Formerly the Cru, Shield 219 looks to get Valparaiso their first TBT win in their third try
New name, new result? As The Cru, they were given the eighth seed twice and suffered losses both times. Now, named Shield 219, they are given the six seed, and perhaps that means a better finish. Valparaiso hasn’t exactly had a ton of success since the Bryce Drew years, but they’ve produced talent who hope to showcase that this year.
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Current Roster:
- AJ Reeves (Providence College)
- Ben Krikke (Valpariso & Iowa)
- Brandon Wood (Valparaiso & Michigan State)
- Cooper Farrall (Bentley)
- Cory Johnson (Iowa State & Valparaiso)
- E. Victor Nickerson (Valparaiso & UNC Charlotte)
- Isaiah Burnett (Stonehill College)
- Jay Harris (UIC & Valparaiso)
- Jordan Mello-Klein (Bentley)
- Jubril Adekoya (Valparaiso)
- Marreon Jackson (Toledo, Arizona State)
- Max Schmarzo (Coe College)
- Mileek McMillan (Valparaiso & Western Michigan)
- Wendell Lewis (Mississippi State)
- Young Mantis (IUPUI)
Coaching Staff:
- Kendall O’Banner (GM)
- Jason Karys (Head Coach)
Region: Indianapolis
All-time Record: 0-2
First Matchup: vs. All Good Dawgs (July 19 at 2 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: Mileek McMillan
McMillian was the biggest bright spot for the team last year, scoring 18 points off the bench to lead all scorers on his team. It’s safe to say he’s earned a starting spot this year, and he could be the leading scorer once again. At 6’9, he was the size to score down low, but can also space the floor, hitting two threes. He did have five fouls in last year’s game, so that’ll need to be addressed, but as long as he can stay on the floor, he’s a huge plus for the team.
McMillian spent four years at Valpo, so he has no shortage of school pride. He’d love nothing more than to get his team a win or two this year.
Make-or-break Player: Brandon Wood
Brandon Wood is no stranger to TBT, having played in a few seasons. He’s played for Team Arkansas the last few years, and was terrific, being one of the better shooters and a really strong scorer. He averaged 15.7 PPG in 2023, but saw that go down to 11 last year.
At 36 years old, he’s certainly past his basketball prime, but even then, he’s a great TBT player. They’ll lean on his experience on and off the floor, and if he can provide that, they can finally earn their first win. If father time gets to him, though, that’s a piece missing that they desperately need.
Team Outlook
Shield 219 looks to get their first TBT win against All Good Dawgs, the Butler alumni team. This will be a true road game for Shield 219, with the game being played at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Hopefully, Valpo fans will make the two and a half hour drive and show support for their team.
Isaiah Burnett returns for the team after scoring 13 points last year. They also added Marreon Jackson to the team, who won MAC POY in 2020-2021. He can be the breakout star for this team. Also on the team is Mantis, who has 140k followers on Instagram. While he might not contribute on the court, you best believe we’ll get entertainment from him off of it.
This is Shield 219’s best chance for a win since entering the tournament. It’s up to them to pull off the upset and not only beat one team, but make a run in this tournament.