What is wrong with Valpo?

author's note: I haven't blogged yet this year, but my frustration with the current team and tonight's loss to what appears to be a very good Loyola team has brought me to my breaking point.

Never mind the debacle that was tonight's Loyola game because it is indicative of how the entire season has gone which in a word would be frustrating.  This is a team that has looked rudderless since last season's blowout title game loss.  They have at times played like the team we were expecting (see Murray State) while other times they have played absolutely lost (see Nebraska and St. Louis).   I have not had a chance to see Valpo play as much as some of you, but there are 3 things that stick out to me as being a problem this year.

1. Stagnant offense
It has become apparent that what we are doing on offense is predictable and thus easy to defend.  There has been way too much individual and not enough team.  Too many times the person with the ball drives to the basket while everyone else stands around and watches the person with the ball dribble it around for too long and then make a terrible shot.  This one falls on Coach Drew.  He is clearly is not adjusting to opponents well enough during game action and is something he needs to work on during his second year.

2. Will the Real Ben Boggs and Will Bogan please stand up?
These two were instrumental in our success last year, but this year, both have been plagued by poor decision after poor decision.  All the little things they did last year are not happening this year and quite frankly their lack of attention to detail and smart decision making is costing the team big in the amount of turnovers they are causing. Really, I could put every returning player in this category as the team as a whole looks ill prepared.

3. Starting: Dority vs. Buggs
In what is another mistake by Coach Drew Dority has been inserted into the starting lineup and Buggs is coming off the bench.  Buggs is the heart of the team and his smart decision making and tough defense are now missing at the beginning of each game.  Not to mention the fact that the team seems to actually have direction when he is in the game vs. when Dority is in the game.  Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of Dority, but his shoot first mentality and what could be a lack of understanding of what his role is could also be a factor.  I know Buggs is an offensive liability, but we have other shooters that can minimize that issue.  Plus if Butler has taught Mid Majors anything, it's that defense wins games.

Bottom Line
This team has to find itself and do it quickly before this season slips away.  Despite their record they have looked shaky the entire season.  This Crusader team is the best we've had since Bryce himself suited up for the Crusaders and quite frankly the problems begin and end with him.  I might be asking a lot from a second year coach, but now is the time to show why he's the head coach for reasons other than his last name being Drew.

I'm not throwing this season away by any stretch of the imagination, but they need to start doing some soul searching and damage control as conference schedule commences and beginning with a home loss should have everyone searching for answers.