VALPARAISO | While Valparaiso fans may have been impatient in December and early January, weary from blowout losses and blown opportunities, the players never stopped believing.
At least that's the take of sophomore guard Brandon Wood, one of five new Crusaders in coach Homer Drew's nine-man rotation.
"We actually know each other now," Wood said. "We know one another as a team. Back then we were just meeting and getting used to how each other played.
"Now everyone knows what they're expected to do. We're starting to come together at the right time. Those nonconference games are paying off at this time of the season."
Valpo (11-12, 6-5 Horizon League) returns to the Athletics-Recreation Center for a three-game homestand beginning tonight against Wright State (14-8, 7-4) with a chance to bring its overall record to .500 for the first time this season. The Crusaders haven't played at home since Jan. 16, but they won three of four road games to put themselves in contention for an upper-division finish in the conference.
The game against the Raiders is the first of three games in five days. Detroit is in town for a 1 p.m. Saturday game, while UIC visits on Monday night.
Wood, Valpo's leading scorer all season, averaged more than 20 points per game during nonconference play. Now a marked man, he still leads the Crusaders at 18.6 points per game overall but is tied with Cory Johnson at 15.5 in Horizon games.
His early season success included a 30-point performance at North Carolina and a career-high 39 against Georgia Southern.
While Wood hasn't scored as much against Horizon opponents, he has improved his rebounding and assist numbers.
"I knew putting up big numbers would draw a lot of attention from the opposing teams," Wood said. "But I'm a smart player and I know to stay patient. I know how to play within myself and get my teammates open, try to get more rebounds and assists, and play harder defense.
"I've been trying to do the little things if they're keying on me."
Wood scored 26 in Sunday's come-from-behind 84-79 win at Green Bay, probably the season's biggest victory. Valpo has won 5-of-6 games since losing 59-57 at Wright State on Jan. 10.
"We finally got a signature win under our belt," Wood said. "To beat (Green Bay) at their place is definitely a big win. It boosted our confidence and now we can build on it."
Wood scored only six points in the last Wright State game, when Valpo failed to score in the final seven minutes after taking a 57-48 lead. Since then, he's averaged 17.5 points and 3.3 assists.
"We definitely know we could have won that game," Wood said. "We made a few mistakes late in the game that we aren't making now.
"Hopefully we'll be able to show we've matured as a team since then and learned how to close the games."
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Valparaiso (11-12, 6-5 Horizon League) vs. Wright State (14-8, 7-4)
WHEN: 7:05 p.m. today.
RADIO/INTERNET: WAKE-AM (1500), WEFM-FM (95.9); www.valpoathletics.com.
More online
Check out more coverage of Valparaiso University sports at my.nwi.com/vusports.
