Post-Tribune

OSIPOFF: Pivotal season ahead for Greg Tagert, RailCats

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:04:46 -0500

This season could be the end of an era for the RailCats. Or not. That such uncertainty even exists speaks to the pivotal nature of 2013 for the franchise. In the largely transient world of independent baseball (there are exceptions that prove the rule), Greg Tagert enters his ninth season managing the RailCats. Could it be his last? He’s in the final year of his contract, having signed an extension before the 2010 season, after having signed an extension before the 2008 season through 2010. As this season is on the verge of beginning, no extension is imminent. “Greg and …

Painter defends Purdue not paying for transfer Marcius’ summer classes

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:05:06 -0500

For the first time since Purdue’s season-ending loss to Santa Clara in the CBI quarterfinals on March 25, coach Matt Painter formally spoke with reporters. He answered questions on a wide array of subjects for more than 50 minutes on Tuesday. The transfer of Sandi Marcius was a primary topic. The redshirt junior requested to be released from his scholarship, which Purdue granted. But the native of Croatia and LaLumiere product needs to complete two classes this summer — at a cost of about $7,000 — in order graduate, then enroll at another school for his fifth and final season …

Osipoff: Purdue may not be deep, but they’ll have talent

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:49:17 -0500

First Sandi Marcius. Then Jacob Lawson. And then Anthony Johnson. After a circuitous season for Purdue in which it underperformed, it already has been an active offseason for the Boilermakers. In the last week — in a span of five days, one player for three straight business days, if you will — the school announced that Marcius, Lawson and Johnson each had requested and been granted a release from his scholarship. With his consistent laments about the 2012-13 team’s issues with such areas as work ethic and toughness during the course of the season, coach Matt Painter hinted — in …

Osipoff: Darrell Hazell pleased with his first spring at Purdue

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:14:30 -0500

Purdue’s first spring season under coach Darrell Hazell is winding down, with the concluding spring game coming up on Saturday, after this past Saturday’s “jersey” scrimmage (with the offense narrowly defeating the defense, on a touchdown pass from Austin Appleby to Sterling Carter on the final play). “There was a lot of good work out there,” Hazell said after the scrimmage. “A lot of good hitting, guys running around, playing hard. “There was a lot of good play, one of the better ones I’ve had. A lot of times, they start off a little sluggish, but we did a lot …

OSIPOFF: Picking tourney winner from loaded Big Ten not easy

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:44:36 -0500

With the number of elite teams, and several in the middle of the pack (and even lower) playing well late in the season, a handful (or more) have the wherewithal to win the Big Ten Tournament. The event seems even more wide-open than usual (do we always say that? Anyway …). Along those lines, this tournament — sold out as it’s played at the United Center for the first time since 2007 — also seems to be one of the more highly anticipated in recent memory. There figures to be plenty of drama. Here’s one stab at how the tournament …

Osipoff: Valpo focused on Horizon League title after heroic win

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 06:42:50 -0500

VALPARAISO — The season was all but over for Valparaiso, at least in regard to that singular goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament. Then it wasn’t. The Crusaders, with those six seniors, were going to lose to Green Bay in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals. And then they didn’t. When Ryan Broekhoff’s 3-pointer somehow found the bottom of the net — of course, with a host of other contributors, including Matt Kenney with his own late 3 — their season was saved. After that roller-coaster, which ultimately came to a halt at the highest of highs, No. 1 Valparaiso (25-7) has …

Horizon League: Simply put, it’s Valpo’s tournament to lose

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 06:24:07 -0500

For the second straight season, the Horizon League Tournament will roll into the Athletics-Recreation Center. Will the home crowd leave happy this time around? It appears the two heavyweights are on a collision course for another clash. But can another team, or teams, crash the party? Will there be upsets? Or will form hold? Here’s one take on how the event could shake out: No. 1 Valparaiso (24-7, 13-3 Horizon League) Skinny: Quite simply, it’s the Crusaders’ tournament to lose. They put themselves in position to host again, they’ve been the league’s best team all season, and they seem to …

Osipoff: Most important work still ahead for VU

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:06:27 -0500

VALPARAISO — The celebration was enthusiastic, yet still relatively subdued. Because even having clinched the right to host the Horizon League Tournament for the second straight season, by virtue of yet another winning senior night, even amid all the joy in Valparaiso, the smiles and laughter, even some heartfelt tears, the overriding message emanating from Tuesday was this: There’s still more work for the Crusaders to do. To say this scenario was inevitable would be understating the accomplishment (of note, Valparaiso has wrapped up back-to-back regular-season conference titles for the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons). But even …

Osipoff: Valparaiso in a prime spot in Horizon League

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 06:30:58 -0500

VALPARAISO — Deep down, in their heart of hearts, they know only two games truly matter this season. They would never admit such a thing, of course. But they also know there’s a process to reach those two games, a process they hope will result in playing those two games at home, at the ARC, in the Horizon League Tournament. Valparaiso remains on course to land in that position. But the Crusaders’ focus remains on their next opponent, in this case, Youngstown State, which marks the end of the first half of their conference schedule. At this stage in their …

Osipoff: Hope ends with disappointment

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 06:23:53 -0500

Danny Hope’s effort, dedication, commitment, passion, and feelings for Purdue were beyond reproach. And there’s no questioning Boilermakers players’ strong feelings for him. But the team’s uneven, inconsistent results, as well as continued declining attendance at Ross-Ade Stadium (beginning before Hope’s arrival), justified his dismissal. In Hope’s four seasons at the helm, after one as coach-in-waiting under Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers produced both electrifying wins and stupefying losses. They stunned then-No. 7 Ohio State in 2009 and knocked off Michigan that same season for their first win in Ann Arbor since 1966, as well as tripping up the Buckeyes again …

Osipoff: Merrillville offense shows what it can do on way to regional title

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:14:34 -0500

MERRILLVILLE — Fort Wayne Carroll’s statistician called it “big boy football.” Yep, the Chargers likely hadn’t seen anything on their schedule along the lines of Merrillville, especially with the way the Pirates were humming along in Friday night’s Class 5A regional. From the outset, Merrillville overwhelmed Carroll, dominating for a 50-21 win. And, really, the game wasn’t that close. Merrillville scored the first 50 points. The Pirates went to their reserves late in the third quarter, giving those players some experience and a taste of late-postseason play, and — equally as importantly, if not more so — affording their front-line …

Osipoff: Only one goal for Valparaiso men

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:40:18 -0500

NCAA Tournament or bust. That’s Valparaiso’s 2012-13 season stripped down to its essence. That’s the brass-tacks situation. The Crusaders tasted the sweetness of a regular-season Horizon League championship in 2011-12, two games clear of the field with a 14-4 record. They then tasted the bitterness of coming up short in their bid to win the tournament title, losing handily to Ray McCallum and Detroit after having earned the right to host at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Then, perhaps they were a season ahead of schedule, having entered in something of a state of transition (they were picked fifth in the preseason). …

Osipoff: Boilers in a state of flux after blowout losses

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:22:01 -0500

From theoretical Leaders Division and Big Ten title contender to … what the heck happened? After back-to-back beatdowns at home against Michigan and Wisconsin by a combined scored of 82-27, Purdue’s season, and perhaps the path of the program beyond, has reached a critical mass. Well, maybe not. More realistically, the Boilermakers are facing a similarly lopsided outcome at No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday (though coach Danny Hope’s tenure has been punctuated by borderline shocking wins, including against then-No. 7 Ohio State in 2009 at Ross-Ade Stadium, and Michigan that same season at the Big House for the program’s …

Osipoff: Boilers show they can compete in loss to ND

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:45:14 -0500

SOUTH BEND — Look, there’s really no such thing as a moral victory at this level of college football. But after we learned virtually nothing about Purdue in a walkover against FCS Eastern Kentucky in its season opener, we at least learned the Boilermakers can be competitive against a legitimate opponent, with their 20-17 loss to No. 22 Notre Dame on Saturday. Their quarterback situation is still up for grabs, especially with the unknown status of Robert Marve after he left the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent left knee injury — the same knee in which …

Osipoff: Family of John Willems getting outpouring of support

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:21:10 -0500

The outpouring of support provides ample insight into the type of person John Willems had been, his impact on the community. Town officials in Cedar Lake. The police and fire departments. The Hanover Central athletics department, including AD Jeff Brooks. Wrestlers, former wrestlers and their parents. The Rick Larsen Wrestling Club. Volunteers to help plan the event, to aid with registration or simply to hand out water during the races. Assorted family members and friends. Numerous people have rallied as Doug Willems, John’s younger brother by 16 months; Suzanne Willems, Doug’s wife; Elsa Willems, John’s widow; and Nick Petrov, Hanover …

Osipoff: RailCats running out of time to save season

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:14:42 -0500

The American Association season hasn’t yet reached its halfway point, but the RailCats’ season is slipping away from them in a hurry. Going into Monday night’s game at Sioux Falls, they had a season-worst five-game losing skid, and had lost eight of their last nine, dropping them to 16-26, the second-worst record in the 13-team league. In 2010, the RailCats had their streak of five straight championship series appearances come to an end. In 2011, their first in the American Association after their departure from the Northern League, they had their streak of six straight playoffs appearances come to an …

Osipoff: Purdue just hasn’t met expectations

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:14:32 -0500

There’s simply no way to spin this one for Purdue. Notre Dame? In defeat, it was encouraging to have competed so valiantly — on the road, no less — against a team that all of a sudden could be in the national title picture, a sign of the ability to hang with virtually any team in the country. Michigan and Wisconsin? Stunning in the lopsided nature of both losses, downright ugly — especially at home, with so much on the line in a Big Ten opener and the theoretical Leaders Division championship game, respectively — but at least both teams …

Twolves pick Hummel 58th in NBA Draft as friends, family celebrate

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:41:23 -0500

WEST LAFAYETTE — In the time leading up to the start of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, Robbie Hummel — who near the very end would become the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, at No. 58 overall — chatted calmly with family members and friends, smiling freely. He posed for photos. He ate dinner in a booth at a restaurant down the road from the Purdue campus, with the reserved room eventually packed — overflowing, more accurately — with his loved ones. This truly was a celebration of all that Hummel is as a person, accomplished as a player at Valparaiso …