with Mike Rogers making clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch. 

Milwaukee could also be the new rival, as we have played some close games with them, including both this year.  This could easily be the best rivalry after what happened in 2010 when Brandon McPherson and Milwaukee's Ricky Franklin both made game winning shots in the final seconds and the series was split that year 1-1.

I was thinking about Wright State as well, but decided against that since they will be in the bottom of the HL this season.

[vuweathernerd]

i like the milwaukee possibility. we've had some interesting games with them over the last few years. and there's some level of respect between the two programs it seems.

[sectionee]

Detroit! You don't have to respect someone to have a rivalry with them. A rivalry game is the one the players are circling on their schedule. Detroit has earned it.

[swiftmutiny]

This year it's without a doubt Detroit. Keep in mind that we could get several new additions next year though, possibly including Oakland.

[vubballfan10]

i like the milwaukee possibility. we've had some interesting games with them over the last few years. and there's some level of respect between the two programs it seems.

Totally agreed.  Both games in 2009-10 were thrillers with last second game winners, the 2010-11 game at Milwaukee was a thriller even though Mike Rogers could make the game winning layup, and both games this past season were within a three point margin.  Five of the last seven Valpo vs. Milwaukee games have been within a three point margin.  That is why the Panthers and the Titans are the two frontrunners for Valpo's biggest HL rival.

[MattCarter]

I am totally anti Detroit so I think they are the "rival we beat the crap out of"...

I think a great and natural "respect" rivalry is UWM or CSU.

Out of conference, I love our rivalry with IPFW.  They play Valpo like its the Final Four...even after Fife left for MSU.  Its my love/hate game of the year.  I love seeing the game but hate that we can't write em off.

[HorizonLeagueFan]

I was thinking about Wright State as well, but decided against that since they will be in the bottom of the HL this season.

Wright State might surprise this year.  I don't think most HL fans have followed how they ended this year's recruiting class.  They added a top 40 JUCO guard, Jerran Young who signed with Nebraska in the fall but opted out of his LOI after they went through a coaching change.  They added PG Antonio Drummond, who picked WSU over offers from Kansas State and UC.  The final addition to their class was forward Steven Davis who picked WSU over an offer from UC. 

[vubballfan10]

I was thinking about Wright State as well, but decided against that since they will be in the bottom of the HL this season.

Wright State might surprise this year.  I don't think most HL fans have followed how they ended this year's recruiting class.  They added a top 40 JUCO guard, Jerran Young who signed with Nebraska in the fall but opted out of his LOI after they went through a coaching change.  They added PG Antonio Drummond, who picked WSU over offers from Kansas State and UC.  The final addition to their class was forward Steven Davis who picked WSU over an offer from UC.

Are you saying you think the Raiders will be ahead of UIC and Loyola, who both look to be improved this season.  Wright State does have many options in the backcourt, with Arceneaux and the newcomers, but they do not have proven returning scoring, something Loyola has with Averkamp and Hicks, and UIC has by bringing back 4 out of 5 starters plus Josh Crittle.


Also, Wright State recently lost Armond Battle who was sure to be one of the starters this season.  Their youth and inexperience will hamper them this year like it did last year, which is why I seem them at the bottom of the league.

[HorizonLeagueFan]

I was thinking about Wright State as well, but decided against that since they will be in the bottom of the HL this season.

Wright State might surprise this year.  I don't think most HL fans have followed how they ended this year's recruiting class.  They added a top 40 JUCO guard, Jerran Young who signed with Nebraska in the fall but opted out of his LOI after they went through a coaching change.  They added PG Antonio Drummond, who picked WSU over offers from Kansas State and UC.  The final addition to their class was forward Steven Davis who picked WSU over an offer from UC.

Are you saying you think the Raiders will be ahead of UIC and Loyola, who both look to be improved this season.  Wright State does have many options in the backcourt, with Arceneaux and the newcomers, but they do not have proven returning scoring, something Loyola has with Averkamp and Hicks, and UIC has by bringing back 4 out of 5 starters plus Josh Crittle.


Also, Wright State recently lost Armond Battle who was sure to be one of the starters this season.  Their youth and inexperience will hamper them this year like it did last year, which is why I seem them at the bottom of the league.

Armond Battle lost his starting spot at the end of last season.  Wright State chose to not renew his scholarship in favor of bringing in Steven Davis. 
I absolutely think Wright State finishes ahead of the 2 Chicago schools.   They should be a better team than they were last season and they finished ahead of those 2 schools last year.

[humbleopinion]

There is a strong alumni base in the Milwaukee area that can show up for games if a rivalry grows with UWM.  It's a shorter drive than Detroit (presuming that Chicago traffic isn't nutty), and our short history with Milwaukee has shown them to to be a team that will provide us a challenge.

[VULB#62]

There is a strong alumni base in the Milwaukee area that can show up for games if a rivalry grows with UWM.  It's a shorter drive than Detroit (presuming that Chicago traffic isn't nutty), and our short history with Milwaukee has shown them to to be a team that will provide us a challenge.

Add to the mix the influence and direction provided by their new AD Andy Geiger.  They will be a force in many ways.

[dylanrocks]

Without question, our top two rivals are Valpo and Green Bay.

Cleveland State, I suppose, could make a case because of the theatrics of its coach.

Green Bay is obviously a longer-standing rivalry, but Valpo has brought considerably more fans.

On that note, it sounds as though the size of the old arena will allow for 25 comps for opposing fans. In truth, I don't think the Klotsche Center legitimately holds 3,400 people. Probably closer to 3,000.

[wh]

Without question, our top two rivals are Valpo and Green Bay.

Cleveland State, I suppose, could make a case because of the theatrics of its coach.

Green Bay is obviously a longer-standing rivalry, but Valpo has brought considerably more fans.

On that note, it sounds as though the size of the old arena will allow for 25 comps for opposing fans. In truth, I don't think the Klotsche Center legitimately holds 3,400 people. Probably closer to 3,000.

I'd love to come check out the Klotsche Center on 1/12, but I'm guessing tickets will be hard to come by.

[StlVUFan]

Over the entire 5 years of our existence in the HL, there's only one team on that list that fits the definition almost perfectly in my book.

Milwaukee:

1.  Jeter staring down Homer in 2008 at The Cell.
2.  Last year's taunting technical on Edwards.
3.  Almost every game has been a nail-biter, both score-wise and tension-wise.
4.  Any game that is a blowout at one point during the game always seems to end as a nail-biter.
5.  Regular season combined record over the 5 years? 5-5

If I could give a 2nd place vote, it would be Green Bay, but they have owned us a bit, and they've blown us out a couple of times.

I agree that for this year in particular, we will have Detroit on our radar screen, but over the long haul, they're not even close.

[talksalot]

Seriously?  nobody is talking about Youngstown as a rival???   OH yeh, wait, nevermind...  I like this conversation... and I'm leaning toward the Panthers over the Titans... The Titans will be down after Mr. McCallum leaves (either of them) and I think UWM is in it for the longer term.  GB is just too far for the fan base to make the trip and make the road games truly exciting... remember Hinkle when VU brought down most of the 46383 zip code to watch those games.

[dylanrocks]

Milwaukee's rivalry with Valpo is among the best things the league currently has going, but it's going to be awfully difficult for the Crusaders to have any fans on hand at the 3,000-seat bandbox known as the Klotsche Center.

[Pathfinder]

Detroit. Private, similar size, similar academics, reasonable geography, Lutheran-Catholic thing, last year's regular-season and tournament champs. Should be among best teams in the league the next two-three years, which will establish rivalry regardless.

[dylanrocks]

Should be among best teams in the league the next two-three years.

I'm really not sure about this.

Nick Minnerath, Doug Anderson, Jason Calliste and possibly Ray, Jr. will all be gone after this season. Maybe Ray, Sr. as well.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Ray Jr. is going to stick around to play with Brundidge, his old AAU buddy.  The two of them could do some serious HL damage.

[Pathfinder]

Should be among best teams in the league the next two-three years.

I'm really not sure about this. Nick Minnerath, Doug Anderson, Jason Calliste and possibly Ray, Jr. will all be gone after this season. Maybe Ray, Sr. as well.

Calliste is a senior academically, but a junior for eligibility purposes. If he and McCallum come back, it will be pretty easy to plug in Juwan Howard for Anderson, and they should remain very competitive. But yeah, if they lose McCallum, it will be a blow.

[vubballfan10]

I'm not so sure that Calliste is a Junior eligibility wise.  It is possible that the 2009-10 season was a year of lost eligibility for him.


This is what is said for him on the Titan Athletics website.


2009-10:Did not participate in any games as he was enrolled in school meeting NCAA requirements.

Does anyone for sure know whether that means he is a Jr or Sr eligiblity wise because it never has been officially said that 2009-10 was a redshirt year?