One-on-One with Roger Powell Jr
(St. Louis, MO) – Valparaiso is having a solid second season under Roger Powell Jr. Valpo has won two straight games and three of its last four. Powell is building the foundation from the bottom up and the Beacons have doubled their Missouri Valley Conference win total from three to six. They’ve also nearly doubled their total of wins from seven to 13.
Wednesday they host Bradley as part of the Gray Media TV, Game of the Week. The teams tip it off at 8 pm Central.
Valpo lost nine straight games before winning three of the last four and are in eleventh place in the 12-team Missouri Valley. The Beacons (13-16, 6-12) took Bradley to double-overtime in their contest in Peoria, Illinois.
Powell is building the foundation from the ground up. His players will earn back-to-back ‘Freshman of the Year‘ awards. Sophomore forward Cooper Schwieger won the award last season, and rookie All Wright is the heavy favorite to claim the award this year. Wright has earned six, ‘Freshman of the Week‘ honors.
Schwieger (15.1 ppg) is eleventh and Wright (15.9) is ninth in scoring during Valley play and they are both spectacular from the free throw line. While Wright wasn’t much of a factor in the first meeting with Bradley, Schwieger scored 21 points. Powell’s young team has become legitimately competitive this season.
Powell on Building the Foundation
Senior guard Darius DeAveiro has been a solid cornerstone for the rebuilding of the Valpo squad and Wednesday night will be his final home game. The Canadian native has appeared in 115 Beacon contests.
Junior Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro is Valpo’s third, double-digit scorer (11.1) and freshman Justus McNair has shown flashes of stardom. Sophomore Kaspar Sepp is another regular contributor in building the foundation.
Bradley’s Brian Wardle talks about the Wednesday matchup.
The Beacons finish the season at Illinois Chicago and then head to Arch Madness for a game on March 6th.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Cooper Schwieger, courtesy of valpoathletics.com
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I haven't heard, nor do I know, how does this apply to the typical 'foreign' basketball player that is most often over 19?
Obviously, this is a sentimental and not a ‘spreadsheet’ notion, but would hate to see @MVCsports change the #ArchMadness format from the traditional ‘family reunion’ feel by cutting teams from the experience. #FatherHarry
Another nice @MVCsports basketball schedule announcement. #FatherHarry . .
Congrats to @ISURedbirdGolf. T.J. Barger sets a school record. Pietro Pontiggia records the Redbirds' second-ever top 20 finish at a regional. The team finishes tent in the region which is tied for the program's best regional finish! #FatherHarry
