Thursday, March 26, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/26/2009

Conference Report Card - Sweet 16 Edition--Rush The Court

Horizon (2 bids, 0 remaining, 1-2 record)

The Horizon had a chance to make some serious noise in this Tournament, but typically-solid Butler couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain when it lost to #8 LSU (who was probably underseeded). However, Cleveland St. so far has had the upset of the Dance with its throttling of #4 Wake Forest, so we’re going to give them the benefit of the doubt here.

Verdict: A-. With a #8 and #14 seed, the league was supposed to win 0.85 games, and CSU’s win should count for more than one.


Loyola Signees Put Together Strong Seasons--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball: UWGB's Evans ready to soar in Final Four dunk contest--Green Bay Press Gazette

Depth should be VU's only issue this offseason--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso needs to build for the future -- literally--Off The Mark
Study says new Valparaiso arena would have to be tied to VU--The NWI Times

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

News On the Horizon 3/25/2009

Epilogue, The Fifth: Who Cares Least--The Mid-Majority

But I'll need some help with this. For the first time in site history, there will be a third Conchord, a third member of our Royal We, the Nate Silver to my Sean Quinn and RonDavis to my Batgirl. His name is Damon Lewis, he's very passionate about mid-major basketball, and you will grow to like him very much if you don't already. He's a big hitter with the Horizon League Network and someone who will be learning a lot of new territory. I trust you will be as patient with him as you were with me in 2004, back when I was branching out from the CAA and Big West.

One thing I know you will find refreshing is his innate and natural wide-eyed Midwestern-ness, which stands in stark contrast to my crusty-punk East Coast cynicism (the result of having all the Minnesota Nice beaten and mugged out of me). Damon also uses blue cussy-words less than I do, which I understand irks certain folks.

Starting in November, Damon will take over the daily posts, the MMBOW and G!O!T!N! selections, all the tempo-free stat stuff and the State ratings. Analysis is an important part of this, but I'll be happy to hand that pass that part of the site into capable hands. He's also got some ideas of his own, which will be certified fresh. This move will free me up to write about the road, which I'm sure makes a lot of the old fans from the 100 Games Project days very happy indeed, the ones who always tell me there aren't nearly enough travelogues.

ATB: NCAA First Weekend Thoughts--Rush The Court

Second-Half rally comes up short, as Butler falls to Marquette in WNIT--Dawgnet News

CSU Men's Basketball: Team gathers to reflect on the season and resume work for the future--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kansas has Aldrich, but MSU gets nod--The Detroit News

Women's Basketball Honored at Annual Banquet--detroittitans.com

Men's basketball: UWGB coach Tod Kowalczyk on his 2008-09 players--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB men's basketball notebook: Curtain will return, except vs. UW--Green Bay Press Gazette
Men's basketball: Returning guards lift Phoenix's hopes for 2009-10--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB's Evans invited to dunk contest--Green Bay Press Gazette
Evans Selected to Participate in Dunk Contest at NCAA Final Four--uwgbathletics.com

Monday, March 23, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/23/2009

RTC Mascot Death Match - Second Round (Sunday Matches)--Rush The Court
Sunday Recap--Ballin' is a Habit
The Top Plays From The First Weekend--Ballin' is a Habit
Around Day Four of The Tournament: Hard to Breathe When It’s So Chalky--College Hoops Journal

Soaring sweetly--Arizona Daily Star
Wildcats carry on--Arizona Daily Star
Arizona leads Cleveland State, 35-25, at halftime of the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dream cut short: Arizona defeats cold-shooting Cleveland State, 71-57, in NCAA second round--Cleveland Plain Dealer
NCAA loss can't dim Cleveland State's suddenly bright future, says Bud Shaw--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Arizona's big-time players just too much for CSU, says Terry Pluto--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Chris Moore's NCAA diary: Pride, not disappointment, at the end of a great season--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Four things Joe Maxse thinks about the NCAA Tournament, and CSU's final game--C;eve;amd {lain Dealer
Cleveland State's NCAA dreams (and offense) dry up in Miami as Arizona rolls to 71-57 win--Cleveland Plain Dealer
NCAA Insider: CSU's departing seniors gratified by 'blessing' of tournament run--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Arizona players' postgame news conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Arizona coach Russ Pennell's postgame news conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State players' postgame news conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State coach Gary Waters' postgame news conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Photo gallery: Cleveland State vs. Arizona--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Despite loss, Cleveland State fans savor last dance at NCAA men's basketball tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Wayward shooting eye proved a lingering issue Cleveland State couldn't overcome in NCAA--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Horne gets serious in win--Daily Wildcat
Wildcats use full-throttle energy to escape first two rounds--Daily Wildcat
Sweet (16) Dreams--Daily Wildcat
Once Again, Vikings Keep Dancing--The Cauldron
'Cats Headed to Sweet Sixteen with Win Over Cleveland State--ArizonaAthletics.com
Vikings Fall to Wildcats in Second Round of NCAA Tournament--csuvikings.com

Hightower’s career-high 26 points spark Lady Tigers to first-round win in PMAC--Daily Reveille
Hightower power--The Advocate
NCAA women's basketball story, photos: Phoenix hangs tough, but winning streak crumbles--Green Bay Press Gazette
Hightower Burns Phoenix for 26; Lady Tigers Advance--LSUSports.net
Phoenix Battles Valiantly But Falls to LSU in NCAA First Round, 69-59--uwgbathletics.com

Koonce will tackle UWM's challenges--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Cleveland State falls to Arizona 71-57 in second round of NCAA Tournament--The Horizon League
Visionaries--Horizon League Network

Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- March 22 (NCAA)--The Horizon League

Sunday, March 22, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/22/2009

Respect, Resilience, Joy and Despair--The Mid-Majority
Second Round: Sunday's Games--The Mid-Majority
Cedric Jackson and Cleveland State Rock Wake Forest--Hoopville
Boom Goes the Dynamite: NCAA Tournament Day Four--Rush The Court
Mascot Death Match: Day 3--Rush The Court
There Was Only One Upset In The First Round--Ballin' is a Habit
BIAH NCAA Tournament Live-Blog Day 4--Ballin' is a Habit

Future full of optimism for Butler basketball--The Indy Star

March Madness: Ohio hoops may be best of all--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Chris Moore's NCAA diary: It's a day of rest and jubilation for Vikings--Cleveland Plain Dealer
A team rising once more: Behind the revival of Cleveland State basketball--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Spotlight sensation: Cleveland State's Jackson comfortable in leading Vikings' NCAA charge--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Four things Joe Maxse thinks about the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings earned ESPN analyst's Davis' faith vs. Wake, but against Arizona? It's a tough call--Cleveland Plain Dealer
NCAA Insider: Arizona's Wildcats admit surprise they're facing the Vikings--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin: Waters' wisdom flows smoothly as poised Vikings thrill fans--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State in the NCAA Tournament: Pregame press conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State in the NCAA Tournament: Arizona's pregame press conference transcript--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State has guarded optimism facing Arizona in the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State and Arizona getting ready to tip off in the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Today: Vikings ready for Wildcats--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings Play Arizona in NCAA Second Round--csuvikings.com

Women's NCAA basketball: Tigers ask for help, study for Phoenix--Green Bay Press Gazette
NCAA women's basketball: Being overlooked fine with Phoenix--Green Bay Press Gazette

Penguins already looking to 2009-10--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

Razing Arizona--Horizon League Network
(13) Cleveland State vs. (12) Arizona--Horizon League Network

Saturday, March 21, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/21/2009

Cleveland St advances to face Arizona--MICentralSports.com
Boom Goes the Dynamite: NCAA Tournament Day Two--Rush The Court
BIAH NCAA Tournament Live-Blog Day 2--Ballin' is a Habit
Saturday Morning Shootaround: Did You Stay Up For The Late Games?--Ballin' is a Habit
Late Games Recap--Ballin' is a Habit
Around Day Two: Cleveland State, Wisconsin and Dayton Set Your Bracket Aflame--College Hoops Journal
Nightcap: Last Call for Cinderella--The Big Lead
Cinderella Looks Fab in Green--The Big Lead

Butler Continues WNIT Trek At Marquette On Monday--ButlerSports.com

Four things Joe Maxse thinks from the NCAA Regional action in Miami--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State is counting down to its game against Wake Forest--Cleveland Plain Dealer
NCAA Insider: It's been a long wait for CSU's Reed to finally fill out his Dance card--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Chris Moore's NCAA diary: An upbeat pre-game preparation raises confidence--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland St stuns Wake Forest 84-69--Winston-Salem Journal
What I Wanted You to Read This Morning--My Take on Wake
Cleveland State leads Wake Forest at halftime, 39-30, in the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State getting ready for Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dance of delight: Cleveland State dominates Wake Forest in NCAA stunner--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings Party Like Its 1986--The Fan Home of the Cleveland State Vikings
Cleveland State Upsets Wake Forest in NCAA Tournament--WakeForestSports.com
Men's Basketball Shocks Fourth-Seeded Wake Forest, 84-69--csuvikings.com

Women's basketball: Phoenix out to better '07 team--Green Bay Press Gazette

Cleveland State 84, Wake Forest 69--Off The Mark

Cleveland State shocks Wake Forest 84-69 in NCAA Tournament--The Horizon League
Coach Waters/D'Aundray Brown--Horizon League Network
Pep Rally Time!--Horizon League Network
(13) Cleveland State vs. (4) Wake Forest--Horizon League Network
That Was Fun Wasn't It?--Horizon League Network
In the Mean Time, the In-Between Time...--Horizon League Network

Friday, March 20, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/20/2009

NCAA First Round: Thursday's Games--The Mid-Majority
NCAA First Round: Friday's Games--The Mid-Majority
Thoughts and Notes From Day One of the NCAA Tournament--Hoopville
Boom Goes the Dynamite: NCAA Tournament Day One Edition--Hoopville
BIAH 1st Round Live-Blog Day 1--Ballin' Is A Habit
Early Games Recap--Ballin' Is A Habit
Friday Morning Shootaround: Western Kentucky, Michigan, and Maryland the only upsets--Ballin' Is A Habit
Live-Blogging From CBS’ Studios: Window 1--College Hoops Journal
Around The Tournament, Day One: No Buzzer-Beaters; No. 1’s Strong As Ever--College Hoops Journal

TIMELY TIGER--Times-Picayune
Breaking down LSU's win against Butler in the NCAA basketball tournament: Times-Picayune video--Times-Picayune
Howard keeps Bulldogs close with 22--The Indy Star
Tigers' Thornton shoots down Bulldogs--The Indy Star
This chance is gone, and future is not certain--Indy Star Butler Insider
LSU 75, BUTLER 71--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Men's Basketball: LSU holds off late Butler rally in first round--Daily Reveille
Bulldogs can't stop Thornton and LSU--Dawgnet News
Thornton, No. 8-Seed Tigers Survive Butler, 75-71--LSUSports.net
Late Rally Falls Short as No. 21 LSU Edges No. 22 Butler, 75-71--ButlerSports.com

Dukes fall in first trip to postseason--Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Butler rallies to top Duquesne in final seconds of WNIT opener--Dawgnet News
Last Second Basket Lifts Butler Over Dukes in WNIT 59-58--GoDuquesne.com
Butler Rallies To Top Duquesne In Final Seconds Of WNIT Opener--ButlerSports.com

Making new memories: Cleveland State's 1986 heroes pulling hard for Vikings' NCAA success--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Midwest Regional Insider: CSU has veterans, Wake has ACC savvy--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Wake Forest knows a little Cleveland State history--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Chris Moore's NCAA diary: Vikings calm, ready--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Undersized Vikings certain they have more than a small chance against Wake Forest--Cleveland Plain Dealer
CSU coach Gary Waters news conference--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State ready for its NCAA chance--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State senior George Tandy can provide a big boost for the Vikings against Wake Forest--Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Game of Change: A Special Evening At UDM--detroittitans.com

Joseph, Blakely Lead Men's Hoops Over Green Bay in CBI First Round--uvm.edu

NCAA women's basketball: Sightseeing secondary on UWGB's business trip--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Heads to Baton Rouge to take on LSU in NCAA Tournament First Round--uwgbathletics.com

More Men's Basketball Postseason Honors--Panther Blog Zone

Butler NCAA postmortem -- was 2008-09 a success?--Off The Mark
Kulaga Earns Second Scholar-Athlete of the Week Honor--valpoathletics.com

Late Rally Falls Short as No. 21 LSU Edges No. 22 Butler, 75-71--The Horizon League
Is This the End, Or the Beginning?--Horizon League Network
Butler vs. LSU - NCAA 1st-Round Game--Horizon League Network
Party in the City Where the Heat is On!--Horizon League Network
We Talkin' Bout Practice--Horizon League Network

Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- March 19 (WNIT)--The Horizon League

Thursday, March 19, 2009

News On The Horizon 3/19/2009

Midwest Region Game-By-Game Previews - 1st Round--Rush The Court
NCAA Preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons--Rush The Court
Conference Tournament Madness: A Review--Ballin' is a Habit
2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region Preview--Ballin' is a Habit
2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: South Region--Ballin' is a Habit
The NCAA Tournament Starts Tomorrow!!!!!!!!--Ballin' is a Habit
Cleveland State’s Healing Begins With an N.C.A.A. Bid--New York Times
Going Inside the South--College Hoops Journal
Going Inside the Midwest--College Hoops Journal
Tournament Thursday Breakfast: Tasty Tidbits and Sweet Statistics About the Field--College Hoops Journal

Both teams ready to turn things around--The Indy Star
'The Butler Way' has proven productive--The Indy Star
On short notice, Bulldogs' style is tough to defend--The Indy Star
On LSU, and an all-opponent team--Indy Star Butler Insider
March Madness Bracketology with Dr. Peek--Dawgnet News

March Madness in KC: Bringing back memories with Akron and Cleveland State in mind--Cleveland Plain Dealer
March Madness in KC: Waiting on tipoff for the Cleveland State Vikings and Akron Zips--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio has strong emotions for late coach Skip Prosser--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Tournament Diary: Cleveland State's Chris Moore--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Bud Shaw's blog: Picking the winners in the NCAA tournament--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State To Face Wake Forest In First Round Of NCAA Tournament--The Fan Home of the Cleveland State Vikings
Vikings To Face Wake Forest In NCAA First Round--csuvikings.com

Preview of Thursday's NCAA tournament games--The Detroit Free Press
Midwest insider: Just happy to be there--The Detroit News
South insider: Lingering injury--The Detroit News

Thanks:--Loyola Phoenix
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Up--Loyola Phoenix

Panic In Detroit--Loyola Phoenix
Maggie's Farm:--Loyola Phoenix
Shannon Reidy: No mas--Loyola Phoenix

Women's basketball: Phoenix has valuable NCAA experience--Green Bay Press Gazette

Men's basketball: UWGB falls flat in return to postseason--Green Bay Press Gazette
Men's Basketball Bows Out in Postseason Tournament Action--uwgbathletics.com

Three Panthers Earn All-State Awards--Panther Blog Zone

Valpo's Jenkins made 'the pass'--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso signs with Nike--Inside VU Sports
Valpo Signs Apparel Deal with Nike--valpoathletics.com

Men's Basketball Team Highlights And Individual Achievements--ysusports.com

HLN to provide NCAA Tournament coverage--The Horizon League
Green Bays falls to Vermont 76-72 in first round of College Basketball Invitational--The Horizon League
Getting Prepared--Horizon League Network
Party in the City Where the Heat is On!--Horizon League Network
We Talkin' Bout Practice--Horizon League Network

Women's Basketball Postseason Preview--The Horizon League
Valpo's Lenski, Kulaga Honored as U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week--The Horizon League