Leatherneck Nation

Monday, November 2, at 7:00 PM on ESPN +

KenPom Prediction: Valparaiso is projected to win roughly 82–62, giving the Beacons a 96% chance of victory.
 
 
 

 

any ideas on who will be starting my guess would be the 3 returners 

Starting Five:
#1  Jack Riley
#2  Hunter Vaughn
#5  Taye Moore
#15  Daivion Traylor
#21  Matthieu Biembongo

It's going to be a loooooong season!

Hoping I am wrong after seeing the first 20 minutes, but there aren't any scorers and they seem to get pushed around pretty easily. Valpo is not good.

Hopefully Valpo is a 30 win team and just that good.  If not and they're just an ok team, we are in for a long season.

They do have some starters and bench guys back and guys from decent programs, so should come out looking and playing better, so fingers crossed!!!!!

Valparaiso won the game 80-58.  Consistent with the 20 point spread predicted by KenPom.

David Traylor was Western's lead scorer with 14 points.  Makai Kvamme had 13.  Jack Riley had 11.

Western shot 39% (20 of 51) and had 16 Turnovers.

Attendance at Valpo = 1,393

Next game will be on Saturday (Nov 7) vs Houston Christian University.  This game will be played at Spoon River College in Canton, IL.  Game time is 6:00 PM.
 

On a bright note WIU played them even in the second half and Valpo left their starters in for most of the game taking their starters out with one or two minutes left, which didn't sound like it sat very well with Boudreau in his post game interview

Also in his post game interview, Boudreau said they have more reinforcements ready, just waiting for some news/ So I'm assuming they are waiting on a court case. Boudreau said a lot of teams turned downed this opportunity to play Valpo, but they took it because one, the money and two it fit their schedule.  

 Valpo was predicted to finish 5th in the preseason MVC poll and did receive one vote for 1st place, so i wouldn't say Valpo is predicted to be bad this season.

WIU was outshot 43-23 at the free throw line and I think at one time it was like 41-15 or something according to BJ

It is early and the sample size is miniscule but Coach Mo's words from yester-decade appear to ring true once again.  "We don't have a lot of guys who can create their own shot".  It is a tall task when you are out-quicked on the court.