(St. Louis, MO) – This is a significant week for Valparaiso. The ‘Myrtle Beach Invitational’ offers unique opportunities for the Crusaders. The field is littered with quality opponents, styles of play and chances for Matt Lottich’s team to grow.
Valparaiso opens the invitational with Conference USA favorite Western Kentucky and their 5-star recruit Charles Bassey. The 6’11 center was rated as one of the top three players in the class of 2019, but reclassified to join Rick Stansbury’s Hilltoppers. WKU (1-1) won 27 games last year.
In his first two collegiate games Bassey is averaging 13 points, 10.5 rebounds and three blocks.
Stansbury’s squad is filled with transfers. Two of their leading scorers came from other programs. Desean Murray (Auburn) scored 22 points in the WKU win over UT Martin. Jared Savage (Austin Peay) is averaging 15.5 points per game. The leading returning scorer is sophomore guard Taveion Hollingsworth. The 6’2 guard is averaging 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Kenpom.com rates the Hilltoppers the 91st best team in the land.
Valpo So Far
Crushing a lower level team (Concordia) was a valuable tune up, but the real games begin this week. During that 56 point devastation six Crusaders reached double figures in scoring, including newcomers Javon Freeman (22), Ryan Fazekas (18) and Daniel Sackey (13). Double digit returning scorers were Bakari Evelyn (12), Derrik Smits (18) and Markus Golder (16).
Huge things are expected from the Providence transfer Fazekas and from incoming freshman Freeman. Head coach Matt Lottich says those two can be difference makers.
For more on Fazekas go to ‘Impact Players from the Big East to the MVC‘.
Golder is a player that is poised for a break out season. Lottich says that is particularly possible since Golder has been working hard.
The Invitational bracket opens up unique opportunities for the Crusaders. A win against WKU would most likely set up a game with the Big 12’s West Virginia. Even a loss would match the Crusaders with Monmouth and likely lead to a game with either Wake Forest or Central Florida.
For Valpo to succeed against Western Kentucky, 7’1 junior Derrik Smits will have to come up big against Bassey and newcomer Deion Lavender will need to be efficient on the offensive end. The former Alabama-Birmingham and SIU guard started the season with a 9 point, five assist and one turnover performance.
The Crusaders should be much better this season. They can begin that journey with multiple unique opportunities in South Carolina.
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