Valparaiso Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Crusaders

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 28: Shakur Juiston #10 of the UNLV Rebels drives against Deion Lavender #2 of the Valparaiso Crusaders during their game at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 28, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Crusaders defeated the Rebels 72-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Non-conference Schedule

Nov. 5 Toledo

Nov. 9 at Saint Louis

Nov. 12 at SIU-Edwardsville

Nov. 17 North Dakota

Nov. 22-25 Paradise Jam (Grand Canyon, Nevada/Fordham, TBD)

Nov. 27 Trinity Christian#

Dec. 3 at Eastern Michigan

Dec. 8 Central Michigan

Dec. 16 at Charlotte

Dec. 18 at High Point

Dec. 21 at Arkansas

The schedule doesn’t exactly jump out as impressive, though a pair of late canceled home games may be to blame. Valpo was scheduled to host George Washington and Vanderbilt this season but was bought out of both games during the offseason. Much of the luster from the home schedule was lost as a result, though they did nab a game with a pretty solid Toledo program that should be a top 100 program this year.

The prime opportunity on the schedule is clearly the Paradise Jam, which begins with a tough matchup against Grand Canyon, followed by two more games in the following three days. A run of three challenging road games concludes the schedule, with Valpo looking to avenge last season’s home loss against High Point while having a tough battle against SEC foe Arkansas as well.

One glaring hole from the schedule is a Mountain West opponent as the MVC/MWC Challenge came to an end last season. Valpo won both of these matchups since joining the conference and were instead forced to find another game on their schedule in a different way. It’s very easy to bemoan the home schedule, but it’s not bad after losing what would have been three games on it (including the MVC/MWC game).

Typically, a team can win all of its home games, though both Toledo and Central Michigan propose a challenge to this reloading roster. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take care of business in a few of their road games, though the contest with Arkansas will likely be too difficult of a challenge. All in all, being above .500 going into MVC play would be a pretty decent start to the season for Valpo, though growing pains and the limited home slate might make that improbable.