Exhibition game results - DePauw 66 Evansville 62

[DoubleJayAlum]

Baller,

Resort to further name calling all you want, but that is my whole problem with this thread in the first place.

If people would limit their argument to UE doesn't have the resources to compete in the MVC, I think that is a fair discussion. If the argument were about increasing exposure of the league, I think that is a fair discussion.

I don't see things like calling UE a D2 program, calling their coach "stupid" or calling their entire athletic department "God-awful" as really being all that constructive. It is just petty name calling. Name calling, by the way that was all done by Shocker fans. Because of that, I felt that it is completely relevant to discuss how WSU (since their fanbase was the source of an overwhelming majority of the comments) has fared when pitted against UE. If the school was a mediocre D2 program (or worse), WSU should blow them off the court. That hasn't been the case recently which indicates that UE is not as lowly as some WSU fans would otherwise insinuate.

Furthermore, a loss in an exhibition game is hardly a reason for dismissing a team from the conference. if that was the criterion used, there would be few teams left in the conference. As noted by others, Bradley recently lost an exhibition game to a D3 or D2 opponent. Should they be booted as well?

Lay off the name calling and put together cogent arguments, backed up by facts instead of opinions, and a reasonable discussion could ensue. As to your personal comments toward me, let me just respond by saying that it doesn't appear that any UE fans complained to the mods because someone picked on their school. Too bad you can't say the same thing, especially when you are perhaps the biggest instigator here.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't see anybody getting removed from the league unless they volunteer, but I'd love to see teams/schools start paying for poor scheduling. That would help boost the league I believe and maybe it would give a school like UE a reason to leave the Valley.

I don't know how it impacts UE per se (other schools have had worse schedules), but I would like the restoration of the RPI 150 rule. I think that it is no coincidence that since the rule has been eliminated, the conference reputation has gone down.

[acesfool]

Have you guys watched Evansville play? No wonder kids are leaving at an alarming rate. That has to be the ugliest offensive scheme in college basketball today or maybe ever. Why do we clog up the middle running a couple of guys off of picks that aren't even very good shooters? Are point gaurds try to drive but there is nowhere for them to go because we have brought all the other teams big guys in the lane with that ignorant offense. I hate to see it but I would leave too if a coach played a guy the whole game that loafed around on defense and especially getting back on defense. Haarsma would have stayed but with the turn of events the second half of last year he was forced into the continuoos picking roll and realized he didn't want that roll the rest of his career. Simmons was a very good player who had everything set up for him to succeed offensively but played very little defense, and those kind of players never make good head coaches. We need a new direction. One that spreads the floor and allows players to make plays out of the dribble drive offense instead of a robot offense where players run the same picks and cuts all the time. Marty doesn't even run a true motion that allows players to make decisions based on the defense. Today's players want the freedom to use their basketball skills and improve by being able to make decisions as they arise on the court. Sure players are going to make mistakes but you have to allow them to play through their mistakes so they can improve. Marty will give one or two players this freedom but most players are yanked for every little mistake that they start second guessing everything they do. And Acedad, yes I played high school and college basketball and I also have coached just to let you know. WE will never keep players today with this style of offense. It went out of style with the shot clock and cable television that allows kids to watch so many teams playing an enjoyable offense. Evansville doesn't need to go to the Horizon league either. We lost at home to their last place team in the bracket busters last season. The Ohio Valley would be a much better fit if we are determined to stay on this course.

[45otseoj]

Furthermore, a loss in an exhibition game is hardly a reason for dismissing a team from the conference. if that was the criterion used, there would be few teams left in the conference. As noted by others, Bradley recently lost an exhibition game to a D3 or D2 opponent. Should they be booted as well?

Yes.

Renegade program.

[Bball Junkie]

The loss last weekend was very demoralizing and a huge wakeup call to the team. If this does not motivate them, nothing will. The team simply looked like it didn't want to be there during the first half. The only guys who looked good in the first half were the newcomers, Peeler and Harris. They played hard and looked like they were trying to show their new teammates that they belong. The returning players simply looked disinterested and tired.

I am still scratching my head as to why any player would play 37 minutes in an exhibition game....especially when the backup appears to have a lot of upside and was a prep school player (Jahr).

I also do not understand why Peeler did not play at least 20 minutes....he has shown his athletic ability and produced very well when he was in the lineup. (10 points/4 rebounds in less than 15 minutes).

Hopefully the coaches start building the future right now.....look at Taylor/Cox for the PG spot, Ryan/Jones at the SG spot, Holmes/Harris at SF, Peeler/Jahr at the other F spot, and rotate von Tongeren/Hopf at the C spot. I like Denver Holmes, but I think it may be in the team's best interest to bring him off the bench at the SF spot...let him play as hard as possible for 20 minutes and hopefully decrease his chances to get into foul trouble. I would also let Lacey come off the bench and be a role player/senior leader.....the team simply needs more scoring at this point in time, and opponents do not respect him as a shooter and play off him which clogs up the lane for cuts, post feeds, etc.

This team has more athletic ability than any Aces team in the past 10 years. They need to use this athleticism to their advantage and use their bench. They need to start incorporating more zone defense looks and allow their guards to attack the lane off the dribble as much as possible. Cox and Taylor are quick guards who can break down a defender and take him off the dribble.....the Aces must utilize this.

[cpacmel]

I have seen several posters mention CONFERENCE RPI. Conference RPI means absolutely nothing. Yes it's great for fans to talk about, but in the grand scheme of anything, it means absolutely, positively NOTHING.

[SubGod22]

I don't see anybody getting removed from the league unless they volunteer, but I'd love to see teams/schools start paying for poor scheduling. That would help boost the league I believe and maybe it would give a school like UE a reason to leave the Valley.

I don't know how it impacts UE per se (other schools have had worse schedules), but I would like the restoration of the RPI 150 rule. I think that it is no coincidence that since the rule has been eliminated, the conference reputation has gone down.

It may not effect UE. But teams, all teams, need to schedule up for themselves as much as the conference. I'm just thinking there may be some programs that would either continue to pay for not scheduling up or scheduling up and not being able to compete may choose to look at a "lesser" conference and open a spot for a potential upgrade.

Or, teams may realize that they can compete. Or at least teach their kids how to compete. Winning better games and finishing in better spots RPI or whatever can also help with recruiting. Teams are more desireable to play for if they appear they can compete. Although if you schedule poorly and still have a bad record...I don't know what can or should be done. Bad years happen. But I'm not convinced that the Pimps can make much progress.

And I totally blame the Shox for uninspired and embarassing play in the loss to UE last year.

[SirShoxAlot]

Baller,

Resort to further name calling all you want, but that is my whole problem with this thread in the first place.

If people would limit their argument to UE doesn't have the resources to compete in the MVC, I think that is a fair discussion. If the argument were about increasing exposure of the league, I think that is a fair discussion.

I don't see things like calling UE a D2 program, calling their coach "stupid" or calling their entire athletic department "God-awful" as really being all that constructive. It is just petty name calling. Name calling, by the way that was all done by Shocker fans. Because of that, I felt that it is completely relevant to discuss how WSU (since their fanbase was the source of an overwhelming majority of the comments) has fared when pitted against UE. If the school was a mediocre D2 program (or worse), WSU should blow them off the court. That hasn't been the case recently which indicates that UE is not as lowly as some WSU fans would otherwise insinuate.

Furthermore, a loss in an exhibition game is hardly a reason for dismissing a team from the conference. if that was the criterion used, there would be few teams left in the conference. As noted by others, Bradley recently lost an exhibition game to a D3 or D2 opponent. Should they be booted as well?

Lay off the name calling and put together cogent arguments, backed up by facts instead of opinions, and a reasonable discussion could ensue. As to your personal comments toward me, let me just respond by saying that it doesn't appear that any UE fans complained to the mods because someone picked on their school. Too bad you can't say the same thing, especially when you are perhaps the biggest instigator here.

The man makes a good point. I suppose we should have sent Syracuse to DIII after their exhibition loss last year? No, they followed up with a Sweet 16 and 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Let's tone it down a bit...

[valleychamp]

I think the Syracuse loss last year might have even been an NAIA team?

And Michigan St lost to a DII team a couple seasons ago. And they still ended up in the final four.


Evansville to the NCAA's this year?....

[Ace Dad]

There are D1 quality players, D1 "bouncebacks, and "late bloomers" on the rosters of the better D2s, D3s, and NAIA D1s. Basketball is a team game and from time to time these teams will beat a D1 team that has not played well.

Steve Nash received one D1 offer. It was from Santa Clara. What if Santa Clara would have given that scholarship to a California boy the week before. Nash, a Canadian, would have played D2 or NAIA D1 basketball. We got to get away from the labels.