Happy New Year, Valparaiso.
Valparaiso University basketball players and coaches, in town for tonight’s KU-Crusaders nonconference game (7:05 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse), rang in the new year with a horde of Lawrence residents late Monday night at Set’Em Up Jack’s Bar and Grill.
“We were entertained by our guys in karaoke. We found out who can sing on our basketball team and who can’t. It was a very fun and enjoyable New Year’s Eve for Valparaiso University,” VU coach Homer Drew said after practice on Tuesday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Drew didn’t sing any songs he also didn’t play the kazoo or wear a party hat but most of his Mid-Continent Conference players were more than willing to take part in holiday sing-a-long on the stage.
“We had just come into town and called some places to find where there’d be a sports bar so we could watch the (football) games on big screen (TV),” Drew said of the team’s New Year’s Eve plans. “They had the karaoke so it really turned into a pleasant evening for us. The guys had everybody hollering and maybe we’re hoping we could get some new Valpo fans to come to the game and cheer for Valpo instead of KU in Lawrence.”
His 10-4 Crusaders rolled into town after spending five days in Tucson, Ariz., where Valpo beat West Virginia, 76-57, then lost to No. 14 Arizona, 74-70, at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
On New Year’s Day, the Crusaders practiced at Allen Fieldhouse, headed out for an early dinner, then planned on catching a movie.
Valpo hasn’t played at home since Dec. 13.
“Too long,” Drew said, asked how long the Crusaders have been on the road. “Oh my gosh, we played in Hawaii before Christmas (Dec. 20-22, beating Columbia and Buffalo and losing to New Mexico State), then we got two days off. Then we were in Arizona five days and came right here. We’re learning to live out of a suitcase. It’s a concern for our coaches. We’ve been on the road too long.
“We do like our guys to have a chance to play Arizona and KU two of the top programs in the nation over the past decades.”
The Indiana school located an hour from Chicago hasn’t been half bad, itself, winning its conference title six of the past seven years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years with a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998.
In the past five seasons, the Crusaders also have nine victories against members of six of the major conferences. Last year, Valpo lost to Missouri, 77-61, and Indiana 63-60, but did beat Ohio State, 67-64. Valpo beat Mississippi State during the 1999-2000 season, South Carolina and Seton Hall in 1998-99 and Mississippi and Florida State in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
“We never think we have to prove anything. We like our guys and we’re confident in our ability to play basketball,” Drew said.
His team has an international flavor.
This year’s roster includes two players from Puerto Rico, plus players from Latvia, Angola, Czech Republic, Columbia and Finland.
Raitis Grafs, a 6-11 junior from Riga, Latvia, is the school’s all-time leading shot blocker with 128. He has 23 blocks this year to go with his 12.2 points and 7.2 boards a game.
Leading scorer is Tony Falu, a 6-5 junior from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, who contributes 13.4 ppg. Lubos Barton, 6-8 from Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic, averages 12.4 points and 6.7 boards, while Milo Stovall, 6-3 from Kalamazoo, Mich., contributes 11.7 points and 4.8 boards. Stalin Ortiz, 6-3 from Cali, Columbia, averages 9.8 ppg.
“It’s given us an opportunity to get some size we have not been able to attract in the states,” Drew said of recruiting overseas. “That size has helped us to be competitive. My son went to Europe about seven years ago and developed some relationships with coaches. We landed a 7-footer, 6-11, 6-10, 6-10 and they’ve all graduated except one who will this spring. We’ve seen 14 players go to pro basketball in seven years.
“But it’s getting more difficult in Europe now. When we started, nobody knew the difference between Valparaiso and Arizona. Now with ESPN and CNN they know the difference.”
KU coach Roy Williams has noticed.
“They’ve gone the international student route much moreso than anybody else,” Williams said. “Their statement is the international students say they want to come to the states and play American college basketball. They say there’s no difference between Valparaiso and Duke. They can sell it to those kids.
“Coach Drew has a heck of a basketball team and program. Homer Drew is a coach’s coach. He loves basketball, loves the coaching world. Some of the things we do legislation wise on the (NCAA) rules committee, he’ll contact me and say, ‘What can I do? Who can I talk to help?’ He is really a great guy.
“Like Tulsa, they present a lot of problems with a very good team and very good coach,” Williams added. “Tulsa and Valparaiso .. it’s great preparation for the start of the conference season.”
The Jayhawks, who tripped Tulsa, 93-85, Saturday in Kansas City, open the Big 12 season on Saturday night at Colorado.
Happy New Year, Valparaiso.
Valparaiso University basketball players and coaches, in town for tonight’s KU-Crusaders nonconference game (7:05 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse), rang in the new year with a horde of Lawrence residents late Monday night at Set’Em Up Jack’s Bar and Grill.
“We were entertained by our guys in karaoke. We found out who can sing on our basketball team and who can’t. It was a very fun and enjoyable New Year’s Eve for Valparaiso University,” VU coach Homer Drew said after practice on Tuesday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Drew didn’t sing any songs he also didn’t play the kazoo or wear a party hat but most of his Mid-Continent Conference players were more than willing to take part in holiday sing-a-long on the stage.
“We had just come into town and called some places to find where there’d be a sports bar so we could watch the (football) games on big screen (TV),” Drew said of the team’s New Year’s Eve plans. “They had the karaoke so it really turned into a pleasant evening for us. The guys had everybody hollering and maybe we’re hoping we could get some new Valpo fans to come to the game and cheer for Valpo instead of KU in Lawrence.”
His 10-4 Crusaders rolled into town after spending five days in Tucson, Ariz., where Valpo beat West Virginia, 76-57, then lost to No. 14 Arizona, 74-70, at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
On New Year’s Day, the Crusaders practiced at Allen Fieldhouse, headed out for an early dinner, then planned on catching a movie.
Valpo hasn’t played at home since Dec. 13.
“Too long,” Drew said, asked how long the Crusaders have been on the road. “Oh my gosh, we played in Hawaii before Christmas (Dec. 20-22, beating Columbia and Buffalo and losing to New Mexico State), then we got two days off. Then we were in Arizona five days and came right here. We’re learning to live out of a suitcase. It’s a concern for our coaches. We’ve been on the road too long.
“We do like our guys to have a chance to play Arizona and KU two of the top programs in the nation over the past decades.”
The Indiana school located an hour from Chicago hasn’t been half bad, itself, winning its conference title six of the past seven years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years with a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998.
In the past five seasons, the Crusaders also have nine victories against members of six of the major conferences. Last year, Valpo lost to Missouri, 77-61, and Indiana 63-60, but did beat Ohio State, 67-64. Valpo beat Mississippi State during the 1999-2000 season, South Carolina and Seton Hall in 1998-99 and Mississippi and Florida State in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
“We never think we have to prove anything. We like our guys and we’re confident in our ability to play basketball,” Drew said.
His team has an international flavor.
This year’s roster includes two players from Puerto Rico, plus players from Latvia, Angola, Czech Republic, Columbia and Finland.
Raitis Grafs, a 6-11 junior from Riga, Latvia, is the school’s all-time leading shot blocker with 128. He has 23 blocks this year to go with his 12.2 points and 7.2 boards a game.
Leading scorer is Tony Falu, a 6-5 junior from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, who contributes 13.4 ppg. Lubos Barton, 6-8 from Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic, averages 12.4 points and 6.7 boards, while Milo Stovall, 6-3 from Kalamazoo, Mich., contributes 11.7 points and 4.8 boards. Stalin Ortiz, 6-3 from Cali, Columbia, averages 9.8 ppg.
“It’s given us an opportunity to get some size we have not been able to attract in the states,” Drew said of recruiting overseas. “That size has helped us to be competitive. My son went to Europe about seven years ago and developed some relationships with coaches. We landed a 7-footer, 6-11, 6-10, 6-10 and they’ve all graduated except one who will this spring. We’ve seen 14 players go to pro basketball in seven years.
“But it’s getting more difficult in Europe now. When we started, nobody knew the difference between Valparaiso and Arizona. Now with ESPN and CNN they know the difference.”
KU coach Roy Williams has noticed.
“They’ve gone the international student route much moreso than anybody else,” Williams said. “Their statement is the international students say they want to come to the states and play American college basketball. They say there’s no difference between Valparaiso and Duke. They can sell it to those kids.
“Coach Drew has a heck of a basketball team and program. Homer Drew is a coach’s coach. He loves basketball, loves the coaching world. Some of the things we do legislation wise on the (NCAA) rules committee, he’ll contact me and say, ‘What can I do? Who can I talk to help?’ He is really a great guy.
“Like Tulsa, they present a lot of problems with a very good team and very good coach,” Williams added. “Tulsa and Valparaiso .. it’s great preparation for the start of the conference season.”
The Jayhawks, who tripped Tulsa, 93-85, Saturday in Kansas City, open the Big 12 season on Saturday night at Colorado.
Happy New Year, Valparaiso.
Valparaiso University basketball players and coaches, in town for tonight’s KU-Crusaders nonconference game (7:05 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse), rang in the new year with a horde of Lawrence residents late Monday night at Set’Em Up Jack’s Bar and Grill.
“We were entertained by our guys in karaoke. We found out who can sing on our basketball team and who can’t. It was a very fun and enjoyable New Year’s Eve for Valparaiso University,” VU coach Homer Drew said after practice on Tuesday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Drew didn’t sing any songs he also didn’t play the kazoo or wear a party hat but most of his Mid-Continent Conference players were more than willing to take part in holiday sing-a-long on the stage.
“We had just come into town and called some places to find where there’d be a sports bar so we could watch the (football) games on big screen (TV),” Drew said of the team’s New Year’s Eve plans. “They had the karaoke so it really turned into a pleasant evening for us. The guys had everybody hollering and maybe we’re hoping we could get some new Valpo fans to come to the game and cheer for Valpo instead of KU in Lawrence.”
His 10-4 Crusaders rolled into town after spending five days in Tucson, Ariz., where Valpo beat West Virginia, 76-57, then lost to No. 14 Arizona, 74-70, at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
On New Year’s Day, the Crusaders practiced at Allen Fieldhouse, headed out for an early dinner, then planned on catching a movie.
Valpo hasn’t played at home since Dec. 13.
“Too long,” Drew said, asked how long the Crusaders have been on the road. “Oh my gosh, we played in Hawaii before Christmas (Dec. 20-22, beating Columbia and Buffalo and losing to New Mexico State), then we got two days off. Then we were in Arizona five days and came right here. We’re learning to live out of a suitcase. It’s a concern for our coaches. We’ve been on the road too long.
“We do like our guys to have a chance to play Arizona and KU two of the top programs in the nation over the past decades.”
The Indiana school located an hour from Chicago hasn’t been half bad, itself, winning its conference title six of the past seven years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years with a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998.
In the past five seasons, the Crusaders also have nine victories against members of six of the major conferences. Last year, Valpo lost to Missouri, 77-61, and Indiana 63-60, but did beat Ohio State, 67-64. Valpo beat Mississippi State during the 1999-2000 season, South Carolina and Seton Hall in 1998-99 and Mississippi and Florida State in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
“We never think we have to prove anything. We like our guys and we’re confident in our ability to play basketball,” Drew said.
His team has an international flavor.
This year’s roster includes two players from Puerto Rico, plus players from Latvia, Angola, Czech Republic, Columbia and Finland.
Raitis Grafs, a 6-11 junior from Riga, Latvia, is the school’s all-time leading shot blocker with 128. He has 23 blocks this year to go with his 12.2 points and 7.2 boards a game.
Leading scorer is Tony Falu, a 6-5 junior from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, who contributes 13.4 ppg. Lubos Barton, 6-8 from Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic, averages 12.4 points and 6.7 boards, while Milo Stovall, 6-3 from Kalamazoo, Mich., contributes 11.7 points and 4.8 boards. Stalin Ortiz, 6-3 from Cali, Columbia, averages 9.8 ppg.
“It’s given us an opportunity to get some size we have not been able to attract in the states,” Drew said of recruiting overseas. “That size has helped us to be competitive. My son went to Europe about seven years ago and developed some relationships with coaches. We landed a 7-footer, 6-11, 6-10, 6-10 and they’ve all graduated except one who will this spring. We’ve seen 14 players go to pro basketball in seven years.
“But it’s getting more difficult in Europe now. When we started, nobody knew the difference between Valparaiso and Arizona. Now with ESPN and CNN they know the difference.”
KU coach Roy Williams has noticed.
“They’ve gone the international student route much moreso than anybody else,” Williams said. “Their statement is the international students say they want to come to the states and play American college basketball. They say there’s no difference between Valparaiso and Duke. They can sell it to those kids.
“Coach Drew has a heck of a basketball team and program. Homer Drew is a coach’s coach. He loves basketball, loves the coaching world. Some of the things we do legislation wise on the (NCAA) rules committee, he’ll contact me and say, ‘What can I do? Who can I talk to help?’ He is really a great guy.
“Like Tulsa, they present a lot of problems with a very good team and very good coach,” Williams added. “Tulsa and Valparaiso .. it’s great preparation for the start of the conference season.”
The Jayhawks, who tripped Tulsa, 93-85, Saturday in Kansas City, open the Big 12 season on Saturday night at Colorado.
Happy New Year, Valparaiso.
Valparaiso University basketball players and coaches, in town for tonight’s KU-Crusaders nonconference game (7:05 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse), rang in the new year with a horde of Lawrence residents late Monday night at Set’Em Up Jack’s Bar and Grill.
“We were entertained by our guys in karaoke. We found out who can sing on our basketball team and who can’t. It was a very fun and enjoyable New Year’s Eve for Valparaiso University,” VU coach Homer Drew said after practice on Tuesday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Drew didn’t sing any songs he also didn’t play the kazoo or wear a party hat but most of his Mid-Continent Conference players were more than willing to take part in holiday sing-a-long on the stage.
“We had just come into town and called some places to find where there’d be a sports bar so we could watch the (football) games on big screen (TV),” Drew said of the team’s New Year’s Eve plans. “They had the karaoke so it really turned into a pleasant evening for us. The guys had everybody hollering and maybe we’re hoping we could get some new Valpo fans to come to the game and cheer for Valpo instead of KU in Lawrence.”
His 10-4 Crusaders rolled into town after spending five days in Tucson, Ariz., where Valpo beat West Virginia, 76-57, then lost to No. 14 Arizona, 74-70, at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
On New Year’s Day, the Crusaders practiced at Allen Fieldhouse, headed out for an early dinner, then planned on catching a movie.
Valpo hasn’t played at home since Dec. 13.
“Too long,” Drew said, asked how long the Crusaders have been on the road. “Oh my gosh, we played in Hawaii before Christmas (Dec. 20-22, beating Columbia and Buffalo and losing to New Mexico State), then we got two days off. Then we were in Arizona five days and came right here. We’re learning to live out of a suitcase. It’s a concern for our coaches. We’ve been on the road too long.
“We do like our guys to have a chance to play Arizona and KU two of the top programs in the nation over the past decades.”
The Indiana school located an hour from Chicago hasn’t been half bad, itself, winning its conference title six of the past seven years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years with a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998.
In the past five seasons, the Crusaders also have nine victories against members of six of the major conferences. Last year, Valpo lost to Missouri, 77-61, and Indiana 63-60, but did beat Ohio State, 67-64. Valpo beat Mississippi State during the 1999-2000 season, South Carolina and Seton Hall in 1998-99 and Mississippi and Florida State in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
“We never think we have to prove anything. We like our guys and we’re confident in our ability to play basketball,” Drew said.
His team has an international flavor.
This year’s roster includes two players from Puerto Rico, plus players from Latvia, Angola, Czech Republic, Columbia and Finland.
Raitis Grafs, a 6-11 junior from Riga, Latvia, is the school’s all-time leading shot blocker with 128. He has 23 blocks this year to go with his 12.2 points and 7.2 boards a game.
Leading scorer is Tony Falu, a 6-5 junior from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, who contributes 13.4 ppg. Lubos Barton, 6-8 from Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic, averages 12.4 points and 6.7 boards, while Milo Stovall, 6-3 from Kalamazoo, Mich., contributes 11.7 points and 4.8 boards. Stalin Ortiz, 6-3 from Cali, Columbia, averages 9.8 ppg.
“It’s given us an opportunity to get some size we have not been able to attract in the states,” Drew said of recruiting overseas. “That size has helped us to be competitive. My son went to Europe about seven years ago and developed some relationships with coaches. We landed a 7-footer, 6-11, 6-10, 6-10 and they’ve all graduated except one who will this spring. We’ve seen 14 players go to pro basketball in seven years.
“But it’s getting more difficult in Europe now. When we started, nobody knew the difference between Valparaiso and Arizona. Now with ESPN and CNN they know the difference.”
KU coach Roy Williams has noticed.
“They’ve gone the international student route much moreso than anybody else,” Williams said. “Their statement is the international students say they want to come to the states and play American college basketball. They say there’s no difference between Valparaiso and Duke. They can sell it to those kids.
“Coach Drew has a heck of a basketball team and program. Homer Drew is a coach’s coach. He loves basketball, loves the coaching world. Some of the things we do legislation wise on the (NCAA) rules committee, he’ll contact me and say, ‘What can I do? Who can I talk to help?’ He is really a great guy.
“Like Tulsa, they present a lot of problems with a very good team and very good coach,” Williams added. “Tulsa and Valparaiso .. it’s great preparation for the start of the conference season.”
The Jayhawks, who tripped Tulsa, 93-85, Saturday in Kansas City, open the Big 12 season on Saturday night at Colorado.
