Two months ago, as Valparaiso junior forward Alec Peters spoke with two local reporters, he addressed an assortment of topics that included the possibility of pursuing a graduate transfer.
“I’m here with a Valpo jersey on every day for practice, and I put it on with great pride for every game,” Peters said. “It’s the place that’s been great to me the last three years, and I can’t see myself at any other place.”
Peters’ path in the interim included more twists and turns than a team-building whitewater rafting excursion in Canada. But his words proved prophetic when he decided to play his senior season with the Crusaders to complete his college career.
Without Peters, Valparaiso appeared poised to drop back to the Horizon League pack.
The Crusaders would have struck out on all three of their major offseason questions.
Bryce Drew? Valparaiso couldn’t retain him this time as he moved on to Vanderbilt (though Matt Lottich figures to be a fine coach).
Keith Carter? The NCAA denied him a fifth year of eligibility (though the Crusaders continue to hold out hope the point guard could return as they pursue every possibility).
Peters? The Crusaders could not afford to lose him to the NBA or, more painfully, to another school in this season of transition.
And they didn’t.
With the two-time first team All-Horizon League selection and Associated Press honorable mention All-American remaining in the fold, the Crusaders’ prospects for next season appear promising.
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In an offseason of league-wide overhaul with players and coaches, Valparaiso remains the favorite, and Peters looks to be the overwhelming favorite for player of the year.
It was anticipated Peters would take a longer period of time to explore his options. But his decision came less than a week after he withdrew from the NBA Draft ahead of the NCAA-imposed May 25 deadline for underclassmen.
Peters announced his intention to test the waters on April 7, the same day Valparaiso introduced three-year assistant Lottich as Drew’s successor.
Speculation centered on Peters following Drew, with whom he has a close relationship. Vanderbilt was the leading contender among a host of interested programs if he chose to transfer.
But it turned out Peters, scheduled to complete his undergraduate degree in June at the end of Valparaiso’s first summer session, wasn’t going anywhere.
He averaged 18.4 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, with his 679 points ranking second in single-season program history and his 313 rebounds ranking fifth. He’s on pace to become Valparaiso’s career leader in points and rebounds.
When he was hired, Lottich also proved prophetic about Peters.
“If he’s not playing in the NBA and he’s playing in college, we’re confident it will be in a Valparaiso uniform,” Lottich said.
After winning last season’s regular-season league title, the Crusaders were upset in the conference tournament semifinals before advancing to the NIT championship game.
As a sophomore, Peters led Valpo to the league regular-season title and tournament title before the Crusaders lost in the NCAA Tournament. Valparaiso’s only wins in the NCAA tourney came in its 1998 run to the Sweet 16.
Also at his introductory news conference, Lottich spoke about Valparaiso getting back to the NCAA Tournament, with a not-too-distant-future goal of reaching the second weekend.
One step at a time.
But the Crusaders’ chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament and winning their first game with a roster that doesn’t include a player named Drew are exponentially greater with a player named Peters than without one.
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff