NEW MEMBER HERE (Following the Valley for several years.)
I think VU fans can proudly admit last night was probably the best crowd/environment in last 5+ years @ ARC. The program’s biggest win since the 2020 4-day surprising run in STL.
VU fans/alumni and the Valpo community should be engaged with this program removed link They play the right way and are a fun watch. Multiple more home games this month with 2 on Saturday’s in January.
My ASK to the Beacon/Crusader faithful: The ARC use to be a fearful place to play in the horizon league and prior.
NOTE: (I understand the several previous years not getting on your feet/making noise since the Bryce/early Lottich years. It was bad. Really bad for a few years. I get it.)
But this team….the 9-6 Beacons who have already surpassed last year’s win total with close to 20 games remaining…..The 2-2 so far in league play Beacons, who have played by far the toughest MVC schedule (probably playing the toughest 3 teams already). Playing tight in all those games.
I say all that to say this…This TEAM deserves the crowds of old IF they continue to play like they already have in league play. That means FANS….stand on your feet when VU makes a run and the other team calls a TO/media TO…..That means stand on your feet and make noise late in game while VU plays D (under 8 in 2H)……That means standing and cheering when someone makes a Hustle play…..That means when the game is locked up, and VU has secured the program’s biggest win since damn COVID, you go NUTS.
I just remember the ARC use to be crazy in early 2000s. Student sections under both baskets. Seats filled to corners. SRO on railing. Home court advantage is a real thing. Especially in MVC when students are in session.
VU basketball staff is building back the program in the right manner. But in today’s basketball “world”, it takes a lot more than a staff to be successful long-term, the Valpo administration and community need to financially and emotionally buy into the university and basketball. Basketball success is the largest enrollment factor by a wide margin (another subject, my apologies).
Anyways, Coach Powell has the vision. Coach Powell has already seen the ARC like previously described. My ask to the fans is to make the ARC environment like the 2013 Broekhoff buzzer beater, mid 2000s butler games. Tonight was a step forward but I know the Crusader/Beacon fans can bring more. STAND!!
Honestly, because the players deserve it too. Again in today’s basketball “world”, where many coaches have decided to stop coaching, Coach Powell in Year 2 seems to be building a strong culture and his team plays hard and connected and has a lot of young talent.
The VU community/FANS should want to give everything they have (more emotionally at games, but financially HELPS too) to keep this young talent around to keep building.
I was impressed by VU, I was proud to be back at the ARC last night. I know many others feel the same way. Several crucial home games in January and to follow.
Happy to be here. Would love thoughts.
I said this from the very beginning, but this team would have some issues in the Non-Con, and hopefully would synergize and find what works. Powell found what works, and, quite poetically, what works is a hometown kid. I know some are still concerned that Coop isnt getting the numbers from last year, but realistically, he doesn't need to. It isn't the "Stafford and Schwieger Show" anymore. He can sit back and contribute in ways that aren't finding methods in which to score. This team is deeper than last year, and the skill floor has improved from last year. With each week, they continue to raise the skill ceiling as well. This team is largely player led in practice too. I dont know if you guys heard the broadcasters, but they said they were there early in the morning where they men were teaching themselves how to break UNI. They certianly executed the gameplan well and to the point where UNI simply didnt have an answer. Would we like to see the FG% and 3PT% Improve, absolutely, but as it stands now, they can compensate for their lack of shooting from the floor.
The MVC announcers were flabbergasted yesterday by many things, but in rewatching the tapes. They seemed to highlight that the ARC had "life" in it the most. I feel like the ARC is overdue to remind people of the times where you couldn't speak ill of a "High School Gym" because those were times where announcers would routinely have to peak their mics in order to get a word in. The ARC is a venue designed to shove noise onto the court, I would like to see more fans standing and cheering as opposed to sitting and watching. If I wanted to go to church I would walk East on Chapel Dr.
@valleyreport My friend...I don't think anyone is going to disagree with you here. It shouldn't take the REV with seconds on the clock to rally the crowd. Attached below is from 2016. Should remind all here just how feared we used to be in a "Totally Unbiased Opinion". The men on the court may be the boots on the ground, but the fans are the cavalry.
MY message is short and sweet.
Cheer or go home. Make the REV proud.
I can't begin to express how impressed I am with the progress. This Valpo team would beat the team that played Cleveland State by double digits. Running plays, getting open shots, playing tough defense and fighting for rebounds. Seems like everyone's roles are more defined now and the players have bought into that. Shining examples of that are Kaspar Sepp and Tyler Schmidt. Those two combined for 18 minutes in the CSU game and 57 in yesterday's game. On the flip side, Shaw played for 23 against CSU and only 5 yesterday.
Part of me wonders why Schmidt and Sepp weren't playing more earlier in the year, but really pleased that Powell adapted and found something that worked and has been sticking with it. This includes effectively benching Shaw despite the deep connection to the Drew family.
The game against Indiana State on Wednesday is being marketed as a "Gold Out". Would love to see another big crowd against an in state opponent. The word is starting to get around that the basketball team might be worth watching again. The announcers alluded to this yesterday, but now that we have strung together a couple of wins and close losses to league contenders, the next step in competing in the league is to keep winning at home not matter the caliber of opponent. Road letdowns will happen in this league, but good teams win at home.
I read the board regularly but don’t post often. I am around the program somewhat and want to respect their privacy. With that being said, there is no harm in lending insight on this one.
First off, your post is a great one. It finally feels exciting to be a Valpo fan as we can all feel the program turning a corner. This team isn’t perfect, they will lose games we think and want them to win. But the improvement is obvious, the passion is obvious, and the dedication by players and staff is obvious.
Regarding Schmidt and Sepp playing more sooner: Tyler had a bad ankle sprain over the summer and essentially missed most workouts. He essentially wasn’t playing regularly until Nov which explains why he wasn’t starting initially. In fairness, nobody expected these shooting percentages but essentially nobody saw him play this summer. Regarding Sepp, he just makes winning plays. Ellis is starting to come around again which has been awesome for our bench but he was terrific all summer and dominated our “secret scrimmage” as PO alluded to in his post on the scrimmage. In today’s college climate, teams change substantially every year and it takes time to know what exactly you have to work with and what fits best. Non conference is more important than ever, not for wins in that vacuum (which would be nice) but to learn what works to win in conference.
This team is fun and we will win some games. Remember this is still a rebuild though. Next year should be great assuming we can keep the core together. That is essentially impossible in college basketball but this staff approaches the day-to-day so differently. Their relationships are so strong with the guys that I think we can bring guys back, add a few key pieces, and have that special year next year. To do so, it takes commitment from all involved including the fans.
See the light!!!
With an upset win by Murray State today over Drake and with Illinois State up big on Southern Illinois late in the 2nd half, it appears Valpo is now amid the MVC's 7-way tie for 4th place (if your glass is half full) or 10th place (if it is half empty). 
At the close of the 23-24 season most everyone thought that MVC 24-25 was gonna be really crazy and totally unpredictable. Guess what? This might just be weekly heart-stopping fun 🙄
Of course, that kind of MVC-internal devouring of teams in the conference season does not lend itself to an at-large in the post-season ☹️
Awesome win for the Beacons. Didn't look like a recent typical just having a good game. It looked like a team we can expect this from. Powell's got his rotation now as well. Let's keep it going Wednesday.
@joker then cheer. Be loud. Show some sign of support. It's not virtue signaling to say that the ARC is a church at the moment and the guys could use a little show of support. It's like what ValleyReport said. The ARC used to be a place that opponents dreaded playing. It showed signs of life on Saturday. Nowhere did I imply that you aren't a good fan if you aren't on your feet at all points during a game. That's what students are for. But being silent isn't college sports. It's church. Once again. It shouldn't take the Head Coach, with 10 seconds on the clock, turning around and telling people to get loud to get any sort of life out of the crowd.
You are trying to link standing up to being some sort of basis of what I said when that wasn't the point. If you want something in depth, reread what ValleyReport said. That pretty much covers it.
To be fair to those that sit and cheer, we do have a lot of long-term Valpo fans that populate the chairback section on a consistent basis, and provide a solid base for Valpo attendance. This was also the case when I was on campus from the 1999-2000 to 2003-2004 seasons. What made the difference in the noise was combining those that cheer more quietly, with those that are much more rambunctious in their cheering, such as myself. The student section should be staying on top of these moments to recognize critical moments, so that others follow. Just as we used to complain that the chairback section wouldn't cheer loudly and would sit down back then, the chairback section and administration also disliked how we would chant "we're going to beat the hell out of you, and you, and you and you and YOU" during The Hey Song 😀 . It's a good mix when you have the different types of Valpo fans.
Best game I've seen played in years!
To be fair to those that sit and cheer, we do have a lot of long-term Valpo fans that populate the chairback section on a consistent basis, and provide a solid base for Valpo attendance. This was also the case when I was on campus from the 1999-2000 to 2003-2004 seasons. What made the difference in the noise was combining those that cheer more quietly, with those that are much more rambunctious in their cheering, such as myself. The student section should be staying on top of these moments to recognize critical moments, so that others follow. Just as we used to complain that the chairback section wouldn't cheer loudly and would sit down back then, the chairback section and administration also disliked how we would chant "we're going to beat the hell out of you, and you, and you and you and YOU" during The Hey Song 😀 . It's a good mix when you have the different types of Valpo fans.
I still remember the superfans that would sit at the top of C and always have some sort of remark. The one stuck in my brain being, "Uh oh. He's in...FOUL TROUBLE". My major gripe is with not doing the cadences for the hey song (The more PG cadences) and the motions for the school song. Which ultimately is on the students, but the general population should also be engaging with the crowd. Moreso in getting rowdy for time outs after runs. Scoring critical shots, and providing some noise while on defense.
