Relativity
Missouri Valley vs. Horizon -- In a new, disposable, December-only feature here on GMHN, we're going to take regular looks at how various leagues at our level are stacking up against one another. After all, the scoreboard that BracketBusters conferences use in March is numbers of bids, and though NCAA wins are important, the two-, three- or four-bid tag is what follows a conference around for the next year.
And no conference is as irked about having as many bids as the SWAC last year as the Valley. A perfect storm of departed seniors, five new coaches and a magical Drake squad put the MVC back in one-bid territory for the first time since 1998. So far this season, the league is No. 9 on the conference RPI chart with a .580 non-conference winning percentage.
The Horizon, which shares an overlapping geographical footprint with the Valley, is more used to being a single-dipper, rising to two-bid status just twice in the last decade. It's taken some serious Jenga to make that happen -- witness the split titles between Wright State and Butler two seasons ago. Many schools are in the process of beefing up their basketball programs for the long haul, and the addition of Valparaiso makes future multi-bid seasons likelier, and easier as well. But rebuilding projects and disappointments have put the HL at No. 13 in RPI, with a 21-26 noncon mark.
Head-to-head so far, however, the Horizon enjoys a slight 3-2 edge. After dropping the first two meetings (Bradley over UIC and Illinois State over Wright State), the HL has won three straight. Butler has won two of those, against Drake (in a graduation-addled BracketBuster return two weekends ago) and Evansville. UIC got its revenge against the MVC by dropping Northern Iowa by seven. UNI, of course, went on to beat Auburn at the Chicago Challenge. How much is a win over the Tigers worth, anyway?
Horizon League Notebook--Hoopville
Butler Keeps Winning in Old Rivalry--Butler Keeps Winning in Old Rivalry--Hoopville
Butler picked for '09 tournament--The Indy Star
Cleveland State Insider: Viking shooters needto get hot in Florida--Cleveland Plain Dealer
CSU Men's Basketball: Vikings shake off Lions, win 72-62--Cleveland Plain Dealer
CSU Men's Basketball: Vikings defeat Toledo, 77-56--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dealing with bad breaks: CSU's Woods steadily improving after skull injury--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Big Week For Vikings--The Fan Home of the Cleveland State Vikings
Vikings Host Valpo To Open Horizon League Schedule--csuvikings.com
Bullock Named Horizon League Player of the Week--csuvikings.com
Local college basketball roundup--Cleveland Plain Dealer
American 77, CSU 59
The Eagles (4-3) used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to break a 50-50 tie en route to a victory over the Vikings (3-3) at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.
American outscored the Vikings in the second half, 40-23.
Kailey Klein led the Vikings with 23 points, including 15 in the second half. Angel Roque added 13 points. Stephaine Crosley grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
AU Women's Basketball Remains Undefeated at Home, Defeating Cleveland State 77-59-AUEagles.com
Vikings Drop 77-59 Decision at American--csuvikings.com
Tune In To Coach McCallum's Titan '2-Minute Drill'--detroittitans.com
Titans Suffer 62-49 Setback at Albany--detroittitans.com
CMU squanders halftime lead--CM Life
Horizon's outlook: Wide open--UIC Chicago Flame
Men top Howard 68-54; Mayo honored by League--UIC Chicago Flame
Ryckbosch: "It feels good to be 2-0"--UIC Chicago Flame
UIC Tops Cougars 70-54--SIUECougars.com
Women's Basketball Records Third Straight Win On Sunday--uicflames.com
College basketball matchup: William & Mary at Loyola--The Chicago Tribune
The Future Is Upon Us--Ramblermania
Loyola In Search Of Second Straight Win When It Hosts William & Mary On Tuesday--LoyolaRamblers.com
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Harris' 27 not enough in loss to Phoenix--Daily Collegian
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Offense not clicking early--Daily Collegian
Women's Basketball to host Missouri State Wednesday night--uwgbathletics.com
Badgers thrash UW-Milwaukee--Badger Herald
Badgers triumph over Panthers--Daily Cardinal
Weekly Panthers report--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ricky Franklin Suspended--Milwaukee Panther Tracks
After losses, women's basketball team still hungry for big win--Northern Star
Panthers Take On Wisconsin Tuesday In Madison--uwmpanthers.com
Bryce Drew defined by more than 1 basket--The Post-Tribune
McPherson back on the court, but not the lineup--Off The Mark
Crusader Men Kick Off Horizon League Play Tuesday--valpoathletics.com
Valpo’s Kulaga Named Horizon League Player of the Week--valpoathletics.com
Raiders need to improve, but how?--Marc Katz's Blog
Duggins may miss this week’s games--Marc Katz's Blog
Duggins has surgery scheduled--Marc Katz's Blog
Colonials Claim Inaugural RMU Thanksgiving Tourney Title--RMUColonials.com
Women Fall to Robert Morris in RMU Thanksgiving Tournament Championship--wsuraiders.com
Bullock named Men's Basketball Player of the Week--The Horizon League
Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- Nov. 30--The Horizon League
Valparaiso's Kulaga Named Women's Basketball Player of the Week--The Horizon League
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