Actually, we dropped from 9 to 10 in KenPom. This late with 23 games under our belt, one game doesn't change the metrics a lot. We'll see how the Net changes, but it was a home game against a quad 4 team, so the win is the biggest factor. Good news is that we are done for the week and if other ranked teams lose, we may stay top 25. We are in a weird place. 8 or 9 seed means I think we will still be ranked. Coaches and writers know coming off tough weekend this was a trap game. It's also the first time that we won a close game as they commented.

Looking back at the game, we need to recognize who's got the hot hand. Clemons was wide open late off a designed cut and Krut missed him. Norris looks like he has hit a wall. He's dribbling way too much and he got beat baseline a couple of times. We need this break. We are good when we play with energy and intensity and sooner or later, it catches up to you. In our case, we played the 4 best teams back to back on the road. We went 6-2,which is phenomenal. I don't know if any other MVC team has our schedule they survive it like we did.

We are talented, but we need everyone playing at full throttle. Let's stay positive and ready for the sprint. The marathon part is over.

Correction. KenPom still has us at 9. Just checked again. Not sure what happened in other games tonight.

To be a great team, you need to win these types of games and that's exactly what happened. The rest couldn't come at a better time. I think the team gets rested, gets the offense fixed, and comes out firing on all cylinders next weekend. Southern Illinois isn't going to know what hit 'em.

still havent watched the game...when there is no one to yell with.....I just wait for an omen to check the score..(tonight it was the SR. Jean candle falling off the table)..otherwise I would have ulcers in the future....but dont forget we played a really tough back to back and then with two days rest...back at it..3 games in 5 days even with the new math that is tough and we gutted it out...and really I continue year after year to be amazed at how tough the Valley is. and back in the day Wichita St drove everyone to be better and now it is the Ramblers that everyone saves their best shot for.....but I have been worried about the Norris dilemma as some have brought up....and lets hope the offense is just being worn out.

We’ve had some close games where the margin is deceiving. We came from behind late against Bradley, and kept our cool against Evansville.... this is the first game we failed to put away but still won. Keith was outstanding and Cooper gave a huge lift. That call at the end was awful, but when you consider the blatant offensive goaltend by Valpo it’s all even in the wash. Also gotta credit Valpo, they’ve looked like a different team since we played em, and they beat drake for a reason. Bright future there if they can retain their guys.

This game kinda reminds me of the Indiana state game we only one by 4 in final weeks of 2018, it’s so hard to keep that energy 100% of the time, especially when we have the pressure of being ranked coming off such a physical series with a ton of media attention.

Great week to reset, rest, and lock in for the home stretch.

I get it that defense is this team's calling card, but the time for message sending via benching because someone (Kennedy, Kaifes, whoever) blows a defensive assignment (note the singular) is basically over. We're probably good enough to at worst eke out wins against SIU like we did tonight. That won't be true in March. It will be maddening if we lose important games similar to this one because we can't buy a basket and don't even try to look for a hot hand down the bench.

Obviously a win is a win and big ups to Cooper for giving us a spark

A win is a win, but I'm glad we have a nice little gap to working on some things and get ready for our last series and Arch Madness.

You still can't argue with the defense, and if there's anything positive to take away from this game, it's that, despite the offensive struggles, these guys never get down on themselves and give up on the other end when they're not shooting well. 38% shooting from the field is so unlike us.... I really hope this gets corrected.

I really wish I could figure Tate Hall out... He has failed to score in 3 out of our last 4 games. This is a kid we've seen have 20+ point games in his career, and we all know if fully capable of having 15+ point games consistently. I just don't understand the issue with him and why he goes into these slumps. He's obviously talented!

My view of this game is that we saw a team that was embarrassed a few weeks ago at their gym. They were focused on revenge. Defensively, they were intense for 40 minutes. It was physical and every shot and pass were contested. We had to expect it. An embarrassing loss, a ranked team coming off a close loss - perfect recipe for an upset. I thought the refs let them play, which worked out well for them because it allowed them to maintain their rotation. I don't think they deserved to win, but remember they got 28 points off the bench in a game that they scored 52 points. Their bench was ridiculous. They shot 66% from the floor.

Finally watched the game....My first thought is that Valpo is for real....this game Morgan and Edwards played major minutes and Sackey and Barret did not play in the comparison between the two games.(injuries?)....but they spaced the ball well on offense, worked hard on defense and looked extremely athletic with a lot of blocks and steals with long arms. When Krikkie goes outside with the ball he is a tough match up for Krut out on the open floor. and they are a young team....lots of freshman and sophomores with only Morgan as a redshirt senior....I thought we looked a step slow on cuts...and a lot of missed 3s looked like tired legs....Tate Hall is a streak shooter . His form is inconsistent, when he is hot he is hot...but when he is cold he is cold but he also had a hard time finishing at the hoop yesterday but still made some nice passes
Also Valpo beat us in several areas that we usually control: bench points 28/11, points off turnovers 8/4, points in the paint 28/16 and fast break points which was inconsequential 2/0.
If everything stays the way it is , and even if we lose the tiebreaker we would avoid Valpo in the first round.....
Ugauk most be feeling his oats he put up 8 shots yesterday...some were iffy at best.....
anyway nice tough, well earned W against a young, athletic improving team

Good post 88.

I had a bad feeling about this game when I heard two things:

1. Valpo travel issues. I remember a game vs SIU a few years back after they'd been stranded on the highway for hours and hours. Everybody was like - oh SIU has no chance, they couldn't practice, they were trapped, blah, blah, blah - guess what? They came here and beat us. Those narratives are so overrated, and they never pan out.

2. Sackey out with an injury. He's terrible, and I don't know why he plays so much for Valpo. Replacing him with Edwards, Morgan and co. was a big benefit for them, I think.

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