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When the teams take the floor on Sunday, a litany of new players will be making their debuts for the Crusaders. The women will have six players on the court who didn't play last season while the men will have seven or eight, depending on if coach Homer Drew decides to redshirt Hrvoje Vucic.

Starting with the women, it's anyone's guess as to who the starting lineup will be this season. Coach Keith Freeman will often say that it doesn't matter who is on the court for the beginning of the game, but who is there at the end. That being said, for both the men and the women, I don't think it matters much who starts at the beginning of the season, but who will be in the starting lineup by the time conference play begins in January.

As we stand now, Lauren Kenney is the only true lock for the women's starting lineup. I'd expect Whitney Farris to start as well as Kelly Peller, depending on her recovery from compartment syndrome, which kept her out of action last year. Kelly Watts or Ashley Varner will likely play in the post, although if they both start, then either Farris or Peller will come off the bench.

The biggest question for Freeman's squad is point guard. Freshman Skyler Gick comes in with as many accolades as any player has had in recent history. At the same time, junior Rashida Ray has shown flashes in her first two years and isn't rolling over in practice. Does Gick get the keys from day one or will Ray beat her out? If Ray wins the job, is she ultimately just holding the position until Gick gets more experience?

2009-10 Valparaiso women's basketball projected starting lineups

Nov. 14 - Rashida Ray, Whitney Farris, Kelly Peller, Kelly Watts, Lauren Kenney

Jan. 2 - Skyler Gick, Farris, Watts, Ashley Varner, Kenney

My Jan. 2 projected lineup may be post-heavy, but we could be in for a new brand of VU basketball this season. Other than Betsy Adams, it's hard to find a three-point specialist without knowing the talents of Gick, Laura Richards and Raegan Moore.

I'm excited to see how the season unfolds. The schedule is brutal as always and Freeman will be asking four freshmen to take the roster spots of four talented seniors from last year, so the early going could prove to be difficult. As cliche as it sounds, this team will be significantly better by March than they are right now.

Trying to determine how the playing time shakes out for the men down the stretch is an even tougher task. If one were to believe all the hype, then this could be the greatest recruiting class ever assembled at VU. Of course there was plenty of hype surrounding De'andre Haskins, Logan Jones, Keaton Fyre, Paul Guede, Aris Williams, Vince Humphrey and the immortal Beas Hamga. Sadly, I think I'm guilty for some of this hype, and I'm proud to say that I'll be guilty again.

I've seen the freshmen play a number of times and they are good. The biggest problem with that statement though is the inclusion of the word freshmen. Growing pains are bound to occur with the newcomers. Good thing there is some talent among the upperclassmen as well.

Brandon McPherson didn't come back for a fifth year to sit on the bench, so he is a lock to start...at least you'd think. Jared Nuness came back for a fifth year, and he came off the bench for a while. Ali Berdiel came back for a fifth year and he rarely started. Jarryd Loyd came off the bench during his senior year. Regardless of past history, I think it's easy to say that McPherson will be starting from beginning to end.

Drew is very loyal when it comes to playing time, at least in terms of the starting lineup, so I think we'll see Howard Little and Michael Rogers at the beginning of the year. Cory Johnson seems like he'd be a lock to be in the starting lineup and from everything I've seen and/or heard, Brandon Wood is also going to be a starter.

As the season moves forward, I think the only two starting jobs up for grabs will be from Little and Rogers. If Little can get his shot to fall and plays lockdown defense, it's hard to take him out of the lineup. If Rogers displays the athleticism that we've all seen from him in the past, then he'll be hard to take from the lineup. At the same time, if Little's shot misses the mark and Rogers falls into energy lapses, Drew can make a hook this season much quicker than he did last year.

From what I've seen, Ryan Broekhoff has all the tools to be a star at VU. I asked someone close to the program if he was like Sam Haanpaa and he responded "Sam was a specialist, Ryan can do it all." Matt Kenney is another player who could earn playing time. He has been limited by an ankle injury recently, but his play has been earning rave reviews from inside the ARC. Let's also not forget the late-season surge that Cameron Witt showed last year. He could earn minutes if Johnson gets into foul trouble. Chris Halvorsen, Milos Milosevic and Tommy Kurth are the three other freshmen and your guess is as good as mine to see if they play or not. They all have talent, but is there enough minutes?

The one player that I've yet to mention is Erik Buggs. The buzz last season from the coaching staff was that he was going to be unlike any player VU had ever had before. I'm not suggesting that Buggs is a bust, as a matter of fact, I'll go out on a limb and say the exact opposite. I think he'll be an integral part of the team this season and could be the key to the second unit. Imagine a team with McPherson, Wood and Buggs running the show. Find me a depth chart in the Horizon League with more athleticism at the point. Journalists are supposed to be objective and unbiased, but count me down as someone who is pulling for Buggs this season. I mean, how can't I after rewatching the highlight of that one-handed dunk against UNC last season.

2009-10 Valparaiso men's basketball projected starting lineups

Nov. 13 - Brandon McPherson, Brandon Wood, Howard Little, Mike Rogers, Cory Johnson

Dec. 31 - McPherson, Wood, Ryan Broekhoff, Rogers, Johnson

Today is Homecoming at Valparaiso and the Crusaders are taking on PFL rival San Diego. This is just the second game of the year at Brown Field and the first time that I'll be seeing the Crusaders.

Much has changed since the beginning of the year and even more has changed since last season in regards to how the football team looks on the field. First of all, Valparaiso signed a sponsorship deal with Nike and now are outfitted by the Swoosh. There is just one little problem...Nike doesn't make brown uniforms. The Crusaders are currently on the field wearing their Purduesque tops with white pants. For a school that prides itself on Brown & Gold, I don't see that color combination anywhere but on the midfield logo and in the end zones.

The end zone is a place that Valparaiso has struggled to reach this season, scoring just seven touchdowns in the first four games. Ross Wiemer, the senior running back from Wisconsin, has scored all three rushing touchdowns this year, but he is expected to miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury suffered against Carthage on Sept. 26.

Injuries have been a problem for the Crusaders this year as starting quarterback Matt Upshaw has been sidelined since the season opener with a wrist injury. Upshaw's return this season is questionable as the Indianapolis native is still in a cast.

The defense has also not been immune to injury as seniors Kyle Himmelwright and Adam Rundh have missed multiple games and are expected to sit out today, although both are taking part in pregame workouts. Sophomore defensive lineman Brian Laipple is also expected to miss the game today due to injury.

On the other side of the ball sits San Diego. The Toreros (2-2, 1-1) are coming off a surprising 25-24 loss to Butler and are no doubt looking for a get-well game. Even with former star quarterback Josh Johnson now starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego still has a potent offensive attack. 

I'll be back closer to kickoff to take you possession-by-possession through today's contest. As for now, I'm going to go take in some of the Homecoming fare. There really isn't a better day of the year on a college campus. -- Paul Oren

First Quarter

At 12:59, we're underway with a kickoff to San Diego. I'll check in after each possession with up-to-the-minute information.

The Crusaders come up with a rare 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game after the Toreros dial up a pass on 3rd & 2 that goes incomplete. 0-0, 13:44 1Q.

Bobby Wysocki led a strong 11-play, 55-yard drive, but it went for naught as Chris Smith went wide right on a 35-yard field goal attempt. The highlight of the drive came when it appeared that Wysocki was going to take a sack deep in the backfield, but he ended up scrambling for a 24-yard gain. 0-0 8:19 1Q.

The Toreros strike back on their second offensive possession as quarterback Sam Scudellari hit John McGough on a 47-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage and San Diego takes just five plays to go 80 yards with Matt Jelmini capping off the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run. San Diego 7-0, 5:59 1Q.

The momentum has shifted considerably as the Crusaders just went 3 & out and then Valparaiso punter Mitch Secrest fumbled the snap before releasing a punt that was blocked. San Diego takes over at the Valparaiso 39 up 7-0 with just under five minutes remaining.

Valparaiso catches a break by forcing its second 3 & out of the game. A San Diego punt gives the Crusaders the ball on the 12-yard line with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter.

The Crusaders go 3 & out, but the crowd gets into it when senior John Popper delivers a crushing hit on the ensuing punt. San Diego is still up 7-0 with 3:17 remaining in the first.

San Diego goes just three plays on this possession, but the Toreros gain 57 yards, with 28 coming on a touchdown pass from Sam Scudellari to Kyle Warren. San Diego is up 14-0 with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.

John Popper runs for 12 yards on the first play of the drive, but the Crusaders fail to gain another yard as they are forced to punt on the last play of the first quarter. San Diego carries a 14-0 lead into the second quarter and has the ball on their own 44-yard line.

It seems that every other drive the Crusader defense comes to play. Valparaiso forces another 3 & out for San Diego, including a big sack from redshirt freshman Cody Gokan. The Crusaders come on the field with JUCO transfer Nate Goergen as the new signal caller. San Diego 14-0, 13:01 2Q.

Goergen promptly makes his presence felt with an interception to Gabe Derricks who takes it 26-yards to the house. San Diego is up 21-0 with 12:17 remaining in the half.

Goergen throws two incompletions before giving way to Wysocki who throws another incompletion before the Crusaders are forced to punt for the fourth time today. The Crusaders are just 2-12 for 16 yards passing while San Diego is 4-7 for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Crusader defense steps up big again for a couple plays, forcing a 3rd & 14, but Scudellari finds Eric Fiege for a 41-yard touchdown pass to give San Diego a 28-0 lead with 7:58 remaining in the half.

With the offense stalling through the air, Wysocki starts running the ball and rattled off 22-yard run and then a 4-yard run that was advanced 15-yards because of a personal foul penalty. The drive stalled out at the San Diego 25 when Wysocki threw an incompletion on 4th & 7. In injury news, Goergen has his pads off on the sideline and his shoulder is heavily taped in ice.

The half comes to a close with San Diego up 28-0. The Toreros have gained 262 yards on 34 plays while the Crusaders have 141 yards on 35 plays.

Thought to be a rebuilding year in 1998-99 after the Sweet Sixteen season, Barton and his "Young Guns" teammates (including Milo Stovall, Greg Tonagel and Jared Nuness) led the Crusaders back to the NCAA tournament. Barton returned to the postseason two more times during his four-year career and ranks 4th all-time in points (1,675), 4th in rebounds (753), 6th in assists (360), 1st in steals (190), 7th in blocked shots (74) and 2nd in 3-pointers made (244).

Since graduating, Barton played three years in the Italian League/Euro League, first with Fortitudo Bologna for a season and then two years with Virtus Roma. From 2006-2008, Barton played with Joventut Badlona in the Spanish League and has become a force in European basketball. Barton helped win the FIBA Cup in 2006, the ULEB Cup in 2008 and the Spanish Cup in 2008. Because of his success, Barton moved to FC Barcelona in 2009 and helped lead his team to a Spanish League title and a spot in the Final Four of the Euroleague. 

What are your thoughts on the NBA? Do you still hope to play in the league? Would you have done anything differently ?

I would be lying if I said I didn't want to play in the NBA. It is still the best league in the world, but there is also very good competition in Europe. I probably wouldn't change much regarding the steps I made in my career. Money is good in Europe and at least I get to play.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Valparaiso? Is there a game or two that sticks out in your mind?

I was so used to winning games at Valpo, so I probably remember more games we lost. Especially those in the NCAA tournament and the title game in the Mid-Con against Southern Utah my junior year.

Who was the toughest player you played against during your time at Valpo? Who has been the toughest in the pros?

In college, it was Mateen Cleaves and the entire Michigan State 2000 NCAA champs. In pro, it has been Dirk Nowitzki.

Do you stay in contact with any of your old teammates? Do you keep up with the current team?

I'm in contact with some players, but it is not as often. Now Facebook helps a lot. I do keep up with the Valpo team, but as time goes by, I don't know the players personally, so I don't have that much interest as I used to have the first couple years after I graduated. Just normal stuff.

Anything you want to add to the Valparaiso fans?

That I always enjoyed playing in front of them and always felt their support throughout the years. Good memories and I hope that they do remember the four years when I played.