The Valparaiso Crusaders clinched their eighth trip to the NCAA tournament with a 62-54 victory over Wright State in the Horizon League Championship. Here are five fast facts about the Crusaders:
1. They got to this point thanks to the heroic effort of their best player and leader, Ryan Broekhoff, who is a 6-7 senior and averages 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for Valpo:
2. Nine guys on their roster play double-figure minutes. If you’re deciding whether to pick with or against them in the NCAA Tournament, it’d be wise to know they’re a deep team who shoots 49% from the field. If they’re matched up with a team that lacks intensity and consistency on the defensive end, they’re more than capable of coming away with a win.
3. They’re comprised of six seniors, three juniors and two sophomores. They don’t have a single freshman on their team roster.
4. Are they this year’s Cinderella? Who knows, but a quick look at their history shows they haven’t made it past the Sweet 16, which they did in 1998 thanks to…
5. Bryce Drew, the Crusaders coach. If that name sounds familiar, maybe it’s because he hit one of the most memorable shots in college basketball history in the first round against Ole Miss:
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NCAA Tournament Teams Five Facts Index
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring shooting coach and scout who writes columns and blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.