Valparaiso Crusaders
Horizon League (22-11, 14-4)
Valparaiso has been very inconsistent this season. Coach Bryce Drew certainly has plenty of experience around the Crusaders basketball program, but this is his first year as head coach. Despite the ups and downs, Valpo still managed to win the Horizon League regular season crown over some quality teams like Cleveland State, Butler, Milwaukee and Detroit. This is a group that can beat some good teams, but they can lose to some bad teams too.
Big Wins: 11/18 Akron (62-59), 11/20 Duquesne (84-68), 2/9 at Cleveland State (59-41)
Bad Losses: 12/7 at IPFW (76-85), 12/23 at IUPUI (88-97), 1/8 at Wright State (55-73)
Coach: Bryce Drew (1 season at Valparaiso)
Why They Can Surprise:
This is your typical Valparaiso squad that shoots well and passes even better. The Crusaders will work the ball around on offense, be patient and find the open man. Just about every guard on the roster is a good passer, but it all starts with point guard Erik Buggs. Buggs is one of the few players who will not shoot from outside, but he takes care of the ball and does a great job leading the Crusaders on both ends of the court. Will Bogan and Ben Boggs usually earn a starting job on the perimeter. Bogan is mostly a shooter, while Boggs will do a little bit of everything. Offensively speaking, Buggs, Bogan and Boggs are not that threatening, but Valpo has Ryan Brokehoff also in the starting lineup and a couple great options off of the bench. Brokehoff is a big 6-7 wing who is a dynamic scorer and a great rebounder. On other teams he may play the three spot, but here he has to spend most of his time at the four spot. At the four spot, Brokehoff is a matchup nightmare due to his ability to consistently hit three-pointers and use his size to get into the paint and finish. Jay Harris and Matt Kenney are both capable of scoring 15 points on any given day. Harris is more of a shooter, but has been quite inconsistent. Kenney is a good all-around player and can give Coach Drew another rebounder in the backcourt…and this team needs all the rebounders they can get.
Why They Can Disappoint:
With guards that can hit the glass like Broekhoff and Kenney, Valparaiso is not that bad rebounding despite running what is virtually a four guard lineup. But they do lack in other areas where having multiple post players would be beneficial, most notably on the defensive end. Kevin Van Wijk, a 6-8 junior, has had a very good year. He is the big man that is surrounded by four guards. Van Wijk is a solid interior scorer and he benefits greatly from the opposition worrying about the shooters and slashers. Richie Edwards is the only other forward who sees any significant playing time. Edwards, at 6-7, is a good scorer too, but he can also stretch out the defense with his outside shooting. Unfortunately, the complete lack of frontcourt depth will be, and has been, a problem. Valparaiso will have to take much better care of the ball as a group and use their diminutive size to their advantage to pull off any upsets in March.
Probable Starters:
Erik Buggs, Junior, Guard, 4.4 ppg, 3.1 apg
Will Bogan, Junior, Guard, 7.3 ppg, 1.5 apg
Ben Boggs, Junior, Guard, 4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Ryan Broekhoff, Junior, Guard, 14.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, 8.6 rpg
Kevin Van Wijk, Junior, Forward, 14.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Richie Edwards, Junior, Forward, 9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Jay Harris, Sophomore, Guard, 9.0 ppg, 2.6 apg
Matt Kenney, Junior, Guard, 7.3 ppg, 2.5 apg, 4.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.5 (137th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.2 (121, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.4 (29, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.1 (127, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.9 (97, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.4 (123, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.0 (104, 3)
Rebound Margin: 1.5 (135, 3)
Assists Per Game: 14.0 (74, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.2 (234, 10)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
Valparaiso 2011 CIT First Round loss to Iona
Valparaiso 2008 CBI First Round win over Washington
Valparaiso 2008 CBI Second Round loss to Houston
Valparaiso 2004 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Gonzaga
Valparaiso 2003 NIT Opening round loss to Iowa
Valparaiso 2002 NCAA Round of 64 loss Kentucky
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
