Pregame Glance: Valparaiso

There is no doubt that today’s Ohio State basketball fan is familiar with the madness that is the NCAA Tournament in March. Of course, there is the run of 2007 that included “The Comeback” against Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. Not to be overshadowed in the same tournament by the electricity of Ron Lewis in the second round, when he dropped the three point dagger to tie Xavier heading into overtime, and added 10 of the last 14 points in the game to help Ohio State eliminate the team that gave head coach Thad Matta the experience needed to move on to the next level.

And then of course there is the beautiful “Evan Turner Prayer” in the 2009-10 Big Ten Tournament that still has Michigan wondering why they didn’t play defense on the ball. No matter how many times you watch it, you can’t help but believe that Ohio State will always be the inferior basketball team. Evan Turner — I love you….

For every miracle shot that we’ve come accustomed to in March, many would argue that today’s  Gus Johnson calling buzzer beater era started in 1998. When a kid from Valparaiso Indiana hoisted up a buzzer beating three against Mississippi that has now become known as “The Shot“. Bryce Drew came to Valparaiso to play under his father Homer Drew, and boy did it pay off. After a short stint in the NBA (really given off that shot) and time spent as the assistant coach to his father, the former Mr. Indiana basketball star has taken the reigns of his alma mater and made them a team the fits his bill.

Gritty, quick up and down the floor, and capable of beating you on the last possession.

Season Outlook:

Coming into the season, there wasn’t much expected of the Crusaders heading into their first year under new head coach Bryce Drew. After a quick 5-1 start and a scare to Sean Miller’s Arizona squad in the opener of the season, momentum is riding in the corner of Bryce Drew’s squad.

Heading into Columbus, they’ll take on a very tough Ohio State team, but this is also a game that could gear them up for conference play in the Horizon League. After tonight, Valpo will open up against perennial conference favorite Butler, who has struggled this season. After that it’s IPFW for back to back conference games. Starting off the year 2-0 really could be indicative of how they play tonight. Of course, like Drew did in his playing time at Valpo, he likes to have his team push the tempo and push the envelope. So far it’s worked. His team is shooting 49% from the field in 2011. Though more conventional than VMI, there is no doubt that this Crusader team will need to control the pace if they want to win.

The fact of the matter is this is a team that is hungry.They have a young coaching staff taking over with winning in their bloodlines. There’s also enough talent to spread you out. Did I mention they are hungry for their first Horizon League conference championship since joining four years ago, after finishing second in the conference a year ago and pulling together 23 wins? More than 50% of their production has moved on, and they don’t field any seniors, but that makes them just that much more hungry. If there are trap games in basketball, than this is it. A truly underrated team in the country, going up against the best of the best, just before the game of the year to this point against Duke on Tuesday. Tonight should be a lot of fun to watch.

Personnel:

Coming into the season, the question for this coaching staff was how were they going to replace losing three out of their four top scorers. Gone is Cory Johnson, who averaged nearly 15 points per game, and Howard Little, who brought home nearly 10 points per game. Then the coaching staff found out that arguably the best guard in the conference was transferring to Michigan State. Brandon Wood left a big hole to start the off-season for the Crusaders. As witnessed early in the year with the Spartans, he’s a combo guard that can draw the foul, play solid defense, and rain down threes from time to time.

Add on the fact that Bryce Drew’s squad was starting off without it’s top two eligible scorers in Vashil Fernandez and Ben Boggs. Boggs, a transfer from Virginia Tech, will be welcomed back on the court in December. Fernandez is the most physical and talented player on the roster, but nobody knows when the Jamaican will be deemed eligible. A ruling is still pending on his status from the NCAA. Though Valpo could use his ability to spread defenses, they have found the answer to scoring in other varieties.

Juniors Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk are leading the way monsterous numbers to start the season. Van Wijk is averaging over 17 points per games and nearly 9 rebounds, while Broekhoff has added 15 points per game and nearly ten rebounds. The 6’6″ Aussie is a part of the major influx of imported recruits for Valpo — a strategy they felt would work to beat the Cleveland State, Butler, and Milwaukees of the world. He is considered the best three point shooter by far in the Horizon League. He only played in 23 minutes a game this season, but the Buckeye defenders will see a lot of his jumpers on the floor. So far he has scored 20 % of Valpo’s points in the early season.

Van Wijk played off the bench last year, and was a spark at times. He has started 2011 off with a bang, scoring 19% of Valpo’s points, while bringing down 30% of their offensive rebounds. The native of the Netherlands had a great off-season and despite focusing on rehabbing his back, really improved his post and spot up game.

Adding into the mix offensively will be point guard duo of Jay Harris and Will Bogan. The elder Bogan will get the start on the floor, but will most likely see less time to Harris. A Ole Miss transfer, Bogan followed the same road as Brandon Wood, graduating early and getting a year of eligibility as a grad student. At 6’1″ he creates mismatches off the bat, but it’s Harris that is the true game changer. Playing behind Wood, Harris saw little time in his freshman campaign, but had a big outing against Iona, scoring 20 points in the last competition of the season. He is a natural born shooter that can burn you from deep, off the screen, from mid-range, or drive to the lane with a floater. He is a lot of fun to watch and provides a big spark off the bench.

Also producing for the Crusaders is junior Matt Kenny. He has a nice shot of screens, and though he isn’t a deep threat, he can really hurt you off the dribble. He alongside fellow starter Eric Buggs will see a lot of time because they understand their role in the offense.

Coaching Staff:

Anytime a young man takes over a program, it’s a rough transition. Picture though taking over a program for you father, who has spent years building up a school. Then throw on the fact that he has been diagnosed with cancer. Three weeks later, his wife and your mother has also been diagnosed with cancer.

It’s without a doubt an unique situation for Bryce Drew in his first season, but he has handled the adversity well thus far. He has huge plans for his alma matter, and though the school doesn’t necessarily have the resources to turn this program into a powerhouse financially like they’ve done at rival Butler, there is a coaching staff here that is young, energized, and full of a lot of promise.

Drew, who joined on the staff as an assistant under his father in 2005, has put together guys around him that understand his goals. Starting with Roger Powell Jr., a member of that great 2005 Illinois squad that fell short against North Carolina in the finals. He brings a wealth of experience in international ball and NBA experience to the coaching staff alongside Drew, who played for the Hornets and was drafted by the Houston Rockets.

Jake Diebler, who was a star at Valpo when the Threebler fame of brother Jon hit Columbus, brings a local name to the recruiting table with a real ability to coach up talent and get them to the next level. Luke Gore brings that same mentality to the table, but was on the coaching staff alongside Drew when his father was still the head coach.

Not to mention the Drew family has basketball in the blood. Bryce’s brother Scott is leading a very talented Baylor team back to prominence.

Final Thoughts/Starting Lineups:

These Crusaders have a lot to play for tonight, but so does Ohio State. I think we’ll see a more competitive game than we have all year, simply because this team has a lot of fight, is on a roll, and can shoot the lights out of the gymnasium. It should still be an easy victory for the Buckeyes, but nothing has to be taken for granted in this match up. Look for Ohio State to slow things down, grind it out, and give the ball to Jared Sullinger on nearly every possession in the post and let him decide what to do with it.

Ohio State hasn’t been known to take things to the post a lot this season, but that might change tonight. Jared Sullinger averages 1.7 points per possession with his back to the glass. Something the Ohio state coaching staff might want to take advantage of early in this regular season grind.

Ohio State Starters – C Jared Sullinger F Deshaun Thomas G William Buford G Lenzelle Smith Jr. G Aaron Craft

Valpo Starters – F Ryan Broekhoff F Kevin Van Wijk G Erik Buggs G Will Bogan G Matt Kenney