2018–19 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team

{{Infobox NCAA team season

|CoachRank =

|APRank =

|year = 2018–19

|team = Valparaiso Crusaders

|sport = Basketball

|image = Valparaiso Crusaders wordmark.svg

|image_size = 175

|conference = Missouri Valley Conference

|division =

|short_conf = MVC

|record = 15–18

|conf_record = 7–11

|head_coach = Matt Lottich

|hc_year = 3rd

|asst_coach1 = Luke Gore

|asst_coach2 = Todd Townsend

|asst_coach3 = Rob Holloway

|stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

|champion =

|tourney =

|tourney_result =

}}

{{2018–19 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings}}

The 2018–19 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team represented Valparaiso University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by third-year head coach Matt Lottich, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as second-year members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 15–18, 7–11 in MVC play to finish in a tie for eighth place. As the No. 9 seed in the MVC tournament, they defeated Indiana State in the first round before losing to Loyola in the quarterfinals.

Previous season

The Crusaders finished the 2017–18 season 15–17, 6–12 in MVC play to finish in last place in their first season as members of the MVC. They lost in the first round of the Missouri Valley tournament to Missouri State.

Offseason

=Departures=

class="wikitable sortable" border="1" ! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" \| Reason for departure
Parker Hazen	0	F	6'7"	210	Freshman	Columbia City, IN	Transferred to Daytona State College
Tevonn Walker	2	G	6'2"	210	Senior	Montreal, QC	Graduated
Max Joseph	3	G	6'1"	210	Senior	Montreal, QC	Graduated
Joe Burton	10	G/F	6'8"	210	RS Junior	Porter, TX	Left the team for personal reasons; transferred to Georgetown
Marten Linssen	12	F	6'8"	240	Freshman	Düsseldorf, Germany	Transferred to UNC Wilmington

=Incoming transfers=

class="wikitable sortable" border="1" ! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" \| Previous School
Deion Lavender	2	G	6'4"	190	RS Senior	Alton, IL	Transferred from UAB. Was eligible to play immediately since Lavender graduated from UAB.
Eron Gordon		G	6'3"	200	Junior	Indianapolis, IN	Transferred from Seton Hall. Under NCAA transfer rules, Gordon had to sit out for the 2018–19 season, after which he had two years of eligibility.
Nick Robinson		G	6'6"	195	Junior	Chicago, IL	Transferred from Saint Joseph's. Under NCAA transfer rules, Robinson had to sit out for the 2018–19 season, after which he had two years of eligibility.

=2018 recruiting class=

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Javon Freeman-Liberty

| position = #41 SG

| hometown = Chicago, IL

| highschool = Whitney Young

| feet = 6

| inches = 4

| weight = 170

| 40 =

| commitdate =

| rivals stars =

| scout stars =

| 247 stars =

| espn grade = 79

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Daniel Sackey

| position = PG

| hometown = Winnipeg, Canada

| highschool = Thornlea Secondary School

| feet = 5

| inches = 10

| weight = 170

| 40 =

| commitdate =

| rivals stars =

| scout stars =

| 247 stars =

| espn grade =

}}

Roster

{{CBB roster/Header|year=2018|team=Valparaiso Crusaders|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Javon|last=Freeman-Liberty|link=y|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=175|class=fr|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=Whitney Young HS}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Micah|last=Bradford|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=155|class=jr|rs=|home=Bradley, IL|high_school=Bradley–Bourbonnais HS}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Deion|last=Lavender|num=2|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=190|class=sr|rs=yes|home=Alton, IL|high_school=Marquette Catholic HS
Southern Illinois/UAB}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Daniel|last=Sackey||link=y|num=3|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|lbs=175|class=fr|rs=|home=Winnipeg, MB|high_school=Thornlea}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bakari|last=Evelyn|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=180|class=jr|rs=y|home=Detroit, MI|high_school=Southfield Christian School/Nebraska|cur_rs=|note=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Markus|last=Golder|num=5|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=195|class=jr|rs=y|home=Portland, OR|high_school=Clackamas HS
North Idaho College}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Langston|last=Stalling|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=210|class=fr|rs=|home=Gary, IN|high_school=Bowman Academy|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jaume|last=Sorolla|num=14|pos=C|ft=7|in=0|lbs=240|class=jr|rs=|home=Tortosa, Spain|high_school=Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Derrik|last=Smits|link=y|num=21|pos=C|ft=7|in=1|lbs=240|class=jr|rs=yes|home=Zionsville, IN|high_school=Zionsville HS}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mileek|last=McMillan|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=220|class=so|rs=|home=Merrillville, IN|high_school=Merrillville HS}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=John|last=Kiser|num=33|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=205|class=jr|rs=|home=Noblesville, IN|high_school=Noblesville HS|note=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ryan|last=Fazekas|num=35|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=220|class=jr|rs=y|home=Chesterton, IN|high_school=Marquette Catholic HS/Providence|note=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Eron|last=Gordon|num=|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=200|class=jr|rs=|home=Indianapolis, IN|high_school=Cathedral HS
Seton Hall|cur_rs=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Nick|last=Robinson|num=|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=195|class=jr|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=Kenwood Academy
Saint Joseph's|cur_rs=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

Matt Lottich ({{college|Stanford}})

|asst_coach=

Luke Gore ({{college|Bethel (TN)}})
Todd Townsend ({{college|Marquette}})
Rob Holloway ({{college|Eastern Illinois}})

|roster_url=http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/#.WAfvNPmAOkr

|accessdate=

}}

Schedule and results

{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2018-19 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2018|tv=|record=yes|gamehighs=|attend=yes}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Valparaiso Crusaders}}| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 1, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Indianapolis

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv =

| score = 60–57

| record =

| attend = 2,256

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Valparaiso Crusaders}}| Non-conference regular season

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 6, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Concordia University Chicago

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 121–65

| record = 1–0

| attend = 2,098

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 15, 2018

| time = 4:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Western Kentucky

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = HTC Center

| site_cityst = Conway, SC

| gamename = Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinals

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 71-83

| record = 1–1

| attend = 3,620

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 16, 2018

| time = 5:30 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Monmouth

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = HTC Center

| site_cityst = Conway, SC

| gamename = Myrtle Beach Invitational consolation 2nd round

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 64–53

| record = 2–1

| attend = 2,830

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 18, 2018

| time = 9:30 am

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = HTC Center

| site_cityst = Conway, SC

| gamename = Myrtle Beach Invitational consolation 5th place game

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 63-69

| record = 2–2

| attend = 639

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 21, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = SIU Edwardsville

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 75–70

| overtime = OT

| record = 3–2

| attend = 1,940

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 24, 2018

| time = 1:00 pm

| away = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = WVU Coliseum

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = Myrtle Beach Invitational non-bracket game

| tv = ATTSPT

| score = 76–88

| record = 3–3

| attend = 9,188

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 28, 2018

| time = 9:30 pm

| away = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = UNLV

| site_stadium = Thomas & Mack Center

| site_cityst = Las Vegas, NV

| gamename = MW–MVC Challenge

| tv = ATTSNRM

| score = 72–64

| record = 4–3

| attend = 7,587

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 2, 2018

| time = 1:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = UC Riverside

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 82–73

| record = 5–3

| attend = 2,112

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 4, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = High Point

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 53–55

| record = 5–4

| attend = 2,479

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 8, 2018

| time = 3:00 pm

| away = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = George Washington

| site_stadium = Charles E. Smith Center

| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 82–79

| record = 6–4

| attend = 2,107

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 17, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Ball State

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 61–77

| record = 6–5

| attend = 3,636

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 19, 2018

| time = 7:30 pm

| away = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Texas A&M

| site_stadium = Reed Arena

| site_cityst = College Station, TX

| tv = SECN+

| score = 41-79

| record = 6–6

| attend = 6,684

}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 29, 2018

| time = 1:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Purdue Northwest

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 97–61

| record = 7–6

| attend = 1,925

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Valparaiso Crusaders}}| 2018–19 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 2, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Illinois State

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 58–56

| record = 8–6

| conference = 1–0

| attend = 3,818

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 5, 2019

| time = 1:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Missouri State

| site_stadium = JQH Arena

| site_cityst = Springfield, MO

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 82–66

| record = 9–6

| conference = 2–0

| attend = 4,179

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 8, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Bradley

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 61–50

| record = 10–6

| conference = 3–0

| attend = 2,535

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 12, 2019

| time = 3:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = SIU Arena

| site_cityst = Carbondale, IL

| tv = FSMW/NBCSCH

| score = 65–61

| record = 11–6

| conference = 4–0

| attend = 4,671

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 15, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Loyola–Chicago

| site_stadium = Joseph J. Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSCH

| score = 54-71

| record = 11–7

| conference = 4–1

| attend = 3,412

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 19, 2019

| time = 3:00 pm

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = FSMW/NBCSCH

| score = 75–66

| record = 12–7

| conference = 5–1

| attend = 3,160

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 23, 2019

| time = 6:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Indiana State

| site_stadium = Hulman Center

| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 53-70

| record = 12–8

| conference = 5–2

| attend = 3,460

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 26, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 59-70

| record = 12–9

| conference = 5–3

| attend = 4,160

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 29, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Missouri State

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 54-55

| overtime = OT

| record = 12–10

| conference = 5–4

| attend = 1,333

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 2, 2019

| time = 1:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Evansville

| site_stadium = Ford Center

| site_cityst = Evansville, IN

| tv = FSMW/NBCSCH

| score = 53–64

| record = 12–11

| conference = 5–5

| attend = 5,805

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 5, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Illinois State

| site_stadium = Redbird Arena

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IL

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 69–53

| record = 13–11

| conference = 6–5

| attend = 4,662

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 10, 2019

| time = 3:00 pm

| opponent = Loyola–Chicago

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 51–56

| record = 13–12

| conference = 6–6

| attend = 5,148

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 13, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Indiana State

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 82-87

| overtime = OT

| record = 13–13

| conference = 6–7

| attend = 3,014

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 16, 2019

| time = 2:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Knapp Center

| site_cityst = Des Moines, IA

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 79-84

| record = 13–14

| conference = 6–8

| attend = 4,035

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 20, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 55–52

| record = 14–14

| conference = 7–8

| attend = 2,371

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 23, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| site_stadium = McLeod Center

| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 53-64

| record = 14–15

| conference = 7–9

| attend = 3,812

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 27, 2019

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Bradley

| site_stadium = Carver Arena

| site_cityst = Peoria, IL

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 42-67

| record = 14–16

| conference = 7–10

| attend = 5,867

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 2, 2019

| time = 1:00 pm

| opponent = Evansville

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 63-65

| record = 14–17

| conference = 7–11

| attend = 2,592

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Valparaiso Crusaders}}| 2019 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 7, 2019

| time = 6:00 pm

| neutral = yes

| seed = 9

| opponent = Indiana State

| oppseed = 8

| site_stadium = Enterprise Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = First Round

| attend = 0

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 77–55

| record = 15–17

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 8, 2019

| time = 12:00 pm

| neutral = yes

| seed = 9

| opponent = Loyola-Chicago

| oppseed = 1

| site_stadium = Enterprise Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = First Round

| attend = 0

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 54-67

| record = 15-18

}}

Source{{cite web|url=http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/schedule/|title=Men's Basketball Schedule|website=valpoathletics.com|publisher=Valparaiso University Athletics|accessdate=15 February 2019}}

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018-19 Valparaiso Crusaders men's Basketball Team}}

Valparaiso

Category:Valparaiso Beacons men's basketball seasons

Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball