Valparaiso Preview and Game Thread -- 2-10-2019

[JCT]

Sunday, February 10, 2019, 3:00 p.m.
Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Indiana

The Valparaiso Crusaders came out of the gate at the start of conference season and seized sole possession of first place in the MVC with a 4-0 start. The Crusaders may have lucked out on a half-court miracle shot that completed a late 10-point comeback over Illinois State in the conference opener, but they comfortably beat Bradley at home and captured impressive road wins at SIU and Missouri State. Valpo lost their top scorer, 6’7” junior forward and Providence transfer Ryan Fazekas, to an ankle injury in the game against Bradley, which presented a huge setback. Since they faced the Ramblers on Jan. 15 in a 71-57 defeat at Gentile Arena, Valpo is 2-5.

Last time out-- even without Fazekas (who might be nearing a return)-- Valpo defeated the Redbirds in Normal with a convincing 69-53 win. Valpo scored the first 14 points of the game and survived a late ISU push for their third road victory of the season. Freshman Javon Freeman torched Illinois State for 27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, while Derrik Smits was 8-for-10 from the field with 16 points. The Crusaders got Phil Fayne to foul out with 6 minutes left in the game and held Malik Yarbrough to nine points—no easy feat at Redbird Arena.

The Crusaders are likely to start the same lineup as when they faced Loyola in January: 7’1” junior center/forward Derrik Smits; 6’5” senior guard/forward John Kiser; and guards Markus Golder (6’6” senior), Daniel Sackey (5’9” freshman), and Javon Freeman (6’3” freshman). Valpo has a talented and experience bench, including guards Bakari Evelyn, Deion Lavender, center Jaume Sorolla, and forward Mileek McMillan.

Loyola is coming off another strong home showing against Drake on Tuesday night, showing complete dominance at certain key points in the 86-64 win. But home games haven’t really been the problem—the problem for the Ramblers has been inconsistent performances on the road. Loyola is 2-3 in conference on the road, with an average offense in the losses of 46.7 points, 37.5% field goal shooting, and 19% three-point shooting. In the road wins, Loyola shot 58.3% from the field and 53.8% on threes, but won by an average of only 9.5 points.

Valpo has lost their last two home conference games, scoring less than 60 points in each game. Valpo is 1-7 on the year when scoring fewer than 60 points, the one exception being the win on the half-court miracle shot against ISU. Loyola has held opponents under 60 points eight times, and under 50 points five times (including four in a row). When the Ramblers hold opponents under 60, they’re 6-2.

With Illinois State playing at MSU at the same time on Sunday, the Ramblers have a chance to open up a commanding two-game lead in the conference with a win at Valpo and a Missouri State win over ISU. Conversely, an Illinois State win in Springfield and a Loyola loss would drag the Ramblers into yet another tie for first in this muddled, unpredictable MVC conference race.


Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... df?id=8336

Valparaiso game notes: http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/v ... _Notes.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN U http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3478016/ ... valparaiso

Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=237500

Vegas odds: Loyola by 3

[RamblinRicer]

Anyone making the road trip down? A group of five blers alum found tickets 2 rows back behind the end of Loyola's bench.

[justducky]

Anyone making the road trip down? A group of five blers alum found tickets 2 rows back behind the end of Loyola's bench.

Valpo fan here. Looks like maybe 500 unsold tickets with your section D tickets gone and mezzanine DD disappearing rapidly. I'd anticipate a Loyola crowd rivaling what Butler would bring up back in the HL heyday.

Should be fun! Lets hope that both teams are healthy for St. Louis because when they are, both will be difficult to stop.

Oh yeah----I have no clue if Fazekas will dress or not. Even if he does the 8 game layoff can't be a good thing for his performance.

A little snow in the forecast but it looks manageable. Come on down!

[brot4britu]

Well here we are coming around rhe far turn heading for the home stretch Crusaders are a darn good team--So are we !! I like us today say 81-76
BUT a new kid rising to complicate things ---BRAVES !! A win here today will go far for the RAMBLERS !!!

[Robbie Aces]

Lots of activity on the Valpo board. The consensus is that this is their biggest game since joining the Valley. Surprisingly they don't sound very confident about their chances today.

[01grad]

Ice cold from outside and Krutwig with 2 early fouls. Not a good combination.

[Robbie Aces]

not looking good so far. Gotta get Custer going

[Johhnyfingers]

Only being down 2 at half isn't bad for how rough our shooting was. If Custer turns it on in the second half we will be ok.

[01grad]

Hopefully seeing that circus shot go in at the buzzer gets him going. Basketball is weird sometimes.

[Robbie Aces]

am I the only glad to only be down by 2 at half?