UMKC seeks revengeThe Kansas City Star
Hooper deserves start for Niagara game--The Post-Tribune
Feb. 16, 2006
By Justin Breen / Post-Tribune deputy sports editor
As far as I can tell, there are only two good reasons for Valparaiso to host Niagara on Saturday.
But we’ll get to that later.
First, let’s talk about the utter ridiculousness of this matchup, which was determined by a committee of conference commissioners a few weeks back as part of the ESPN BracketBusters tournament.
Strike that. Because this game won’t be on television — like the 13 BracketBusters games — it’s called “nothing, just a regular non-conference game,” according to Valparaiso’s sports information department.
Technically, the game was arranged through the BracketBusters presented by EBay pool, yet ESPN is adamant that the game is not referred to as a BracketBusters game in any way.
Huh?
Mid-Continent Conference commissioner Tom Douple said the conference is pleased with the game because: 1. Valpo has a strong alumni base in western New York (as part of the BracketBusters agreement, Valpo must play at Niagara next season); 2. Crusaders coach Homer Drew is an old friend of Purple Eagles coach Joe Mihalich; and 3. VU director of athletics Mark LaBarbera is from the Buffalo area.
Well, in reality, Valpo does have an alumni club in the New York City/New Jersey/Connecticut area, but none in western New York, which is about a seven-hour drive away. There are 506 Valpo alumni in the Buffalo/Rochester area, according to the VU office of alumni relations, which added there will be an alumni and fan gathering at Niagara next season.
But there are a heckuva lot more alums in this region, and the committee could have chosen more legitimate candidates Indiana State, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois or Drake to play the Crusaders.
And if anyone cares that Drew is friends with Mihalich or LaBarbera is from Buffalo, please call and let me know.
I guess this is what happens when a good tournament goes bad. Four years ago, the inaugural BracketBusters event had 18 teams who were truly elite mid-majors. Now there are 100 teams from 18 conferences — including many from low-major ranks like the Mid-Con — and the result is asinine assignments like Northern Arizona at Western Kentucky, Northwestern State at Utah State, Samford at Ohio, Akron at Nevada and Oral Roberts at Montana. It doesn’t help that many of these teams are having a vital stretch of conference games being interrupted by a useless non-conference affair.
Perhaps Valpo sealed its fate during the selection process, when the Crusaders were in the middle of a four-game losing streak, possibly in part because they decided to bench starting center Mohamed Kone due to an NCAA investigation concerning his travel to Valpo from Florida in September.
The NCAA revealed that Kone never needed to sit out the games in the first place, but the damage had been done. Back then, LaBarbera said the losing ways probably would cost VU one of the real Bracket Buster games, and a rare shot on national television.
He was right.
Instead, the Crusaders are stuck with the 10-14 Purple Eagles. In their first 10 home games this season, they were averaging a miniscule 2,005 fans per game.
There’d be more joy in Valpo if ESPN was footing some of the travel bill to Niagara next season, but LaBarbera said he’s not aware of anything like that happening.
That means money out of VU’s pocket, for a game only a handful of folks want.
Which brings us to this season’s circumstances, and the only two reasons I can think of playing the game.
I have a great deal of respect for Valpo’s senior class, and Saturday will be their final home affair. And for that, the fans should come out and pay tribute.
Dan Oppland has loaned his soul to the program, and his stellar statistics prove that. Ron Howard transferred from Marquette and has been a solid contributor. Seth Colclasure was an average substitute at best his first two seasons but has been a key force the last two. And Ali Berdiel has fought back from the effects of plantar fasciitis to become a mainstay.
Secondly, this game would allow Drew to start walk-on guard Jim Hooper in place of the senior Kone, who has been here less than a season.
Hooper is the essence of a Crusader. The San Diego kid could have stayed out west and played somewhere on scholarship, but he decided to walk-on at VU instead.
When Kenny Harris was in a coma, Hooper’s sister, Sandra, lit a daily candle for him with her grade-school class. Hooper’s brother, Dave, started a foundation on Harris’ behalf.
This is a class family, people.
And I’d love to see the last guy off the bench get the starting nod.
It would help give some meaning to an otherwise meaningless evening of basketball.
Contact Justin Breen at 648-3122 or jbreen@post-trib.com
Crusader notes--The Post-Tribune
Feb. 16, 2006
Men’s BASKETBALL
Oppland named to all-academic team
Valparaiso senior Dan Oppland has been named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V Men’s Basketball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the third straight year he has been so honored.
In 2005, Oppland was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team, and he is having a better season on the court this year. The 6-foot-8 forward leads the Brown and Gold with a 19.9 point per game scoring average and is second on the team at 7.5 rebounds per game. Those totals rank fourth and fifth in the Mid-Continent Conference respectively. Oppland had a string of 28-straight games with double-figure points snapped Thursday night, but still ranks in fourth all-time in Crusader history in both points (1,644) and rebounds (714).
In the classroom, Oppland carries a 3.55 grade point average in sports management. He has been a member of the Mid-Con’s All-Academic Team each of the past two seasons. Oppland will now appear on the ballot for Academic All-America.
The All-Academic Team is voted on by members of CoSIDA from District V which encompasses the states Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, along with the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. To be eligible for Academic All-District, student-athletes must hold at least sophomore status, own a minimum grade-point average of 3.20, and be either a starter or key reserve.
Crusaders seek win over CSU--The Post-Tribune
Feb. 16, 2006
By Justin Breen / Post-Tribune deputy sports editor
In a series traditionally dominated by Valparaiso, it’s been Chicago State that’s had the upper hand lately.
The Crusaders, who lead the all-time series with the Cougars 26-3, have lost the last two, including Chicago State’s 90-76 win on Jan. 19.
Valpo will try and right the ship tonight at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
“They’re just a very, very quick matchup for us,” Valpo coach Homer Drew said.
Valpo has won three straight home games. Dan Oppland led the Crusaders to a 76-64 victory over Western Illinois at the ARC on Feb. 11 with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Oppland has scored in double figures in all but one game this season.
Coming off the bench this month, Ron Howard has averaged 14.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg. He’s shooting 51.2 percent from the floor as well.
Drew said Jimmie Miles should play tonight, while Moussa Mbaye, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury, will not play. Drew added that Mbaye hasn’t practiced all week.
Chicago State (6-17, 5-7 Mid-Continent Conference), which is two games behind Valpo (14-9, 7-6) in the conference standings, is led by guards Royce Parran (18.0 ppg, 4.1 apg) and David Holston (12.9 ppg, 3.0 apg).
The Crusaders, who are in fourth place in the Mid-Con, are 11Ú2 games behind UMKC (11-12, 8-4) for the No. 3 seed. Valpo plays at UMKC on Feb. 23 and finishes the regular season Mid-Con campaign at Oral Roberts on Feb. 25.
“We would love to work up to a No. 3 seed if we can,” Drew said.
Scouting VU men's basketball--The NWI Times
VU's Igbavboa understands role--The NWI Times
Men's Basketball Takes on Valparaiso on Thursday--Chicago State Athletics
IUPUI LOOKS FOR SHARE OF MID-CON CROWN AT CENTENARY ON THURSDAY--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS
Kangaroos and Golden Eagles To Battle For Second Place In The Mid-Con On Thursday--UMKC Kangaroos
VALPO CLOSES OUT HOME SLATE SATURDAY AGAINST CHICAGO STATE ON SENIOR DAY--www.valpo.edu
Men's Basketball Returns Home for Final Stretch--Western Illinois Athletics
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