On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Full Breakdown Of The Top November Tournaments--Rush the Court

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer (Regionals: November 9-11, NYC: November 19-20)

The Field: The powers-that-be decided to avoid any clunker matchups at MSG in mid-November, so they’ve given the four hosts — North Carolina, California, Ohio State and Syracuse – an automatic pass to the semifinals in NYC, so don’t expect any Gardner-Webb Cinderella stories invading the Big Apple. The tournament kicks off Monday and Wednesday at all four sites with Syracuse battling Albany and Robert Morris, California taking on Murray State and Detroit, North Carolina facing Florida International and North Carolina Central and Ohio State matched up against Alcorn State and James Madison. The semifinal games are set for November 19 with Syracuse vs. California as the under-card and North Carolina vs. Ohio State in the nightcap.
...
76 Classic (November 26-27, 29)

The Field: Does West Virginia have the goods to win the Big East? We’ll get our first look at the Mountaineers when they take on Big West favorite Long Beach State. The second game pits Texas A&M against Clemson in what could be a crucial bubble contest we look back on in February and March with great importance. The best first-round matchup is Butler vs. Minnesota. The top-ten Bulldogs could receive a stiff test from Minnesota and their deep, talented squad. UCLA faces Portland in what is a very dangerous game for the Bruins.
...
The Pick: West Virginia could take on Butler in what would be the best tournament final of any featured this November. This would be a matchup of two rugged, fundamentally sound teams that crash the boards and work hard on every possession. West Virginia can edge Butler athletically, though, with the slower Gordon Hayward attempting to contain Devin Ebanks and Da’Sean Butler raining threes outside. If the Mountaineers can get Joe Mazzulla playing like he did two years ago in March, they could take the Big East crown and should have enough ammunition to win this tournament.

RTC Live: Week 1--Rush the Court

RTC Live is privileged to announce the following schedule of games for the upcoming week of November 9-15. We encourage you to join us in an interactive format to read about the sights and sounds of the games we’re covering, contribute your analysis and put forth questions that we will vet and then take into the media interview room with us afterwards. It’s always a great time, and we look forward to having you along for the ride this season. We have six solid games scheduled this week all over the country, and this is only the beginning.
...
Wednesday November 11

* Detroit @ California – 11pm ET (also on ESPNU) – part of the 2kSports Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament; we’ll welcome back Eli Holmam/Xavier Keeling from transfer purgatory.
...
Saturday November 14

* Davidson @ Butler – 3pm ET – the most recent middie media darling vs. the next one at Hinkle; it’s always a fun time there.

Top Ten Most Intriguing College Basketball Games in Chicago--ChicagoNow.com
Horizon League Outlook--The Sports Network
College Basketball Preview - Horizon League--WCPO.com

RTC Conference Primers: #1 – Big Ten--Rush The Court

Top 10 RPI Boosters.

Everyone vs. Butler. The Bulldogs figure to be a top 20 team this year, and they play three Big Ten teams in the non-conference. Should be an excellent litmus test.

* Nov. 18, 2009 – Butler @ Northwestern
* Nov. 26, 2009 - Minnesota vs. Butler (in Anaheim)
* Dec. 12, 2009 – Ohio St. @ Butler

That’s Debatable: What Excites Us About the 2009-10 Season--Rush the Court

While college basketball has a tournament that college football fans can only dream about that gives the little guy a chance it seems like the talk of the rise of the mid-major has been premature. In the past five years only one mid-major (outside of Memphis) that was feared coming into March has advanced to the Elite 8 (#3 seed Xavier in 2008). While Gonzaga (all hype in March since Casey Cavalry’s sophomore season) and George Mason (one fluky run) are nice I am looking for something more substantial. Right now the top candidates are Butler, Dayton and Siena. I’ll be watching to see if someone steps up.

Tweeting the Preview: #18 – #1--Rush the Court
RTC Top 25: Preseason Edition--Rush the Court
Which teams will play for the NCAA basketball title?--The Chicago Tribune

Texas, Butler can go deep

David Teel, Newport News Daily Press

Since picking chalk is about as much fun as tasting chalk, let's forgo a Kansas-Michigan State final and delve deeper into the pool of contenders for Texas and Butler.

The Longhorns have earned 11 consecutive NCAA tournament invites under Rick Barnes, among the best active coaches without a national title, and return wing Damion James to complement point guard Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida.

Headlined by guard Shelvin Mack and forward Matt Howard, the Bulldogs have everyone back from the team that extended LSU to the limit in last year's first round.

A Final Four run would take Butler back home again to Indianapolis.

dteel@tribune.com