SIU travels to Valpo looking for their 4th straight MVC win.
Meet the Beacons:
Valpo fired Matt Lottich on March 31st and ended up replacing him with Gonzaga assistant coach Roger Powell Jr. Powell Jr. was a member of the 2005 runner-up Illinois Fighting Illini and was an assistant at Valpo from 2011-2016 under former Valpo coach/player Bryce Drew.
Valpo has 4 wins so far this season, all of which coming at home. Their biggest win by KenPom is #238 Southern. Their worst loss by KenPom is home against #360 IUPUI.
Because of the coaching change, Valpo is 356th in the country in D-1 experience (0.54 years) and 340th in the country in minutes continuity from last season (11.9%).
It's been a struggle for Valpo on the offensive end. The Beacons are 335th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (95.3). They're 348th in the country in 2 point % (44.0%), 308th in the country in 3 point % (29.7%), and 343rd in the country in effective field goal % (44.2%). So far in conference play, Valpo is 4th in the MVC in offensive rebounding % (27.3%).
On the defensive end, Valpo has done a good job creating turnovers. The Beacons are 135th in the country in turnover % on the defensive end (18.3%). With their lack of height, it's been a struggle for Valpo to prevent offensive rebounds. Valpo is 311th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (33.5%).
The leading scorer for the Beacons is 6-2 Junior Isaiah Stafford averaging 16.4 points per game. Stafford started his collegiate career at Southern Indiana when they were still Division II and spent one year there before transferring to John A. Logan where he won the JUCO National Championship. This season, Stafford is the team leader in shots and possessions by a wide margin. He's 62nd in the country in % of possessions gone through him (29.8%) and 30th in the country in % of shots taken while on the court (33.0%). Stafford is 296th in the country in steal % (3.0%) and 186th in the country in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (5.3).
The leader in rebounds for Valpo is 6-5 Sophomore Jaxon Edwards averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Edwards spent one season last year at Murray State where he played in 11 games. This season, Edwards is 317th in the country in offensive rebounding % (9.0%) and 220th in the country in block % (4.7%). In his 4 MVC games so far, Edwards is 7th in the conference in 3 point % (5-10, 50%).
The leader in assists for the Beacons is 6-0 Junior Darius DeAverio averaging 5.4 assists per game. DeAverio is one of the players that returned to Valpo after the coaching change and he's taking advantage of a huge minutes increase this season. DeAverio is 61st in the country in assist rate (30.8%).
Other players to watch out for include 6-9 Freshman Cooper Schwieger. Schwieger has made an impact in his first year, he's 2nd on the team in scoring averaging 10.4 points per game. Schwieger is 341st in the country in block % (3.6%) and 428th in the country in effective field goal % (53.4%). 6-7 Sophomore Ola Ajiboye is a transfer from Central Michigan and was the first signee this offseason for Powell Jr. Ajiboye is 175th in the country in offensive rebounding % (11.1%) and 184th in the country in block % (5.2%).
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Valpo Game Notes
Valpo Head Coach Roger Powell Jr. Interview with Rodney Watson
My wife and I will be there as usual. Let's see if we can keep the streak going. We've done well in attended road games the past 2 years with our only loss being a painful one at Illinois St last year.
Very fortunate Valpo is so young/bad because the circumstances aren't great after a road trip to ISU over the weekend, then another trip to Valparaiso, likely with difficult travel given the snow today (unless they left early yesterday?)
Stafford is a volume shooter who can fill it up. If they can keep him from going wild, hard to see Valpo being a big threat in this one unless SIU is deeply out of sorts. Best-case scenario is Southern puts the game out of reach by earlysh second half and you get guys like Stulic, Miller and maybe even Sharp some decent game action.
It feels like we’ve really struggled at Valpo since they joined. Lot of low scoring games even in wins. Obviously a different team though now without Lottich and a different SIU team
I desperately want this to be a statement game (i.e. blowout). I feel like most in the league have not given this team much credit/respect for their accomplishes to date. I understand most, myself included did not think this years team was going to be any good, but I still see so many people calling this team bad/mediocre. I know a blowout of Valpo probably won't do much to change that BUT it would set up for a big time statement game against Drake.
All that said, I don't care if they win by 1 point just win baby!
I desperately want this to be a statement game (i.e. blowout). I feel like most in the league have not given this team much credit/respect for their accomplishes to date. I understand most, myself included did not think this years team was going to be any good, but I still see so many people calling this team bad/mediocre. I know a blowout of Valpo probably won't do much to change that BUT it would set up for a big time statement game against Drake.
All that said, I don't care if they win by 1 point just win baby!
This team just has a different feel. You can see it. They play so unselfish and loose -- polar opposites from last year. The improvement in player and coaching development has been noticeable and the talent is there too. Currently, Mullins and Co. are looking pretty darn smart in their recruiting.
I strongly feel that IF SIU had been fully healthy since camp (including an eligible Hensley), we'd be looking at a one, maybe two loss team right now.
If they play like they're capable for the next 120+ minutes of basketball, people will start taking notice after the final horn against Bradley.
--Insert something witty here--
I strongly feel that we would have won at Wichita had AJ been in the lineup. I like him more every game.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
We need Stulic to get back in rhythm like early in the year he would be a big boost off the bench
We need Stulic to get back in rhythm like early in the year he would be a big boost off the bench
Desperately need a couple more guys who were hitting from deep earlier to break out of their funk. D’Amico has struggled of late as well. With X driving and kicking to these guys, they have to knock down a good percentage to keep the D honest. Otherwise, they play pack line D and X isn’t nearly as effective.
I desperately want this to be a statement game (i.e. blowout). I feel like most in the league have not given this team much credit/respect for their accomplishes to date. I understand most, myself included did not think this years team was going to be any good, but I still see so many people calling this team bad/mediocre. I know a blowout of Valpo probably won't do much to change that BUT it would set up for a big time statement game against Drake.
All that said, I don't care if they win by 1 point just win baby!
This team just has a different feel. You can see it. They play so unselfish and loose -- polar opposites from last year. The improvement in player and coaching development has been noticeable and the talent is there too. Currently, Mullins and Co. are looking pretty darn smart in their recruiting.
I strongly feel that IF SIU had been fully healthy since camp (including an eligible Hensley), we'd be looking at a one, maybe two loss team right now.
If they play like they're capable for the next 120+ minutes of basketball, people will start taking notice after the final horn against Bradley.
Yes, and this SIU team has consistently blown out bad teams, and with Valpo in the 300 NET range the ingredients are there for that to continue - however, this is a conference road game, so who knows.
I'd say it's pretty safe to say we would have won that game, and Austin Peay if he had been available, and if he hadn't gotten hurt in the UIC game and been playing hurt against James Madison, that might have been a different outcome as well.I strongly feel that we would have won at Wichita had AJ been in the lineup. I like him more every game.
I'd say it's pretty safe to say we would have won that game, and Austin Peay if he had been available, and if he hadn't gotten hurt in the UIC game and been playing hurt against James Madison, that might have been a different outcome as well.I strongly feel that we would have won at Wichita had AJ been in the lineup. I like him more every game.
Take away the Indiana St debacle and SIU has 3 losses by a total of 9 points, all while missing key rotational pieces.
--Insert something witty here--
Hoping for the big win, of course, but last night's Houston and Purdue's road games have me a little hinky.
Go Dawgs!
March on triumphantly!
Nebraska's much improved with Mast, who outscored Zach Edey 18 - 15.
Jones and Braden Smith only had 10 each. Tough to win on the road.
Tough playing in a high school gym too.
