The Victory Bell: The Podcast

The impact of Valparaiso’s win over nationally-ranked Purdue is both immediate and long-lasting. It’s a story about the men’s basketball team, but it’s also a story about the university as a whole.Joining TVB: The Podcast to discuss the aftermath of Valparaiso’s 83-80 victory is Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications Brandon Vickrey. Vickrey had a front-row seat for Justus McNair’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer. While the Beacons celebrated one of the biggest victories in program history, he immediately sprang into action to make sure the story was told.Give the pod a listen and please consider becoming a paid subscriber so you don’t miss any moments during what is sure to be an exciting basketball season. Host: Paul OrenGuest: Brandon VickreyFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

The exhibitions and secret scrimmages are out of the way and there is just one sleep remaining before the 2026-27 basketball season officially tips off.Expectations are the highest they’ve been around Valparaiso in years. That doesn’t mean every player on the roster is going to average 30 points and a dozen assists per game. In what has become a yearly tradition, TVB founder Paul Oren and Todd Ickow, the Voice of Valparaiso Athletics, sit down to preview the upcoming season through a series of statistical categories.How many players will average double figures? How improved is Carter Hopoi this season? Is Kai Yu a 3-point shooter or a shot blocker? So many intriguing questions are on the table in the latest TVB podcast. Give it a listen and make sure you become a paid subscriber so you don’t miss anything during what is sure to be an exciting basketball season. Host: Paul OrenGuest: Todd IckowFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

The 2026-27 basketball season is right around the corner and the latest episode of The Victory Bell: The Podcast focuses on looking at the schedule. Valparaiso men’s basketball assistant coach Matt Gordon joins the pod to examine the nonconference slate and share how each game got on the schedule. TVB founder Paul Oren also shares some thoughts on the recent news coming out of the Valparaiso volleyball program. Host: Paul OrenGuests: Matt GordonFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

The calendar has flipped to August and the bulk of the fall sports teams are back on Valparaiso’s campus. Todd Ickow joins TVB: The Podcast to talk all things fall sports related, including Valpo’s 3-1 exhibition victory over DePaul in women’s soccer.Before diving into the fall sports, Todd and Paul examine Valpo men’s basketball and the recent trip to the Bahamas. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber to The Victory Bell, please sign up below so you don’t miss out on the fall sports preview packages that will begin running this weekend. Host: Paul OrenGuests: Todd IckowFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

The latest episode of TVB: The Podcast dives into the process that led to the recent oral history series on Valparaiso’s March to Madison Square Garden. TVB host Paul Oren explains how the project came to be and tells a few behind-the-scenes reporting stories along the way. Thank you to all who read the series and a special thanks to all who contributed their memories and stories to the project. As always, The Victory Bell: The Podcast is open to all listeners. Click below to become a paid subscriber at $7.99/month or $79.99 per year and gain full access to the site.Host: Paul OrenFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

Starting just outside Gurnee and ending right before Hwy. 49, The Victory Bell: The Podcast brings you on a ride home from Valparaiso’s oh-so-close loss to Marquette on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. TVB host Paul Oren breaks down Valpo’s near miss against the Golden Eagles in the first 30 minutes of the episode and then discusses Valparaiso’s recent Presidential hire in the back half of the pod. This is a "Ride Home” podcast which means no frills, no fancy production, and most importantly, no editing. You’ll hear some hiccups, a car trying to run me off the road and some unfiltered thoughts about whatever comes to mind. It’s an hour straight of me talking. If you can take that, give this episode a listen. As always, The Victory Bell: The Podcast is open to all listeners. Click below to become a paid subscriber at $5.99/month or $59.99 per year and gain full access to the site.Host: Paul OrenFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

We’re on the eve of the start of the 2025-26 college basketball season and that means The Victory Bell: The Podcast is back for the annual Over/Under Episode. TVB founder Paul Oren is joined by Todd Ickow, the Voice of Valparaiso Athletics, to discuss the upcoming Valparaiso men’s basketball season through a series of statistical categories related to the retooled roster. Will JT Pettigrew match Cooper Schwieger’s freshman year production? Will Tucker Tornatta fill up the box score on a nightly basis? Where will Shon Tupuola shine this season? These are just some of the many questions asked and answered in the latest TVB podcast. As always, The Victory Bell: The Podcast is open to all listeners. Click below to become a paid subscriber at $5.99/month or $59.99 per year and gain full access to the site.Host: Paul OrenGuest: Todd IckowFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

The ball has been kicked and served in several different ways as the 2025-26 athletic campaign is officially underway at Valparaiso University. Todd Ickow joins The Victory Bell founder Paul Oren to discuss the start of the year for Valpo’s volleyball, soccer and football programs. Ickow and Oren discuss several of Valparaiso’s new stars, including a pair of freshmen sensations on the soccer team. Valparaiso men’s basketball assistant coach Matt Gordon later joins the pod to breakdown the 2025-26 nonconference slate after the schedule was released on Wednesday afternoon. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, click here to save 20 percent off through Friday as part of TVB’s Labor Day sale. Host: Paul OrenGuests: Todd Ickow, Matt GordonFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

Valparaiso women’s basketball coach Courtney Boyd sits down with The Victory Bell: The Podcast to discuss her first summer on campus. Boyd walks through how she constructed the 2025-26 roster and discusses her philosophy heading into her first year leading the Beacons. Paul Oren also previews some upcoming coverage and reflects on a weekend spent in Indianapolis surrounding the WNBA All-Star Game and TBT. Host: Paul OrenGuest: Courtney BoydFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe

Who is on the Mount Rushmore of Valparaiso athletes in the 21st century?Paul Oren and Todd Ickow discuss that very question as The Victory Bell looks back on the first quarter of the 21st century. Alec Peters is a pretty easy pick for the best men’s basketball player this century, but what about Jeanette Gray or Dani Franklin for women’s basketball? Kyle Gaedele or Kyle Schmack for baseball? Angie Porché or Rylee Cookerly for volleyball? This episode covers every sport at Valparaiso as both Todd and Paul give their Mount Rushmore for the last 25 years. Host: Paul OrenGuest: Todd IckowFor more coverage of Valparaiso athletics, visit TheVictoryBell.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thevictorybell.com/subscribe