NorthWest Indiana Real Estate Blog

It's March. and anything can happen....March Madness they call it :)

Especially if you live in Indiana and are a college basketball fan!

We've blogged about  the fun attending local area basketball events in the winter season each year - family fun for all ages!

Our hometown of VALPO is know for a famous shot during march madness that got them to the sweet 16 once!

"The Shot" is seen each year on CBS during "March Madness" and is considered one of the top moments in NCAA history.

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Come out and see the game tomorrow - buy tickets online here or at the door!

What a Game on New Years Eve - Valparaiso University Crusaders Win in Final Seconds 55-54

over University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers !

Ok, so the scoreboard photo is blurry (hey, this game was a nail-biter :) but it shows that with 3.8 seconds, Valparaiso University Crusaders trailed by 1 &  Milwaukee Panthers coach took a time out to set up a play to inbound the ball which is stolen away (intercepted) by Valpo Senior Brandon McPherson who takes it to the basket himself for the W !

Click link below to watch video recap of this exciting games top moments including the loud ending->

Highlights & final awesome play from the Horizon Network TV

or read a written recap of the game from VU's website->

12/31/2009 - Men's Basketball
McPherson Steal and Layup Gives Valpo One-Point Win in Final Second Over Milwaukee

My voice is still horse from last night :) but it was a great way to bring in the new year for our home-town team!

Next Home game at the ARC Saturday, January 2nd, tip-off 7:05 pm

Valparaiso University Crusaders Vs. GreenBay Phoenix

Once a relocating client asked us what there was to do once the weather got cold in Indiana?  We both answered simultaneously with a grim - BASKETBALL - college basketball that is :)

Here is a pictorial recap of just the past few weeks FUN.

#1 Notre Dame Vs. Central Florida(ok, so we also wanted to see Marcus Jordan play and to witness 1st hand the shoe choice he made :) but, his famous fatherMJ sat incognito somewhere in the Joyce Center/Purcell pavillion, so we didn't get a glimpse of him :( 

Although the  game was tied 41-41 at half-time,The Local Favorite Notre Dame played a strong half to win 90-72! 

 It is no secret we are a HOUSE Divided (Jeff went to IU and the girls Purdue)...so we took our youngest out to dinner in West Lafayette, IN(she's a senior:) and experienced Mackey Arena LOUDNESS for the 1st time as # 4 ranked Purdue coach Matt Painter was classy enough to pull out all the starters with over 5 minutes left to play in the game.

The Northwest Indiana Locals-> Robbie Hummel (Valparaiso, IN) and E'twaun Morre (East Chicago, IN) were something to watch and Jeff's prediction is that this team will play in the final 4 ( which is in Indy :)

# 3 Valparaiso University Crusadersvs. Toledo  @ the ARC

We enjoy our Home Town Team Games and seeing past, present and future clients we serve in the community in which we live! VU games are fun for everyone and there is always an interesting half time show!  

After the first 20 minutes of the V.U. Crusaders vs IU South Bend Titans game, I sat wondering how was it even remotely possible that the Crusaders came within 11 points of 6th Ranked North Carolina only a few days earlier? They were missing shots, they were sluggish, they were out rebounded, outplayed, & out scored in every area of the game. (Let's give some credit to the Titans).

In my previous years of watching Valpo play, they had times as a slow starting 2nd half team. After a 10-4 spurt,  the Crusaders were down 43-34 and I was thinking  "uh-oh". During a time out, I turned to the friends behind me and my wife and said "McPherson is a 5th Year Senior, he needs to step up & take control of this game and team with leadership" .....and he did!!!

Valpo went on a 21-0 run!  It all started with Howard Little and Eric Buggs defense to start the 2nd half ! This combined with one of the most impressive 3 point shooting bonanza I have ever seen by Brandon McPherson. Having season tickets in the front row, it was an absolute treat to see him right in front of me knocking down 3pointers... 4 in a row! It was as though the basket was 10ft wide:) Whatever he threw-up, WENT IN! Brandon ended the game with a career high of 25pts.

Valpo won the game final score = 78-56.

This is a young team and there are 2 players that, in my opinion, will need to step it up and be the Leaders - McPherson and Little. Both these guys are very solid players and with their leadership and hard play as examples, Valpo may just have a pretty good year !

Editorial By Jeff Safrin

 If you follow our Blog, you know we are Local Fans of Valpo Crusader's Basketball.

This week the 1st regular season home game is on Thursday, November 19th at the ARC - tip off  7:05 pm.

With alot of new team members on the Roster, this should be an interesting year! 

It's already off to an exciting start as the Valparaiso University Crusaders men's Basketball Team came within 11 points of the ranked  #6 University of North Carolina@ Chapel Hill Tar -Heels  team yesterday in a pre-season game!!!

so....

Come out and Be BOLD - wear GOLD - support your local college basketball team and bring your family and friends!

Tickets  start @ just $7.00 and children under 2 are free.

     The Valparaiso Crusaders may have played their best game of the year tonight as they beat a very good and high RPI Rated Team the University of Akron Zips 74-66.

What an awesome ESPN Bracket Buster Game to Be at...The Crusaders had 6 (yes 6!) players in double figures that shot over 50% from the field,  33% from beyond the Arc, and 65% from the charity strip!

Although, it looked pretty bleak, when with less then 3 minutes to go in the game Coach Homer  Drew received his 1st Technical of the Season from arguing a call, and getting a lil far outside the coaching box and on the floor:) Albeit, the call leading to his technical was absolutely Pathetic (which actually describes the Officiating Crew for this game)!             

     Tonight, Coach Drew started his 2 big men, Freshman Cameron Witt and Senior Urule Igbavoda, and this combination just may be what should have been used the entire year!! Witt showed potential as he is a physical player (out of control at times), but he played well.  Contributing to the W,  Michael Rogers had his fifth double figure night! Jake Diebler played well, and of course Howard Little continued to be the glue for this team, he started out slow but finished the game extremely strong.

The Crusaders have consistently improved over the year and it has been a trying one!  With next years class coming in and a 7 foot center transfer from UNLV, I am already looking forward to next year.

First things first, as the Valpo Crusaders prepare for the final 2 home games - This Thursday night 7:30 pm on  2/26/09 against a very strong big and athletic Cleveland State and then Saturday Night 2/28/09 7:05 pm (Senior Nite) against Youngstown State. Then it is on to the Horizon League Tourney.

editorial by Jeff Safrin

Ticket Price Special - $5  (only FIVE Dollars;)- come out and support your local community TEAM the VU Crusaders this upcoming Thursday 2/26/09 or Saturday 2/28/09  nite - tickets only $5 for more INFO :

Phone (for information or to order):
(219) 464-5233 or (877) MY-VU-TIX

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If we can help you find a home or land in NW Indiana, give us a call @ 219-405-1232 - we are Full Time Full Service Real Estate Brokers serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Counties in NW IN.

Talk To Jeff& GraceSafrin,  REALTORS      

" Spouses Selling Houses" TM

with F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate, Serving NorthWest Indiana!

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