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Welcome, Valpo
Indiana school will be 10th in Horizon
By Curtis Claassen
"This is a much better fit for us as an institution. We fit the Midwestern nature of the Horizon League."Mark LaBarbera, Valpraiso athletic director
There will be a new member to the Horizon League starting in the fall of 2007, and if you are a college basketball fan, this school will be very familiar.
Valparaiso University will be the 10th member of a conference that is soaring lately in popularity and success. The tiny school of 4,000 is located in northwestern Indiana in the city of Valparaiso. The Crusaders will leave the Mid-Continent Conference and join the Horizon League effective July 1.
"This is a much better fit for us as an institution," said Valpraiso's athletic director Mark LaBarbera. "We fit the Midwestern nature of the Horizon League."
Back in 1998, "Valpo" officially put its name on the map in one of the most memorable finishes in NCAA basketball tournament history. Bryce Drew, the son of then-and-now head coach Homer Drew, hit a three pointer at the buzzer to upset Ole Miss in thrilling fashion.
The shot can still be seen over and over once March Madness roles around. LaBarbera says he still gets letters about that shot and people still bring it up wherever he goes.
However, he said the switch to the Horizon League was not because of the recent success of the basketball program.
"We didn't change because of competition reasons but the basketball competition will be a lot better," said LaBarbera.
The Horizon League has seen lots of success lately in basketball. Since 2003, three different teams have advanced to the Sweet 16. Butler in 2003, UWM's magical run of 2005, and Butler again this past year in 2007.
LaBarbera said the move will help the school in many different ways.
"Alumni are very prominent in the states that we're going to play in, and they're very excited about the move," he said.
About 61 percent of alumni live in states where Horizon League schools are located and many of the Valpo students also come from these states, two elements that LaBarbera said was also very important in the decision to make the move.
"The Horizon League has a much higher profile and all the schools have a very good reputation," said LaBarbera. "The schools in the league are also very good in athletics and academics."
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