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
Oakland14–4 .778  25–9  .735
Valparaiso14–4 .778  24–9  .727
Green Bay12–6 .667  18–14  .563
Northern Kentucky †12–6 .667  24–11  .686
Wright State11–7 .611  20–12  .625
UIC7–11 .389  17–19  .472
Detroit6–12 .333  8–23  .258
Cleveland State5–13 .278  9–22  .290
Youngstown State5–13 .278  13–21  .382
Milwaukee4–14 .222  11–24  .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.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.