Sunday, March 30, 2008

News On The Horizon 3/30/2008


More Than "Just Balls": The Legend of the Ralph Marlin Tie--MICentralSports.com

I also wore it to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the Southern Illinois-Butler BracketBuster (longtime friend of the site Brandon Loy has photographic proof). By March, there was plenty of power in the tie, and it helped propel Southern Illinois through the Columbus pod, as the Salukis destroyed Virginia Tech by 15 to make the Sweet 16.

I was very careful with the tie this season, not using it for any regular-season mid-on-major matchups. I only wore it on high-profile mid-versus-mid occasions, like the SIU-Butler rematch and the Davidson-Winthrop Buster game. I stormed three floors with it on, as the excitement of UMBC, Siena and Temple fans rubbed off on the tie.

But last weekend in Birmingham, for whatever reason, I decided not to wear the tie. Or maybe I simply forgot to. As Butler fell away in overtime of the Round of 32 to the streetball All-Stars of Tennessee, just four feet from the edge of the court, I looked down at my standard red and silver noose and cursed myself for what I didn't do. In such a close loss, the "Just Balls" tie could have given the Bulldogs the little bit extra they needed to get over the top. It was the one time that I messed up, and I apologize to every Butler fan everywhere.

Blog on spring break--Indy Star Butler Insider

Monday, March 24, 2008

News On The Horizon 3/24/2008


Vols Survive Overtime Scare From Butler--MICentralSports.com
Well, dawg-gone it--The Indy Star
Tennessee 76, Butler 71, OT--The Indy Star
Green struggles against Vols--The Indy Star
Bulldogs let 1 get away in this sad, bitter loss--The Indy Star
Someone's leaving without win No. 31--The Indy Star
Poised Vols sink key free throws in overtime win--The Detroit Free Press
Dogs don't have their day--The Chicago Sun-Times
Butler bounced from tourney--The NWI Times
Adams: Just good enough to advance--Knoxville Sentinel
It was sweaty, then Sweet--Knoxville Sentinel
Strange: Prince starts, Ramar finishes counterpoint--Knoxville Sentinel
Worse than defeat, this season is over--Indy Star Butler Insider
TENNESSEE 76, BUTLER 71--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Vols clinch overtime thriller vs. Butler--Daily Beacon
Pearl makes his point and rotates guard spot--UTSports.com
No. 11 Butler Just Falls Short in Overtime Bid to Upset No. 5 Tennessee, 76-71--ButlerSports.com

Vikings Lace-up Dancing Shoes For First Time!--The Cauldron

Vikings N.I.T. Run Short Lived--The Cauldron

Phoenix Weekly Sports Report - March 24-30--uwgbathletics.com

Men's Basketball: VU needs to beat Houston's press tonight--The Post-Tribune
Men's Basketball: VU is all Indiana has left--The Post-Tribune
Getting ahead of ourselves--Off The Mark
VU plays at Houston today in second round of CBI--The NWI Times
Scouting Valparaiso men's basketball--The NWI Times
Crusaders Continue Postseason Run at Houston Monday--www.valpo.edu

Wright State's Cusack to retire--Dayton Daily News

Butler's season ends in 76-71 overtime loss to Tennessee--The Horizon League
Men's Basketball Release #21 -- CBI Quarterfinal Preview--The Horizon League

Thursday, March 20, 2008

News On The Horizon 3/20/2008


He's only 31, but it's clear 'Brad' is the man at Butler--The Indy Star
Butler fans say goodbye and good luck--The Indy Star

Vikings can't shut down Flyers--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Live from UD Arena: UD wins NIT opener--Dayton Daily News
Flyers rely on Huelsman's size--Dayton Daily News
Roberts has big night, UD advances in NIT--Dayton Daily News
Roberts scores 21 to lead UD to 66-57 win over Cleveland State in NIT opener--Fairborn Daily Herald
FLYERS WIN FIRST ROUND NIT GAME OVER CLEVELAND STATE, 66-57--DaytonFlyers.com
Vikings Lose at Dayton, 66-57, in NIT First Round--csuvikings.com

Crusaders escape after Huskies miss two free throws--The Post-Tribune
CBI: Valparaiso 72, Washington 71--Off The Mark
CBI: Valparaiso 72, Washington 71 -- postgame--Off The Mark
VU rekindles tournament success--The NWI Times
End of the line for Huskies--Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Men's Basketball | Huskies bow out with CBI defeat--Seattle Times
Notebook | UW loses game, money but glad for experience--Seattle Times
Bouchie picks up seniors’ slack in VU’s CBI win at Washington--VU with David Robb
Brockman going through warmups, house empty--Husky Men's Basketball Blog
Valpo game thread--Husky Men's Basketball Blog
Valpo aftermath--Husky Men's Basketball Blog
Valparaiso Holds On To Edge Huskies In CBI, 72-71--GoHuskies.com
Crusaders Win Postseason Thriller Over Washington--www.valpo.edu

Men's Basketball Roundup - March 19--The Horizon League