Two Valparaiso players arrested for drugs

[tornado]

two of the only returning Valparaiso players, Micah Bradford & Mileek McMillan, were arrested this past weekend
for drug possession (marijuana). This is Bradford's second drug arrest since the end of last season (2/26/2018 )
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...#anchor_item_1
https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...ith-2-felonies


in fact - since Feb 26, 2018 Micah Bradford has more drug arrests than he has games played

another interesting thing - one of the other people arrested with them this past weekend was Nailah Bush
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...61cd7e9.html#1

but she was also arrested along with Bradford the last time in 2018 as well
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...2dc8b941e.html

Micah Bradford played the only game left at the end of 2017-18 after his first arrest then has not played yet this year due to injury, so he hasn't missed a single game yet due to the arrest suspension - gotta wonder if he's done there....

[Da Coach]

It's been a bad past month for Valparaiso. Starters who were set to return next season- Derrik Smits, Markus Golder, Bakari Evelyn and top sub Jaume Sorolla have all announced they will seek a grad-transfer. Plus another starter and top freshman Javon Freeman also announced he was leaving. So now only 1 of their top 7 scorers will return next year, when 6 of the 7 were expected to return.
Now the team gets more unwelcome publicity for these drug arrests

Let's see what kind of disciplinarian Matt Lottich is. I'd be surprised if he doesn't cut his losses with Bradford after his second drug arrest and the fact that he hasn't played much or contributed much for Valpo.
Sophomore Mileek McMIllan played in 30 games this past season and averaged just 2.8 ppg and 1,5 rpg. The fact that Valpo only returns one other "big man" Ryan Fazekas, who is really more of a perimeter player, may weight in favor of McMillan getting another chance. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Lotich dismiss him, too.

[Da Coach]

Valpo head coach Matt Lottich has acted on the recent drug arrests of two of his players, Micah Bradford and Mileek McMillan.

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1120494949362032641

And just as expected, Bradford, who already had a similar drug arrest earlier this past season, received seemingly the stronger penalty. He was suspended from the basketball program indefinitely. Of course, that means very little to suspend a player in April after the season is over and the next season doesn't start for 6 months. Let's see if this is just virtue signalling, or real discipline.

Mileek McMillan has been suspended for only two games. Of course, that too means very little. Even if the suspension is upheld, he apparently is still allowed to participate in all team workouts and activities, and remains part of the program. And, if he does serve a 2-game suspension, it will be at the start of next season in exhibitions or meaningless early-season games.
I suspect how much of these disciplinary actions actually happen will depend on how badly Lottich needs these players next season.

Just my opinion, but I believe Bradford, being a repeat embarrassment to Valparaiso and to Lottich's basketball program., should have been immediately dismissed.
And McMillan should have gotten the more severe penalty similar to what Bradford got.

[tornado]

interesting thing I noted

-we had a couple players who were given low level ordinance citations for underage consumption and thus
the PJS guys labelled us "renegade program"...

-Valpo has a string of multiple drug arrests and the same PJS guys just called it "more player issues"...

-when Geno had multiple drug, alcohol and girlfriend beating arrests - barely a peep...

-ISU has an ongoing string of endless arrests and the same guys getting cuffed and thrown in jail over and over
some even for dealing drugs and they do not even mention it at all

[Da Coach]

Let's see what kind of disciplinarian Matt Lottich is. I'd be surprised if he doesn't cut his losses with Bradford after his second drug arrest and the fact that he hasn't played much or contributed much for Valpo.....

Well, as I guessed, Valparaiso announces that Micah Bradford, who was just arrested for his second drug offense, is leaving Valpo and transferring elsewhere.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...501-story.html

Fortunately for Bradford, he is reported to be on track to graduate this spring. That would allow him to transfer as a grad-transfer, play elsewhere, and not be subject to having to sit out a full year. He will likely be able to get a medical redshirt for this past season, and thus will have 2 years of eligibility left.

[tornado]

But this is what proper discipline looks like... good for Lottich - find kids who have some self control and who follow rules --
the kid was given a 2nd chance and he got arrested again - but anyway - once he got his 2nd repeat arrest, he gone....
This is so unlike one other MVC school that has multiple guys on the roster with multiple arrests - even some felonies...
and yet those guys never get a single day of suspension and they are starters and key players for their coach. But sometimes
that lack of discipline backfires & leads to serious team chemistry issues - as we did see there this year.

[Da Coach]

But do you think he would have been sent packing if he was a key player or a 16.7 ppg scorer?
IMO, he was jettisoned because he was not much of a contributor even when healthy, doesn't appear to have much of a role next season with all the other guards joining the team, and wasn't even a Matt Lottich recruit in the first place.

[tornado]

Iowa State star caught shoplifting - pleads guilty
https://www.amestrib.com/sports/2019...demeanor-theft

interesting - he is projected to be a 1st round draft pick and has already signed with an agent - likely already has a big cash advance
and will soon be a multi-millionaire - yet he figured he needed a few items at WalMart so badly he had to steal them...

[Da Coach]

Well, as I guessed, Valparaiso announces that Micah Bradford, who was just arrested for his second drug offense, is leaving Valpo and transferring elsewhere.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...501-story.html

Fortunately for Bradford, he is reported to be on track to graduate this spring. That would allow him to transfer as a grad-transfer, play elsewhere, and not be subject to having to sit out a full year. He will likely be able to get a medical redshirt for this past season, and thus will have 2 years of eligibility left.

Former Valparaiso player and one-time Bradley recruit Micah Bradford has transferred to Southern University, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He will be a grad transfer there and be eligible this coming season and have 2 seasons to play.