2016–17 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team

The 2016–17 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team represented Valparaiso University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by first-year head coach Matt Lottich, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as members of the Horizon League. They finished the season 24–9, 14–4 in Horizon League play to finish in a tie for the Horizon League regular season championship. As the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament, they lost to Milwaukee in the quarterfinals. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Illinois.

2016–17 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball
Men Who Speak Up Main Event champions
Horizon League regular season co-champions
NIT, First Round
ConferenceHorizon League
2016–17 record24–9 (14–4 Horizon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaAthletics–Recreation Center
2016–17 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Oakland144 .778  259  .735
Valparaiso144 .778  249  .727
Green Bay126 .667  1814  .563
Northern Kentucky126 .667  2411  .686
Wright State117 .611  2012  .625
UIC711 .389  1719  .472
Detroit612 .333  823  .258
Cleveland State513 .278  922  .290
Youngstown State513 .278  1321  .382
Milwaukee414 .222  1124  .314
2017 Horizon League Tournament winner

This was the Crusaders' final season as a member of the Horizon League as the school announced on May 25, 2017 that it would be joining the Missouri Valley Conference effective July 1, 2017.[1]

Previous season

The Crusaders finished the 2015–16 season 30–7, 16–2 in Horizon League play to win the regular season championship. They lost in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament to Green Bay. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, the Crusaders received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament. As one of the last four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament, they received a No. 1 seed in the NIT where they defeated Texas Southern, Florida State, Saint Mary's, and BYU to advance to the championship game where they lost to George Washington.

This season marked Bryce Drew's final season as Valparaiso head coach. He accepted the Vanderbilt head coaching job on April 5, 2016.[2] He finished at Valpo with a five-year record of 124–49 and went to the postseason every year as head coach. On April 7, the school promoted assistant coach Matt Lottich to head coach.[3]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Keith Carter0G6'1"180SeniorMaywood, ILGraduated
E. Victor Nickerson1G/F6'8"185SeniorAtlanta, GAGraduated
Darien Walker5G6'3"220SeniorChicago, ILGraduated
David Skara10F6'8"205SophomoreZadar, CroatiaTransferred to Clemson
Vashil Fernandez14F6'10"260SeniorKingston, JamaicaGraduated

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Bakari Evelyn3G6'2"175SophomoreDetroit, MITransferred from Nebraska. Under NCAA transfer rules, Evelyn had to sit out the 2016–17 season, and would then have three years of remaining eligibility.
Joe Burton10G/F6'6"215JuniorHouston, TXTransferred from Oklahoma State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Burton had to sit out the 2016–17 season, and would then have two years of remaining eligibility.
John Middleton13G6'4"215SophomoreAtlantic City, NJTransferred from Utah State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Middleton had to sit out the 2016–17 season, and would then have three years of remaining eligibility.

2016 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Micah Bradford
PG
Bradley, Illinois Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Nov 18, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

    2017 recruiting class

    Preseason

    In a poll of the League’s coaches, media, and sports information directors, Valparaiso was picked to win the conference, receiving 35 of the 39 first-place votes.[4] Alec Peters was named the Preseason Horizon League player of the year.[4] Shane Hammink was also named to the Preseason All-Horizon League second team.

    Roster

    2016–17 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 1 Micah Bradford 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)150 lb (68 kg) FrBradley-Bourbonnais Community High School Bradley, Illinois
    G 2 Tevonn Walker 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg) JrVanier College Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    G 3 Max Joseph 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrVanier College Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    G 4 Bakari Evelyn (I)  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) SoNebraska Detroit, Michigan
    G 5 Jason Karys (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg) SrNewton South High School Newton, Massachusetts
    G/F 10 Joe Burton (I)  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrOklahoma State Porter, Texas
    G 11 Shane Hammink 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS SrLSU Millingen aan de Rijn, Netherlands
    G 13 John Middleton (I)  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoUtah State Atlantic City, New Jersey
    C 14 Jaume Sorolla 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg) FrSunrise Christian Academy Tortosa, Spain
    G 15 Lexus Williams 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg) RS JrMarist Chicago, Illinois
    C 21 Derrik Smits 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)240 lb (109 kg) RS FrZionsville Community High School Zionsville, Indiana
    G 22 Nick Davidson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SrAndrean High School Munster, Indiana
    F 23 Jubril Adekoya 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) SrVictor J. Andrew High School Tinley Park, Illinois
    F 25 Alec Peters 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg) SrWashington Community High School Washington, Illinois
    F 30 Chandler Levingston Simon (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS JrUMKC Vernon Hills, Illinois
    G/F 33 John Kiser (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrNoblesville High School Noblesville, Indiana
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/05/2016*
    7:30 pm
    Hillsdale W 78–63 
    Athletics–Recreation Center 
    Valparaiso, IN
    Non-conference regular season
    11/11/2016*
    7:00 pm
    Southern Utah
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 79–65  1–0
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,560)
    Valparaiso, IN
    11/12/2016*
    7:00 pm
    Trinity Christian W 89–75  2–0
    Athletics–Recreation Center (2,588)
    Valparaiso, IN
    11/14/2016*
    7:00 pm
    Coppin State
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 78–58  3–0
    Athletics–Recreation Center (1,972)
    Valparaiso, IN
    11/17/2016*
    8:00 pm, P12N
    at No. 4 Oregon L 54–76  3–1
    Matthew Knight Arena (7,509)
    Eugene, OR
    11/21/2016*
    11:00 pm
    vs. Alabama
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event semifinals
    W 68–60  4–1
    MGM Grand Garden Arena (2,107)
    Paradise, NV
    11/23/2016*
    10:59 pm, ESPN2
    vs. BYU
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event championship
    W 92–89  5–1
    MGM Grand Garden Arena 
    Paradise, NV
    11/27/2016*
    1:30 pm
    Ball State W 79–73  6–1
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,166)
    Valparaiso, IN
    11/29/2016*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    No. 21 Rhode Island W 65–62  7–1
    Athletics–Recreation Center (4,149)
    Valparaiso, IN
    12/07/2016*
    7:00 pm, SECN
    at No. 6 Kentucky L 63–87  7–2
    Rupp Arena (21,805)
    Lexington, KY
    12/10/2016*
    7:05 pm, ESPN3
    at Missouri State W 84–81  8–2
    JQH Arena (6,147)
    Springfield, MO
    12/17/2016*
    7:03 pm, ESPN3
    Indiana State W 89–71  9–2
    Athletics–Recreation Center (2,172)
    Valparaiso, IN
    12/22/2016*
    7:00 pm
    Santa Clara L 80–87 OT 9–3
    Athletics–Recreation Center (1,854)
    Valparaiso, IN
    12/28/2016*
    7:00 pm
    Chicago State W 80–61  10–3
    Athletics–Recreation Center (2,024)
    Valparaiso, IN
    Horizon League regular season
    12/30/2016
    4:00 pm, ESPNU
    at UIC W 70–59  11–3
    (1–0)
    UIC Pavilion (3,826)
    Chicago, IL
    01/06/2017
    8:05 pm, ESPN2
    Oakland L 66–78  11–4
    (1–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,872)
    Valparaiso, IN
    01/08/2017
    12:00 pm, ASN
    Detroit W 81–74  12–4
    (2–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (1,776)
    Valparaiso, IN
    01/12/2017
    6:45 pm, ESPN3
    at Youngstown State W 78–62  13–4
    (3–1)
    Beeghly Center (2,517)
    Youngstown, OH
    01/14/2017
    2:30 pm, ESPN3
    at Cleveland State W 78–67  14–4
    (4–1)
    Wolstein Center (1,831)
    Cleveland, OH
    01/16/2017
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Green Bay W 80–56  15–4
    (5–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,625)
    Valparaiso, IN
    01/22/2017
    2:00 pm, ASN
    UIC W 96–65  16–4
    (6–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,881)
    Valparaiso, IN
    01/27/2017
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Wright State W 70–55  17–4
    (7–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,461)
    Valparaiso, IN
    01/29/2017
    1:30 pm, ESPN3
    Northern Kentucky W 65–58  18–4
    (8–1)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,578)
    Valparaiso, IN
    02/02/2017
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Milwaukee W 71–53  19–4
    (9–1)
    UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (2,267)
    Milwaukee, WI
    02/04/2017
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Green Bay L 69–86  19–5
    (9–2)
    Resch Center (3,963)
    Green Bay, WI
    02/09/2017
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Cleveland State W 78–57  20–5
    (10–2)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (2,455)
    Valparaiso, IN
    02/11/2017
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Youngstown State W 82–72  21–5
    (11–2)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (4,823)
    Valparaiso, IN
    02/16/2017
    6:00 pm, ESPN2
    at Oakland L 71–82  21–6
    (11–3)
    Athletics Center O'rena 
    Rochester, MI
    02/19/2017
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Detroit W 83–63  22–6
    (12–3)
    Calihan Hall (2,003)
    Detroit, MI
    02/21/2017
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Milwaukee W 67–61  23–6
    (13–3)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,512)
    Valparaiso, IN
    02/24/2017
    6:30 pm, ESPN3
    at Wright State W 84-74  24–6
    (14–3)
    Nutter Center (5,028)
    Dayton, OH
    02/26/2017
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Northern Kentucky L 78–82  24–7
    (14–4)
    BB&T Arena (3,304)
    Highland Heights, KY
    Horizon League Tournament
    03/04/2017
    8:00 pm, ESPN3
    (2) vs. (10) Milwaukee
    Quarterfinals
    L 41–43  24–8
    Joe Louis Arena (8,481)
    Detroit, MI
    NIT
    03/14/2017*
    6:15 pm, ESPN2
    (7) at (2) Illinois
    First Round – Illinois State Bracket
    L 57–82  24–9
    State Farm Center (4,719)
    Champaign, IL
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    References

    1. "It's Official. Welcome, Valparaiso" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
    2. "Sources: Vandy, Bryce Drew reach 6-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
    3. Technologies, Streamline. "Matt Lottich Hired as Valparaiso University Men's Basketball Head Coach". ValpoAthletics.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
    4. "Horizon League Announces Men's Basketball Preseason Awards | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
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