On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Tempo-free Horizon League--ChicagoNow.com
Loyola, DePaul, UIC still finding their way as new year begins--The Chicago Tribune

High highs, low lows: Loyola's play has been like Chicago weather. Mild one day, frigid the next.

The Ramblers would like to even out these swings as they move deeper into the Horizon League.

After hitting only 37.5 percent (18 of 48) of their shots in a loss to Cleveland State on Thursday, the Ramblers shot a season-high 60.9 percent from the field (28 of 46) on Saturday against Youngstown State.

The victory against Youngstown State broke a six-game losing streak in regular-season league play.
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Turnover trouble: Illinois-Chicago ranks last among Horizon League teams in turnovers. It somehow got worse when the Flames lost 83-59 at Cleveland State on Saturday and turned the ball over 24 times.

The Flames, who have lost three straight since beating Illinois, average 16.1 turnovers per game.

"We ran into a buzzsaw," coach Howard Moore told reporters after the Cleveland State loss. "It's a lot of CSU. But it's us too. We have to do a better job of handling the basketball. We've been working on that throughout the year. We're trying to make sure that's something that's important to us."

Bigger, better, truthier Tuesday Truths in 2011!--Basketball Prospectus

All about the non-Big Six: Bulldogs’ bite--Yahoo Sports
Utah Jazz extra: The Starting 5--Deseret News

2 — The Offseason of Change

It looked ominous. The inevitable departure of Carlos Boozer finally, mercifully almost, came in July. On top of that, the Jazz lost Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews and their firepower. Then general manager Kevin O'Connor pulled off a titantic trade, acquiring Al Jefferson from Minnesota for Kosta Koufos and his mad dancing skills, a couple of picks and Boozer's farewell gift of a trade exception. Other offseason pick-ups — Raja Bell, Earl Watson, Francisco Elson and Gordon Hayward, particularly — have given the Jazz lifts at times as well. As a bonus, none have tripped over bags, either.
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HOT

Gordon Hayward

Rookie has racked up three straight double-digit scoring games.

NBA: Jazz lay claim to the fourth quarter--Salt Lake Tribune

Since the Jazz do not have an official second option, they alternately turn to players as diverse as Millsap, Jefferson, Miles, Kirilenko and Gordon Hayward to take key final shots.