Hall of Fame Homer

 The game against Wright State on February 4th at the ARC will undoubtedly be important.  Valpo will be seeking revenge for an earlier loss and trying to stay a top the league standings.  Also on this night, legendary former head coach Dr. Homer Drew will be inducted in the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame (I guess his own bobble head just didn't do him enough justice)!

Coach Drew patrolled the sidelines of Valparaiso University for over two decades amassing 371 victories during his reign.  Homer led the Crusaders to nine postseason tournaments including seven trips to the NCAA tournament.  These postseason runs were of course highlighted by the teams Sweet 16
appearance in 1998.

Shortly after he retired I was able to have a brief phone interview with the man who's name graces the court in the ARC.  You can read that interview here.  During that interview we reminissed on the previous year, some of the historical games he coached in, his lasting legacy on the university and community, and the joy of coaching alongside his sons. 

All three Drew's have helped make their family name synonomyous with success in college basketball.  Bryce is leading his alma-mater to a winning record and another shot at the conference title.  Scott is the head man at Baylor who was one of the last teams to lose a game this year and are looking to make a deep run in the postseason.  So what about Homer?  Homer has taken on a new position at the university helping raise money.  He is also spreading cancer awareness for prostate and bladder cancer.

SectionEE wants to congratulate all the Drews on this great achievement and wish Homer and Janet the best in their battles with cancer. 

Game Preview: Pre-Season Opener vs. Hillsdale

 

All of our questions regarding the 2011-2012 VU Men's basketball team will be answered come Saturday night....wouldn't that be nice!  The more likely senario is that some questions will be answered and others will arise.  Regardless, this Saturday the fun begins in the ARC as a new era of Crusader basketball begins under the leadership of Coach Bryce Drew.

Get to know your opponent: The Hillsdale Chargers bring forth a team returning some good offensive players.  Two guys I'm going to recommend watching closely for them are Brent Eaton (#21) and Brad Guinane (#24).  Eaton averaged over 16 ppg last season and shot the 3 pointer at over 40%.  Guinane averaged just over 13 ppg last season and was even more proficient behind the arc shooting with success 43% of the time.  Guinane was also the teams top rebounder, averaging over 6 per game. As a team, the Chargers finished last year at a respectable 20-6.

What to expect: Last season Hillsdale only had 6 players averaging in double figures for minutes played.  I know this game doesn't mean anything in the win/loss column, but any team that comes up against the Crusaders are going to have to be deep on the bench.  As far as VU goes I suspect we will get a glimpse at what Coach Drew hopes will be his starting five, how much the new guys have been able to mesh with the returners, and what each new guy is going to bring to the table.  Some things I will be watching for: how effective is Vucic, has Buggs bettered himself offensively, and what role will newcomers Bogan/Fernandez/Edwards find themselves in?  A little side note on this game: it appears that Tommy Kurth will be playing against a former Penn High School teammate in Charger Ryan Choiniere.

Prediction: In part 1 of our season preview I picked Valpo to win this one 98-52 (Brent went with a Valpo victory of 88-60) and having not seen them play yet I have no reason to change that.  Everyone will get plenty of game action and Coach Drew and his staff will be provided with plenty of coachable moments for the week of practice that will follow leading up to the Thursday night tilt against Augstana.

See you at the game!

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Valparaiso Crusader's 2011-2012 Team Preview

Valparaiso University Crusaders

23-12 overall      12-6 conference               Lost in first round of the CIT to Iona

What Valpo lost:

Cory Johnson (graduated), Michael Rogers (graduated), Howard Little (graduated), Brandon Wood (transferred), Coach Homer Drew (retired)

What Valpo gained:

Ben Boggs (transfer from Virginia Tech), Will Bogan (transfer from Ole Miss), Richie Edwards (JUCO transfer), Dino Jakolis (freshman), Vashil Fernandez (freshman), Coach Bryce Drew (promoted)

Roster Breakdown (*indicates my projected starter):

Hrvoje Vucic, Jr/So, 7’1’’ Center: Valpo fans are looking for Vucic to become a regular contributor this season.  His height could provide a real presence on defense for a Valpo team that hasn’t had a true center in the starting lineup in some time.  While I don't think he will be a starter, I do believe we will see much more of Hrvoje this year.  Vuch answered some questions and spoke about his goals for the upcoming season recently for SectionEE.

*Erik Buggs, Sr/Jr, 5’10’’ Point Guard: Buggs does a nice job running the point for the Crusaders.  He had a nice assist to turnover ratio last season.  I think Erik will get the first crack at the starting point position.  However, Buggs was an offensive liability last season though, if he can’t find a way to attract a defender expect to see his minutes decrease with the depth VU has at the guard position.  More on Buggs and his aspirations for the upcoming season here.

Tommy Kurth, Jr/So, 6’1’’ Guard: Kurth sat out all of last season with injury.  I'm not real familiar with Kurth, so I will just say I think he will need to work hard in practice to grab some of the important game minutes with the depth we have at the guard position.

*Jay Harris, So, 6’1’’ Guard:  A combo guard who can light it up from long range.  Harris hasn’t met a shot he doesn’t like.  Last year he had some trouble with the turnover as he adjusted to life at a D1 program, but was playing much better by year's end.  I expect Harris to stretch the defense and take another big step towards fulfilling his potential.  Jay will start for the Crusaders but only as long as turnovers don't plague him like they did for most of last year.

Matt Kenney, Jr, 6’3’’ Guard: A big guard who has played quality defense and has found ways to contribute on the offensive end.  He is a true hustle player with great hops who I think will step right into the role that Howard Little played last season (good rebounder and defender).  We would like to see Kenney’s shooting percentage from range improve this season (16%).

*Ryan Broekhoff, Jr, 6’6’’ Shooting Guard: A lanky guard who can fill it up from the outside.  Broekhoff will probably be the focus of many opposing defenses.  One of the best shooters in the conference look for Broekhoff to lead the Crusaders in points per game this year.  Ryan is also a very good rebounder and led the team in blocked shots (19) last season.

*Kevin Van Wijk, Jr, 6’8’’ Power Forward: Van Wijk biggest challenge is his own health.  If healthy, I suspect Van Wijk will have another good season for VU.  A banger in the paint who isn’t afraid to rough it up with opposing big men, Van Wijk brings a tough guy attitude to the team.  An area for KVW to work on would be defending without fouling.  A healthy Van Wijk would go a long way in helping the Crusaders find success this season.

Ben Boggs, Jr, 6’4’’ Guard: Boggs brings another shooter to the lineup for Coach Drew.  Here is more on our Virginia Tech transfer.  He may start come Horizon League season if he doesn't end up red shirting.

Will Bogan, Jr, 6’1’’ Guard: A combo guard with some real scoring ability.  Great court vision and the willingness to put his teammates first make him even more dangerous.  Bogan comes in through the graduation transfer rule from Ole Miss.  Read more from Bogan in our interview with him here.

*Richie Edwards, Jr, 6’8’’ Power Forward: Edwards comes to Valpo after a stellar two year career at JUCO Hillsborough C.C.  He has a nice mid range jumper and is a good rebounder.   Edwards will undoubtedly see big minutes in the front court.

Dino Jakolis, Fr, 6’4’’ Guard/Small Forward:  Still awaiting his name to show up on the official roster.  Jakolis is a big guard with a nice jump shot.   Jakolis comes to Valpo from prep school LaLumiere where he played against very good competition on a regular basis.  For more on Jakolis check out our interview here.  Dino will need to really prove his value with the team being very deep at his position.  A year learning the D1 game and a chance to work out with his coaches and teammates to put on some muscle weight and Dino will be a solid contributor come next year.

Vashil Fernandez, Fr, 6’11’’ Center:  Fernandez comes in with very raw basketball skills.  The big man is full of potential. I suspect Fernandez to see plenty of time on the court this season as he should be able to establish himself on the defensive end of the court immediately.  Rebounding, shot blocking, and offensive put backs will get Fernandez through and establish him as an up and coming player in the Horizon League.  For more on Fernandez click here. With his big body, Vashil could find himself in the starting lineup at some point this season.

Griffyn Carpenter, Fr, 6' Guard: A walk-on to the team this year, Carpenter comes from a small local high school in Triton.  He has led his teams on deep state tournament runs the past couple of years.  Carpenter is a great shooter and could see some playing time to help stretch the opposing defense.  Griffyn answered some questions for us earlier in the Summer, read it here.

Bryce Drew, Head Coach: Drew has made his impact felt immediately.  Getting a verbal commitment from a highly ranked local kid is something that Valpo hasn’t been able to do in sometime.  Fans are looking forward to a new era in Crusader hoops.  It should be interesting to see which starting Coach Drew has settled on come the middle of January.  He has a lot of solid players and could go with just about any combination of 8 or 9 guys.

Team Strengths:

Valpo should once again be one of the deepest teams in the HL this year, especially at the guard position.  VU boasts several tall bodies, a luxury not seen here in some time, so defending the paint should be a strength.  Valpo has been a very good shooting team, expect that to continue.  Last year VU held a slight rebounding edge over their opponents, with new big bodies, I expect team rebounding to be another strength of this year’s club.  Coach Drew should also have the ability to go big or small with his lineups depending on matchups. 

Team Weaknesses:

Many new faces could cause the team some issues when it comes to gelling on the court as a group.  I expect by the time league play begins any issue with this will most likely be resolved.  Along with all the new players is a new head coach who may or may not bring an entire different style of play.  While we have some tall guys we don’t have a lot of girth.  An opposing big man with some weight and muscle could push our bigs around if help doesn’t come quick enough.

How Valpo will fare in the Horizon League this year:

I suspect Valpo will finish in the top half of the league again this year.  I think this team is one year away from doing some special things.  I will pick Valpo to finish 4^th in the league this season and host a HL tournament game.  The team could surprise Horizon League opponents and this writer if they manage to gel as a productive unit.  I think another visit to the CIT or CBI is in line for this season, which is not a bad thing.

Getting to know Hrvoje Vucic

Croatian big man Hrvoje Vucic agreed to answer some questions for me recently.  Before we get to the Q/A a little bit about Vucic.  Vucic has three years of eligibility remaining after red shirting his first season back in 2009-2010.  Hrvoje's action was limited last year.  He saw action in 11 games last year, hit 5 of his 9 field goal attempts, and sent four opponent shots to the block party.  This year I suspect we will be seeing a lot more Hrvoje patrolling the paint.  Let's get to the good stuff:

HC:  Can you tell us the events that lead up to you coming to Valparaiso University?
Vucic: Well I realized that I wouldn't develop my bball skills and knowledge back in Croatia so i wanted to try out something new which in this case was coming to the states.
HC: What other schools recruited you?
Vucic: No D1 schools just a couple preps and high schools I was supposed to go to but I chose Valpo cause a couple Croats graduated from here so that makes it a lot easier for me.

HC: I heard a rumor that you've added some muscle weight this off-season, any truth to that? What is your height and weight currently?

I suspect this is what Hrvoje looks like now

Vucic: Yeah when I came in I was around 7 feet and 208 lbs, I added some muscle weight and I am about 245lbs right now.
HC: What role do you expect to play on this years club?
Vucic: I am hoping I will start this year, that is my #1 goal for this season personally, but what I want the most is for the team to win the Horizon League and make it to the NCAA
HC: How will a Coach Bryce team play differently then a Coach Homer team (faster pace, different D)?
Vucic: I am sure we'll play a lot faster and run fast breaks a lot. I think we will do better than last year just cause we have so many guys that can play and I think coach Bryce will use more than 9 guys in his rotation.
HC: Did you play a role in bringing Dino to Valpo? What advice would you give an incoming freshman who is from overseas?
Vucic: Ummm coach Bryce asked me about him couple times, I said he was pretty good so if that helped I guess I did my job, lol. But my advice to him is to be patient like I was and his time will come.


HC: You and Vashil could be quite the force on the inside in the Horizon League this season, will VU block records fall this year?
Vucic: Well we are definitely a taller team this year than we were last year, we have Vashil and me, and we also brought in Richie who is 6'8 so I am sure we will be better in segments such as rebounding and inside scoring but also low block defending.
HC: Any pregame rituals or superstitions that you can share with us?
Vucic: Umm not that I can think of. We just kinda go out there an d have fun, and win games of course, lol.
HC: Any nicknames?
Vucic:  Not really, now that you asked we do need to work on that...haha.


Big thanks to Hrvoje for taking some of his time to answer these questions.  Now readers, we have a contest.  Hrvoje needs a nickname.  Go to the SectionEE Facebook page for the contest!

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Looking back with Cory Johnson

Crusader fan favorite Cory Johnson was gracious enough to take some time away from his studies, workouts, and weight sessions to answer some questions for Section EE about his time spent as a Valparaiso Crusader.  Before we get to the interview lets take a look at some of Cory's accomplishments during his playing time at VU.  In his first season as a Crusader, Johnson was named 2nd Team All Horizon League.  His 15.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg averages were both top ten in the league that year.  That season he scored in double digits in 28 of the 32 games he played.  This past season he averaged over 14 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while being assigned to defend the biggest baddest guys the opponents could throw at him (more on this later).

Cory had some monster scoring games while at Valpo.  During his junior year he put up 31 points against Detroit, had a 28 point 10 rebound effort against Butler, put up 26 points in a game against Arkansas Fort Smith, and had a real nice Wisconsin trip scoring 21 at Milwaukee and 20 more against Green Bay.  This past season Johnson put up 25 points at Toledo, had 33 points in the thriller against Oakland, and 26 points in a game against Youngstown State.  Lets get to the interview!


HC: What is going to be your fondest memory of your time here at Valpo?

CJ:   Valpo has been so great to me, I’m not sure I can narrow it down to anything specific. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people in and out of the community, get a great education and play the sport I love. 

HC: You were the fan favorite last year, what did it mean to you to have the fans chanting your name every game?

CJ:  COR-Y JOHN-SON…. COR-Y JOHN-SON haha! I am going to miss that! Stuff like that is what I think college basketball is all about. When fans are getting on their feet, yelling, cheering and enjoying the game of basketball, as a player it makes it that much more fun to compete. 

HC: What was the high point of last season? The low?

CJ:  This was a very exciting and interesting year, which provided many high points and like any season a few low. Winning twenty-three games and taking home two holiday tournament championships - a lot of great memories came out of it. One memorable win came in a shootout up in Oakland (MICHIGAN). I have never been to California, so I was excited to see them on the schedule. My parents are lucky I realized it was in Michigan before they booked a flight!

Another great win was against the Missouri Valley champs, Missouri State. Having Dickie V in the house was exciting and I even got in a quick game of one on one with him. What really threw me off was when a man with Dickie V came up to me after the game, complimented my play and congratulated us on the win. I’m not sure if anyone else noticed the legendary brainiac of sports, Howie Schwab in the ARC (Stump the Schwab – Google it!).

Cory celebrates with fans after a big win!

Finally, who can forget knocking off archenemy Butler at home in OT. Howard Little - I am still in love with you for making those shots!

For me the lowest point came in those trips up to Green Bay and Milwaukee in such a crucial time of the season. Being born in the Wisconsin, I was a little hurt on how the state treated me. I played terrible. In basketball, you have to have a short memory. Those are games I want to forget. I focus on the many positives we had this year!

 

HC: The fans were all pretty disappointed in the CIT bid; the performance on the court was equally disappointing against Iona.  Looking back, what happened that night?

CJ:   I don't think there is anything to be disappointed about getting a bid to the CIT tournament. Obviously, going to the NCAA or NIT tournament would have been a special experience, but most team’s goals at the beginning of the year are to make some sort of post season and we did that. I can guarantee A LOT of other teams would love to have been in the situation we were in. We lost to a good basketball team in Iona that won twenty-five games last year and ended up making it to the championship game of the CIT. 

HC:  What are your post Valpo aspirations?

CJ:   This next year, I am looking to continue playing basketball professionally, most likely in the European market. I signed with a German agent that also represents former Crusader Benjamin Fumey. Along with playing basketball professionally, I will be finishing the Valpo MBA program remotely through the Internet. Being able to come back next May, walk across the stage and shake President Heckler’s hand for the second time is something I am looking forward to. 

HC:  Any good stories you can share about Homer?

Dancin' Homer?

CJ:   One of my favorite Homer stories that I actually shared during the banquet this year took place at my first Valpo basketball game. Like any new experience, you never really know exactly what to expect and I was excited to see how Coach Homer went about business on game days. Walking into to the locker room just before tipoff to the sight of Coach Homer Drew and fellow teammate Brandon McPherson breaking it down (dancing) to the pre-game tunes was definitely not what I expected. It was absolutely hysterical! Right then, Assistant Coach Luke Gore looked at me and said, ‘little bit different than anywhere else you been, huh?’ I laughed and told him ‘I picked the right place.’ 

HC:  How is Bryce going to do as the headman? Should we as fans expect to see anything different then what we saw when Homer was head coach (faster pace, different types of defense)?

CJ:   I think it’s great that Bryce has been given this opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps. His has had a phenomenal work ethic his whole life. That shows through his successes. Bryce means a lot to this school as a person and former player. Now that I am now a officially a full time Valpo fan, I can’t wait to watch the Crusaders take the court next season under Coach Bryce’s leadership.

I think the coaches have done a great job in the past of building the style of play around the personnel. The last two years we have been one of the highest scoring teams in the conference. I am a big fan of giving the players the freedom to get up and down the court and make plays. 

HC:  Most nights you had to play out of position and defend guy who were bigger and stronger.  Most of the time you did quite well.  Was it frustrating to have to do that on a nightly basis?  Who was the toughest assignment defensively for you?

CJ4 playing defense on JuJuan Johnson

CJ:  Throughout my career, I have been assigned to guard some beastly guys like Greg Oden, Cole Aldrich, Blake Griffin, Eli Holman and Dexter Pittman. Being undersized, I tried to be active, move my feet, make them take a tough shot and hope that it didn’t go in. It typically would not turn out good for me if I got in a wrestling match with guys these. The toughest guy I remember guarding was David Hoskins. He was a 6’5” four man for K-State who was strong and relentless at attacking the basket. 

HC:  Anything else you'd like to add about your time at Valpo?

CJ:  Thanks for having me!

Thank you Cory for your time and cooperation in answering these questions.  We (the fans) appreciated everything you did on the court and in our community!  

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Homer unabridged

Former Valparaiso University Head Coach Homer Drew spent some time on the phone with me answering questions and discussing his career, both past and present.  We all heard the questions asked during the press conference, and frankly I was a little disappointed.  I guess maybe the reporters save the good questions for their one on one interviews.  I had a long list of questions for Homer, and he took the time to answer a few of them with well thought out responses.  We touched on a variety of topics; games from this past season, events from years past, his new position, along with a few fun questions mixed in.  Lets get to it.


HC:  You guys had some real good wins at home last season, Butler, CSU, and Missouri State, are the three that come to mind.  Which game do you think the team played their most complete game of the season?


Homer:  Missouri State by far.  We were able to get the lead and hold the lead.  Our offense and defense were both clicking.  Then to have Dick Vitale and the national tv audience just made it that much more special.


HC: At the end of the year the team went through a bit of a rough stretch of games.  After beating Missouri State, you guys fell to Green Bay and then really took a beating at home versus Loyola.  Was it fatigue, poor execution, a combination of things? 


Homer:  We played a lot of games in a short amount of time and we weren't real healthy during that stretch.


HC: Thoughts on the bracket-buster being held in February during the stretch run of conference play?

"Don't like it!"

Homer: Don't like it!  It needs to be held earlier in the year.  Where it is at now in February is right in the middle of conference play.  It is how we do in conference that determines whether or not mid majors make the tournament.  They need to make the bracket buster earlier.


HC: Which player in the H.L. was the toughest to game plan for last season?  Erik Buggs said his toughest defensive assignment of the year was Norris Cole, so I would imagine he is near the top of the list. 


Homer:  Norris Cole, he was very challenging due to him being such a good ball handler.  A guy like that is so hard to double team because you have to bring another defender from so far away.  The other would be Matt Howard from Butler.  He was just so tenacious and strong.

HC: I heard a rumor that you didn't want the floor named after you but that the people who donated the money wouldn't have done so otherwise.  It has to be quite an honor to have your home court named after you. 


Homer: I did not want the floor named after me, but agreed to it for the players.  

HC: On that note, have you ever had anything else named after you? Maybe a sandwich or a newborn baby or a pet?

Homer:  (laughs) No, but I've been called a few names.


HC: Will “The Miracle on Union Street,” when VU beat Notre Dame 71-68 in overtime in 1988, be known as the game that put VU Basketball on the map forever or is it “The Shot” game?


Homer:  "The Miracle on Union Street" put us on the map nationally. "The Shot" was international!  I was getting notes and emails and messages from all over the world after that happened.  The game after that was an overtime win against Florida State.  That game would have made bigger news had it not been for "The Shot".  We've had other big wins as well Seton Hall, Ohio St., Penn St. were all good wins along the way.


Sidenote: Probably my favorite part of the interview was when Homer started telling me about the loss to Rhode Island in the Sweet 16.

Homer:  I'll never forget it.  We were down by 3 with 1:12 left to play. I just new that if we could get this next defensive stop we were going to win this game.  Their back up guard drove into the lane and Bill Jenkins jumped and had his arm outstretched really high in the air.  Their guy hit that awkward nearly impossible shot.  If he misses that shot it would've been a great finish.


HC: What are the difficulties that come with setting up a competitive schedule for a mid-Major school like VU so that when tourney time comes around the committee members take notice?  


Homer:  It is really difficult to get home games.  We've played schools like Duke and North Carolina in the United Center, but it is even difficult to get the better mid majors to do home and homes with us.  We are getting more of these though.  We have Oakland and Bowling Green coming, so we are getting better at getting these on the schedule.

Valpo Players in the community

HC: You and your players spend quite a bit of time in the community so please tell us what has the Valparaiso community meant to you and to your players, many of whom aren't from around here? 

Mike Rogers working with the kids

Homer:  We like to give back.  We want the players to realize how blessed they've been by God for allowing them to have the talents and abilities that they have.  We've done reading programs in schools, bagged groceries for cancer, and participated in heart walks.


HC: Coach, I worked at Opportunity Enterprises one summer and I remember you brought the team through there.  The clients there talked about that day for weeks after that.

Homer:  Yes, thank you for reminding me about that!  That was a great time, those are amazing people over there.

HC: What do you want people to think about the VU program and what you’ve done for it during your illustrious career?  What do you feel is your legacy at Valpo?

Homer:  The type of people that we've had and the players that have come through who have helped make Valpo what is today.  We've had guys come in as freshmen who are unsure and don't have a lot of confidence and see them leave here as graduating seniors with a degree and the confidence that they are going to succeed.

HC:  You've had over 80 players become teachers and coaches and over 30 go on to play professionally.  Which of those stats are you most proud of?

Homer:  All of the above.  To have those guys leave here and do something they are passionate about makes me real proud.

HC: How does it feel as a Father to see your sons follow your footsteps into coaching at the college level? Was it more fun to coach Bryce as a player or to coach alongside him and Scott on the VU staff?

Homer:  Wonderful question.  It was fun to have him on the court.  I could always trust Bryce to handle the ball and make good decisions.  It was a blessing to have them on the coaching staff.  I got a chance to spend a lot of extra time with my sons that many dads do not get.

HC: I heard there is something happening at the ARC just before Thanksgiving.  Can you let me in on what is going down?

Homer:  Coaches vs. cancer tournament is having us a host site.  The teams competing in the event haven't been worked out just yet.

HC: Will you be at the home games this winter or will you try to stay away for a while? 

Homer:  I will be at Baylor and Valpo games. 

HC:  I suppose you’ll have to be there shaking hands with the alums in the Crusader Club as part of your new position.


Homer:  Yes, part of my new position is public relations so you'll be seeing me around.

HC: Will we be seeing you doing some tv analyzing this season for someone like CBS or ESPN? 

Homer:  In the fall, maybe with Comcast or one of the others that you mentioned.  Not sure with who just yet.  

Will we see a Homer Drew/Dick Vitale broadcasting team?

HC:  Have you been working on any catchy sayings like “Diaper Dandy (sensational freshman)”, “Wilson Sandwich (when a player gets the blocked back in their face)”, or “Cream Puff Delight (coach who plays an easy schedule)”?

 Homer: (laughs) No, no I haven't gotten quite the far along in the process yet.


We ran out of time before I could get to a few of my remaining questions.  But I will say this, Homer is going to be great at this public relations/fundraising position the university has put him in.  His voice has a hypnotic calming to it.  Thanks again to Homer Drew for taking 15 minutes of his busy schedule to answer my questions and for 22 years of doing his part to make the city and university of Valparaiso a better place! Feel free to post your comments here or join in the discussion ValpoFanZone.  If you'd like to be alerted when a new post is ready just put your email address in the space above this post and click submit!

 

International Trapezoid - Recruiting Post Players

I was listening to some NBA "experts" discussing Dirk Nowitzki's skill set the other day.  They discussed how his touches on offense typically occur well outside the lane.  Dirk is not alone.  It seems that the overwhelming majority of International big men play in this manner.  They rely on their ball handling and shooting ability rather then using their size to be dominant in the low post.  I think the reason for the lack of dominant foreign post players can be attributed to the design of the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) court.

The court's design has two glaring differences then what most of us are used to seeing, the three point line is much shorter and the key is much different.  The key is going to be what I focus on right now.  From 1950 up until 2010 the international basketball courts featured a painted key area in the shape of a trapezoid.  This trapezoid would widen out more and more the closer it got to the basket.  At the baseline, the trapezoid makes the key 6.0 meters wide (19.68 feet).  In contrast, the NBA key is only 16 feet.  That is only a difference of about 22 inches on either side of the rim. This difference, however minute it may seem, has proven to be a deterrent for international teams and how the develop and implement big guys in the post.

The trapezoid has forced these international teams to become more guard centered, and the big men have been forced to learn better perimeter skills.  With the big men being pushed further away from the hoop, the other players on the team also get pushed out further due to the necessary need for spacing. The number of international players is growing quickly in the NBA and the first mock draft for 2011 has seven international guys going in round 1.  Several of these guys are listed as C or PF, but these should be considered as exceptions (if they are back to the basketball guys like Enes Kanter) to the rule as they are the best of the best at what they do.

So what was the point of this post?  With the Valpo typically bringing in guys from overseas (5 on the roster last season, and probably that many again this coming year) or with international experience I think it's important to understand why we might be lacking an inside presence.  They just aren't there for recruiting.  Sure we have Kevin Van Wijk, but I don't think anyone would say he arrived at Valpo with a solid post game.  This isn't to say these players can't be taught how to play a traditional post position, but more so that we shouldn't expect to find that international big man who can make an instant impact on the inside.

Now FIBA has just recently (October of last year I believe) gone away from the trapezoid for the more recognizable rectangle.  Over time this should help teams like Valpo who recruit heavily in foreign countries find those big post players who have been developed to play with their backs to the basket.  For the next few years however, I would look for Coach Drew and his staff to look for post players in the States if that is what the new VU Coach's game plan calls for.

Feel free to post your thoughts and comments or join in the discussion here.  Also, if you'd like to be alerted when a new post is made on SectionEE please put your email address in the space provided above this post and click submit.

Passing the torch (full post)

At today's press conference in the new Harre Union the coaching torch was passed from the legendary Homer Drew to his son, and local hero, Bryce Drew.  The promotion of Bryce from Associate to Head Coach comes as no big surprise to Crusader nation.  The fact that it happened this year and not next, when Homer's contract was set to end, is a bit surprising.

The press conference was well attended.  University President Mark Heckler, Athletic Director Mark LaBarbera, VU alumni, current and former players, as well as VU staff were all present for the announcement.  President Heckler was the first to the mic.  President Heckler gave us a statistic that over 30 former players had gone on to professional basketball careers and, maybe more impressive and more a representation for what Coach Drew stood for, 80 of Homer’s former players had gone on to become teachers and coaches.  President Heckler also announced that Homer Drew would be retained as Associate Athletic Director.  These duties will include working closely with the AD and President, public relations, fundraising (which I hear he is very good at), as well as allow him to pursue possible opportunities with ESPN and CBS (to name a few news outlets).

My take: anybody you talk to on campus has only rave reviews for President Heckler.  His personality, vision, and charisma are clearly inspirational to everyone who cares about Valparaiso University.  I believe that this new role for Homer Drew will be greatly beneficial for the university.  Raising money from former athletes is a great challenge, but if anyone can accomplish this it would be Coach Drew.


After President Heckler we got to hear from Homer Drew.  Homer told us how looking back he feels like he now can see the plan that God had laid out before him. He talked about his first job as a high school coach in St. Louis and how that lead him to a tournament and coaching clinic at Valparaiso University.  He spoke of his meeting with legendary Coach John Wooden, not once but twice.  Finally he talked about all the things that he wanted to accomplish at the university, nearly all of which he accomplished (I think the only one I heard him say that wasn’t accomplished was winning a postseason tournament).  Homer closed his turn at the podium with this quote, “It has been my honor to be your coach for the last 22 years.”

My take: Homer always has portrayed himself as humble and approachable.  I think this is why he is so well liked by nearly everyone.  His story about realizing years later God’s plan for him and how everything has fallen into place should be an inspiration to us all.  I truly believe that he wouldn’t leave Valpo in anything but capable hands.  I was happy to hear, as all of us were, that his health was not a factor in his decision to step down.

Next up was AD Mark LaBarbera.  While introducing Bryce Drew he made mention of what he looks for in head coaches at Valparaiso University.  Some of the attributes he mentioned (I think I caught them all) were; has competed at the highest level, is a teacher of the game, holds up the values of VU, and has been a winner.


Finally, Bryce Drew took the mic and explained his vision and what he hopes to accomplish with his new role as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Winning the Horizon League and conference tournament as well as getting back into the NCAA were at the top of his list.  He made mention that he wants to continue having the team be a mainstay in community activities, noting that this past season the team spent nearly 200 hours doing community service.  Bryce calls this new opportunity his “dream job” and went back to when he was 14 years old and how since then he has wanted only see Valpo succeed.

My take: I like this move.  I think with the young core group of talented players on the roster now was the perfect time for Bryce to take over. I do wonder how the fans and alumni of the university will accept the lack of a nationwide search.  It seems like they had a nice plan of succession in place.  Bryce has plenty of experience on the bench and should be ready to make his own legacy at Valpo.  Young coaches all across the country are experiencing great success at mid major colleges.  Two names that should quickly pop into everyone’s minds are Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens.  With success will come rumors of moving on to “greener pastures”, but I see Bryce more as a mainstay at VU.  Barring an opening at place like UNC, Duke, IU, or Kentucky (or a select few other major jobs).  What will Bryce do differently from Homer?  Faster tempo, different defensive schemes, more animated on the sideline?  Only time will tell.  I for one am excited to usher in this new era in Valparaiso Crusader basketball and am even more excited now for the upcoming season.

Join in on the discussion at http://www.valpofanzone.com/2011/05/17/passing-the-torch/

Homer's Legacy

Homer Drew leaves behind a long and successful career in coaching at Valparaiso University.  Few coaches stay at one school as long as Drew has, few coaches last in the profession for as long as Drew has, and even fewer coaches have won as many games as Drew has.  What legacy will Homer Drew leave as he hands over the reigns to the Crusaders to his son Bryce?  Consistency and championships (VU hasn't won one of these in a while, but their past successes warrant it).  

Let me blow your mind with some statistics real quick.  Homer led the Crusaders to at least 20 wins 10 times, including a span of 8 times in nine years.  Coach Drew helped guide VU to the NCAA tournament a total of 7 different times, including a run of 5 consecutive years.  Homer has coached at the collegiate level for 34 seasons; spending time at Bethel College, IUSB, and Valparaiso.  Coach Drew has won a Coach of the Year award on 9 different occassions!  Valparaiso is one of just a few schools (Kentucky, UNC, UMass) to ever win both their conference round robin and conference tournament at least five years in a row.  Drew will finish 41st on the all time winningest coaches list with 640 career victories.  Coach Drew also had the honor of having his home court named after him.

Drew led teams aren't only successful on the basketball court.  They make numerous appearances in the Valparaiso community every year.  From visiting schools, daycare centers, helping the police with crowd control at Popcorn Festival, hosting basketball clinics for the YMCA, attending fundraisers for the Boys and Girls Clubs, and they have served meals to the hungry at St. Teresa's Cafe Manna.  Coach Drew hasn't just coached these young men in the game basketball, but he has helped them become better people as well.  He has turned the basketball players from a team into a family.  Current Crusader point guard Erik Buggs on how to succeed at Valpo, "We are all about having a family atmosphere at Valpo and that makes it hard to let others down. We all expect the best effort out of each other, so giving all the effort that you can give is all that we ask for here."

During Homer's coaching career at Valparaiso he has helped 32 players move on and play at the professional ranks. There are two games in VU history during Coach Drew's tenure that you could point at as putting Valparaiso on the map in the college basketball world.  The first was in 1988.  Valparaiso welcomed Notre Dame to the ARC, and in front of a packed house went on to defeat the Irish 71-68 in OT in a game now known as "The Miracle on Union Street".  Notre Dame would enter the NCAA tournament that season as a #10 seed.  Valparaiso would again take down ND in 1993, this time in South Bend, 80-66.  The other game you may have heard of happened in 1998 in the NCAA tournament.  In a first round match-up against #4 Mississippi, the #13 Crusaders found themselves trailing by 2 points with 2.5 seconds left on the clock.  The rest is history:
Valparaiso announcer Todd Ickow was court side for the radio broadcast, almost directly behind Drew on press row as he made the call:  They gotta go the length of the court, with 2.5 left...Sykes long pass...Bill Jenkins...Drew's three for the win....GOOD!!! GOOD!!! VALPO WINS! VALPO WINS! VALPO WINS! BRYCE DREW! HITS A THREE! AND THE CRUSADERS HAVE MOVED INTO THE SECOND ROUND! BRYCE DREW HIT A THREE-POINTER TO WIN THIS GAME, 70-69! THE KID...PERFORMS ANOTHER MIRACLE!

Relive "The Shot" here.

Passing the torch

The Drew story at Valpo is not over.  As Homer steps aside his son Bryce will take over the helm.  This is another post for another day.  Thank you Homer for all the work you've for Valparaiso University and the Valparaiso Community!