Valparaiso (2-1, 0-0 Horizon)
Game #4: Sunday, Nov. 18 - 1 p.m. CT
at Kent State (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
MAC Center (6,327)
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso continues play in the Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic on Sunday afternoon, as the Crusaders play their second straight road game at Kent State.
Last Time Out: The Valparaiso men’s basketball team trailed by as many as 14 points before falling 50-48 against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb. on Thursday night. Senior Kevin Van Wijk paced the Crusaders’ furious comeback bid, posting 20 points and six rebounds. The Crusaders ended the game on an 11-2 run to get back to within two points, but a last-ditch three-quarters court shot fell short at the buzzer.
Following the Crusaders: Radio - Valpo Sports Radio Network - WAKE (1500 AM, Valparaiso), WEFM (95.9 FM, Michigan City), WJOB (1230 AM, Hammond) - Todd Ickow (PxP) and Travis Lucian (Color) on the call
Video - Through Kent State’s website for a fee
Links for the audio, as well as live stats, will be available at valpoathletics.com.
Head Coach Bryce Drew: Bryce Drew returns for his second season at the helm of the Valparaiso men’s basketball program in 2012-2013 after leading the Crusaders to the Horizon League regular season title in his first year as head coach. Drew was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year after guiding Valpo to a 22-win campaign, including a 14-4 mark within the league to capture the title by two games. Drew ascended to the head coaching position on May 17, 2011 after spending six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach with the Crusaders.
Series Notes: For the second consecutive game and the third time in their first four games, the Crusaders are matching up against a team they have faced just twice in program history. Valpo and Kent State have met just twice on the hardwood, with the Golden Flashes winning both previous meeting. The last matchup came way back in Dec. of 1991, however, a 76-45 Kent State victory on its home floor.
@ValpoBasketball...
...and the @HorizonLeague
- @ValpoBasketball has been picked to win the @HorizonLeague regular season title.
- The Crusaders received 40 of the 44 first-place votes in the #HLMBB preseason poll.
- This marks the first season since 2002-03 (Mid-Con) that @ValpoBasketball has been preseason league favorites.
- The Crusaders were the only team to place two players on the #HLMBB preseason First Team All-League as well.
...nationally
- @ValpoBasketball has also been tabbed the preseason @HorizonLeague favorite by @CBSSports and @AthlonSports, among others.
- The Crusaders were ranked seventh in the preseason Mid-Major Power Rankings by NBC Sports College Basketball Talk (@CBTonNBC).
- @ValpoBasketball is currently ranked 21st in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll, voted on by mid-major coaches and produced by @CollegeInsider.
- @ValpoBasketball earned 3 points in the preseason @AP_Top25 poll.
- The Crusaders had not received votes in a national poll since a 4-week stretch near the end of the 2010-11 season in the coaches poll.
- It was the first appearance in the @AP_Top25 also receiving votes for @ValpoBasketball since March of 2002 (5 points).
...looking back at last year
- @ValpoBasketball claimed its first @HorizonLeague regular season title in 2011-12, winning the crown by two games.
- The Crusaders earned the right to host the #HLMBB postseason tournament by winning the regular season and advanced to the championship game.
- @ValpoBasketball played at Miami in the first round of the postseason NIT, the Crusaders’ 11th postseason trip in the last 17 years.
- The Crusaders won 22 games overall in 2011-12, their 12th 20-win season in the last 19 years.
- @ValpoBasketball boasted the #HLMBB Coach of the Year (Drew), Player of the Year (Broekhoff) and a second First Team selection (Van Wijk).
...looking ahead
- @ValpoBasketball will host a four-team pod to close out the Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic at the ARC next Friday and Saturday.
- Chicago State, Bethune-Cookman and Nebraska-Omaha will all be at the ARC, which will host two games Friday and two games Saturday.
- BCU and UNO play Friday at 4:30 - Valpo and CSU Friday at 7 - Friday’s losers and winners meet Saturday at 4:30 and 7, respectively.
#LockdownDefense
- @ValpoBasketball has given up just 150 points total through the season’s first three games.
- The 150 points is the fewest combined given up by a Valpo team in its first three games since moving to Division I.
- The Crusaders have limited their first three opponents to just 34.8% from the floor and 30.2% from the 3-point line.
- Each of Valpos last two opponents have scored 50 or less, the first time its defense has held consecutive foes to 50 points since Jan. 2003.
Still Have to Score to Win
- Despite allowing just 50 points to Nebraska, Valparaiso suffered a two-point loss, 50-48.
- It was the fewest points @ValpoBasketball has given up in a loss since a 41-40 loss to Western Illinois on Jan. 16, 1984.
#WinningBig
- Valpo defeated Georgia Southern by 31 points in its opener, its largest season-opening win over a D-I school since moving to D-I.
- @ValpoBasketball has now won eight straight home openers by double figures dating back to 2004.
- Valpo led by as many as 42 points in the season-opening win over the Eagles.
- The Crusaders followed with a 23-point win over Northern Illinois on Tuesday.
- It is the 1st time Valpo has won consecutive games by 20+ points since Dec. of 2009 (Toledo by 32, Concordia [Wis.] by 26).
#SharpShooters
- @ValpoBasketball hit 13-of-24 from behind the 3-point line in each of its first two games of the season.
- The Crusaders' 13 3-pointers in the opener were their most since hitting 15 in the #HLMBB tournament vs. Detroit in March of 2011.
- Valpo hit over 50% from behind the arc in consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 2007 (11-20 vs. IUPUI, 12-16 at WIU).
- The Crusaders regressed to the mean at Nebraska on Thursday, hitting just 2-of-15 (13.3%) from behind the 3-point line.
- Despite Thursday’s long-range struggles, Valpo still leads the Horizon League with a 44.4% 3-point percentage.
#EfficientOffense
- @ValpoBasketball needed just 61 possessions to rack up 85 points in its season opener against Georgia Southern.
- Valpo averaged 1.39 points/possession in the win over the Eagles, the 12th-best single-game performance this year through Friday's games.
Connecting From Inside
- @ValpoBasketball has ranked among the top-5 in the nation in 2-point pct. each of the last 2 years, both years hitting above 55%.
- The Crusaders have ranked in the top-5 in the nation in 2-point pct. despite not having a regular taller than 6'8" either season.
- Valpo has yet to hit 55% from inside the arc in any of its first three games, although it has shot at least 50% in two of the three.
@KentStMBB
- Kent State enters Sunday’s game at 2-1 on the season, following a 92-63 victory over Chicago State on Friday.
- The Golden Flashes have also defeated Drexel in overtime (66-62) and lost to Temple (80-66) this season.
- This will be Kent State’s fourth consecutive home game to open the 2012-2013 season.
- The Kent State-Temple matchup was also part of the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon, tipping off four hours after Valpo-Northern Illinois.
- Chris Evans leads the Flashes through three games with 17.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg - Randal Holt adds 14.3 ppg as well.
- The matchup will be the second game for both teams as part of the Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic.
- The Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic is named after the former Huskers head coach from 1963-1980, a 3-time Big Eight Coach of the Year.
Bryce Drew
- Bryce Drew is entering his second season as head coach of @ValpoBasketball and is in his eighth season overall on the coaching staff.
- Drew was named #HLMBB Coach of the Year in 2011-12 in his first season as head coach.
- Drew was the first Crusader men’s basketball Coach of the Year since 2001-02, when dad Homer won the honor in the Mid-Con.
- Drew led the Crusaders to 22 wins and the @HorizonLeague regular season title in his first year at the helm.
- Prior to coaching, Drew spent seven seasons playing professionally, including six seasons in the NBA.
- Drew was a two-time Mid-Con MVP in his playing days with @ValpoBasketball, helping the team to three NCAA tournament appearances.
- Drew hit “The Shot”, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the first round of the 1998 NCAA tournament, to lift the Crusaders over @OleMissMBB.
#DrewFamilyDynasty
- Bryce is the third member of the Drew family to serve as head coach of @ValpoBasketball.
- Father Homer was head coach from 1988-2002, and then returned to lead @ValpoBasketball from 2003-11.
- Brother Scott (current head coach of @BaylorMBB) led the Crusaders during the 2002-03 season after nine seasons as an assistant under Homer.
- A Drew has been at the helm of @ValpoBasketball for the last 24+ years. #DrewFamilyDynasty
- The Drew family has combined to lead @ValpoBasketball to 415 victories and 11 postseason appearances. #DrewFamilyDynasty
- Overall, the trio of Drews owns 844 collegiate victories over a combined 43+ seasons of head coaching. #DrewFamilyDynasty
#CoachesWhoCanPlay
- @ValpoBasketball boasts one of the nation’s highest-scoring staffs, as a trio of coaches combined for 4,146 points during their D-I careers.
- Head coach Bryce Drew scored 2,142 points during his four-year career with the Crusaders.
- Assistant coach Jake Diebler also suited up for four years with @ValpoBasketball, scoring 826 points.
- Assistant coach Roger Powell Jr. tallied 1,178 points during his four-year career with @IlliniHoops.
- Assistant coach Luke Gore also played collegiately at NAIA Bethel [Tenn.] College.
Ryan Broekhoff
Honors
- Ryan Broekhoff was named the #HLMBB Player of the Year in 2011-12 after helping guide @ValpoBasketball to the regular season title.
- Broekhoff was also named an Honorable Mention All-American by the @AP.
- Broekhoff has been picked as a Preseason First Team All-@HorizonLeague member entering his senior season.
- Broekhoff was chosen as a preseason Third Team Mid Major All-American by NBC Sports College Basketball Talk (@CBTonNBC).
- Broekhoff appeared on @CBSSports lists by @jeffborzello of the nation’s top-30 under-the-radar players (#6) and top-50 wings (#43).
- Broekhoff also was picked as the nation’s #28 shooter by @goodman_CBS on his list of top-50 shooters.
Playing Overseas
- Broekhoff was selected to the Australian Boomers squad, Australia’s senior national team, in the summer of 2012.
- Broekhoff was one of 25 players called into the 2012 @aussieboomers squad to try out for the Olympic team.
- Broekhoff was on the 12-man roster for the @aussieboomers YouYi Games series against China, making his senior international debut.
- Broekhoff saw 23 minutes of action for @aussieboomers in the three-game series, scoring four points and grabbing a pair of rebounds.
- Broekhoff was one of 15 finalists for Australia’s 12-man Olympic squad.
- Broekhoff previously represented Australia in the World University Games (2011) and the @FIBA U19 World Championships (2009).
This Season
- Broekhoff opened the regular season with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting (2-for-3 from 3-point range) against Georgia Southern.
- Broekhoff scored 16 of Valpo’s 23 first-half points in the win over Northern Illinois, ending the game with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
- Broekhoff struggled shooting at Nebraska, going just 2-of-10 for eight points, but did pull down a game-high 10 rebounds.
- Broekhoff currently ranks 12th in @ValpoBasketball history in rebounds (627), t-7th in blocked shots (74) and t-4th in 3-pointers (175).
Last Season
- Broekhoff led @ValpoBasketball, averaging 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 2011-12.
- Broekhoff led the @HorizonLeague in rebounding and finished fourth in the league in scoring.
- Broekhoff’s total of 290 rebounds on the year is sixth-highest in a single season in program history.
- Broekhoff reached double figures in scoring in all but five games and scored at least 20 points on six occasions.
- Broekhoff tallied a team-best 12 double-doubles, all of the scoring/rebounding variety.
- Broekhoff was named MVP of the Valparaiso subregional of the @2KSportsClassic.
- Broekhoff became the 31st player in @ValpoBasketball history to score 1,000 career points, surpassing the milestone Feb. 17 at @LMULions.
Kevin Van Wijk
- Van Wijk was named a Preseason First Team All @HorizonLeague choice entering the 2012-13 season.
- Van Wijk led the Crusaders in scoring in their season opener, scoring 16 points (5-8 FG; 6-7 FT) against Georgia Southern.
- Van Wijk paced Valpo for the second time this year with 20 points in the loss at Nebraska (6-12 FG; 8-12 FT).
- Van Wijk is coming off a junior season where he was named a First Team All-League selection.
- Van Wijk ranked second on @ValpoBasketball in scoring (14.1 ppg) in 2011-12 and also averaged 5.2 rebounds per game.
- Van Wijk led all #HLMBB players with a 61.7% FG pct, good for fifth in the nation and third-best in a single season in Crusader history.
- Van Wijk scored at least 20 points in six games and posted a pair of double-doubles.
- Van Wijk was twice named @HorizonLeague Player of the Week (Jan. 16 and Nov. 21).
- Van Wijk was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Valparaiso Subregional of the @2KSportsClassic.
Erik Buggs
- Buggs opened the season with a career-high nine assists to go with six points in the Crusaders’ win over Georgia Southern.
- Buggs tallied seven more assists in Valpo’s victory over Northern Illinois Tuesday morning.
- Buggs currently is tied for 10th in @ValpoBasketball history with 316 career assists.
- Buggs led the Crusaders last year with 103 assists, ranking tenth in the @HorizonLeague.
- Buggs also ranked among the top-10 of #HLMBB players in ast/turnover ratio (1.4, 7th) and steals/gm (1.2, 10th).
- Buggs hit buzzer-beating coast-to-coast layup, giving Crusaders the win at @detroittitans Jan. 6, a play which was nominated for #SCTop10.
Matt Kenney
- Kenney scored all 16 of his points in the win over Northern Illinois in the second half.
- Kenney was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor (3-for-3 from 3-point range) over a span of 9:31 against the Huskies.
- Kenney grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists last time out at Nebraska.
- Kenney currently is ranked 18th in @ValpoBasketball history with 238 career assists.
- Kenney averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a junior for the Crusaders in 2011-12.
- Kenney came off the bench for his final 19 games of the season, but still finished second on the team with 27.8 minutes/gm.
Will Bogan
- Bogan hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Crusaders’ season-opening win over Georgia Southern.
- Bogan started 32 games in his first season with @ValpoBasketball in 2011-12, averaging 7.2 points per game.
- Bogan ranked second among Crusaders with 61 3-pointers and hit from downtown at a 40.9% clip.
- Bogan’s 3-point percentage ranked seventh in the Horizon League and is tied for ninth-best in a single season in @ValpoBasketball history.
- Bogan was named @ValpoAthletics male newcomer of the year by Valpo’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
- Bogan made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points in the Crusaders’ win at Detroit Jan. 6.
Ben Boggs
- Boggs connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to give Valpo a double-digit lead for good in its win over Northern Illinois.
- Boggs scored 7 points and led the Crusaderswith seven rebounds in the season-opening win over Georgia Southern.
- Boggs became eligible after the end of the first semester last year for @ValpoBasketball and appeared in 24 games, starting 20.
- Boggs averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Crusaders, who were 14-6 in his starts.
- Boggs shot better than 80% from the free throw line in his first season with Valpo, second-best on the team.
Bobby Capobianco
- Capobianco has missed the Crusaders’ first three regular season games due to injury.
- Capobianco led @ValpoBasketball in scoring in both exhibitions, scoring 19 points against St. Joe’s and 21 points against Robert Morris.
- Capobianco also grabbed eight rebounds in each exhibition game, leading the Crusaders in the win over Robert Morris.
- Capobianco combined to shoot 13-for-20 from inside the arc and 11-for-12 from the free throw line in the two exhibitions.
- Capobianco played his first two seasons at @IndianaMBB and sat out last season after transferring to @ValpoBasketball.
- Capobianco has two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Crusaders.
Vashil Fernandez
- Fernandez recorded a team-high four blocked shots in Tuesday morning’s win over Northern Illinois.
- Fernandez debuted with a pair of dunks in the regular season opening win over Georgia Southern.
- Fernandez is eligible to play for @ValpoBasketball this season after sitting out the 2011-12 season and has 3 years of eligibility left.
- Fernandez made his senior international debut this past summer for Jamaica (@goteamja) at the FIBA Centrobasket tournament.
- Fernandez helped @goteamja to a 3rd place finish, its best ever at Centrobasket.
- Fernandez debuted in a win over the USVI and also played in the bronze-medal win over Panama.
Jordan Coleman
- Coleman made his Crusader debut against Georgia Southern, scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds off the bench.
- Coleman knocked down the first five 3-point attempts of his Crusader career before missing his only try from deep at Nebraska.
- Coleman is eligible to play for @ValpoBasketball immediately after transferring from Southwestern Illinois College.
- Coleman was an All-Conference selection for SWIC last season, finishing second on the team with 10.2 ppg.
- Coleman started his collegiate career as a freshman at @HawaiiAthletics.
Alex Rossi
- Rossi connected on the first five field goals of his Valpo career before missing his only attempt from the floor at Nebraska.
- Rossi debuted with 11 minutes of play in the season opener against Georgia Southern, hitting all three of his 3-point attempts for 9 points.
- Rossi handed out six assists without committing a turnover in the first exhibition win for Valpo over St. Joe’s.
- Rossi is eligible to play for @ValpoBasketball immediately after spending his first two years at @calmensbball.
- Rossi has three seasons of eligibility remaining with the Crusaders.
