Valpo Controls Own Destiny as Men's Basketball Bracket Looks to Take Shape

INDIANAPOLIS -- With a win tonight over visiting Youngstown State, Valparaiso would clinch at least a share of the regular season men's basketball title and, because the Crusaders own all tiebreaker scenarios, would also clinch hosting rights for the second round and semi-finals of the Horizon League tournament.

After struggling in a home loss to Detroit and a road win at Loyola, the Crusaders returned to form in Saturday's 82-60 BracketBusters win over Eastern Kentucky. Valpo is honoring six seniors playing their final regular season home game tonight -- including swingman Ryan Broekhoff, who was recently named one of 25 national finalists for the Lou Henson Award, given annually to the best mid-major player in college basketball. The Crusaders have won 19 of their last 20 Senior Night contests.

A win is not guaranteed, however; YSU beat the Crusaders handily earlier in the year and is coming off an 86-75 BracketBusters win over Central Michigan on Saturday. The Penguins will likely be without star Kendrick Perry, though, who suffered a knee injury in practice last week, and Youngstown State hasn't won in Valparaiso since 1998.

A win over the Penguins would allow Valparaiso to avoid being swept by a conference opponent for the second straight year and third since 2004. Youngstown State-Valparaiso will be on HLN at 8:05 p.m. EST.

With just two days of games remaining in the regular season, Valpo owns a one-game lead over the defending tournament champion Titans, who host Loyola tonight in Detroit's senior night. Starting forwards Nick Minnerath -- whose comeback story is an inspiration to all -- and Doug Anderson -- who is more than just an above-the-rim highlight waiting to happen -- will be honored.

If Valparaiso loses, Detroit would need to be the Ramblers tonight to keep pace and have a chance to clinch on Saturday. Both teams lost their BracketBusters matchup and the Titans beat Loyola by 12 in late January. Tonight's matchup will be on HLN at 7 p.m. EST.

The night's other pair of contests will factor into the race for third place in the conference, which also receives a first-round bye. At 8 p.m. EST on ESPN3, Green Bay hosts in-state rival Milwaukee. Though the Panthers are guaranteed a last-place finish in the standings as they wrap up the regular season tonight, Milwaukee has been dangerous of late while winning three of its last five and two in a row over UIC and BracketBusters foe IUPUI.

The Phoenix, meanwhile, took a BracketBusters loss at Drake on Saturday and needs a win to keep pace with Wright State in the race for third. Green Bay will face an especially tough challenge on Saturday, closing out the regular season against Valparaiso.

Wright State also plays tonight and will be looking to hold onto its third place standing with a win at UIC. The Flames, however, have something to play for as well -- a win would secure a first-round tournament game at the Pavilion. Both teams lost their BracketBusters game on Saturday, but the Raiders have won four of their last five Horizon League games and UIC is 9-3 overall at home.

That game will be on HLN at 8 p.m.

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