Last Thursday, Valparaiso men’s basketball released their non-conference slate for the 2026-27 season.

Coming off an 18-15 campaign that included the program’s first winning Missouri Valley Conference record, the Beacons will open the new season with a nonconference schedule featuring several teams that reached postseason play last season, along with a highly anticipated trip to Purdue.

The upcoming season will be the fourth under head coach Roger Powell Jr., who has helped move the program in a positive direction since taking over in 2023. Last season, Valpo finished 11-9 in MVC play, its highest conference win total since joining the league in 2017. Powell was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension following the season.

The Schedule

Before the season begins, the Beacons will face Olivet Nazarene in a pre-season exhibition matchup on Tuesday, October 27th at the ARC.

The Beacons will then begin the regular season at home against Western Illinois on Nov. 2 at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The matchup will mark the 59th meeting between the former Mid-Continent Conference rivals and the first meeting since Valpo defeated the Leathernecks 73-66 in 2023.

From there, the schedule quickly becomes more demanding.

Valpo will travel to West Lafayette on Nov. 6 to take on Purdue at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers are coming off a 30-9 season and an NCAA Tournament run into the Elite 8, while Valpo enters the matchup after an 18-win season. Purdue holds a 17-1 advantage in the all-time series, with the upcoming game marking the first meeting between the schools since 2020.

The Beacons will then head to South Dakota State on Nov. 11 before traveling to Pensacola, Florida, for a two-game neutral-site event. Valpo will face Troy on Nov. 21 and Southern Miss on Nov. 22.

Troy presents another significant challenge. The Trojans finished 22-12 last season, won the Sun Belt Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Southern Miss also finished above .500 and won three games in the Sun Belt Tournament.

Valpo’s other road test comes in December when the Beacons travel to Wilmington, North Carolina, to face UNCW on Dec. 5. The matchup will be the first time Valpo has played at UNCW, and it gives the Beacons a chance to respond to a narrow 73-70 loss to the Seahawks at the ARC last season. UNCW finished 27-7 and won the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season championship before advancing to the NIT.

The Beacons will also have six nonconference games at the ARC. After Western Illinois, Valpo will host CCSJ, Toledo, Saint Xavier, Chicago State and SIUE.

Several of those games come with plenty of history. Valpo has faced Chicago State 38 times and owns a 33-5 advantage in the series, although the Cougars have won the last two meetings. The Beacons are also undefeated in four meetings with SIUE.

Toledo adds another familiar opponent to the schedule. The Rockets and Beacons met in four consecutive seasons from 2019 through 2022, with Valpo winning once during that stretch. Toledo finished 19-13 last season, one victory short of a 20-win campaign.

The schedule comes at an interesting point for a Valpo program that appears to be building momentum under Powell. The Beacons improved from 15-19 in 2024-25 to 18-15 last season while nearly doubling their conference win total for a second consecutive year. Valpo also went 13-4 at the ARC, its best home record in nearly a decade.

With six scholarship players returning from last year’s roster and eight newcomers joining the program, the nonconference portion of the schedule should provide an early test of how quickly the new-look Beacons can come together.

The 2026-27 season will begin with expectations noticeably different from where the program stood when Powell arrived. Valpo has spent the last three seasons building toward greater consistency, and this schedule gives the Beacons several opportunities to prove how far that progress has taken them.

The first opportunity comes Nov. 2 against Western Illinois at the ARC.

Valpo won both games without much drama, leading for all but 30 seconds out of the 80 total minutes. The Beacons beat both teams by double digits, Carleton 66-54 and Dalhousie 90-70. Both Canadian teams were clearly outmatched by the size and athleticism of the team from Indiana.

The Starting 5:

JT Pettigrew

Rakim Chaney

Justus McNair

Carter Hopoi

Sader Servilus

These 5 started both games and likely will start the first regular season games as well. All five have played at least one season at Valpo and Servilus is the only one who hasn’t started a game. It’s a young squad, with four sophomores and one junior (McNair). But it should be a pretty solid lineup. Pettigrew (17 PPG) and Chaney (12.5 PPG) both scored in double digits in each game. Servilus picked up where he left off last season with very solid defense. Hopoi had multiple highlight-reel dunks. And McNair fought his way to score at the rim.

Like most teams at this part of the offseason, the defense is much more game-ready than the offense. Specifically in the first contest against Carleton, they had 8 blocks and 12 steals, but also turned the ball over 12 times and took some ill-advised long range three point attempts.

The non-starters, as expected, were not as polished. Outside of the walk-ons, this is the first year at Valpo for all of them. Rajan Roberts and Kai Yu looked the best out of this group. Roberts will serve as the second point guard on this team. He looked good with the ball and finessed his way to the basket. Yu, the 7 footer, was much more static, but he was able to get posted in the paint for a couple easy layups off high entry passes. Terron Garrett was fantastic defensively, his long wingspan allowed him to rack up 4 steals and 2 blocks in the first game. On the other side, he struggled mightily shooting the ball (2-15 FG, 1-9 3FG, 0-2 FT combined over both games).

Photos via Valparaiso University.

The Beacons will travel to the Bahamas next week to play two international exhibition games in the Baha Mar Summer League on Monday, August 3 at 3:00 against Carelton (Canada) and Tuesday, August 4 at 7:30 against Dalhousie (Canada). Both games will be broadcast live on Flo College. The Baha Mar Summer League is a variation on the popular Feast Week MTE, the Baha Mar Championship (Purdue was the winner in the latest edition).

It’s been 5 months since the last time we saw the Beacons on the court. It was a thrilling Arch Madness quarterfinal game that ended in a heartbreaking double overtime loss for Valpo at the hands of Bradley, who has knocked them out for the past two tournaments.

Coach Roger Powell and Co., armed with a few million dollars from donors and supplemented by a team culture based on tenacity on the court and philanthropy off, managed to retain key players (JT Pettigrew, Rakim Chaney, and Justus McNair being the most notable). Additionally, two incoming freshman, Rajan Roberts (15 AZ) and Justin Curry II (11 IN), are rated in the top 15 basketball recruits in their respective states by 247 Sports. Another pair have transferred from MVC foes, Kai Yu (Bradley) and Bruno Alocen (Indiana State).

This tournament will offer a brief look at the potential this team has, but it likely won’t be too telling. The season is still 4 months off and a non-conference schedule has yet to be released. On Valpo Basketball Weekly, Powell admitted, “We’re not game-ready yet.” But he said this experience abroad combined with extended summer practices will help them speed up the readiness process, especially for the new players.

Terron Garrett committed via a social media post with the caption, “110% committed to Valpo!! Let’s get it going”. Garrett played at Mineral Area College this past season as a freshman, averaging 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 32 games. JucoRecruiting.com listed him in their list of the best 50 freshman at the junior college level.

Garrett is a Saint Louis product, starting at Christian Brothers before switching to Vashon for his senior season where they won a Class 4 State Championship. He had 17 points in 21 minutes in a 81-45 victory for Vashon at Mizzou Arena.

Garrett likely won’t start, but he could find minutes behind Bruno Alocen at the three. Coach Powell has had mixed results with JUCO transfer guards. Isaiah Stafford was Valpo’s leading scorer in Powell’s first year at the helm, but Mark Brown Jr. struggled mightily and saw his playtime dwindle away in this most recent season. With a much more well rounded roster this season, Garrett should be a contributing factor without being heavily relied on.

Bruno Alocen committed to Valparaiso, leaving Indiana State after two years. Alocen, a native of Barcelona, Spain, is a lengthy guard at 6’6” and shoots a large majority of his shots beyond the three point arc (over 75%). He averaged 6.3 points last season in just over 20 minutes per game.

The former Sycamore is the second in-conference transfer added by the Beacons this offseason, following Kai Yu (Bradley). He is also only the fourth scholarship upperclassmen.

With the graduation of Owen Dease and Isaiah Barnes, Alocen can hopefully at least partially fill the whole at the 3. Dease especially is a big loss, as he was one of the best perimeter shooters on the team, knocking threes down at a 40% clip. Although Alocen hasn’t shot as well (33% 3PT average), his true shooting percentage (a statistic that attempts to calculate shooting efficiency) is 55%, on par with Dease.

This addition adds a fourteenth name to the 26’ roster, leaving one roster spot remaining, by my count at least. The transfer portal is also closing tonight, April 21st, so while Valpo can still add players who entered prior to the deadline, the amount of available players is dwindling.

Kai Yu, a 7 foot Center from Zhuhai, China, has committed to Valpo for the 26’ campaign. Yu is now on his third collegiate stop, having spent two years at Liberty (redshirting his first year) and last year at Bradley. He did not start at either school, averaging just 3.1 minutes at Liberty and 8.3 at Bradley. He can score around the rim and clean up on the glass. It is unlikely he will start over the two returning centers, Carter Hopoi and Kobe Walker, but he should be great for depth at the 5 after Shon Tupuola and Tucker Tornatta both transferred out.

Kai Yu scoring on Carter Hopoi last season in Valparaiso.

Leaving Valpo

Shon Tupuola has committed to Murray State, where he will step into the shoes of the graduating Fred King. Tupuola was an excellent defender down low for Valpo this year, fifth in the conference in blocks per game (1.3) and seventh in rebounds per game (5.8). Notably, King was first in both (2.1 and 8.4, respectively).

Tucker Tornatta has committed to Bellarmine, a step down that will most likely give Tornatta more playing time. He was a solid post player of the bench for Valpo, but was somewhat undersized to play the 5 at just 6’8”.

Shon Tupuola announced via a Twitter/X post on March 27th that he intends to enter the transfer portal when it opens on April 7th. Tupuola made 33 starts for Valpo during his sole season for the Beacons, playing 24.6 minutes a game. The 6’10” Center averaged 6.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Tupuola filled a big hole that Valpo had in Powell’s first two seasons as a big man paint protector. Valpo was about 100 spots improved in the KenPom ranking of adjusted defensive efficiency from 24-25 to 25-26 (233 to 134) and a big part of that was finally being able to defend inside due to Tupuola’s presence.

Valpo also lost a member of their coaching staff, as Pat Baldwin is leaving for an assistant job at the University of San Diego. Baldwin has a wealth of coaching experience, including being the head coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee for five seasons and assistant roles at Northwestern and Georgetown, among others.

Valpo Connections to the Final Four

• Recent Valpo Commit Dylan Moles played high school basketball alongside UConn’s Braylon Mullins, who hit a game-winning three pointer to defeat Duke in the Elite Eight.

• Arizona Head Coach Tommy Lloyd was an assistant alongside Roger Powell Jr. at Gonzaga.

• Illinois has made it back to the Final Four for the first time since 2005, Powell’s senior season for the Illini.

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Valpo has just landed their first new addition of the upcoming 26’ season, not including the announcement of four returners (Pettigrew, Chaney, McNair, and Servilus). Dylan Moles committed today via a Twitter/X post with the caption “blessed and thankful for the opportunity. Let’s get to work.”

Moles, a 6’ 3” guard, played three seasons at Marian University Indianapolis (NAIA) where he shot 48% from the field, 37% from 3, and 91% from the stripe.

The Greenfield, Ind. native will likely be used to fill the scoring hole left by Brody Whitaker, as both players fit a similar mold. Both Whitaker and Moles played multiple years at Marian and are listed as being the same height. The pair also had very similar shooting percentages at the NAIA level.

Following this commitment, and the three incoming freshman who have committed already (Scroggins, Roberts, and Curry II) Valpo’s committed roster is up to 8 right now, leaving about 7 or 8 spots left. Of the 25’ roster, 8 seemingly have eligibility remaining and could choose to return (Watson, Webster, Brown Jr., Hopoi, Walker, Tupuola, Lombardi, and Tornatta).

Other Notes

• Carson Schwieger will play in March Madness as Queens won the ASUN.

• All Wright entered the transfer portal again today after spending a year at Xavier.

• Belmont Coach Casey Alexander left to become the Head Coach at Kansas State and three Bruins have entered the transfer portal since.

• Valpo commit Rajan Roberts played in the EYBL Championship for AZ Compass, currently ranked the #2 high school basketball team in the nation by Sportscenter NEXT.

Despite the season ending in a way nobody wanted, next season has already started to gain momentum.

It first started with an announcement from the Valparaiso Athletic Department that due the generosity of alumni donors, improvements can be made to the Valparaiso Beacons home arena The Athletics-Recreation Center. “Thanks to the support and generosity of Cynthia (Cindy) Atwater '75 Felton and Dr. John (Jack) Felton '74”. It is believed that industrial air condition will be put into the arena.

At around 7pm, the Valpo online accounts posted that star-studded freshman, JT Pettigrew would be returning to Valpo to play his sophomore season under Coach Roger Powell.

Following the next two hours the Valpo accounts posted that sophomore Justus McNair and freshman Rakim Chaney would both be returning to play alongside JT Pettigrew in the 2026-2027 season campaign.

These 3 players were crucial the success during the season. JT was the runner up and what should have been (not bias lol) Freshman of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference. Justus was big minutes and points off the bench serving most the season at the Beacons 6th man. Rakim started almost every game as the starting point guard this season and led the team in assists.

The road to next season seems to be on an upward trend. Many of us and fans hope to see more posts about key players returning next season. Here at The Valpo Vault we will be sure to keep you in the loop about returning and new players.

JT Pettigrew shoots over Bradley’s AJ Smith in a 24 point performance for the Valpo freshman.

If you weren’t aware of Valpo’s GRIT mindset, their 90-84 double overtime loss to Bradley, was a true example of that. After the game, Coach Roger Powell Jr. said, “it’s one thing when you put it up words in your team room, but it’s another thing when those words are displayed on the court.” The team faced lots of injuries and never gave up, fighting an extremely physical game that Bradley’s Coach Brian Wardle called a “war.”

Owen Dease came into the game after getting teeth knocked out the night before, and Shon Tupuola got one knocked out himself in this game. The two combined played for 77 minutes, scoring 14 points and assisting 6 baskets. And the injuries didn’t stop there. On a screen with 8:49 left in the game, Rakim Chaney was clobbered and fell to the ground hard, blood spilling out as he laid on his stomach in a daze. He even returned to the game for a short time, but he wasn’t healthy enough to finish the game. After the game, Powell said Chaney “wasn’t remembering things so we didn’t want to jeopardize him.”

The first half was very back and forth, both teams only able to find a few points of separation. Justus McNair had three straight possessions with a bucket, which helped Valpo tie the game up at 25. Carter Hopoi had four chances at the free throw line, but missed three, something that would come back to bite Valpo in the end.

After Chaney exited with his injury late in the second half, Bradley quickly took a lead and grew it to 5 with 8:28 left in the game. For the rest of the game, Valpo clashed with Bradley, keeping them within striking distance even as the Braves maintained the advantage on the scoreboard.

Despite all the injuries, Valpo was able to wrestle back from a 6 point deficit with 1:09 left, with a pair of three pointers from Brody Whitaker and Justus McNair. In the overtime, the two teams traded the lead back and forth. A Brody Whitaker three pointer broke a 70-70 tie with 0:48 left. But Alex Huibregtse responded with a three of his own to tie it back up. Valpo held for the last shot, but Whitaker missed his right-handed layup attempt with three ticks on the clock.

JT Pettigrew defends Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson in the paint.

In the second overtime, Valpo made the first basket but that lead was quickly erased by Jaquan Johnson’s layup and Bradley would not look back after that. The Braves built up a 6 point lead that proved insurmountable for the Beacons.

Whitaker led the Beacons in scoring with 25, 5 of 8 from three and a perfect 2 of 2 from the line. JT Pettigrew had an amazing game for Valpo. The true freshman played 48 minutes, scoring 24 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and only a single assist away from a triple double. Bradley’s Coach Brian Wardle called him “a handful” in his postgame press conference, a thorn in the side of the Braves who refused to go away. McNair added 12 points in a valiant effort off the bench. Chaney and Dease, two of Valpo’s top three scorers this season, struggled. Dease was 2 of 10 from the floor and Chaney missed all five of his three point attempts. But Powell avoided placing the blame on them. “This is not just a one person team.. and when someone doesn’t have a great game, someone else steps up.”

Even after the tough, hard fought loss, Powell showed optimism for the future of the team. Powell said “I’m excited about where our program is and where it’s going, I wish we would have won today, but it doesn’t take anything away from what we’ve done this year. We’ve done some pretty cool things for Valpo basketball and these guys are responsible for it.”

Photos courtesy Missouri Valley Conference.

After a first round W against Indiana St, Valpo will take on Bradley in the Quarterfinal round. This game will take place today, March 6th at 6pm. It will take place at the Enterprise Center following the result of the two games before them. Once again, it will be streamed on ESPN+ if you cannot make the trip to St. Louis. But if you have nothing to do. MAKE THE DRIVE

So far this season, Valpo has faced them twice splitting matchups. Both teams won their games at home. Let’s take a look at what happened game by game.

Game 1 - February 3rd (L)

In a hard-fought Missouri Valley Conference matchup, the Bradley Braves pulled out a 72–65 victory over the Valparaiso Beacons in Peoria, Illinois. This was at the time, the 10th straight loss to Bradley.

Up until the final few minutes of the first half, both teams traded leads possession by possession. But Bradley’s balanced attack and strong start helped them build a lead they would hold onto through the second half, while Valpo battled back and kept the contest close throughout the night.

Bradley led by seven at halftime (40–33). In the second half, Valparaiso chipped away at the deficit, but Bradley’s depth and key plays down the stretch allowed them to maintain control and secure the win.

Valparaiso leaned heavily on its starting group, which provided steady minutes and solid contributions across the board, while the bench added timely production to keep the game competitive. As a team, Valpo shot 47% from the field, and 39% from three. Bradley would shoot 48% and only 33% from beyond the arc.

Owen Dease was the most effective scorer in the starting lineup, leading the group with 16 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three. His ability to score without forcing shots helped stabilize the offense during his 33 minutes on the floor.

The bench played a key role, especially Justus McNair, who led all scorers with 17 points in 29 minutes. McNair was efficient (7-for-13 shooting, 2-for-5 from three) and provided an instant offensive spark that kept Valpo within striking distance.

Overall, this was a game Valpo could never get into rhythm. JT Pettigrew was listed as questionable going into the game and would only play 12 minutes all game and getting into foul trouble. Had he been fully healthy and played, you never know.

Game 2 - February 18th (W)

Up until this game, Bradley had beaten Valpo in its last 9 matchups. That day was different. Valpo was able to pull off a huge victory against Bradley, 79-72.

Valpo set the tone early with aggressive offensive spacing and downhill attacks, refusing to allow Bradley to dictate the tempo in the half court. After years of struggling against Bradley’s disciplined defensive schemes, the Beacons emphasized paint touches and quick ball reversals to create high-percentage looks. That approach paid off, as Valpo generated consistent scoring runs and avoided the prolonged droughts that had plagued them in previous meetings. The hot start for the beacons went a long way.

“We had a stop sign in out locker room.” This was the message that Coach Powell had to his team. Put a stop to Bradley beating Valpo and also make the Missouri Valley put some respect on Valpo’s name.

JT Pettigrew led the way with 22 points, providing both interior scoring and timely perimeter production. He would leave the game two separate occasions with what appeared to be ankle injuries. JT would return both times and finish the game. His efficiency was critical in keeping Bradley’s defense from collapsing into the lane. Beyond individual performances, Valpo’s offensive balance stood out. The Beacons limited empty possessions, improved their shot selection late in the clock, and played clean basketball down the stretch. When he is back and healthy he is such an impact on the court.

Bradley would not go down without a fight though. They would go on a 9-1 run with two minutes left in the game only putting them down 72-70. Valpo would stay strong and finish the game, making clutch shots and getting a big charge call on Rakim Chaney that would change the momentum big time. Valpo almost lost this game going cold after the under 4 timeout.

Bradley’s Profile - 2 Seed

Record

• (20-11) Overall

• (13-7) Missouri Valley Conference

• (14-2) @ home

• (4-7) on the Road

• (2-2) in Neutral Site Game

Net Rankings

• NET: 111 Nationally | Places them among the best of Mid-Majors in the country.

KenPom (Pomeroy)

• KenPom Ranking: 124 nationally according to analytics aggregator data.

Other Advanced Analytics

• BPI (ESPN): ~115 ranking.

• SOR (Strength of Record): ~129.

• KPI: ~111 (key performance indicator).

• T-Rank: ~144.

These metrics collectively paint a picture of a team that is one of the best mid majors in this country.

Final 4 Game

Heading into Arch Madness, the Bradley Braves closed the year with a strong stretch, winning three of their final four games and building momentum before the conference tournament. The stretch began with a tough 85–70 road loss to the UIC Flames, where Bradley struggled defensively and allowed UIC to extend its winning streak. UIC guard Elijah Crawford led the Flames with 26 points, and Bradley had difficulty slowing down UIC’s offensive rhythm throughout the game. Despite solid offensive production at times, Bradley could not keep pace in the second half and ultimately fell by double digits.

The Braves quickly rebounded from that loss with a three-game winning streak to close the regular season. Bradley earned an impressive 87–73 win over the Drake Bulldogs behind a dominant performance from Alex Huibregtse, who scored 29 points to power the offense. They followed that with a 72–65 victory over the Valparaiso Beacons, where Montana Wheeler came off the bench to score 18 points and provide a key spark. Bradley’s strongest finish came in their final game, a dramatic 95–84 overtime win against the Belmont Bruins. Jaquan Johnson exploded for 31 points as the Braves closed the game on a decisive 12–0 run in overtime, snapping Belmont’s nine-game winning streak and giving Bradley a major confidence boost entering postseason play.

Players to Watch

• Jaquan Johnson

- Johnson is the centerpiece of Bradley’s offense and the player opposing defenses focus on the most. The senior guard averages roughly 16–17 points per game while also contributing around 3–4 assists and nearly 3 steals per game, making him impactful on both ends of the floor. Johnson plays heavy minutes and has the ability to take over games with his scoring, especially off the dribble. His defensive activity also stands out, as he consistently pressures opposing guards and creates turnovers that can lead to transition opportunities for the Braves.

• Demarion Burch

– Burch provides Bradley with another reliable scoring option in the backcourt. Averaging around 10 points per game, he helps stretch the floor and gives the Braves balance alongside Johnson. Burch’s ability to score from the perimeter and attack when defenses collapse on Johnson makes him an important secondary offensive weapon. When he is shooting efficiently, Bradley’s offense becomes much more difficult to defend because opponents cannot focus solely on stopping Johnson.

• Montana Wheeler

- Wheeler plays an important role as a facilitator and steady presence in Bradley’s guard rotation. He averages around 9 points and about 3 assists per game, helping control the pace of the offense and distribute the ball to Bradley’s scoring options. Wheeler is capable of stepping up in big moments and provides additional ball handling that takes pressure off Johnson. His ability to create for teammates and contribute offensively makes him a key part of the Braves’ backcourt.

• Ahmet Jonovic

– Jonovic anchors Bradley’s frontcourt and provides the team with an interior presence on both ends of the floor. He leads the team in rebounding with over 5 rebounds per game and also averages around a block per game, giving the Braves rim protection defensively. Offensively, Jonovic contributes around the basket with putbacks and interior scoring, helping balance Bradley’s guard-heavy attack with physical play inside.

It definitely wasn’t pretty. Valpo was behind for over 35 minutes of play. The Beacons couldn’t seem to buy a bucket at times, missing layups and free throws by the pair. But they would not give up, coming back to win it by a single point. Valpo won 63-62 and will advance to play Bradley in the quarterfinal round tomorrow night at 6.

In the postgame presser, Valpo Head Coach Roger Powell said they wanted limit the three ball of Indiana State, but that allowed to let the Sycamores to get a lot of points in the paint, cutting inside towards the basket. Indiana State built up a lead in the first half all the way up to 12, before Rakim Chaney hit a 3 at the buzzer to keep their lead under double digits.

JT Pettigrew didn’t play most of the first half because of two early fouls, but he scored the first 7 points of the second half to put Valpo back within 2. Indiana State retaliated, fighting back to push the lead back up to 10 with 13 minutes left. The momentum Pettigrew had materialized vanished as soon as it came.

Every time Valpo seemed to cut into the lead, Indiana State had a response. The Beacons found themselves behind 10 again with 8 minutes to go. They cut into the lead slowly and found themselves down 7 with 4:34 remaining, 62-55 Indiana State.

With four made free throws on as many attempts and a couple defensive stops, Valpo put themselves in a one score game, 62-59, with less than 3 minutes on the clock. Rakim Chaney drove in and kicked the ball out to Sader Servilus, who nailed the game-tying three pointer, only his fifth made three pointer of his freshman campaign.

The Valpo fans in attendance went crazy and the momentum swung Valpo’s way once again. Owen Dease made one of two free throws after getting fouled driving towards the basket to put Valpo ahead by one. Valpo’s defense stood tall, Shon Tupuola blocking Camp Wagner’s last second shot.

Photos courtesy Missouri Valley Conference.

In the first game of the tournament for Valpo, they will take on their in-state foe, Indiana State. The game will take place on March 5th, at 6pm at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis. It will be streamed also on ESPN+ if you cannot make the trip to St. Louis.

So far this season, Valpo has faced them twice winning both matchups. They have not been the easiest wins though for the Beacons Squad. Let’s take a look at what happened game by game.

Game 1 - January 31st (W)

On January 31, 2026, the Valparaiso Beacons defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 76–72 in overtime at the Hulman Center. At the time this was the only second road win for the season for the Beacons squad. Indiana State led for much of the night and held a 37–27 advantage at halftime, shooting efficiently in the opening 20 minutes and establishing a strong interior presence.

This was one of the weakest first halves of basketball Valpo had played all season. Coach Powell “challenged” his squad at halftime to be better. Coming out of the tunnel you could tell the energy was just different.

Valparaiso shot 28-of-64 from the floor (43.8%), 3-of-14 from three (21.4%), and 17-of-26 at the free-throw line (65.4%). Carter Hopoi had two free throws attempts that he missed, which would send the game to overtime.

The Beacons attempted five more field goals and five more free throws, largely because of their +11 rebounding margin. Valpo committed just nine turnovers, helping offset its struggles from beyond the arc. In overtime, Valpo outscored Indiana State 10–6 and limited the Sycamores to one field goal in the extra period while converting key free throws late.

Individually for Indiana State, Derek Vorst (Indiana St. Big Man) led the team with 14 points on efficient interior scoring. Xavier Hall added 11 points and five rebounds, while Camp Wagner also scored 11, including key perimeter shots in the first half. Sterling Young contributed eight points and five assists in a primary ball-handling role. The Sycamores had balanced scoring but lacked a 20-point scorer or consistent perimeter efficiency to close the game.

Overall, this game had a Valpo L written all over it after the first half. If this was last year’s Valpo team, it most likely would have not been a game after the early deficit. Through the grittiness of the team and the coaching staff, they were able to get it done and leave Terre Haute with a win.

Game 2 - February 15th (W)

Valpo’s 76–75 win over Indiana State was defined by razor‑thin margins across nearly every category, but the underlying numbers reveal how the Beacons controlled key efficiency battles even as the game tightened late. Both teams shot above 50% from the field. Indiana State at 54% (31–57) and Valpo at 52% (29–56), but Valpo created separation from beyond the arc, hitting 8 threes on 42% shooting compared to the Sycamores’ 4 makes on just 27%. That +12 differential from deep became essential in a one‑point finish.

Brody Whitaker was the games hero, hitting a pullup midrange jumper with just 8 seconds left to take the lead after being down 74-75.

Where Valpo nearly let the game slip was at the free‑throw line. The Beacons shot just 48% (10–21) at the stripe, leaving 11 points on the table, while Indiana State capitalized at 69% (9–13). In a game that never saw either team lead by more than 10, those misses kept the Sycamores within striking distance throughout the second half.

The Beacons also generated extra possessions on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 32–28, with J.T. Pettigrew anchoring the effort through a balanced 8‑rebound performance (4 offensive, 4 defensive). Those second‑chance opportunities helped offset Indiana State’s slight edge in overall shot attempts.

Turnovers were similarly tight. 9 for Valpo, 8 for Indiana State, but the timing mattered more than the totals. Several of Valpo’s giveaways came during a late‑game scoring drought, allowing Indiana State to erase what had been a comfortable Beacon advantage. Still, Valpo’s overall offensive balance, highlighted by Brody Whitaker’s 21 points on 8‑for‑14 shooting, kept the efficiency floor high enough to survive the late push.

Valpo carried the momentum for 90% of this game starting off strong and hot unlike the first matchup. While still winning the game, they ended cold rather than started off cold.

Indiana State’s Profile

Record

• (11-20) Overall

  • (4-16) Missouri Valley Conference

  • (8-7) @ Home

  • (3-12) on the Road

NET Rankings

• NET: 216 nationally | Places ISU toward the bottom third of Division I teams.

KenPom (Pomeroy)

• KenPom Ranking: 204 nationally according to analytics aggregator data.

Other Advanced Analytics

• BPI (ESPN): ~230 ranking.

• SOR (Strength of Record): ~246.

• KPI: ~239 (key performance indicator).

• T-Rank: ~209.

These metrics collectively paint a picture of a team struggling to break into the top half of Division I, often outside the top ~200 in national efficiency and performance models.

Final 4 Games

The Indiana State Sycamores closed the 2025–26 regular season by splitting their final four games, finishing 1–3 over that stretch. They ended on a high note with a 79–63 home win over UIC Flames at Hulman Center, one of their more complete performances offensively and defensively late in the year. Indiana State shot efficiently, controlled the tempo, and held UIC to just 63 points while placing multiple scorers in double figures. The victory snapped a late-season skid and provided some momentum heading into Arch Madness.

Before that win, however, the Sycamores struggled through three straight conference losses. They fell 66–55 on the road to the Southern Illinois Salukis in a game where offensive consistency was an issue, then dropped an 87–70 contest at the Belmont Bruins as Belmont’s efficiency and pace created separation in the second half. The stretch began with an 81–60 loss to the Northern Iowa Panthers, where defensive breakdowns and transition points proved costly. Over those three losses, Indiana State allowed an average of nearly 78 points per game while scoring just over 61 per contest, highlighting the defensive lapses and scoring droughts that defined much of their conference season.

Players to watch

• Ian Scott — Forward
  Scott is the Sycamores’ most consistent offensive weapon this season. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging about 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while also contributing defensively with steals and blocks. His efficiency around the rim and rebounding presence make him critical to Indiana State’s offensive flow and defensive stops.

• Xavier Hall — Guard
  Hall is the team’s primary playmaker, topping the Sycamores in assists at roughly 4.3 per game. He sees high minutes and helps orchestrate the offense, setting up teammates and pushing tempo. His ability to distribute and create off the dribble helps keep the offense moving even when shots aren’t falling.

• Camp Wagner — Guard
  Wagner, a veteran backcourt piece, provides scoring punch and veteran leadership. He averages close to 11–12 points per game and is one of the team’s go-to shooters, particularly from beyond the arc. His experience and scoring versatility are valuable in tight games.

• Sterling Young — Guard
  Young’s length and slashing ability give Indiana State another offensive option, scoring around 10 points per game. He complements Scott and Wagner with driving ability and secondary scoring, often helping sustain offensive possessions.

• Derek Vorst – Center
  Vorst brings size and inside scoring presence for the Sycamores. While not leading the team in scoring, he’s been solid off the bench and in the frontcourt rotation, averaging approximately 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and shooting efficiently around the basket. His ability to finish at the rim and provide a physical presence in the paint makes him a matchup problem versus smaller bigs , and his length helps on interior defense too.

Valparaiso Beacons suffered a heartbreaking 80–79 loss to the Evansville Purple Aces in a game that slipped away in the final seconds despite Valpo controlling much of the action in the first half. The Beacons came out sharp offensively, building a 42–34 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and strong ball movement that consistently broke down Evansville’s defense. Valpo dictated the tempo for most of the first half, attacking inside and knocking down timely perimeter shots while limiting empty possessions.

In the second half, Evansville began to heat up, but Valpo continued to answer and maintained composure through multiple Purple Aces runs. The Beacons executed well in the half court and did enough defensively to stay in front for the majority of the night. However, Evansville was carried by a massive individual performance from AJ Casey, who poured in 37 points and kept the Purple Aces within striking distance almost single handedly. Even with that effort, Valpo still found itself in position to close out the win late.

Ultimately, the difference came in the final possession when Casey connected on a buzzer beating three pointers to steal the game after Evansville had outscored Valpo 46–37 in the second half. It overshadowed what was otherwise a strong and disciplined performance from the Beacons, who moved the ball well, built a double-digit advantage, and showed resilience throughout. For Valpo, it was less about being outplayed and more about a single late breakdown and one extraordinary shot that turned a well-earned road win into a narrow and frustrating loss.

“Arch Madness” Preview

The loss to Evansville knocked the Beacons out of contention of a first-round bye in the MVC Tournament. They were now destined for either the 6 or the 7th seed.

Valpo would end up with the 7 seed. This would result them playing Indiana State on Thursday, March 5th at 6pm.

Both previous matchups with Indiana State have been close ones this year. The first matchup in Terre Haute saw the Beacons face a length first half deficit. They managed to crawl back in the second half enough to send the game into overtime and eventually win it 76-72. The second matchup just 15 days later was yet another close one for the Valpo Squad.

In a “Gold Out” game for the Beacons, they knew that Indiana State was no cakewalk. It was a back-and-forth affair from the tipoff. On the second to last possession, Valpo would have looks at scoring to take the lead but with just a few seconds remaining Brody Whitaker would seal the deal with a mid-range shot.

Now the big question that remains is…

Can Valpo get back on track after such a devastating lost to Evansville, and can they beat a team for the third time this year. All of that remains ahead of Valpo in the coming days.

This was another close nail-biter win for Valpo, with a final score of 74-71 over Drake. The two squads were tied with about a minute left and neither team was able to score until JT Pettigrew nailed a contested three over a smaller defender with 2 seconds left to win it for the Beacons.

Valpo had a slow start tonight, playing behind for about the first 14 minutes. They then traded the lead back and forth, but Drake still led for 76% of the game. But Valpo kept them within striking distance, and took over the last two minutes. At the two minute mark, Drake led by 4, 71-67. Valpo would then go on a 7-0 run that culminated in the game winning three.

Senior Brody Whitaker had 17 points on his last home game for Valpo, on a night where he and the other seniors were celebrated for their contributions to the team. Rakim Chaney matched Whitaker’s team high of 17 points.

Interestingly, Valpo is still playing 10 players and 9 of the 10 played 10+ minutes. Most teams, including Drake tonight, play 8 normally. This shows Coach Powell’s trust in his team’s depth. Tonight their scoring production was limited though, only 10 bench points, much less than Drake’s 26 from their three bench players.

Arch Madness Bye?

With a win tonight, Valpo kept their hopes of receiving a first round bye for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament alive. As of right now, they are 6th in the conference, but with a win at Evansville (their final regular season game) they could receive a bye if the cards fell their way. Interestingly, some could view a bye as less desirable especially if you fall on the same side of the bracket as Belmont, a team that looks poised to win the tournament and that has already beaten Valpo twice this season.

With 6 games left, there are 64 possible possible outcomes (2^6=64). I used Matt Hackman’s spreadsheet which laid out all the possible scenarios and the probabilities of each (found by multiplying the win probabilities for each team). Using his data, I computed additional values to show what Valpo’s path to each seed looks like. If Valpo wins against Evansville they have about a 67% chance of getting a bye, but if they lose they will be either the 6th or 7th seed. And if Valpo wins along with a Belmont win over Illinois State, Valpo will have a bye. But there are also a ton of other scenarios where they could get a bye with a win, far from a simple path to clinching a bye.

Your Valparaiso Beacons earned a hard-fought 71–67 road victory over the UIC Flames on Saturday afternoon in Chicago, strengthening their position in the Missouri Valley Conference race to a bye.

Valpo came out of the gates on fire. They would go in a 15-4 run in the in the first 5 and a half minutes. Though, they would cool off to end the first half leading 31-29. The Beacons would hit 5 threes in the first half.

In the second half we would see the emergence of Sader Servilus and Isiah Barnes.

Isaiah Barnes

Roger Powell post-game expressed his love for his player Isaiah Barnes. “He has struggled this season.”

Barnes (redshirt senior) is a former four start recruit. A native of Chicago, Barnes began his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, where he redshirted as a freshman and later saw limited action in a reserve role. Looking for a larger opportunity, he transferred to the University of Tulsa, where he developed into a regular starter and reliable contributor, showcasing his length, rebounding ability, and perimeter skill set. After earning his undergraduate degree, Barnes chose Valpo to continue his career and pursue graduate studies, reconnecting with head coach Roger Powell Jr., who had recruited him earlier in his career. Basketball runs in his family, his older brother, Daniel Barnes, played at Eastern Michigan University and University of Illinois Chicago and that competitive background has shaped Isaiah’s path. At Valpo, Barnes is viewed as an experienced leader who can impact the game on both ends with his size, athleticism, and maturity.

Today he shined at UIC. His highlight dunk becoming the talk of the game. “I wanted the highlight,” Barnes said postgame. In 11 minutes of action, he finished with 8 points on 3-5 shooting, also knocking down a 3. He looks to be an additional weapon for Valpo going into Arch Madness.

Sader Servilus

Freshman point guard Rakim Chaney, when talking about freshman guard Sader Servilus, said, “He is tough to practice against.”

Servilus (freshman) has been no stranger to being included into Valpo Vault articles. Just weeks ago, we did a whole segment dedicated to his “GRIT”. Before arriving at Valpo, he put together an impressive 2024–25 season at Fort Erie International Academy, averaging 18 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. His impact went beyond scoring, as he was named the National Preparatory Association (NPA) Defensive Player of the Year for 2024–25 while helping lead his team to a dominant 30–3 record. A native of Canada, he also played a key role in guiding Quebec to a national championship. Off the court, he has a strong interest in track and field and soccer, the latter being the first sport he played before shifting his focus to basketball because his cousins were involved in the game.

Sader’s role in this Valpo squad has become bigger than ever down the stretch this season. Known mostly for his defensive presence, he shined offensively today. He was the leading scorer for the Beacons today. In 15 minutes, he had 13 points, on 4-4 shooting including a 3 pointer. Sader also grabbed 5 boards. Adding offense to Sader’s already stellar reputation as a defensive anchor has transformed him into a more complete and impactful two-way presence, elevating both his individual game and his overall value to the team.

2nd Half Breakdown

The second half was anybody’s game. UIC only down by 2, would take the lead into the second half and grab the momentum. With 15:07 left in the second half Valpo would find themselves trailing now 34-39. Remember though, Valpo led by as many as 13 and was in front for 34 minutes, 38 seconds while trailing for just 4 minutes, 35 seconds.

The starters would struggle in the second half not converting many field goals. Coach Powell relied on the bench a lot. He played Justus, Sader, and Isiah most of the second half. The Beacons would grab the lead back just 3 minutes later and never look back.

Well Kinda…

With 3:14 left remaining in the game, Valpo would lead 65-55. Most would think the game is over, but UIC would not go down without a fight. A few bad Beacon turnovers and some life on the offensive end for UIC would make it a game again. UIC would get within two to make it 65-63. Freshman guard Rakim Chaney was able to put the team on his back and hit some crucial free throws to seal the game for the Beacons.

Something also to note, Brody Whitaker had some big inbounds plays at the end of the game where he was able to find Rakim without turning the ball over. Major Credit to him as well.

Pettigrew Establishes his Dominance

There was a quiet but meaningful moment mixed into Sunday’s action when JT Pettigrew grabbed his first rebound of the game. That single board pushed his season total to 190 and officially broke a freshman rebounding record that had stood since the 1999–2000 season, previously held by Raitis Grafs. For more than 25 years, that mark had remained untouched, a testament to how difficult it is for a first-year player to consistently battle on the glass at this level. Pettigrew didn’t need a highlight play to make history. He needed just effort, positioning, and the same relentless motor he’s shown all season. In a year full of growth and learning moments, that rebound served as a reminder of just how special his freshman campaign has become.

Coming to a close…

With this win, Valpo only has two remaining games in the regular season. It is also the easiest remaining one in the Missouri Valley. They will play their final home game and their senior night on Wednesday at 7pm against Drake.

Then, they will head down south to face an in-state foe to end the season. Evansville. February 28th at 3pm will be the final game of the Valparaiso Beacons regular season campaign.

March is right around, which means a lot of madness is waiting for us. This Beacon squad is capable of anything. The sky is the limit honestly. Will they able to finish off the season strong going into the MVC tournament? We will just find out.

“We had a stop sign in out locker room.” This was the message that Coach Powell had to his team. Put a stop to Bradley beating Valpo.

Up until this game, Bradley had beaten Valpo in its last 9 matchups. Today was different. Valpo was able to pull off a huge victory against Bradley, 79-72.

Valpo set the tone early with aggressive offensive spacing and downhill attacks, refusing to allow Bradley to dictate the tempo in the half court. After years of struggling against Bradley’s disciplined defensive schemes, the Beacons emphasized paint touches and quick ball reversals to create high-percentage looks. That approach paid off, as Valpo generated consistent scoring runs and avoided the prolonged droughts that had plagued them in previous meetings. The hot start for the beacons went a long way.

JT Pettigrew led the way with 22 points, providing both interior scoring and timely perimeter production. He would leave the game two separate occasions with what appeared to be ankle injuries. JT would return both times and finish the game. His efficiency was critical in keeping Bradley’s defense from collapsing into the lane. Beyond individual performances, Valpo’s offensive balance stood out. The Beacons limited empty possessions, improved their shot selection late in the clock, and played clean basketball down the stretch.

Bradley would not go down without a fight though. They would go on a 9-1 run with two minutes left in the game only putting them down 72-70. Valpo would stay strong and finish the game, making clutch shots and getting a big charge call on Rakim Chaney that would change the momentum big time.

The 79–72 final reflects more than just a win, it represents progress. For Valpo, defeating a program that has dominated the rivalry in recent seasons signals growth in execution, confidence, and late-game management. This was a Valpo team just two seasons ago that only won 7 games all seasons. This year’s Beacon squad already has 9 conference wins! As conference play comes to a close, this performance could serve as a turning point, proving that the Beacons can compete and win with any program in the MVC. It also still provides the slim opportunity in playing one less game in the MVC tournament. A lot still to come with 3 more games to play.

A Big Weekend in the Windy City

Up ahead, Valpo has a tough matchup that awaits them. They play UIC on the road on Saturday, February 21st. Valpo has to win this game at any shot of getting a first round bye. They won their earlier matchup against UIC this season, but look to get the season sweep. These final games for Valpo are huge and will really set the tone going into the postseason.

Your Valparaiso Beacons earned a dramatic 76–75 victory over Indiana State in a tightly contested Missouri Valley Conference matchup that came down to the final possession.

Playing at home, the Beacons set the tone early with an explosive offensive first half, pouring in 49 points through quick ball movement, strong perimeter shooting, and aggressive attacking of the lane. That early surge allowed Valpo to build a six-point halftime lead, forcing Indiana State to chase the game. The Sycamores, however, never went away. They adjusted defensively after the break, slowed Valpo’s rhythm, and began to find more consistent looks inside and on kick-outs, allowing them to outscore the Beacons 32–27 in the second half and turn the game into a late-game battle.

With under ten seconds remaining, Brody Whitaker came up huge and calmly knocked down the go-ahead jumper, giving Valparaiso a one-point lead. Indiana State still had chances in the final seconds, including a rushed jumper and another scramble for a rebound, but Valpo’s defense held firm and preserved the win.

Whitaker finished with a team-high 21 points, delivering not only consistent scoring throughout the game but also the defining shot of the night. JT Pettigrew added a strong all-around performance with 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Owen Dease chipped in 13 points to help keep Valpo’s offense balanced.

Indiana State was led by Sterling Young’s 16 points, with Xavier Hall and Ian Scott also contributing in double figures, but the Sycamores were hurt by missed opportunities late and an inability to fully erase Valpo’s hot start. The Beacons’ ability to spread the scoring and make clutch plays outweighed Indiana State’s second-half push. In the end, Valpo’s fast start, resilience under pressure, and Whitaker’s late heroics proved to be the difference in one of the most exciting games of the season between these two in-state rivals.

Rich History between Foes

Over the last several seasons, Valparaiso and Indiana State have played a fairly even head-to-head series, splitting their last 10 meetings roughly 5–5, and the all-time record between the programs is almost dead even (Valpo with 14 wins to Indiana State’s 13 overall) with average combined scoring near about 70 points per team in these games.

However, when you dig into recent results, a pattern emerges: Valparaiso’s victories in this span have tended to be high-scoring and close games, while Indiana State’s wins have often come by bigger margins and with more efficient shooting. For example, on January 9, 2025, Valpo won 98–95 in overtime, showcasing elite scoring and depth from multiple players, but in the same 2024–25 season, Indiana State turned the tables with an 80–62 win, shooting 46 % from the field and 43 % from three, while Valpo struggled from deep.

What’s Ahead?

Valpo’s win over Indiana State gives the Beacons valuable momentum as they move deeper into Missouri Valley Conference play, and still fight for a first round bye in the MVC tournament. Though the margin for error remains slim. Over the last few seasons, Valpo’s games have consistently been decided by single-digit margins, meaning execution late in games will continue to determine their postseason fate.

If the Beacons can replicate the balanced scoring and first-half offensive efficiency they showed in this win, they have the ability to compete with any team in the Valley. However, the second-half slowdown against Indiana State also highlights a lingering concern: when the offense stagnates, Valpo becomes vulnerable to scoring runs. Going forward, the Beacons must focus on sustaining tempo, limiting turnovers, and finishing defensive possessions with rebounds. If they can do that, this victory could serve as a turning point toward a late-season push in the MVC standings and a stronger position heading into the conference tournament.

They will face Bradley on Wednesday, February 18th at 7pm on ESPN+. Coach Powell looks to get his first win ever against a tough Bradley team.

Since 2020, Valpo has gone 1-10 against Bradley with their last win coming in a 2021 double OT win.

Valpo got a road victory over Drake tonight, 81-76. JT Pettigrew and Rakim Chaney were excellent in this one. Pettigrew was 8 of 11 from the field with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Chaney had 20 points and was knocked down 5 of his 8 three point shots.

Despite not being known as team that wins via the three pointer, that was a big factor tonight for the Beacons. Chaney made a flurry of them early (made 3s on three straight possessions) to give them an early 13-5 lead. Drake clawed back, mostly behind the excellent play of Jalen Quinn (33 points) to take a slim 2 point lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs built on that lead early in the second half and it grew to 7. Valpo went on a 6-0 run to cut it to 1. The two teams traded baskets and it was tied at 76 with 1:48 left.

With about a minute left, Brody Whitaker drove in to the lane with defenders collapsing around him. He turned around, finding an open Beacon, Pettigrew, standing just behind the three-point arc. Whitaker dished the ball quickly and Pettigrew took a strong confident shot that swished through to give Valpo the lead, 79-76.

Quinn missed a potential game-tying three that seemed like a desperate shot with 0:50 still left on the clock. Carter Hopoi got to the line, but missed both free throws, leaving the door open for Drake to steal the game back.

Quinn got the rebound off the second missed free throw and drove quickly to the basket, but missed. Sader Servilus grabbed the board and made both free throws after he was fouled to seal the win for Valpo.

Quick Notes

• Today’s 81 was the most points for Valpo on the road since their 90 point performance at Cleveland State

• Valpo has played everyone in the Valley at least once now

• Beacons have won 3 out of their last 4 and 5 out of their last 7

• Face Illinois St. next on the road on Thursday

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A few days ago, Nick Bateman, a Clemson graduate and sportswriter for Team Rankings, had a debate with his friends. They were trying to decide whether or not adding the reigning NBA MVP and NBA Finals Champion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, would elevate a mid-major team to be able to win March Madness. Bateman didn’t think so. But his friends told him, “Nick, you’re an idiot they would wipe everybody.”

Realizing he wasn’t going to be able to change their minds alone, he reached out to the college basketball community on X (formerly Twitter) to see if he could find some people to back him up. Bateman said when choosing the team he thought he had to pick the most average team statistically in the “middle of NET, middle of KenPom.” For him, the team that came to mind before he even looked up the rankings was Valparaiso. “It needed to be Valpo,” Bateman said.

Bateman said he remembers Valpo from the 2013 Horizon League Semifinals, when Ryan Broekoff hit a game winner to beat Green Bay. He said he will never forget that moment, and he clearly hasn’t. He said, “Everything about it, I was like, that’s college basketball.”

But back to the debate. Would adding Gilgeous-Alexander to Valpo make them a national champion? A lot of people online agreed with Bateman, not believing one player could make the team better than elite college teams like Michigan or Kansas. But it was a pretty even split. A lot of people on the no side thought Valpo would at make the tournament, though, which Bateman agreed with. He thought Gilgeous-Alexander would be really hard to defend, but he questioned the ability of the supporting staff. “I don’t know if Valpo would have consistent offensive ability around him,” he said. Bateman thought Valpo would get a ton of open looks from three, but didn’t know if they would knock them down at a high enough clip to win against elite teams.

Others tried to modify the scenario by switching Gilgeous-Alexander for other top players, especially with bigs. Bateman acknowledged that Valpo would probably be better off with a different type of NBA star. He said, “I think Giannis [Antetokounmpo] would be your first pick, assuming refs aren’t calling charges on these poor children.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo never played college basketball, entering the NBA after playing professionally in his home country of Greece.

But outside of the interesting arguments and hypotheticals this tweet brought up, it dances around the new reality that former G League players and NBA draft picks are trying to return to college basketball and what that will mean for the NCAA landscape giong forward. Charles Bediako, who played for one season for Alabama before entering the 2023 NBA draft (and forgoing his remaining eligibility) has returned through a temporary restraining order after playing in the G League for multiple years. James Nnaji, a second round draft pick for the Detroit Pistons in that same NBA Draft, has also returned to college to play for Baylor. And Amari Bailey, who played one season at UCLA is trying to return to college despite playing NBA minutes. Bailey said, “It's not a stunt. I'm really serious about going back.” So while Gilgeous-Alexander would realistically never choose to return to play college ball, what does it mean for the sport that there is a real chance he could if he wanted to?

Amari Bailey played only his freshman season at UCLA, before leaving for the NBA.

When asked for comment about Bateman’s tweet, a representative from the Valparaiso University Department of Athletics said they had no specific comment but added, “We’ll take the attention and brand awareness.” Gilgeous-Alexander did not respond to a request for comment.