[h=2]Larry Ness' 10* Horizon League G.O.Y. (off 4-0 Thursday sweep)[/h]My 10* Horizon League G.O.Y. is on Cleveland St at 10:00 ET.
I have been on Valpo more than a few times this season but sure WON’T be here! Bryce Drew’s crusaders had a chance to claim the outright Horizon League regular season title Wednesday evening in Detroit but Titans’ Juwan Howard Jr. hit three free throws with 1.3 seconds to play to send Valpo to a 63-60 defeat. The Crusaders came in averaging a shade over 72 points on about 47% shooting but shot just 34.8% from the floor as a team, while scoring 60 points against a sub-.500 team. The 6-8 Peters (16.9-6.0) had 13 & 11 but made just 3 of 11 shots while the Walker boys, Darien (11.0-4.4) and Tevonn (10.7-3.6) combined to make 7 of 20 shots!
However, Valpo gets a second chance at the outright Horizon League crown tonight against Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center. The start time has been moved to 10:00 ET for ESPNU to televise it, a big deal when one plays in the Horizon. Despite the loss to the Titans, it's still simple and straightforward for the Crusaders (25-5, 12-3 in Horizon); win and they remain alone atop the standings, with the conference tournament to take place on their home court (the Athletics-Recreation Center). "It's really tough, because we didn't play well (Wednesday) night. But we have to let that go right now, and try to get our minds right, and focus on coming out strong (Friday) night," center Vashil Fernandez (6.8-5.9) said. By the way, he had two points and two rebounds vs Detroit!
Cleveland St (17-12, 11-4) has a powerful incentive tonight as well, as the Vikings also would be in position to host the league tournament with a win. Defeating the Crusaders would set the stage for a three-way tie for first place among Cleveland State, Valparaiso and the winner of Saturday afternoon's Oakland at Green Bay game. If Green Bay were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, Cleveland State would be the No. 1 seed by virtue of sweeping two games against the Phoenix (Valparaiso would have split with both teams). If Oakland were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, it would come down to RPI. In that ranking, the Vikings are ahead of the Grizzlies, who aren't projected to leapfrog in front. Again, Valparaiso can eliminate such headaches with a victory against Cleveland State but...
Valpo barely was able t o edge Cleveland St back at home, winning 58-56 over the Vikings on Jan 10 at the ARC. Cleveland St has the 6-8 Grady (14.0-7.4) up front to match up well with Peters plus the backcourt of Lewis (17.1-4.4-2.9) and Lee (12.3-4.1) surely won’t take a backseat to the Walkers, who lately have seen the return of Carter (9.1-3,5-3.6) from an injury. Bottom line is, Cleveland St is 12-2 SU at home (7-0 at home in Horizon games) and won a MUCH-needed game last Friday AT Wisconsin-Green Bay (66-61 on OT). For the SECOND straight Friday, Cleveland St wins AND covers!
I have been on Valpo more than a few times this season but sure WON’T be here! Bryce Drew’s crusaders had a chance to claim the outright Horizon League regular season title Wednesday evening in Detroit but Titans’ Juwan Howard Jr. hit three free throws with 1.3 seconds to play to send Valpo to a 63-60 defeat. The Crusaders came in averaging a shade over 72 points on about 47% shooting but shot just 34.8% from the floor as a team, while scoring 60 points against a sub-.500 team. The 6-8 Peters (16.9-6.0) had 13 & 11 but made just 3 of 11 shots while the Walker boys, Darien (11.0-4.4) and Tevonn (10.7-3.6) combined to make 7 of 20 shots!
However, Valpo gets a second chance at the outright Horizon League crown tonight against Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center. The start time has been moved to 10:00 ET for ESPNU to televise it, a big deal when one plays in the Horizon. Despite the loss to the Titans, it's still simple and straightforward for the Crusaders (25-5, 12-3 in Horizon); win and they remain alone atop the standings, with the conference tournament to take place on their home court (the Athletics-Recreation Center). "It's really tough, because we didn't play well (Wednesday) night. But we have to let that go right now, and try to get our minds right, and focus on coming out strong (Friday) night," center Vashil Fernandez (6.8-5.9) said. By the way, he had two points and two rebounds vs Detroit!
Cleveland St (17-12, 11-4) has a powerful incentive tonight as well, as the Vikings also would be in position to host the league tournament with a win. Defeating the Crusaders would set the stage for a three-way tie for first place among Cleveland State, Valparaiso and the winner of Saturday afternoon's Oakland at Green Bay game. If Green Bay were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, Cleveland State would be the No. 1 seed by virtue of sweeping two games against the Phoenix (Valparaiso would have split with both teams). If Oakland were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, it would come down to RPI. In that ranking, the Vikings are ahead of the Grizzlies, who aren't projected to leapfrog in front. Again, Valparaiso can eliminate such headaches with a victory against Cleveland State but...
Valpo barely was able t o edge Cleveland St back at home, winning 58-56 over the Vikings on Jan 10 at the ARC. Cleveland St has the 6-8 Grady (14.0-7.4) up front to match up well with Peters plus the backcourt of Lewis (17.1-4.4-2.9) and Lee (12.3-4.1) surely won’t take a backseat to the Walkers, who lately have seen the return of Carter (9.1-3,5-3.6) from an injury. Bottom line is, Cleveland St is 12-2 SU at home (7-0 at home in Horizon games) and won a MUCH-needed game last Friday AT Wisconsin-Green Bay (66-61 on OT). For the SECOND straight Friday, Cleveland St wins AND covers!
Larry Ness' 10* Horizon League G.O.Y. (off 4-0 Thursday sweep)
My 10* Horizon League G.O.Y. is on Cleveland St at 10:00 ET.
I have been on Valpo more than a few times this season but sure WON’T be here! Bryce Drew’s crusaders had a chance to claim the outright Horizon League regular season title Wednesday evening in Detroit but Titans’ Juwan Howard Jr. hit three free throws with 1.3 seconds to play to send Valpo to a 63-60 defeat. The Crusaders came in averaging a shade over 72 points on about 47% shooting but shot just 34.8% from the floor as a team, while scoring 60 points against a sub-.500 team. The 6-8 Peters (16.9-6.0) had 13 & 11 but made just 3 of 11 shots while the Walker boys, Darien (11.0-4.4) and Tevonn (10.7-3.6) combined to make 7 of 20 shots!
However, Valpo gets a second chance at the outright Horizon League crown tonight against Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center. The start time has been moved to 10:00 ET for ESPNU to televise it, a big deal when one plays in the Horizon. Despite the loss to the Titans, it's still simple and straightforward for the Crusaders (25-5, 12-3 in Horizon); win and they remain alone atop the standings, with the conference tournament to take place on their home court (the Athletics-Recreation Center). "It's really tough, because we didn't play well (Wednesday) night. But we have to let that go right now, and try to get our minds right, and focus on coming out strong (Friday) night," center Vashil Fernandez (6.8-5.9) said. By the way, he had two points and two rebounds vs Detroit!
Cleveland St (17-12, 11-4) has a powerful incentive tonight as well, as the Vikings also would be in position to host the league tournament with a win. Defeating the Crusaders would set the stage for a three-way tie for first place among Cleveland State, Valparaiso and the winner of Saturday afternoon's Oakland at Green Bay game. If Green Bay were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, Cleveland State would be the No. 1 seed by virtue of sweeping two games against the Phoenix (Valparaiso would have split with both teams). If Oakland were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, it would come down to RPI. In that ranking, the Vikings are ahead of the Grizzlies, who aren't projected to leapfrog in front. Again, Valparaiso can eliminate such headaches with a victory against Cleveland State but...
Valpo barely was able t o edge Cleveland St back at home, winning 58-56 over the Vikings on Jan 10 at the ARC. Cleveland St has the 6-8 Grady (14.0-7.4) up front to match up well with Peters plus the backcourt of Lewis (17.1-4.4-2.9) and Lee (12.3-4.1) surely won’t take a backseat to the Walkers, who lately have seen the return of Carter (9.1-3,5-3.6) from an injury. Bottom line is, Cleveland St is 12-2 SU at home (7-0 at home in Horizon games) and won a MUCH-needed game last Friday AT Wisconsin-Green Bay (66-61 on OT). For the SECOND straight Friday, Cleveland St wins AND covers!
My 10* Horizon League G.O.Y. is on Cleveland St at 10:00 ET.
I have been on Valpo more than a few times this season but sure WON’T be here! Bryce Drew’s crusaders had a chance to claim the outright Horizon League regular season title Wednesday evening in Detroit but Titans’ Juwan Howard Jr. hit three free throws with 1.3 seconds to play to send Valpo to a 63-60 defeat. The Crusaders came in averaging a shade over 72 points on about 47% shooting but shot just 34.8% from the floor as a team, while scoring 60 points against a sub-.500 team. The 6-8 Peters (16.9-6.0) had 13 & 11 but made just 3 of 11 shots while the Walker boys, Darien (11.0-4.4) and Tevonn (10.7-3.6) combined to make 7 of 20 shots!
However, Valpo gets a second chance at the outright Horizon League crown tonight against Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center. The start time has been moved to 10:00 ET for ESPNU to televise it, a big deal when one plays in the Horizon. Despite the loss to the Titans, it's still simple and straightforward for the Crusaders (25-5, 12-3 in Horizon); win and they remain alone atop the standings, with the conference tournament to take place on their home court (the Athletics-Recreation Center). "It's really tough, because we didn't play well (Wednesday) night. But we have to let that go right now, and try to get our minds right, and focus on coming out strong (Friday) night," center Vashil Fernandez (6.8-5.9) said. By the way, he had two points and two rebounds vs Detroit!
Cleveland St (17-12, 11-4) has a powerful incentive tonight as well, as the Vikings also would be in position to host the league tournament with a win. Defeating the Crusaders would set the stage for a three-way tie for first place among Cleveland State, Valparaiso and the winner of Saturday afternoon's Oakland at Green Bay game. If Green Bay were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, Cleveland State would be the No. 1 seed by virtue of sweeping two games against the Phoenix (Valparaiso would have split with both teams). If Oakland were to be the third team in a 12-4 tie, it would come down to RPI. In that ranking, the Vikings are ahead of the Grizzlies, who aren't projected to leapfrog in front. Again, Valparaiso can eliminate such headaches with a victory against Cleveland State but...
Valpo barely was able t o edge Cleveland St back at home, winning 58-56 over the Vikings on Jan 10 at the ARC. Cleveland St has the 6-8 Grady (14.0-7.4) up front to match up well with Peters plus the backcourt of Lewis (17.1-4.4-2.9) and Lee (12.3-4.1) surely won’t take a backseat to the Walkers, who lately have seen the return of Carter (9.1-3,5-3.6) from an injury. Bottom line is, Cleveland St is 12-2 SU at home (7-0 at home in Horizon games) and won a MUCH-needed game last Friday AT Wisconsin-Green Bay (66-61 on OT). For the SECOND straight Friday, Cleveland St wins AND covers!
