A History of Valparaiso University Basketball

Introduction

The Valparaiso Beacons men's basketball team has a rich and storied history, marked by periods of national recognition, conference dominance, and memorable moments. Representing Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, the team currently competes in the Missouri Valley Conference, a league they joined in 2017. The Beacons play their home games in the Athletics-Recreation Center, a venue known for its passionate atmosphere and a seating capacity of over 5,400. This article explores the key eras, players, and coaches that have shaped the Valparaiso basketball program into what it is today.

The "World's Tallest Team" Era (1940s)

During World War II, Valparaiso gained national recognition with its "World's Tallest Team." This era began in 1942 when Loren Ellis was hired as head coach and brought with him Don and Wally Warnke, two brothers from Michigan City, Indiana, who stood at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall. The Warnke brothers were ineligible for the draft due to their height. Ellis recruited other tall players, including Milt Schoon, to build a formidable team.

The team achieved significant success with the Warnke brothers, but Wally eventually enlisted to serve in the war. In 1943, Don remained and was joined by newcomers Schoon, Bob Dillie, John Janisch, and Alvin Schmidt, leading the team to 17 wins, including a notable victory over a ranked opponent. Don Warnke graduated after the season but later returned as an assistant coach and eventually head coach after Ellis's departure.

The 1944-45 season was particularly memorable. The team started with 11 consecutive wins, highlighted by a defining victory over Long Island at Madison Square Garden. An iconic photograph of the Valparaiso players outside Madison Square Garden remains on display near the Athletics-Recreation Center court.

Transition and the Bartow Years (1950s-1970s)

The Crusaders joined the Indiana Collegiate Conference for the 1950-51 season, marking a new chapter in the program's history. In 1964, Gene Bartow took over as head coach, ushering in what is considered the greatest stretch of basketball in the school's history.

Read also: Tradition and Change at Valparaiso

Under Bartow's leadership, Valpo returned to the College Division tournament in 1967, defeating Southern Colorado (now Colorado State-Pueblo) and reaching the Elite Eight before losing to Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). Bartow's success at Valpo led him to leave in 1970 to coach Memphis State.

Moving to Division I and the Early Summit League Years (1978-1988)

The Crusaders transitioned to Division I before the 1978-79 season. After a period as an independent, they became charter members of the Association of Mid-Continent Universities, which later became the Mid-Continent Conference and eventually The Summit League.

The Homer Drew Era: Building a Conference Powerhouse (1988-2016)

In 1988, Homer Drew took over as head coach, beginning a transformative era for Valparaiso basketball. His first season included a memorable win over 19th-ranked Notre Dame, a game known as "The Lutheran Miracle." Despite initial struggles, Drew built the Crusaders into a conference powerhouse.

The 1993-94 season marked a turning point, with the Crusaders finishing second in the conference. In 1995, they won their first Mid-Continent championship, led by star player Bryce Drew. However, they were not invited to the NCAA tournament that year.

The Crusaders secured their first invitation to the Division I NCAA tournament in 1996 after winning the conference championship. The 1998 tournament saw the Crusaders achieve their only Tournament games victory, defeating Ole Miss on a last-second shot by Bryce Drew. This shot became an iconic moment in NCAA Tournament history.

Valparaiso dominated the Mid-Continent Conference, winning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament every year from 1996 through 2000. In 2001, despite winning the regular season championship, they lost to Southern Utah in the conference tournament.

The Crusaders returned to the NCAA tournament the following year, losing to Kentucky in the first round. In 2003, Scott Drew led the Crusaders to another regular season championship but failed to win the conference tournament, resulting in an NIT appearance. After one year as head coach, Scott Drew was hired by Baylor following that school's basketball scandal.

Homer Drew returned to coach the team and led them to the NCAA Tournament again in 2004. Between 1995 and 2004, the Crusaders consistently reached the title game of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament.

After three more years as head coach, Homer Drew resigned again, and his son, former Valpo star Bryce Drew, was named head coach.

The Bryce Drew Era and Transition to the Missouri Valley Conference (2011-2016)

In five years as coach, Bryce Drew led the Crusaders to postseason appearances each year, including NCAA Tournament berths in 2013 and 2015. Under Homer, Scott, and Bryce Drew, the Crusaders won 13 regular season conference championships and 10 conference tournament championships.

On April 7, 2016, former assistant coach Matt Lottich was promoted to head coach after Bryce Drew accepted the head coaching position at Vanderbilt. This marked the first time since 1988 that a Drew was not the head coach at Valpo.

In Lottich's first season, the Crusaders shared the Horizon League regular season championship but lost in the Horizon League tournament. Following the season, Valparaiso joined the Missouri Valley Conference after 10 years in the Horizon League.

The Roger Powell Jr. Era (2023-Present)

On April 7, 2023, Roger Powell Jr. was hired as the new head coach for Valparaiso, ushering in a new era for the program.

Postseason History and Achievements

The Beacons have a history of postseason appearances, including:

NCAA Tournament: 9 appearances (Record: 2-9)
NCAA Division II Tournament: 5 appearances
NAIA Tournament: 2 appearances
National Invitation Tournament (NIT): 4 appearances
College Basketball Invitational (CBI): 1 appearance
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT): 2 appearances

Notable Players

Valparaiso University has produced several notable basketball players who have gone on to play professionally, including in the NBA.

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