When the dust settles, I’m always going to remember the night that I walked out of the arena with a happy father and a happy brother. If COVID has taught me one thing, it’s that people matter, and I was thrilled to share Monday night with these people.
Grace Hales was in the middle of practice, preparing for tomorrow night's MVC tourney, when she was told her career was over. She walked back on the court and shot 10 free throws to end practice, the way she's done it since she started playing basketball.
#Respect
Quote from the 1918 Valparaiso yearbook: "At the present rate it shall not be long before Valparaiso University takes the place it rightfully should have - a place among the Big Ten."
So UCF gets the shot clock call, so then Duke gets the fifth on Tacko instead of the charge on Zion. Then Barrett's pushoff. Great game, but I think the wrong team won.
Personal news...I am stepping away from the Northwest Indiana Times after 16 years as a sports correspondent. It's been a privilege and an honor to share the stories of so many people across the Region. If you'll permit me to share some thoughts...
Two years ago, Vanderbilt fired its entire coaching staff. This season, all four of those coaches are in the NCAA tournament while Vanderbilt was passed over by the CBI.
Valparaiso 72, Utah State 65, Final. Crusaders are 8-0. Third-best start in school history. Valparaiso and Duke the only 8-0 teams in the country.
#MVCHoops
BREAKING - Thomas Kithier suffered a career-ending back injury and will not play for
@ValpoBasketball
in 2022-23. Kobe King was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA and will play for the Beacons this season. More at
#TheVictoryBell
.
Drake's D.J. Wilkins just spoke to me at length about what it meant to represent the Region on the biggest stage. "Kids can learn from each and every one of our paths. It wasn't the easiest path for all of us, but kids can learn from all of us."
#NWIPreps
#MVCHoops
I haven't dug through all of this, but
@ValleyHoops
just confirmed that it was the only league to get all 90 scheduled games in this year. Outstanding.
#MVCHoops
What D.J. Wilkins did to Tyson Etienne tonight was unreal. AAC Co-Player of the Year held to 1 point on 0-6 shooting. First game all year that Eitenne was held without a field goal.
#MVCHoops
Keyshawn Evans goes down with twisted ankle in front of me. Phil Fayne runs over and says "Key, that shot was sexy though." My favorite quote of 2017-18 season.
#MVCHoops
Coach Bill Marshall on Valparaiso winning the Class 5A State Championship: "This has been 47 years in the making...This is for everybody in those last 47 years...This is for our town."
@IHSAA1
|
#IHSAA
Thomas Kithier has wrapped up his time with
@ValpoBasketball
and has been hired as Assistant Video Coordinator with
@utahjazz
. Great start to a professional career for one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met.
In the NBA you get to advance the ball on a timeout, players get preferable foul treatment based on star status, and players travel on nearly every possession. Some of you still trying to tell me it's a better product than college basketball?
Jokic, Lillard and Goebert all played at least 80 games. Rest of the guys played between 72-78 games. Obviously LeBron is great, but how do you put him on All-NBA team when he played only 55 games, where Bradley Beal played 82?
Remember when Vanderbilt fired a coaching staff of Bryce Drew, Roger Powell, Jake Diebler and Casey Shaw? Drew and Shaw are 12-3 and undefeated in conference. Powell and Diebler are No. 1 seeds in NCAA right now. Vandy is 1-8 in SEC play. Maybe the coaches weren't the problem?
I just drove through Butler’s campus and asked these dudes if they went to Butler they said yes i said oh ya then when did Butler last beat Valpo they said not in our lifetimes i said dang you rlly do go to Butler
i just drove through Harvard’s campus and asked these dudes if they went to Harvard they said yes i said oh ya then what’s 68x2 they said 136 i said dang you rlly do go to Harvard
Alec Peters wraps up rookie season with career-high 36 points and nine rebounds. To top it off, Peters is trending in the United States right now. Outstanding.
Some personal news.
#TheVictoryBell
is now an award-nominated website. One of the first stories I published on the site was “Emerging from the Darkness,” a story about
@ValpoBasketball
’s Emil Fresse-Vilien and his battle with Lyme disease. Finalist for a Lisagor in Chicago.
The votes are in: these are the finalists for the 2022 Peter Lisagor Awards.
Thank you to everyone who submitted for this year’s
#Lisagors
, and best of luck to our finalists! Full list:
Pretty frustrating that MVC spokesman are confirming to national reporters that Drake and Northern Iowa has been cancelled while the beat reporters that cover the league are in the arena and haven't heard a word yet.
#MVCHoops
Valparaiso President Jose Padilla: “At Valparaiso University, we don’t tolerate mediocrity…the prodigal son has returned…in a couple years, we’re going to build a new ARC.”
The transfer portal officially opens on Monday. With that being said, Cooper Schwieger is running it back with
@ValpoBasketball
next season per his IG.
#MVCHoops
Rod Moore's family announces that his body was discovered this morning in a marsh just east of Heritage Valley in Valparaiso. No further details at this point. Rod was Valparaiso's longtime athletic trainer and a respected umpire in the area.
Former
@ValpoBasketball
coach Homer Drew has been selected for induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Officially will be inducted on Nov. 24 in Kansas City.
Big weekend for
#TheVictoryBell
. Tons of grads ringing the bell. Also, TVB is now an award-winning site. Took down the Lisagor last night at
@headlineclub
.
As for the future, I'm not going anywhere. This account will remain active. I'll be at Loyola tomorrow night covering
@ValpoBasketball
. I've got some plans in the works that will unfold over the next few weeks. I can't wait to share them with you!
Cooper Schwieger named the
@MVCSports
Freshman of the Year. First Valpo player to win such an honor since Lubos Barton in 1998-99. Joins Bryce Drew (1993-94) and Lance Barker (1991-92) as well.
#MVCSports
Valpo just had a random fan win free pizza for a year and he threw down a dunk in Timberlands to celebrate. I think he just won the NBA Dunk Contest as well.
#MVCHoops
I know this is of minor consolation, but it feels like at least part of Valparaiso got to experience a hell of a lot more of March Madness than pretty much anyone else in the country.
#MVCHoops
Valparaiso 69, Illinois State 53, Final. That game had everything. Javon Freeman-Liberty with a career-high 27 points. Derrik Smits scored all 16 of his points in the second half.
#MVCHoops