On The Horizon

Jim Squire

UIC Places 43 Student-Athletes On 2010 Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll--uicflames.com

Banner Boys Charity game on August 6th--PantherU
Recognize--PantherU
Panthers Say Thank You After Successful Golf Outing--uwmpanthers.com

Self, Calipari, Boeheim, Barnes and others scout next season--Sports Illustrated

Homer Drew, Valparaiso

This is one coach I spoke with whom I didn't pepper with questions about his team. I was more curious as to why Drew, who will turn 66 in September and is about to begin his 42nd year in coaching, is still spending his summer chasing high school kids around the country. "I really don't enjoy this aspect of the job, to be honest," Drew told me. "You're away from home, you watch so many games, you've done it for 40 years. I tell [my son and assistant coach] Bryce, 'Just get me to the parents.' "

Still, it is always inspirational, not to mention great fun, to spend time visiting with Homer Drew. He is funny and pleasant and exudes such a genuine joie de vivre. Despite his distaste for recruiting (and he's hardly alone among his peers in that regard), he still loves his work and has no plans to retire soon. "I'm still a kid at heart. I enjoy the teaching part of it," he said. "One nice thing about it is, young people keep you young."

My advice to all Hoop Thinkers is to take some time if you get a chance to chat with Homer Drew about everything and nothing. And if you ever spot him in a Las Vegas casino, shake his hand right before you play craps. Trust me on that one.

Horizon League Announces 2010 Spring Academic Honor Roll--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Butler's Howard opts to stash away 'stache--Rivals.com

Ed Maracich To Be Inducted Into Chicagoland Sports Hall Of Fame--LoyolaRamblers.com

Panthers Add Morris To Women's Basketball Staff--uwmpanthers.com

Big men struggling to produce in Horizon League--Mark Katz's Blog

Jim Squire

NCAA's officiating head offers review--ESPN.com
Six key topics halfway through the summer evaluation period--USA Today

5. Middling mid-majors— Everyone wondered heading into the spring whether Butler's advance to the national championship game would change the recruiting paradigm. If players begin to believe that they can earn more immediate playing time yet still compete for college basketball's grand prize, will more blue-chip prospects choose schools in mid-major conferences?

The answer to that question thus far — and again, a lot of decisions remain outstanding — is no, and the likely explanation resides above. Because the major conferences have closer ties to national television, and television exposure is linked to NBA exposure, high-majors still hold a clear advantage. As we saw during the conference expansion hullabaloo earlier this summer, television dictates terms at an institutional level, much less recruiting.

Mack ready to shine for Butler--ESPN.com
Butler schedules game--The Indy Star
Butler recruit comes up big--Indy Star Butler Insider
Two new recruits intriguing--Indy Star Butler Insider
Comments from Aussie recruit--Indy Star Butler Insider
An all-opponent team for last season--Indy Star Butler Insider
Fan blog 1: She felt Butler history coming--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler makes offer to Georgia star--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler to play Mississippi Valley State--Indy Star Butler Insider

Kennedy To Take His Game To Europe--detroittitans.com

Dildy says leaving UIC was right move--ESPN.com
UIC's Collins to step down before season--FOXSports.com
Jimmy Collins retiring from UIC--ChicagoNow.com
Next in line at UIC--ChicagoNow.com
UIC coach retiring--The Chicago Tribune
Collins couldn't commit full time to UIC anymore--The Chicago Tribune
UIC coach Collins retires after 14 seasons--Daily Herald
Collins announces retirement--Whoosh!Net
Jimmy Collins Ends Career As All-Time UIC Wins Leader--uicflames.com

Chicago College Basketball Scheduling Notes--ChicagoNow.com
Three Ramblers Named To 2009-10 NABC Honors Court--LoyolaRamblers.com

UWM looking forward to trip to Italy--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
What does Butler’s run do for us?--PantherU
On-Campus Arena?--PantherU
In LeCrone’s Shoes--PantherU
Best Backcourt Ever?--PantherU
Tracy Dildy leaves UIC--PantherU
Golf Outing a success--PantherU
The Jimmy Collins Era ends--PantherU
The Interview: Jackson Aldridge--PantherU
Shaq Boga gaining street cred--PantherU
Post by Voice: the New Frontier--PantherU
Welcome to the new PantherU!--PantherU
Jesperson to make “The Decision”--PantherU
Catch-and-Shoot--PantherU
What’s next for UIC?--PantherU
Catch-and-Shoot Friday--PantherU
Charles Lee--PantherU
Roster Unveiled--PantherU
The Interview: Lonnie Boga--PantherU
Milwaukee Pro-Am cures withdrawal--PantherU
Scheduling takes flight--PantherU

Panthers Named To WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll--uwmpanthers.com

Class Of 2011 Plainfield Central Star Derrick Marks Of Old Gold Has Become A Highly Popular Recruit Since Deciding To Open Up His Collegiate Recruitment--ChicagoHoops.com
Class Of 2011 Chicago University High School Star Mike Turner Of Mean Streets-Newell Continues To Pile On Scholarship Offers On The Heels Of His Strong Play--ChicagoHoops.com
Valparaiso men's basketball team getting a jump on things--The NWI Times
Let’s get ready for basketball--Region Sports Extra
Crusaders Begin Preparations for Preseason Trip to Cancun--valpoathletics.com

Indiana guard first Class of ’11 commit for WSU--Dayton Daily News
WSU sets Chicago Invitational schedule--Dayton Daily News
Skilled big men are tough to find, develop for mid-majors--Dayton Daily News
Former WSU star has trouble finding court in NBA Summer League--Mark Katz's Blog
Chicago Invitational lineup set for WSU basketball--Mark Katz's Blog
Indiana guard becomes first WSU commitment in Class of 2011--Mark Katz's Blog
WSU compiling strong non-conference schedule--Mark Katz's Blog
Field Set for Chicago Invitational Challenge: Get Tickets at Nutter Center--wsuraiders.com

YSU’s eight HOF honorees named--Youngstown Vindicator
Women’s Basketball to Hold Annual Golf Outing Aug. 20 at Pine Lakes--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

Bulldogs at the ESPYs--Indy Star Butler Insider
Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward holds his own in summer league--Deseret News
Hayward talks about summer league--NBA TV
Another tough loss for Dawgs--Indy Star Butler Insider

Couture To Participate In NCAA Mock Selection--ButlerSports.com

Women's Basketball Adds SJU Transfer Murphy--detroittitans.com

Chicago State finally hires a head coach--Ballin' is a Habit
Dildy accepts Chicago State job--Whoosh!Net

Women's basketball: UWGB's Bollant repeats as state coach of year--Green Bay Press Gazette

Panthers Start Practice For August Trip To Italy--uwmpanthers.com

IBCA All-Stars: Area trio sparks 1A-2A North comeback win--The Pantagraph

Former WSU star shooting for NBA--Dayton Daily News
Kentucky prep teammates on Wright State recruiting radar--Dayton Daily News
Question: Where does DaShaun Wood rank in WSU basketball history?--Mark Katz's Blog

Another Vest joins Raiders staff--Dayton Daily News
Bradbury Hires Muntz and Vest--wsuraiders.com

Jim Squire

For long term, IPFW’s sights set on Horizon--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Fields announced for the Legends and CBE Classics--Ballin' is a Habit

USA Basketball's Select team announced--Ballin' is a Habit
3 Indiana players to train against Olympic basketball team--The Indy Star
Mack, Johnson, Zeller on squad--The Indy Star
Shelvin Mack Named To USA Select Team--ButlerSports.com
Hayward, Thornton Named Top Butler Athletes--ButlerSports.com

Morning Five: 07.07.10 Edition--Rush The Court

The Legends Classic announced the match-ups and locations for the regional match-ups of its early season tournament with Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and UTEP hosting a bunch of sacrificial lambs–Albany, Bowling Green, Detroit, Gardner-Webb, Mercer, Niagara, Western Carolina, and William & Mary.

Detroit Mercy to play Syracuse in Legends Classic--The Detroit News
UDM's Engel Receives CoSIDA Award--detroittitans.com

Dildy named Chicago State coach--ESPNChicago.com
What Tracy Dildy's hiring means to Chicago--ChicagoNow.com
Dildy to coach at Chicago State--The Chicago Sun-Times
Dildy leaving UIC Flames for Chicago State's top job--Daily Herald
Tracy Dildy leaves UIC--PantherU
Josh Mayo Playing For Dallas Mavericks Summer League Team--uicflames.com
Dildy Departs UIC For Head Coaching Position At Chicago State--uicflames.com
Buttell, Kreps And Harding Named To NABC Honors Court--uicflames.com

Morning Five: 07.09.10 Edition--Rush The Court

The CBE Classic (not Tournament) has announced that Duke, Kansas State, Gonzaga, and Marquette will host the regional games against Princeton and Miami (OH); James Madison and Presbyterian; Bucknell and Wisconsin-Green Bay; and IUPUI and San Diego State, respectively. The hosts will automatically advance to the semifinals in Kansas City regardless of whether they win or lose the regional games.

UW-Green Bay men's basketball team sets Marquette matchup--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB men's basketball: Phoenix-Duke matchup falls through--Green Bay Press Gazette

Bollant Named WBCA DI Coach of the Year--uwgbathletics.com

Early Horizon League Predictions--PantherU
Franklin Makes Bucks' Summer League Roster--uwmpanthers.com

Harris joining Valpo teammates for series in Mexico--The Beacon News

Four Big East Teams Headline Crusader Women’s Hoops Slate--valpoathletics.com

Former Raider takes shot at autobiography--Dayton Daily News
Could the Horizon League get bigger?--Mark Katz's Blog
Roger Bacon big man mulling WSU offer--Mark Katz's Blog
Indiana center and WSU target stays home in college choice--Mark Katz's Blog
Former Kentucky recruit building relationships with WSU--Mark Katz's Blog

Jim Squire

Dunham can't wait: It's Butler--The Indy Star

Nobody wants to play at Detroit Mercy--The Detroit News

UWGB men's basketball: Fletcher, Perine optimistic about Wardle's first season--Green Bay Press Gazette

Best Backcourt Ever?--PantherU

Indiana recruit picks WSU league rival Butler--Mark Katz's Blog

Jim Squire

Success not changing Butler's recruiting focus--The Indy Star

Former UW-Green Bay basketball player Chris Yates reflects on life as convicted murderer--Green Bay Press Gazette
Former UW-Green Bay basketball player Chris Yates' life of drugs, violence leads to murder, prison--Green Bay Press Gazette

Memo to UD, WSU: It’s just a game!--Dayton Daily News
WSU basketball team’s success leads to better opponents (but not UD)--Dayton Daily News
UC coach Cronin has long respected WSU AD--Mark Katz's Blog
Donlon Hires Director of Operations--wsuraiders.com

Jim Squire

Duke Wins At Hoops On Court, Spending Off Court--Rush The Court

Three Great Mysteries of the Chicago Off Season--ChicagoNow.com

Mystery #3 - Who is going to play in Loyola's holiday tournament? - I guess this question really should be, "Is there going to be a Loyola holiday tournament?", but it seemed like this question was much more appropriate. The Ramblers have already agreed to play a home-and-home series with DePaul. This is a great first step, but now there are just a few home dates left. I haven't seen an official count yet, but my guess is that playing in a holiday tournament offers Jim Whitesell's club the best opportunity available to play meaningful games at the beginning of the season without compromising their non-conference schedule completely.

Keep your eye on Loyola. Already that Ramblers have been one of the most active Chicago teams during the off season and there may be more news yet to come.

UW-Green Bay has high hopes for 7-foot freshman Alec Brown--Green Bay Press Gazette

Women's basketball: UWGB names Divilbiss associate coach--Green Bay Press Gazette
Divilbiss Named Women's Basketball Associate Head Coach--UWGB Basketball

The new recruiting ground--The Post-Tribune
Former VU player Nuness joins Scott Drew's staff at Baylor--Off The Mark

Abby Scharlow Resigns as Assistant Basketball Coach at Valpo--valpoathletics.com