Detroit defeated Ryerson, 87-55 (box), and Valparaiso defeated St. Joseph’s (Ind.), 90-62 (box), to open the Horizon League men’s basketball exhibition season on Saturday, but it was Valpo’s newcomers and Detroit’s vets that did the talking.
In fact, it was the Crusaders newcomers that were the focus of Paul Oren’s Valpo gamer. Senior returner Kevin Van Wijk encouraged the newcomer angle by sitting, sidelined because of his offseason knee injury. Indiana transfer Bobby Capobianco impressed Oren. The 6-10 big shot his height (he was 6-10 from the floor) and had a game-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds and four fouls.
Capobianco impressed me in many facets of the game. I think fouls will be an issue, but that’s because he plays a physical style. #HLMBB
— Paul Oren (@NWIOren) October 28, 2012
Then there was Vashil Hernandez (8 points, 10 rebounds), and junior Hawaii transfer Jordan Coleman (7 points, 2 blocks, 4 rebounds). California transfer Alex Rossi added six assists in his time on the floor. Can you believe we haven’t even touched on Valparaiso’s returners yet?
Ryan Broekhoff had a huge smile when I asked him what it was like to play with Capobianco and Vashil. He likes the size on the team. #HLMBB
— Paul Oren (@NWIOren) October 28, 2012
Senior Ryan Broekhoff, the reigning Horizon League player of the year started the game, played 23 minutes, drilled 5 of 7 for 16 points and pulled down four boards to go with a block and an assist.
The Crusaders have wicked depth all over the floor, and seems as though Bryce Drew could easily field two teams that could play a full 40 minutes.
Much the contrary in Detroit. Ray McCallum Sr. fielded mostly returners in his exhibition. His son, Ray McCallum Jr., Nick Minnerath, Jason Calliste and Doug Anderson got starting nods. JUCO transfer Ugochukwe Ujoku (6-10) was the exception. The big man started in LaMarcus’ Lowe’s vacated spot, but only played six minutes. McCallum Sr’s other incoming big, JUCO transfer Olumide Solanke, only got three minutes of play.
Minnerath and Calliste led in points (16), Anderson pulled down a team-high six boards to go with a team-high four blocks and McCallum delivered a team-best eight assists.
