Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew announced today that Will Bogan, a 6'1" guard from Boise, Idaho, has enrolled in Valpo's MBA program and has joined the Crusader basketball program. Bogan spent three years at Ole Miss, graduating with a bachelor's degree in managerial finance, and used two seasons of eligibility with the Rebels.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Bryce Drew announced today that the Crusaders have hired former University of Illinois standout Roger Powell Jr. as an assistant coach. Powell has spent the last six years playing professional basketball, including a stint with the Utah Jazz of the NBA.
Valparaiso's men's basketball team will be hosting three basketball camps this summer for youths of all ages and skill levels.
Since the dual announcements on the Valparaiso University campus Tuesday morning of the hiring of Bryce Drew to fill the position of men's basketball head coach following the retirement of Dr. Homer Drew, the move has resulted in a multitude of media coverage nationally, regionally and locally.
Valparaiso University director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced at a press conference on the Valparaiso campus Tuesday morning that Bryce Drew has been hired as the 21st head coach in the history of the Crusader men's basketball program.
Valparaiso University president Mark Heckler announced Tuesday morning at a press conference on the Valparaiso campus that Dr. Homer Drew has made the decision to step down, effective immediately, from his position as head men's basketball coach at Valparaiso. Drew closes his 22-year tenure with the Crusaders with 371 career victories and led Valparaiso to nine postseason appearances over his final 16 seasons.
Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew announced today that redshirt junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]), who will receive his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University at May's commencement ceremony, will transfer to Michigan State to complete his collegiate eligibility.
Dino Jakolis, a 6'7", 215 lb. forward from Split, Croatia, has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Valparaiso men's basketball program as a freshman for the 2011-2012 season. Jakolis comes to Valpo after playing last season at LaLumiere School in nearby LaPorte, Ind.
The Valparaiso men's basketball program will be holding its year-end banquet on Monday, April 25 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Christopher Center, located on the Valpo campus. The public is invited to come help the Crusaders celebrate the 2010-2011 season, in which they won 23 games, tied for third-most in program history.
Valparaiso redshirt junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) announced Wednesday his intent to declare for the 2011 NBA Draft. Wood will not hire an agent, thereby retaining his final season of eligibility should he withdraw his name from the draft prior to the May 8 NCAA-instituted draft withdrawl deadline.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Homer Drew has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2011 Division I District 12 Co-Coach of the Year in a vote of his peers, as announced by the NABC.
Valparaiso cut a double-digit second-half deficit to six points on multiple occasions in the final 20 minutes, but could get no closer, as the Crusaders dropped an 85-77 decision to Iona Wednesday evening in the first round of the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso returns to the postseason for the tenth time in 16 years as the Crusaders make their first-ever appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) Wednesday evening, hosting Iona in first-round action. This marks the first time in the Crusaders' Division I era that they have hosted a national postseason tournament game.
Valparaiso announced Sunday evening that it has accepted a bid into the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) and that the Crusaders will host Iona on Wednesday, March 16 at the Athletics-Recreation Center at 7:05 p.m. CDT.
Redshirt junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) continues to rake in honors for his 2010-2011 campaign, as he was named Wednesday to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 12 First Team.
Valparaiso junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) represented the Crusaders on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team after averaging 24.7 points per game on Valpo's run to the league semifinals.
Junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) scored 24 points Saturday night, but it wasn't enough, as fourth-seeded Valparaiso fell in Horizon League Championship semifinal action at top-seeded Milwaukee, 70-63.
Valparaiso makes the quick turnaround to Horizon League Championship semifinal action on Saturday evening as the fourth-seeded Crusaders take on host and top-seeded Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m. Valpo is looking to advance to the title game for the first time since joining the league.
Valparaiso connected on a Horizon League Championship record 15 3-pointers, seven of which came in the final 20 minutes from Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]), who scored 30 points in all as the Crusaders downed Detroit in quarterfinal action Friday night in Milwaukee, Wis., 88-78. Valpo plays at Milwaukee in the second semifinal Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Valparaiso makes the trip north to Milwaukee for the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship, as the fourth-seeded Crusaders face off against fifth-seeded Detroit Friday evening.
After trailing by double figures early, fourth-seeded Valparaiso built as much as a 19-point second half lead and then held off a rally by ninth-seeded Youngstown State, eventually earning an 80-71 win in first round action of the 2011 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Tuesday evening at the ARC. The Crusaders advance to play fifth-seeded Detroit in the quarterfinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Milwaukee.
Valparaiso opens the 2011 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship at the ARC on Tuesday evening, as the fourth-seeded Crusaders host ninth-seeded Youngstown State in first round action. Valpo enters this year's tournament having finished just one game out of first place in the final regular season standings.
Valparaiso junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) earned a spot on the First Team All-Horizon League squad, as the league office unveiled its postseason awards today.
Valparaiso sent seniors Cory Johnson , Howard Little and Michael Rogers out winners in their last regular-season home game at the ARC on Saturday, downing UIC 79-65. The Crusaders will be the fourth seed for the 2011 Horizon League Championship and host Youngstown State Tuesday in first-round action at 7 p.m.
Valparaiso concludes the 2010-2011 regular season Saturday evening as the Crusaders host UIC at the ARC. It is the Crusaders' Senior Night, as Cory Johnson, Howard Little and Michael Rogers will all be recognized prior to the game and will address the crowd following the game.
Valparaiso shot just 35.2% from the floor and hit just two 3-pointers in a 68-48 loss to Loyola Thursday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso starts the final weekend of regular season play at the ARC Thursday evening as the Crusaders host the Ramblers of Loyola. Valpo enters the final two games of league play still in the fight for one of the top two seeds and a double bye into the tournament semifinals.
Despite trailing by 16 points in the first half and by as many as 11 in the second half, Valparaiso forced the game into overtime and led by two points with under 30 seconds to play, but Green Bay scored the final three points within the last 20 seconds to close out the game, as the Phoenix defeated the Crusaders 81-80 Monday night in Green Bay, Wis.
Valparaiso enters the final week of regular season play with its final road game of the year, traveling north to take on Green Bay Monday evening. The Crusaders enter the final week of play tied in the loss column atop the Horizon League standings.
In front of a sellout crowd and national television audience on ESPN2, Valparaiso made its stamp on the Sears BracketBusters event with a stellar performance, shooting over 58% from the floor and leading nearly start to finish in an 80-67 victory over Missouri State Saturday afternoon.
Valparaiso steps out of league play for the final time in the regular season, hosting Missouri State Saturday afternoon live on ESPN2 as part of the Sears BracketBusters event. The game, which starts at 4 p.m., will feature Dave O'Brien and Dick Vitale on the call.
In a see-saw battle Wednesday evening that saw both teams claim double-digit leads at one point, Valparaiso had a pair of point-blank attempts for the go-ahead basket roll around and out in the final ten seconds as Milwaukee eventually claimed a 79-76 win over the Crusaders in Milwaukee, Wis.
Valparaiso looks for its 20th win of the 2010-2011 campaign on Wednesday evening, as the Crusaders hit the road to take on Milwaukee. Valpo enters Wednesday's game atop the Horizon League standings with just four league games remaining.
A multi-sport athlete while at Valparaiso, Tom Orton was a three-year starter in both baseball and basketball for the Crusaders, and, on Saturday, February 19 he will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Valparaiso won its 11th Horizon League game, the most in a season since the Crusaders joined the league, and maintained its spot atop the league's standings in tight fashion, earning a 58-56 victory over Wright State Saturday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso looks for its third straight victory on Saturday as the Crusaders aim to remain atop the Horizon League standings, hosting Wright State at the ARC. Valpo improved to 9-2 at home this year with its Thursday victory over Detroit.
Valparaiso overcame a nine-point first half deficit to take the halftime lead and then never trailed in the second half in an 82-74 victory over Detroit at the Athletics-Recreation Center Thursday night. With the win, the Crusaders remain atop the Horizon League standings at 10-3 with five games remaining.
Valparaiso puts first place on the line yet again Thursday evening when the Crusaders return home to the ARC to host Detroit. Valpo closes the regular season with five of its last seven games at home.
Valparaiso rallied from a 10-point deficit with nine minutes to play and recovered after a Youngstown State buzzer-beater to end regulation, as the Crusaders eventually earned an 86-78 overtime victory over the Penguins Saturday evening in Youngstown, Ohio. With the win, in which Brandon Wood led all players with 31 points, Valpo remains tied in the loss column atop the Horizon League standings.
Valparaiso looks to rebound from a defeat last time out as the Crusaders continue their swing through northeastern Ohio with a matchup at Youngstown State Saturday evening.
In a battle for first place in the Horizon League standings Thursday night, every Crusader rally was answered by the home-standing Vikings, as Valparaiso fell 76-65 to Cleveland State in Cleveland, Ohio.
Valparaiso takes on the squad its tied with in the loss column, as the Crusaders face off with Cleveland State in a battle for first place Thursday evening in Cleveland, Ohio. Valpo is currently featured in an All-Access piece on CollegeInsider.com.
Valparaiso has been selected for one of 11 televised games as part of the BracketBusters event and will host Missouri State live on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
It took extra time Saturday afternoon, but Valparaiso finished the job in overtime, getting a pair of huge baskets in the last two minutes of the extra session by senior Howard Little (Chicago, Ill./Stoneridge [Calif.] School) to help close out an 85-79 victory over Butler in front of a sellout crowd at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Valparaiso athletic department announced today that Saturday afternoon's game against Butler at the Athletics-Recreation Center is officially sold out. No tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game. In addition, an additional parking lot has been opened on the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Lincolnway for game day and will have shuttle service available to and from the ARC.
Valparaiso begins the second half of Horizon League play Saturday afternoon as it hosts Butler in the Horizon League Game of the Week from the ARC. The Crusaders closed out the first half of the league slate tied atop the league standings. The game can be seen locally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Valparaiso could not overcome a nine-minute stretch without a field goal late in the second half Sunday afternoon, as the Crusaders' last-minute comeback effort came up two points short in a 63-61 loss to Green Bay at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Despite the loss, the Crusaders remain tied atop the Horizon League standings at the end of the first half of league action.
Valparaiso puts first place on the line yet again, as well as a season-best five-game winning streak, as the Crusaders welcome Green Bay to the ARC Sunday afternoon. The game against the Phoenix concludes the first half of the Horizon League slate.
Valparaiso held Milwaukee without a field goal for the game's first 13:46 Friday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center and rode the advantage all the way to the final buzzer, earning a 60-43 victory. With the win, the Crusaders remain alone atop the Horizon League standings at 7-1 in league action.
Valparaiso returns home all alone in first place in the Horizon League standings for the first game of a three-game homestand Friday evening against Milwaukee, broadcast live on ESPN3.com. The Crusaders currently are riding their third four-game winning streak of the season.
Valparaiso announced today that the tip time for the men's basketball game on Sunday afternoon against Green Bay has been moved up to 12 p.m. CST.
Valparaiso redshirt junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) was named Horizon League Player of the Week for the second time this year after leading the Crusaders in scoring last week as they ascended into solo first place at the weekend's conclusion.
Valparaiso hit 11 of its first 12 shots from the field and never looked back, defeating Detroit Sunday afternoon 78-68 in Detroit, Mich. With the win, their second in 42 hours, the Crusaders have won four straight and sit alone atop the Horizon League standings at 6-1.
Valparaiso looks for its second league road weekend sweep of the year Sunday afternoon when the Crusaders travel to take on Detroit. With a win, Valpo would guarantee itself to remain in at least a share of first place in the Horizon League standings at the weekend's conclusion.
Valparaiso allowed Wright State to hit just two field goals in the first 18 minutes of the second half, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit and claiming a double-digit advantage en route to a 71-60 victory over the Raiders Friday evening at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. With the win, the Crusaders remain atop the Horizon League standings.
Valparaiso puts its share of first place on the line against a fellow squad atop the league standings Friday night, as the Crusaders travel to Wright State to take on the Raiders live on ESPN3.com.
Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew announced today that Ben Boggs, a 6'4”, 200 lb. guard who previously played at Virginia Tech, has enrolled at Valparaiso and will be joining the Crusader men's basketball program.
Valparaiso forward Cory Johnson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East [Iowa State]) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after leading the Crusaders to a pair of wins last weekend as Valpo finished the weekend in a tie for first place in the league standings.
Valparaiso moved into a share of first place in the Horizon League as fifth-year senior Cory Johnson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East [Iowa State]) led the Crusaders with 20 points in a 64-58 victory over Cleveland State Sunday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso closes out its first home league weekend of the season with a Sunday afternoon matinee, hosting a fellow one-loss team in Cleveland State to the ARC. With a win, the Crusaders would exit the weekend in a tie for first place in the Horizon League standings.
A game-high 26 points from fifth-year senior Cory Johnson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East [Iowa State]) led the charge Friday evening as Valparaiso opened home Horizon League play with a solid 79-55 victory over Youngstown State at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso welcomes its first Horizon League foe to the ARC this season as the Crusaders host Youngstown State on Friday evening. The game between Valpo and YSU is available exclusively live nationwide at ESPN3.com.
Valparaiso's home game against Youngstown State on Friday, Jan. 7 and road game at Wright State on Friday, Jan. 14 will both tip off at 6 p.m. CST, due to nationwide broadcasts online at ESPN3.com. In addition, the Valpo ticket office announced today that single-game tickets for the game against Butler on Saturday, Jan. 29 will go on sale this Thursday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.
Led by 14 second-half points from freshman Jay Harris (Aurora, Ill./Oswego East), Valparaiso cut a 19-point deficit with 16 minutes to play to just five points with eight minutes remaining at Butler Saturday afternoon, but the Bulldogs eventually handed the Crusaders their first Horizon League defeat of the season, 76-59.
Valparaiso rings in the New Year in Indianapolis as the Crusaders face off against defending Horizon League champion and national runner-up Butler on Saturday. The Crusaders enter the contest riding their second four-game winning streak of the year, while Butler owns a five-game winning streak. Saturday's game can be seen throughout Chicagoland on Lakeshore Public Television or nationwide on the ESPN Full Court package.
Valparaiso University Athletics has partnered with Opportunity Enterprises to support OE Lakeside. For any men's or women's basketball ticket purchased through this program, 50% of the ticket price will be donated back to OE.
Valparaiso ended the 2010 calendar year on a four-game winning streak as the Crusaders led for the final 28 minutes in a 69-52 victory over Ball State at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Tuesday evening.
Valparaiso redshirt junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) has been named the Horizon League Co-Player of the Week after scoring 56 points last week to help lead the Crusaders to the Lou Henson Award Tournament title.
Valparaiso takes to the court for the final time in the 2010 calendar year as the Crusaders host in-state foe Ball State on Tuesday evening. The game is the next-to-last non-league showdown for Valpo this season, as the heart of Horizon League play begins on New Year's Day.
An epic battle between two former conference rivals saw Valparaiso take down Oakland Tuesday night in Rochester, Mich. by a 103-102 count to capture the Lou Henson Award Tournament championship. Senior Cory Johnson was named Tournament MVP while junior Brandon Wood earned All-Tournament honors as well as both surpassed 30 points on Tuesday evening.
Valparaiso led from start to finish for the second straight game and got a season-high 21 points from junior Brandon Wood as the Crusaders defeated Eastern Michigan Monday afternoon at the O'rena in Rochester, Mich. With the win, Valpo advances to the championship game of the Lou Henson Award Tournament Tuesday evening against host Oakland.
Valparaiso turns around quickly from a win over IPFW to play at the Lou Henson Award Tournament in Rochester, Mich. The Crusaders play Eastern Michigan on Monday afternoon and then will face either former Mid-Con rival Oakland or Rochester College on Tuesday.
Valparaiso limited IPFW to just 26% shooting on the night and led from start to finish in a convincing 63-47 victory over the Mastodons Saturday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Valparaiso men's basketball team returns home to the Athletics-Recreation Center in an attempt to get back on the winning track as it hosts IPFW Saturday evening.
Valparaiso University invites all families in Northwest Indiana to the Athletics-Recreation Center on Saturday evening for the first Family Night of the season, as the Crusaders host IPFW in men's basketball action beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Despite holding a 13-point lead with 16 minutes to play Saturday evening in Toledo, Ohio, Valparaiso had to overcome a five-point deficit in the final minute to force overtime and then couldn't rebound from a similar hole in the extra sessions, dropping a 75-72 decision to Toledo.
Valparaiso looks to bounce back from a loss last time out as it travels one state to the east to take on Toledo Saturday afternoon.
In front of a record-tying crowd at the Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso held the lead for a near four-minute stretch late in the first half and again gained the outright edge with 18:37 to play, but #19/18 Purdue eventually pulled away for a 76-58 victory over the Crusaders Tuesday evening.
Due to anticipated parking demand for Tuesday night's men's basketball game against Purdue, an additional lot has been opened up for public use on the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Lincolnway and will have shuttle service available to the Athletics-Recreation Center both pre-game and post-game.
Valparaiso will welcome a sellout crowd to the ARC on Tuesday evening as the Crusaders host a nationally-ranked Purdue squad in front of a nationwide television audience on ESPNU. Valpo enters Tuesday night's game on a four-game winning streak.
Leading 49-48 with 8:37 to play Saturday afternoon, Valparaiso locked down defensively, holding Loyola scoreless as part of a 12-0 run over a nearly seven-minute stretch as the Crusaders eventually earned a 66-56 win in Chicago. The win gives Valpo a four-game winning streak and moves the Crusaders to 2-0 at the conclusion of the first weekend of Horizon League play.
The Valparaiso ticket office announced today that the Crusaders' men's basketball game against #22/18 Purdue at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Tuesday, Dec. 7 is officially sold out. No tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game.
Valparaiso looks for a sweep of the first weekend of Horizon League play this season as the Crusaders travel to Chicago for the second time in three days Saturday afternoon to face Loyola. The game will be televised locally on Lakeshore Public Television.
Trailing by 14 points with 7:30 to play Thursday night at UIC, Valparaiso ended the second half on an 18-4 run and then scored the first six points of overtime en route to a 68-66 victory over the Flames in the Horizon League opener for both teams.
Valparaiso continues a five-game stretch away from home and opens up Horizon League play Thursday evening as the Crusaders make the short trip to the Windy City to face UIC. The game will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Valparaiso led for the final 18 minutes of Saturday afternoon's game and hit all eight of its free throw attempts in the final two minutes as the Crusaders held off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 68-62, to claim the Upper Division Championship at the 2010 Las Vegas Invitational. Senior Howard Little represented the Crusaders on the All-Tournament Team.
Valparaiso nailed 9-of-11 three-point shots in the second half and held Northern Colorado to just seven second-half field goals as the Crusaders earned a 76-61 come-from-behind victory over the Bears Friday afternoon at the Las Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev.
Valparaiso travels to Las Vegas, Nev. to take part in the second half of the Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena. The Crusaders start play in Vegas against Northern Colorado on Friday afternoon and then will face either Texas A&M-Corpus Christi or Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon.
Valparaiso used a 16-0 run over the final 4 minutes of the first half to erase a 15-point deficit and then went back-and-forth with Ohio in a second half in which neither team could gain more than a four-point lead, but the Crusaders' last-second attempt at the tying basket came up just short as the Bobcats captured a 78-75 victory over Valpo Tuesday evening in Athens, Ohio.
Valparaiso embarks on a five-game stretch away from home on Tuesday evening as the Crusaders travel to Athens, Ohio to take on the Bobcats of Ohio University in the second game of the Las Vegas Invitational.
Seven players scored in double figures as Valparaiso shot 67.9% from the floor and enjoyed a +38 advantage in the rebound column in a 98-44 victory over Purdue North Central Thursday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso returns home Thursday evening and looks to get back on the winning track with a game against Purdue North Central. The game will be the last at home for the Crusaders before embarking on a five-game stretch on the road.
Shooting 27.4% from the floor proved to be too much for Valparaiso to overcome Monday night, as the Crusaders fell 79-44 to #7/6 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
Valparaiso travels to one of the nation's most hallowed venues, as the Crusaders face off against #7/7 Kansas Monday evening. The game is the first of four that the Crusaders will play as part of the Las Vegas Invitational, with the first two games being played at campus sites. It can be seen nationwide on the ESPN Full Court package or online at ESPN3.com.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Homer Drew announced today that Richie Edwards of Hillsborough [Fla.] C.C. has signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period and will join the Crusader program for the 2011-2012 campaign.
Four Valparaiso starters scored in double figures and the Crusaders never looked back after opening the game on a 14-0 run, eventually downing IU Northwest 111-64 Friday evening in the season opener at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valparaiso opens the 2010-2011 regular season campaign Friday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center as the Crusaders host IU Northwest.
Valparaiso hit at a 63.5% clip from the floor Saturday afternoon, led by a 10-for-11 effort from junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]), and enjoyed as much as a 50-point lead before cruising to a 98-66 victory over Aurora in exhibition action at the ARC.
Two-game Holiday Packs, featuring the opportunity to see the Valparaiso men's basketball team play nationally-ranked Purdue and Butler squads, go on sale online this Sunday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. and over the phone or at the box office Monday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.
Northwest Indiana's home team has added a radio home in Lake County, as it was announced today that WJOB (1230 AM, Hammond) has joined the Valpo Sports Radio Network and will broadcast 14 Valparaiso men's basketball games throughout the 2010-2011 season.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Homer Drew looked on as the new court in the arena of the Athletics-Recreation Center was officially dedicated as Homer Drew Court Saturday night, and then guided the Crusaders to a comfortable 93-58 victory in their exhibition opener against Olivet Nazarene.
The pieces are in place for the Valparaiso men's basketball team to make a move up the Horizon League standings in 2010-2011. Ten letterwinners are back from the league's highest-scoring team a year ago, while three newcomers joined the Crusaders during the summer for their Cancun trip to get a jump-start on the season.
The new floor in the arena of the Athletics-Recreation Center will officially be dedicated as Homer Drew Court in a pregame ceremony prior to Saturday night's Valparaiso men's basketball exhibition opener against Olivet Nazarene, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
A number of Valpo men's basketball players spent time Monday afternoon at Memorial Elementary School in Valparaiso, helping to kick off the school's “Red Ribbon Week.”
Valparaiso University announced today that single-game tickets for the 2010-2011 men's basketball season will go on sale Monday morning, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. The Crusaders have also released their promotional schedule for the upcoming season as well.
The Valparaiso men's basketball team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the Horizon League according to preseason polling of the league's head coaches, media members and sports information directors. In addition, guard Brandon Wood has been selected to the preseason All-League First Team, while forward Cory Johnson has been tabbed a Second Team selection.
Valparaiso fans got their first look at the Crusader men's and women's basketball teams on Saturday evening at Valpo Hoops Mania in the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Group tickets for Valparaiso men's and women's basketball, available for groups of 10 or more, will go on sale Monday, October 18 at 10 a.m.
Members of the Valparaiso men's basketball team spent time with children from 5 to 7 years old last Friday afternoon at the YMCA, putting on a basketball clinic for the youths.
Fans are invited to get their first glimpse of the 2010-2011 Valparaiso basketball teams at Valpo Hoops Mania, to be held Saturday, October 16 at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the main program beginning at 7 p.m. Admission to the event is free.
Dan Hartfield, who spent last season as a graduate assistant coach with the Valparaiso men's basketball program, has moved on to the NBA's Houston Rockets, where he is currently working as the team's Basketball Operations Intern for Advance Scouting.
For the second straight year, the Valparaiso men's basketball team participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Northwest Indiana Walk to Cure Diabetes. This year's walk was held on Sunday, Sept. 26 at Hidden Lake Park in Merrillville.
The Valparaiso University Ticket Office will begin selling the Crusader Plan five-game package, featuring tickets for home games against nationally-ranked Purdue and Butler, early next week. The Crusader Plan will be available online starting Sunday, Sept. 26, while the package will be available over the phone and in person at the ticket office on Monday, Sept. 27.
Over the past two decades, the Valparaiso men's basketball team has been recognized nationally for the number of foreign players that have been part of the Crusaders' roster. On Saturday, a quartet of current Crusaders attended the World Cultural Festival at the Valparaiso International Center, talking to community members about their native countries.
Season tickets for the 2010-2011 Valparaiso men's basketball campaign, featuring home dates with national runner-up Butler and preseason top-10 squad Purdue, are on sale now for Crusader fans.
The Valparaiso men's basketball team made its presence felt at the city's annual Popcorn Festival this past Saturday, helping to direct traffic around the city. This is the second straight year the Crusaders have assisted the Valparaiso Police Department with traffic control during the annual celebration.
While the Angola national team saw its run at the 2010 FIBA World Championships come to an end Monday afternoon at the hands of the squad from the United States in the round of 16, former Valparaiso star Joaquim Gomes had a standout performance, leading all players with 21 points.
Fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch the 2010-2011 Valparaiso men's basketball team on the various ESPN platforms, as the Crusaders will appear at least four times and up to eight times on the ESPN family of networks, highlighted by Purdue's visit to the ARC on Dec. 7 being broadcast live on ESPNU. In addition, Valpo will host Butler in the Horizon League Network Game of the Week on Jan. 29.
Former Valparaiso basketball standout Joaquim Gomes posted a double-double Wednesday at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey as his native Angola defeated Germany for the first time ever. Gomes and former Crusader Mohamed Kone, a native of the Ivory Coast, have both started every game at the World Championships for their respective nations.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Homer Drew announced the Crusaders' 2010-2011 schedule today, a slate that features 15 regular season home games at the Athletics-Recreation Center, including a visit Dec. 7 from nationally-ranked Purdue. The Crusaders will also travel to Kansas, which finished atop the polls at the end of the regular season last year, and will play a pair of Horizon League games against national runner-up Butler.
Playing its fourth game in four days and trailing by 17 points in the first quarter against one of Mexico's top professional teams, Valparaiso could have easily given in to the opposition's home-court advantage. But the Crusaders dug deep and rallied, taking a halftime lead before eventually defeating Pioneros de Quintana Roo, 102-84, Wednesday evening in Cancun, Mexico to conclude their preseason foreign tour with a perfect 4-0 record.
Valparaiso continued its run of success on the court in the third game of its preseason foreign tour in Cancun, Mexico Wednesday night, downing Rebotera de Cancun, 107-58. But that was far from the highlight of the Crusaders' day.
Valparaiso continued its preseason foreign tour in Cancun, Mexico Tuesday evening with another decisive victory, downing Pioneros de Cancun by a 118-59 count. Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) paced the Crusaders Tuesday with 26 points.
In front of a rowdy crowd playing drums throughout the contest, the Valparaiso men's basketball team kicked off their four-game preseason foreign tour with a decisive 119-54 victory over Rebotera de Cancun Monday evening in Cancun, Mexico. Michael Rogers (Kingston, Jamaica/Redemption [N.Y.] Christian) paced six Crusaders in double figures with 25 points.
With departure for Cancun, Mexico less than a week away and half of its allotment of ten practice days remaining, Valparaiso revealed Monday the opposition it will face on its first-ever preseason foreign tour August 8-13, including a pro squad that went 31-9 in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional last season.
Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Homer Drew announced today that Kevin Van Wijk, a 6'8”, 230 lb. forward from the Netherlands, has joined the Crusader squad effective immediately. Van Wijk will have three seasons of eligibility for the Crusaders beginning with the 2010-2011 season.
The Valparaiso men's basketball team will be embarking on its first-ever preseason foreign tour next month, traveling to Cancun, Mexico August 8-13 to play four games. The preseason trip, along with the allotted practice leading up to the trip, allow the Crusaders to get a jump start on preparations for the 2010-2011 season, preparations that began with the team's first practice Monday evening.