After taking a clear step forward in Year 2 under head coach Roger Powell, the Valparaiso Beacons were hit hard this offseason by the transfer portal, leaving only one returning player with any meaningful experience from last year.
Last season, Valpo doubled its win total from Powell’s first year and advanced to the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Beacons got off to a strong 10–6 start, but a nine-game losing streak in conference play really set that team back. They were able to regroup later in the season and that impressive run at Arch Madness was a real bright spot for the program. However, with so many new faces on this year’s team, last season can basically be thrown out the window.
Among the key departures were standouts Cooper Schwieger (transferred to Wake Forest) and All Wright (transferred to Xavier), who were the statistical leaders of last season’s squad. Also of note is the loss of longtime point guard Darius DeAveiro, a four-year contributor and true glue guy who appeared in 120 career games for Valpo.
To replace all that they lost, Powell and his staff retooled the roster this offseason through the transfer portal and a strong incoming freshman class. The Beacons have a nice blend of both experienced transfers and talented young newcomers, to put together what appears to be a much more well-rounded team.
Projected Starters
Point Guard - Mark Brown Jr. (Jr.)
Mark Brown Jr. transferred in from Snow College, where he was a highly sought-after JUCO player. During his two seasons at Snow, Brown totaled 669 points, including 13.3 points and 4.3 assists per game last year. As one of the top players on a team that finished 32–2 last year, Brown knows what it takes to win and he will play a key role in the point guard position for the Beacons this season.
Shooting Guard - Justus McNair (So.)
This is a position that could see several different players in the starting lineup throughout the season. McNair is the lone returning contributor from last year’s team, making him an extremely valuable piece not only on the court, but also in the locker room and for the program’s culture. As a true freshman last season, the lengthy guard averaged 11.2 minutes and 4.5 points per game off the bench, highlighted by a memorable half-court game-winning shot against Western Michigan that capped off an incredible 22-point comeback win.
Small Forward - Isaiah Barnes (R-Sr.)
Isaiah Barnes has an impressive basketball résumé and is the kind of player whose decision to transfer to Valparaiso shows that the program is starting to trend in the right direction. A former four-star recruit, Barnes began his career at Michigan, where he played sparingly over his two seasons with the Wolverines. He spent the past two years at Tulsa where he started in over 50 games and averaged just under double figures in scoring. At 6'7", Barnes has great size for a guard along with incredible athletic ability as he can jump out the gym. With his talent and extensive Division I experience, he’s expected to play a major role for the Beacons this season.
Power Forward - Owen Dease (R-Sr.)
Outside of McNair and Barnes, Owen Dease is the only other player on the roster with Division I experience. The redshirt senior spent the past four seasons at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, a program that is consistently near the top of the Southland Conference. Dease was a key contributor over the past two years, starting 50 games and providing consistent production. His length allows him to make an impact on both ends of the floor, and he shot an impressive 37.8% from three-point range last season.
Center - Shon Tupuola (Jr.)
Valparaiso struggled with size down low last season, and Shon Tupuola will help address that issue. He transferred in from NAIA Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, along with his former head coach Jesse McClung who is part of the Beacons staff as an assistant this season. Listed at 6'10" and 245 pounds, Tupuola should be a prominent presence in the paint, something that is especially valuable in the Missouri Valley Conference. Last season, he averaged a double-double with 14.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, coming from a Saint Mary-of-the-Woods program that went an impressive 53-13 during his two seasons there.
Key Reserves
Brody Whitaker (5th yr.) - Guard
Brody Whitaker should be a major scoring threat for this team. He comes to Valpo from UIndy, where he averaged 14.0 points per game last season. Before that, he spent three seasons at Marian University, including a 2023-2024 campaign where he averaged just under 20 points per game.
JT Pettigrew (Fr.) - Forward
Roger Powell has produced stellar freshmen in each of the past two years with Schwieger and Wright, and Pettigrew could be that freshman to watch for the Beacons this season. The 6’8” forward comes from nearby Lisle, Illinois, where he was Bolingbrook High School’s all-time leader in rebounds and blocks, as well as a 1,000-point scorer.
Tucker Tornatta (So.) - Center
Tucker Tornatta came in alongside his former teammate Whitaker from UIndy. Last season, he was named to the conference’s All-Freshman team, averaging 7.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Schedule Outlook
Valpo has a nice balanced non-conference schedule, with a combination of competitive mid-major matchups along with opportunities to face some major college basketball programs before diving into Missouri Valley Conference play.
They’ll open the season at home on November 4 against Eastern Illinois before heading to Lexington to take on Kentucky at Rupp Arena as part of the BBN United Tipoff Classic. Other notable non-conference games include Bryant (Nov. 16), at Cleveland State (Nov. 19), and UNC Wilmington (Dec. 13), all programs that are consistently top contenders in their conferences. In addition to Kentucky, Valpo will face two other power-conference teams on the road in Marquette (Dec. 2) and Northwestern (Dec. 16).
In The Valley, the Beacons will play every team twice and will be aiming for their first winning season in conference play since joining the league in 2017.
Valparaiso basketball season outlook
In today’s college basketball landscape, it can be challenging for programs like Valpo, that are basically feeder programs for higher-level schools with the transfer portal, to feel like they’re truly building something. However, last year’s success, especially the MVC Tournament run, gives Roger Powell a foundation to build upon, and Year 3 should be a point where the program really starts to take shape.
The Beacons are projected to finish near the bottom of the Missouri Valley Conference again, but with so many new faces on both their roster and throughout the conference, no one really knows anything at this point. The top of the Valley looks strong with Illinois State, Northern Iowa, and Murray State, but only time will tell how the rest of the league shapes up.
This year, I think the biggest thing for Valpo will be aiming for more consistency, particularly in conference play. I like the construction of their roster, which features several players who were big time contributors, albeit at lower-level programs, but from teams that won a lot. Overall, the Beacons will be looking to continue trending upward and take another step forward in Year 3 under Roger Powell.