Frustrating Season Opener

New coach same old story against ranked opponents. The first half saw both Arizona and Valpo make several mistakes as both were trying to find a rhythm in the opening game of the season. Kevin Van Wijk was the stand out of the night. What else impressed me was Buggs play at point guard. The PG spot is the key to every team in college and what I saw out of Buggs was absolutely phenomenal and will only get better. The final score wasn't really a good indication of just how bad the second half was because once Arizona went up 20 they took their foot off the gas and let Valpo back in, which I believe is going to be an issue for them all season. However, the fact that Valpo didn't stop fighting set a good tone for the rest of the season.

Positives
- KVW's play was outstanding as was Broekhoff.
- Team never gave up despite being down 20.
- Great team defense.
- Faster pace offense to help offset height issues.
- Great job crashing the boards to limit second chance points.

Negatives
- Who is going to step up and be a third option after KVW and Broekhoff?
- The bench was out of synch.
- Too many 3's.
- Too much hesitation on passes which lead to turnovers.
- Nobody stepped up to help KVW down low.

Conclusion
The team struggled on its first night. The bench looked overwhelmed, but I believe Edwards and Bogans just need more court time with the rest of the Crusaders. The faster paced offense means that a tenth person needs to step up and play some quality time because the starters were definitely wore out midway through the 2nd half. All in all, it was a good showing for the Crusaders as they refused to give up and edged within 10 at the end of the game. Things are looking up and I believe this could be a surprise year for the Crusaders as they adjust to a new system and new players.

Next game at Georgia Southern Friday night! Preview coming on Thursday.