I am sure Shaw is a great kid, and I wish him the best. I hope he turns out to be a superb player at Valpo. However, last year we correctly gave Powell the benefit of the doubt because he basically had to recruit a whole team and started late. Like everyone else, I was willing to do that. However, after last season's final game, I said that benefit of the doubt stops and results will matter. Powell repeatedly said he would have a different approach this portal season and bring in "studs." I take him at his word, and hold him to that word.
Could Shaw become another "Fazekas"? Could he be a "sleeper"? Sure, I hold the same wishful thinking; but realistically let's go by his numbers thus far, be objective as we would any other player for any team. What would we say if another MVC team signed a transfer who did not start a game and averaged only 2.6 pts and 0.9 rebs in a lower-level conference? Would we immediately list him as a member of "the starting roster"? I guess we could call him "unselfish," which is another way of saying he hasn't scored, but that doesn't apply since he also had only 6 assists in 32 games played.
Don't get me wrong. I very much want Shaw to succeed, just as I hope Ellis will succeed. I will root for a great off-season that creates superior players out of both. I would like to see a surprise for Valpo with a player rising to the level we saw from Robbie Avila at ISU last season or perhaps Cooper for Valpo. Nevertheless, there are two spots down and apparently two spots still open for transfers, one should be a crucial center, and I don't yet see the kind of player that I envisioned when Powell said he was going to bring in studs from the portal that could shake up the league. I hope we see that soon.
Lets also be realistic in saying that our reputation is also not great as of now. I'm sure Powell is hitting the portal as hard as he said he was, but his sweet talk can only do so much.
Lets also be realistic in saying that our reputation is also not great as of now. I'm sure Powell is hitting the portal as hard as he said he was, but his sweet talk can only do so much.
Yes, let's be realistic. Powell knew all you say when he made his promise of bringing in studs and challenged everyone to hold him to that promise. I am following his guidance.
I think our expectations were clouded by the speculation. Lets face it. We don't have the money, or the reputation to land guys like Newman. But Ellis was a "Stud" at the DII level. You are right to hsve your doubts, but Powell has so far kept to his word of hitting the portal hard. We can hold him accountable for not getting guys that "we want" but he knows the needs of the team as well. Lets still give him some time before getting the pitchforks
I don't know about you, but his grandson joining the program is certainly a "significant addition" that "Valpo fans are going to like." Throw in the fact the kid is 6-foot-8 and can knock down 3-pointers. Is it a gamble? Sure. Aren't they all? Building a bridge back to the Drew family is meaningful to the community.
This feels like the Springfield Isotopes signing Babe Ruth IV. I appreciate your affinity for the Drew family. But this is absolutely tone deaf to the fan base. I love your work but you missed the mark in hyping up a 2pt a game 3rd year redshirt freshman from a mid-major who got called because of his uncle’s last name. I am rooting for him, not against him. But just wow.
Lets still give him some time before getting the pitchforks
Not pulling out "pitchforks," just holding him to his promise, as he advised fans should. Also, I mentioned we still have at least two transfer spots to fill, so that is my way to "give him some time."
Lets still give him some time before getting the pitchforks
Not pulling out "pitchforks," just holding him to his promise, as he advised fans should. Also, I mentioned we still have at least two transfer spots to fill, so that is my way to "give him some time."
I was more bing general to everybody with the pitchforks cmack and a few others are going crazy. However once our 2 scholarships are filled discussions can begin in full swing regarding Powells offseason. I feel as if Ellis and Shaw have proven they can play at a high level. The key is if Powell can keep them at that high level of performance.
Not going crazy. Just challenging the hype. Objectively it missed the mark wildly.
I am honestly a lot less excited by the next booms as a result. I’m eager to be shown wrong on all of this.
I'm going to try and help out here. Calling GCU a low major, is just not accurate. While their conference is not as good as the MVC, by every metric they were top 15 in the country all year long, finishing 14th out of 33 leagues in the NET (RPI as well). What's even far more important is that GCU didn't have a mid-major roster this year. It was a high major roster, and the player at Isaiah's position will be in the NBA in 6 months. Isaiah started the season in the rotation and as the season moved on Bryce shortened the rotation, and he gradually lost minutes. I don't think BD wanted his nephew to leave, but leaving gave him the best chance to get the minutes needed to excel. Roger and Casey (Shaw) have been close since playing in the same league in Italy 15 years ago, which is how Roger ended up on Bryce's staff when he retired. As for his talent, I can only go by what has been told to me from numerous quality sources. He's a very skilled 6'8 wing that can handle and shoot the ball at an elite level for his size. I would never want to put any added pressure on him, but I don't anything said on here will effect him either way, so I'll be shocked if he's not a double digit scorer and a significant upgrade at the small forward position. For Valpo to land a player of his abilities out of the portal, with 3 years of elgiblity remaining, is something to celebrate.
@chef I may have misstated my characterization of the WAC. By "lower level" I simply meant below the MVC by 4 spots. Also, I agree with your evaluation of GVC having "a high major roster," but the teams in the conference they (including Shaw) were playing against were not of that caliber. So, his already anemic stats were achieved mostly against lesser competition than in the MVC. Further, since the player at Isaiah's position is moving into the NBA and Isaiah is as good as advertised by some, why wasn't he going "to get the minutes he needed to excel" next year? I hope he does great and progresses for the next three years, but on paper he does not yet merit the hype or "stud" status.
@valpopal Bryce will continue to reload unlike any Mid-major outside of Gonzaga, they are funded like a high major, both in budget and NIL. Isaiah Shaw was never going to get the big minutes there. However, at 90 percent of the mid-majors in the country he's an impact player.
I don't know about you, but his grandson joining the program is certainly a "significant addition" that "Valpo fans are going to like." Throw in the fact the kid is 6-foot-8 and can knock down 3-pointers. Is it a gamble? Sure. Aren't they all? Building a bridge back to the Drew family is meaningful to the community.
This feels like the Springfield Isotopes signing Babe Ruth IV. I appreciate your affinity for the Drew family. But this is absolutely tone deaf to the fan base. I love your work but you missed the mark in hyping up a 2pt a game 3rd year redshirt freshman from a mid-major who got called because of his uncle’s last name. I am rooting for him, not against him. But just wow.
Read the article. When Shaw committed, Powell started banging on his desk. The bulk of the coaching staff tweeted out their excitement to the point that my phone didn’t stop blowing up for the next 15 minutes until I put a tweet out. I had a good idea it was Shaw. Knowing I didn’t have it confirmed, I sent a tweet out saying that the coaching staff was celebrating and that Valpo fans would like it. (Valpo fans love the Drew family, so why wouldn’t they like a member of the family joining the roster.)
That was my only “hype” throughout the day yesterday. I’m not the one who said it was going to be a P5 starter transferring to Valpo. I never said it was Newman (I actually said it wasn’t).
I tweeted late last night about it being a significant addition and I stand by the fact that building a bridge back to the Drew family is significant.
To suggest that I was tone deaf to the fan base is the most laughable thing I’ve been accused of.
Yes, I understand a 2.6 ppg scorer isn’t worth all the hype, which is why I didn’t hype him up. I simply reported (correctly I might add) that the Valpo coaches were excited about the commit, and that Valpo fans were going to like the connection to the Drew family.
That’s all. I’ve got another commitment story to write and fans are going to love this one too. Oh wait, he averaged fewer points than Shaw.
The part I am very very unclear about is the belief that we need a bridge to the Drew family. I am not at all suggesting we shun them. They built Valpo basketball. But what is the tangible value in trying to incorporate the family into the program. What am I missin?. Bryce and Scott have moved on. They aren’t coming back. They aren’t donors. Recruits are not going to sign on because Homer comes to a game. We should be grateful for the program they built.
But at some point it becomes very difficult to step forward when you are always reaching back. Especially as the game has changed dramatically even since Bryce was last on campus. Eventually I hope the program can step out of their long shadow. I think looking back to look forward is where we disagree.
The part I am very very unclear about is the belief that we need a bridge to the Drew family. I am not at all suggesting we shun them. They built Valpo basketball. But what is the tangible value in trying to incorporate the family into the program. What am I missin?. Bryce and Scott have moved on. They aren’t coming back. They aren’t donors. Recruits are not going to sign on because Homer comes to a game. We should be grateful for the program they built.
But at some point it becomes very difficult to step forward when you are always reaching back. Especially as the game has changed dramatically even since Bryce was last on campus. Eventually I hope the program can step out of their long shadow. I think looking back to look forward is where we disagree.
I think you should read Paul's Post and article again. He clearly states that the Valpo fanbase still thinks rather highly of the Drew family. Having a member of the Drews back in valpo will most likely boost attendance and maybe even the donor base purely for the fact that he is a Drew.
When has it ever been a crime to think that players have room to improve? Taking a player at face value rather than where their skill peak is is a closed minded viewpoint. He has displayed he can put up decent numbers.
I
The part I am very very unclear about is the belief that we need a bridge to the Drew family. I am not at all suggesting we shun them. They built Valpo basketball. But what is the tangible value in trying to incorporate the family into the program. What am I missin?. Bryce and Scott have moved on. They aren’t coming back. They aren’t donors. Recruits are not going to sign on because Homer comes to a game. We should be grateful for the program they built.
But at some point it becomes very difficult to step forward when you are always reaching back. Especially as the game has changed dramatically even since Bryce was last on campus. Eventually I hope the program can step out of their long shadow. I think looking back to look forward is where we disagree.
I can understand where you're coming from. I guess I'll say this. Valpo has struggled in the years since Bryce and Homer left town. Not just on the court, but now we live in a world where NIL is driving everything. Homer Drew was Valparaiso's best fundraiser when he was the men's basketball coach and when one of his family members was with the program. Does the addition of Shaw mean that Homer is suddenly going to show up in Valpo and pass the hat? Probably not. But I bet he's a bit more interested in Valpo hoops moving forward and maybe that will move the needle one way or the other.
I truly understand that people are skittish about a 2.6 ppg scorer joining the program and then are wondering why people like Chef and I are excited about the addition. Also keep in mind that Valpo's basketball programs went 12-50 combined, tied for the second-worst record in the entire country. Many of the other sports teams have struggled this year and we've had a front row seat for all of it. The AD resigned. The softball program is on fourth coach in four years. College sports are changing as we know it. So, yeah, I'm excited about a member of the Drew family joining the roster. It's giving me a storyline to look forward to.
