Game recap: Win and Advance!



Not all statistics are created equally.  Detroit had the better numbers when it came to points in the paint (40-26), points off turnovers (15-12), fast break points (19-8), and rebounds (40-36).  They also placed five players in double figures to Valpo's three.  Leading those statistical categories by those margins is typically enough for a victory, but this proved to be no typical game. 

The second half performance by Crusader all conference player Brandon Wood was one to remember.  With the Crusaders needing a spark, Wood put the team on his back and carried them to victory.  His 30 point performance, including 23 in the second half, led all scorers.  Wood shot an incredible 7-10 from behind the arc including 7-8 in the second half.  Wood went on one of his pattented hot streaks where he was nearly invincible.  It started about two minutes into the second half when he drained his first three of the night.  When Detroit refused to go away by making it a two point game with at the 3:43 mark on a Ray McCallum free throw the Crusaders again looked to Wood to save the day.  He lead Valpo on a 16-6 run with several more three pointers to close out the Titans and send the Crusaders to a semi-final date with tournament host Milwaukee.

Back to those statistics....Valpo did lead in several key areas.  The Crusaders had the edge is bench points (27-16) and three point shooting (56% - 29%).  I also mentioned in the game preview post about the playing time and how Valpo's depth would be a key.  Detroit played only 6 guys 10 minutes or more.  Valpo played 9 guys for at least 10 minutes tonight.  Running guys in and out and keeping legs fresh seemed to help as Valpo went on the decisive game ending run.  Detroit's season ends, probably sooner then they expected, but they will return the overwhelming majority of their team and should be one of the league leaders next season.

With tonight's victory Valparaiso will face off tomorrow night against the number one seeded Milwaukee Panthers.  More on that one later.  Watching the game with me this evening was fellow Valparaiso Alum Brent Gilles, and my good luck charm Bobblehead Homer (pictured below).



Game Preview: Valpo v. Detroit

The second game of the second round of the Horizon League Tournament will feature a struggling Valparaiso Crusader team against a hot Detroit Titans squad.  Detroit earned it's birth in the quarterfinals by destroying Loyola 90-69.  Detroit placed 6 of it's players in double figures.  Valparaiso built a large second half lead against Youngstown State then had to hold on as the Penguins made a furious comeback.  The final was 80-71.  Valpo was lead by Horizon League First Teamer Brandon Wood's 20 point 13 rebound performance. 



Previous Matchups:  Valpo swept the two regular season matchups, winning by 10 at Detroit and by 8 at home.  While being undersized, the Crusaders managed to take the edge over the Titans on the boards the last time out.  Keys that can be attributed to Valpo's success in the regular season against Detroit: at home they controlled the boards and Detroit big man Nick Minnerath, at Detroit the Crusaders guarded the three point line real well and the bench outscored the Detroit bence 33-12.

Win and Advance:  Detroit is playing well right now.  They are young team who seem to be learning to play together at the right time.  Valpo will need to play a complete 40 minutes of basketball.  The Crusaders need to take advantage of their deep bench.  Valpo should have 9 guys playing some substantial minutes, while Detroit will mostly likely stick to 7 players for the majority of the game.  The Crusaders must limit the number of second chances that the Titans get.  Detroit is a lot bigger then Valpo, so team rebounding will be key.  Valpo needs Cory Johnson to play like he is capable.  CJ4 has been struggling a little bit lately and now would be a perfect time to snap out of it. 

Predictions:  Brandon Wood and Ryan Broekhoff get hot from behind the arc early and pace the Crusaders with 23 and 19 points each.  Valpo takes it at the buzzer 83-81 on a Ryan Broekhoff jumper.

(Crusaders and students celebrate a previous victory over Butler, what I predict will be the scene Friday night after the Valpo Victory at the horn.)

Round 1 Wrap Up

#3 Cleveland State 73 defeats #10 UIC 61: http://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030111aaa.html

#4 Valparaiso 80 defeats #9 Youngstown State 71:  see post below for more details

#5 Detroit 90 defeats #8 Loyola 69:  http://www.detroittitans.com/news/2011/3/1/MBB_0301113347.aspx


#6 Wrigth State 60 defeats #7 Green Bay 50:  http://www.wsuraiders.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030111aab.html



Round 2 will feature #3 Cleveland State taking on #6 Wright State.  In their previous two matchups Cleveland State proved too much for WSU to handle winning by 19 at home and by 2 on the road.  Likewise in the #4 Valparaiso vs. #5 Detroit, Valparaiso won the two regular season games with an 8 point home win and a 10 point road win.  It is very tough to beat a team three times in one season, so I look for Friday's games to be very competitive.

Game Recap: Valpo vs. YSU

Survive and advance!  Valpo struggled during the first ten minutes of the game as Youngstown State simply out hustled the Crusaders up and down the court for some easy baskets.  The final ten minutes saw the Crusaders go on a nice run behind several turnovers from the Penguins and some easy buckets in transition to take a 44-35 half time lead.

The second half saw two different Valpo teams in action.  The "good" Valpo team showed up first and built a seemingly commanding 19 point lead at the 12:21 mark.  YSU struggled to get anything going offensively early on, but then rediscovered the instant offense of big man Damian Eargle.  Eargle (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots) helped lead the Penguins almost all the way back.  It was a two point game with 1:37 remaining in the contest.  That is when a jumper and three free throws by Brandon Wood (20 points and 13 rebounds) along with two Ryan Broekhoff freebies (9 points) helped Valpo close out the Penguins in round 1 of the Horizon League tournament.  Valpo will head north to Milwaukee for Friday's matchup against a very good Detroit team. 

Tonight the VU alumni association treated the fans to delicious pregame meal (pictured below)!