On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Stardate 101-20110216: Dream Seasons--The Mid-Majority

Horizon League
1. VALP 11-3; 2. CLST 11-4; 3. BUTL 11-5; 4. MILW 10-5; 5. WRIG 10-6; 6. UDM 8-8; 7. GB 6-9; 8. LOYO 5-10; 9. YSU 2-13 UIC 2-13
Valparaiso - 2/16 at MILW 2/21 at GB 2/24 LOYO 2/26 UIC
Cleveland State - 2/16 at WRIG 2/24 MILW 2/26 GB
Butler - 2/19 at UIC 2/26 LOYO
Milwaukee - 2/16 VALP 2/24 at CLST 2/26 at YSU
Wright State - 2/16 CLST 2/25 UDM
Detroit - 2/16 YSU 2/25 at WRIG
Green Bay - 2/21 VALP 2/24 at YSU 2/26 at CLST
Loyola (Ill.) - 2/16 at UIC 2/24 at VALP 2/26 at BUTL
Youngstown State - 2/16 at UDM 2/24 GB 2/26 MILW
Illinois-Chicago - 2/16 LOYO 2/19 BUTL 2/26 at VALP

One of the first tourneys to start: 13 days away. There's still some stagger to be made up in the schedule, but the prize for finishing first is to play out of your own locker room in the final rounds. (See G!O!T!N! below.)
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Game! Of! The! Night!

Valparaiso at Milwaukee (Horizon League)
U.S. Cellular Arena - Milwaukee, WI
8:00 EST

When there are as many games left to play in the regular season as games necessary to win the tourney, you know that the hour is getting late. Last night, Butler's Matt Howard dunked on the last play of the game to lift the Bulldogs to a 64-62 win at Green Bay. They're tied for first -- in the win column, at least -- with just two games left. As fans of the league know, this is all quite important, because the team in first at the end gets to host the last two rounds of the lightning round. The rest of the conference will catch up the stagger shortly; Cleveland State has the potential of reassuming a half-game lead should they beat Wright State on the road tonight, but we're here to talk about the other megabattle at op the old MCC.

Valparaiso, a cute diversion six weeks ago, is hanging around. Like, the Horizon League final could be at the ARC hanging around. The Crusaders' only home league loss was a 63-61 squeeker against Green Bay on January 23, but they've beaten all the other top teams there. They're pretty good on the road, too: other than wide losses at Cleveland State and Butler, they've taken care of business. And that business is playing lockdown halfcourt defense and making a ton of mid-range jumpers. There's nothing particularly imposing about Valpo -- they're not the world's tallest team, and their rotation tops out at 6-foot-7, but they do lead the league in two-point field goal percentage at 53.8 percent. They need those shots to fall, because they're not going to get second chances very often. They're seventh in the 10-team collective in rebound percentage; they get about half of availables.

Milwaukee, an annoying wrench in an impossible math problem six weeks ago, is the Horizon League's hottest team. The Panthers have won six in a row, a streak that started at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 23 with an 86-80 win over Butler (that was, incidentally, the last time Butler's lost). Despite the flat non-conference record and slow January, Rob Jeter's team is playing physical but smart lately, winning the boards but not sending teams to the line. This is also Senior Night for UWM's primary axis of Anthony Hill (14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Tone Boyle (12.5 ppg). In our experience, we've found that teams tend to expend additional effort to secure wins on any evening when framed jerseys are involved. But with a victory tonight and an Ohio road sweep to complete the season, there's an outside-outside shot that 13-5 could win this league and send the tourney to Milwaukee... we're not so late that dreams like that aren't still possible.

Stardate 102-20110217: Only Love Can Bust Your Bracket--The Mid-Majority

Conference Shootaround
Horizon League: Last night's G!O!T!N! did not have enough exclamation points. Tony Meier's #sofdunx sealed a 79-76 Milwaukee win over Valparaiso, which knocked the Crusaders out of first and kept the Panthers' hopes for a No. 1 seed alive. The new/old frontrunners are those Cleveland State Vikings, who slipped by Wright State 74-72 in Dayton Former Capital. Current MMBOW Norris Cole had 16 points and 10 assists, but it was the imbalanced boxscore that was the real star. No bench points for CSU. And if you didn't think the Horizon League was exciting enough -- and where's your pulse, mac? -- the city game between Loyola and UIC ended in as exciting a fashion as possible: a Courtney Stanley #superhoop at the overtime buzzer that gave Loyola a 67-66 win and a sweep of the season series. It was also a replay of last year's #ALLCAPSGAME, a topic that we'll discuss in depth tomorrow.

STARDATE 103-20110218: ALL CAPS--The Mid-Majority
Mid-Majority Chat Block, Episode 714--The Mid-Majority

4:46

[Comment From JoshuaJoshua: ]
Dickie V will be providing commentary at the Missouri State-Valpo game tomorrow. Good or bad for Hoops Nation?
Friday February 18, 2011 4:46 Joshua
4:48

I don't have the allergic reaction to him that most do. I have a lot of respect for the career he's mapped out for himself (http://www.midmajority.com/p/684 ). He represents the majority of college basketball fans: loud, knee-jerk, low-information. And I know this: it's an act. Shrewd guy.

GAME 7-060: BUTLER AT ILLINOIS-CHICAGO--The Mid-Majority
Game 7-061: Missouri State at Valparaiso--The Mid-Majority
ATB--Rush The Court

Tonight’s Quick Hits…

* Butler’s Surge. The defending national runners-up won their fifth game in a row tonight over Green Bay to move to 11-5 in the Horizon League, showing some of the resolve that we expected all season from a Brad Stevens team featuring a couple of studs in Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack. Mack and Howard combined for 35/10/7 assts this evening, giving the Bulldogs a fighting chance to once again win the regular season title in the Horizon League and guarantee home court during the conference tourney. Butler only has two games remaining (both winnable), but league leader Valpo has four games remaining and Cleveland State three — if Butler can get into one of the top two slots, we think it’s likely they’ll figure a way to get back to the NCAAs in an otherwise trying season.

ATB--Rush The Court

Tonight’s Quick Hits…
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* Horizon League Race Tightens. We mentioned this possibility last night, and Butler got some help tonight in that HL-leading Valparaiso lost at Milwaukee this evening to drop to 11-4 while Cleveland State beat Wright State to move to 12-4. The Bulldogs, who have won five in a row, sit threateningly one game behind CSU now at 11-5, and only a half-game behind the Crusaders. It’s particularly important in this league to earn one of the top two seeds in the conference tournament because the Horizon League uses a double-bye system that slots the #1 and #2 seeds into the semifinals, and the top overall seed plays its two games at home.

Thursday's Shootaround: Did St. Mary's suffer the upset of the year?--Ballin' is a Habit

Horizon League: What a mess this conference is at the top. League leader Valparaiso lost to Milwaukee 79-76 last night which, combined with Cleveland State's win over Wright State, gave the Vikings a half game lead in the league standings. Milwaukee is a game back in the loss column, tied with Butler for third place. Those first two spots are extremely important in the Horizon League; the top two seeds get byes into the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Loyola (IL) beats Illinois-Chicago on a buzzer beater--Ballin' is a Habit
--College Hoops Journal--The Big Lead
Ranking BracketBusters matchups--Sports Illustrated

3. Cleveland State (20-5, 11-4 Horizon) at Old Dominion (21-6, 12-4 CAA)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Why to watch: Because neither team is assured of an NCAA berth without its conference's auto bid. Old Dominion has much better nonleague work but still is tied for second in the Colonial, two games behind league-leading George Mason. Cleveland State is now trailing surprising Valparaiso in the wacky Horizon League and sorely lacks the kind of quality wins that equal an at-large. Also, because it's always fun to watch a one-man gang take on a defense-oriented team approach.

Who to watch: If you didn't know about Norris Cole (pumped as my midseason mid-major breakout star) before last Saturday, you surely do after his 41-point, 20-rebound, nine-assist tour de force against Youngstown State. Yes, he's 6-foot-2. The Vikings' lead guard leads the team in basically every category and is one of the nation's top point guards. ODU will counter with the inside muscle of Frank Hassell and the complementary wing play of Kent Bazemore.

What to expect: Cleveland State is going to struggle to keep Old Dominion off the glass. ODU is second in the nation in offensive rebounding rate and CSU is a below-average rebounding team. Both teams like it relatively slow and are defensively oriented. Cole will need to have a monster game to offset ODU's balance and physicality advantages. Cleveland State hasn't beaten a team this good all season and this is a tough spot to break that trend.
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5. Missouri State (21-6, 13-3 MVC) at Valparaiso (17-7, 11-3 Horizon)

Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Why to watch: This is an enormous bubble game for the Bears and a classic negative-EV scenario. If they beat the Horizon leader on the road, they won't get nearly as much credit for it as they will have removed if they lose. Wins in their last three games, though, including the season finale vs. Wichita State, would give the Bears the Valley title, a sweep of the Shockers and solid positioning for an NCAA bid. Also to see if legendary coach Homer Drew is referred to as "Scott Drew's dad."

Who to watch: Dynamic scoring guard Kyle Weems is the Bears' leading man and Will Creekmore has stepped up to provide the scoring punch Missouri State expected from the really struggling Adam Leonard. Brandon Wood and Cory Johnson lead Valpo in scoring, but the most intriguing Crusader is Aussie wing Ryan Broekhoff, who grabs five boards a game, has blocked 31 shots and shoots 49 percent from three.

What to expect: Missouri State's mediocre defense scares me a bit on the road in this spot. Valpo's not a lethal offense, but the Crusaders score very effectively from inside the arc. Missouri State doesn't turn teams over very much, so Valpo's general carelessness with the ball may be less of an issue. KenPom likes Valpo by three and that sounds about right. Call for the mini-upset at home.

Thus endeth the reasonable at-large hopefuls section of our program, but that doesn't mean there's not more to watch below ...

6. Hofstra (18-9, 12-4 CAA) at Wright State (15-11, 10-6 Horizon)

Saturday, 11 a.m. ET, ESPNU

Why to watch: Charles Jenkins. Hofstra's scoring sensation made the Naismith midseason watch list for good reason: He can really play, as William & Mary found out on Tuesday. Hofstra is tied for second in the CAA and is a dark horse auto-bid thief. Wright State is one of five or six teams that could win the Horizon tourney, so there's a chance they could be in your bracket on Selection Sunday, too.

Who to watch: Jenkins. The diminutive senior guard is one of the most efficient high-usage players in the nation. It might actually benefit Hofstra if he were more selfish sometimes. He's not even taking 15 shots a game, even as he averages over 23 points an outing. Wright State's leading scorer is relatively inefficient fifth-year senior Vaughn Duggins. He and N'Gai Evans will have their hands full.

What to expect: Jenkins. Lots of him. Will that be enough in what's a pretty tough road venue in the Horizon? It will be fun to find out. KenPom says no. I'll say yes.

Official RTC Bubble Watch: 02.18.11--Rush The Court

Horizon

Butler 18-9 (11-5), 49 RPI, 54 SOS- Butler: back from the dead? Possibly. They’re going to win their last seven Horizon games, swept Cleveland State and did beat Florida State out in Hawaii, but that’s not enough to offset five losses against sub-100 RPI teams in conference play. Although the bubble is weak, Butler has to win the Horizon League Tournament to make another compelling March run, and, barring a miracle, they won’t be hosting the conference tournament for the first time in years.
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On the fringe: Cleveland State, Missouri State, New Mexico, Southern Mississippi, VCU.

The Other 26: Week 14--Rush The Court
Set Your Tivo: 02.18-02.20--Rush The Court

Missouri State @ Valparaiso – 5 pm Saturday on ESPN2 (***)

Both teams are locked in tight battles at the top of their respective conferences but this game will obviously do nothing to change that. Still, it’s a nice matchup between two teams that could very well cause trouble in the NCAA Tournament, should they get there. Missouri State has a slight chance for an at-large berth but has only two top 100 wins, though both were away from home. The Bears play at a slow pace but run a fairly efficient offense. They shoot it well behind do-it-all swingman Kyle Weems, shooting 43.4% from three while averaging 16.7/7 per game. Missouri State will have to do a good job defending a Valparaiso team with two big threats from deep, especially Ryan Broekhoff. He shoots 48.6% from three and is coming off a 21-point effort at Milwaukee, his second best scoring output of the season. Brandon Wood (16.3 PPG) can also shoot the trey but Valparaiso is at their best inside the arc where they shoot 53.8% as a team, #11 nationally. The Crusaders should be able to take advantage of Missouri State’s mediocre interior defense but they’ll have to rebound well in order to win. The Bears do a great job limiting opponents on the offensive boards so there could be a lot of one and done possessions for Valparaiso in this game.
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Cleveland State @ Old Dominion – 1 pm Sunday on ESPN2 (***)

This is a must win for Cleveland State to have any chance at an at-large bid. While the Vikings have a solid mid-30’s RPI, their best win all year has come against Valparaiso. Even if they win this game, they’re going to need a lot of help in order to back their way into the field without winning the Horizon League Tournament. Old Dominion has eight top 100 wins and looks to be in contention for a bid if they fail to win their conference tournament next month. This would be a nice top 50 win for the Monarchs but they’ll have to do it through rebounding and defense. ODU has tied Pittsburgh as the #1 team in offensive rebounding percentage, raking in 44.5% of their misses. At #29 on the other end, Blaine Taylor’s team is among the best in America when it comes to rebounding. That’s the good news. The bad news is they don’t score and they’ll be going up against a player who recorded 41/20/9 two games ago. That player is Norris Cole and if you don’t know him by now, you have to watch this game. The 6’2 Dayton native shoots 36.4% from deep as well while averaging nearly 21/6/6. Old Dominion ranks #287 in defending the triple and that could be a huge problem against the guard-oriented Vikings. Cleveland State’s leading scorers are Cole, Trevon Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery, all guards. They account for 64.2% of the team’s total points so Old Dominion has to pay special attention to all three of them, not just Cole. With the tenth ranked interior defense, the Monarchs can win the game easily if they limit Cleveland State’s guard play. If the Vikings are hitting shots from deep and getting to the rim, they could win. However, ODU has such an advantage on the glass that it’s hard to see a small team like Cleveland State winning this game on the road.

BGTD: BracketBuster Saturday--Rush The Court
Friday's Pregame Beat: Previewing your college hoops weekend--Ballin' is a Habit

BEST STORYLINES
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Saturday

* 11:00 am: Hofstra @ Wright State: Charles Jenkins isn't really a storyline, but he may be the best player in the country you've never watched. This game is on ESPN U. Change that.
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* 5:00 pm: Missouri State @ Valpo: Missouri State is currently tied for first in the MVC while Valpo is a half game behind Cleveland State in the Horizon. Neither will be getting an at-large bid, but both are capable of winning a game in the tournament.
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Sunday

* 1:00 pm: Cleveland State @ Old Dominion: Old Dominion probably won't gain that much by beating Cleveland State, but a loss at home to the Horizon leaders would end any chance of getting an at-large bid. As far as the Vikings are concerned, they have Norris Cole, who is worth watching for his play as much as his hi-top fade.

Weekend Watch--ESPN

More games to track
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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Saturday
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Missouri State at Valparaiso (ESPN2, 5 ET): Missouri State is the leader with Wichita State in the Missouri Valley and a regular-season title would certainly carry weight with the selection committee. A road win against the second-best team in the Horizon League will at least catch the committee's attention.
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Sunday

Cleveland State at Old Dominion (ESPN2, 1 ET): Watch this game to see if Norris Cole can go for 40 and 20 again or to see if ODU is a serious threat to make a run toward a bid. The Monarchs beat VCU on the road but scored only 45 points in a loss to George Mason. This will be a critical game in the eyes of the selection committee to see where this team stands. And if the Vikings pick up an impressive road win, they might enter the conversation as well.

Four Man Weekend Weave: Bracket Busters--College Basketball Blog

Angevine's Anticlimactic Addition

I'm jacked about the Cleveland State at ODU game. I had the pleasure of informing Blaine Taylor about Norris Cole's 41/20/9 game Saturday afternoon in a postgame press conference in Richmond, and he responded with humor, which I really liked. Also, the fundamental dichotomy between the two teams intrigues me: Cole is a dynamic scoring guard, and ODU is led by Frank Hassell, a burly, indomitable, classic power forward. Both of these teams are trying to prove they are at-large-worthy while chasing a league leader over the final week of their seasons. Should be a great game.

I'm also not sure how I'm going to choose between Missouri State at Valpo and Vermont at Charleston at 5pm on Saturday. I guess that's why I have a 'recall' button on my remote control. I like that Cuonzo Martin, who most will remember as a player more than a coach, is facing the iconic Homer Drew in the first matchup I listed, and the combination of Goudelock, Cremins and Catamounts is spicy, as well.

Photo finishes in store for some conferences--College Basketball Blog
NCAA Basketball Bracketology: Updated S-Curve For February 17, 2011--Blogging the Bracket

The Horizon League race continues to be one of the most interesting in the country. Cleveland State (12-4) moved back into first place with a 74-72 victory at Wright State. That's because former leader Valparaiso (11-4) lost at Milwaukee, 79-76. The Panthers are tied for third with Butler at 11-5, but they own the tiebreaker over the Bulldogs thanks to a season sweep. Remember, the top two teams in the Horizon earn a bye to the conference semifinals with the top seed hosting the bulk of the tournament. So the teams' final two or three conference games will be worth a watch, plus the Vikings and Crusaders have key BracketBusters this weekend, against Old Dominion and Missouri State, respectively.

NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch: Detailed Insanity For 02/18/2011--Blogging the Bracket

Butler Bulldogs (Last Four IN)
Record: 18-9 overall; 11-5 conference; 3-3 vs. RPI Top 50; 2-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 8-1 vs. RPI 150+; 8-7 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 136 Loss: 90
RPI: 44
SOS: 47
RPI 1-50 Wins: Cleveland State, at Cleveland State, Florida State (N)
RPI 51-100 Wins: Valparaiso, Washington State (N)
Bad (RPI 150+) Losses: at Youngstown State
Other Losses: Duke (N), at Xavier, at Louisville, at Valparaiso, at Wright State, Milwaukee, at Milwaukee, Evansville
This Week: won at Green Bay 64-62, at Illinois-Chicago (Sat.)
Next Week: Loyola-Chicago (Sat.)
The Bulldogs are huge fans of Florida State and Washington State right now, as those two bubble teams fell victim to Butler in Hawai'i over Christmas week, and thus represent the Horizon League power's two best non-conference wins. After a week away from Bubble Watch, the Bulldogs stormed back into my Tuesday projection because of some changes in the Horizon race and the national landscape. For starters, their bad losses against Milwaukee (a team tied with them for third in the conference) and Evansville don't look so bad now. Plus, the Bulldogs are winning again, picking up five wins in a row. Additionally, the Bulldogs are 3-1 against the two teams ahead of them in the Horizon race. If Brad Stevens' team can sweep the Chicago schools over the next two Saturdays, they may even earn a bye to the semifinals in the Horizon tournament, depending on what their competition does. Still, a loss at UIC or at home to Loyola, will make things very difficult for Butler, both in terms of tournament seeding and the national picture.
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Cleveland State Vikings (Horizon League auto bid holder)
Record: 20-5 overall; 11-4 conference; 0-3 vs. RPI Top 50; 3-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 12-0 vs. RPI 150+; 10-4 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 156 Loss: 62
RPI: 38
SOS: 128
RPI 1-50 Wins: None
RPI 51-100 Wins: Valparaiso, Kent State, St. Bonaventure
Losses: at West Virginia, at Butler, Butler, at Valparaiso, at Detroit
Last Week: won at Wright State 74-72, at Old Dominion (Sun.)
Next Week: Milwaukee (Thu.), Green Bay (Sat.)
The Vikings are one of numerous teams in this portion of Bubble Watch who have built up a nice record without grabbing a marquee win, meaning they'll provide an interesting case for the committee to review if they don't win their conference (in this case, the Horizon) tournament. The Vikings took the conference lead back on Wednesday night, by a half-game, thanks to a win over Wright State and Valparaiso's loss to Milwaukee. One thing that works against Cleveland State in the league race (and is a file and save for the tournament) is their 1-3 record versus Butler and Valparaiso. The Vikings' final chance to make a statement before the Horizon Tourney will be a BracketBuster at CAA contender Old Dominion on Sunday afternoon.
120px-valpo_medium

Valparaiso Crusaders
Record: 17-8 overall; 11-4 conference; 2-4 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 8-3 vs. RPI 150+; 9-6 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 150 Loss: 114
RPI: 51
SOS: 93
RPI 1-50 Wins: Cleveland State. Butler
RPI 51-100 Wins: at Oakland
Bad (RPI 150+) Losses: at Ohio, at Toledo
Other Losses: at Kansas, Purdue, at Cleveland State, at Butler, at Milwaukee, Green Bay
This Week: lost at Milwaukee 79-76, Missouri State (Sat.), at Green Bay (Mon.)
Next Week: Loyola-Chicago (Thu.), Illinois-Chicago (Sat.)
The Crusaders are another team that really needs to take care of business in its conference to have any hope. Valparaiso already owns wins over the other three Horizon contenders and Summit League leader Oakland; however, losses at Ohio (RPI 174) and Toledo (322) really torpedo the squad's at-large hopes. A home BracketBuster against Missouri State will help a little, but probably not enough. Ceding control of the Horizon race to Cleveland State on Wednesday night may ultimately be fatal to Valpo's at-large chances. Keep in mind that the Crusaders topped the Vikings and Butler at the ARC, particularly if they can pass CSU and take the top seed (and the bulk of the hosting duties) for the Horizon tournament.

College Basketball On TV For February 16, 2011--Blogging the Bracket

Late Evening (ET)
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Laptop: Valparaiso Crusaders at Milwaukee Panthers, Horizon League Network (8 p.m. ET)
The Crusaders (11-3) can move one step closer to the Horizon League crown with a win over a hot Panther team (10-5), who's won six in a row. Second-place Cleveland State (11-4) visits Wright State (10-6) in another significant Horizon game, streaming at 7 p.m. ET. The top five may want to study up on their Horizon tiebreaking procedures over the next few days.
KenPom.com projection: Crusaders 66-65, 65 poss.

The Multifarious MAC BracketBuster Preview--Hustle Belt

7 p.m. — MILWAUKEE (16-11, 11-5 HORIZON) AT BUFFALO (15-9, 7-5 MAC)

Milwaukee just oughta call themselves The Team That Beat Butler Twice. It's easier to remember. But keep in mind UWM also lost to WMU, mostly because they thought they were playing a scrambled version of themselves, and once they realized it was another basketball team, it was too late. This game's in the cavernous, frightening Alumni Arena, where good opponents come to choke on the silence. They're on a seven game win-streak, and UB has lost three of four, but this seems like as good a time as any to right the ship.
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7 p.m. — BOWLING GREEN (12-14, 7-5) AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE (8-18, 2-14 HORIZON)

The Fighting Penguins have but two wins on the new year: Wilberforce (probably made up), and Butler (spits out coffee). Meanwhile, the Falcons have regressed with a 1-3 record in their last four, but they really gained some ground — and fast — to become a player down the stretch. This seems like the most likely road win for the MAC in these BracketBusters.

MAC BracketBusters Review: Location, Location, Location--Hustle Belt

Buffalo 80, Milwaukee 65 — Here was your tearjerker of the day. Reggie Witherspoon's father died earlier this week, and then the team came back around with a big win over a solid Horizon League team. Also, there were mucho students in the stands, which helped to nearly double their average home attendance. And it took this long in the paragraph to mention Zach Filzen's 30 points. Shows you how much was going on in that arena Saturday night.
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Youngstown State 83, Bowling Green 76 — And of course the highest-paced game was courtesy of the Penguins, a team named after an animal who moves fast by gliding on its belly. They went nuts (for squid!), as documented by the 17-3 run that lasted over eight minutes, dipping into the 2-minute non-warning. That's some rough stuff to overcome, and maybe it's why YSU beat Butler earlier this month: late-game runs! (And it was: the Penguins were down 10 points with 5:27 against the defending national runners up before eventually winning by 2.) Both teams shot 50.8%, but oh here's what happened: Youngstown had just six turnovers all game. Talk about protecting the sacred sphere well.

Loyola and UIC battle for Chicago--ChicagoNow.com
Stanley's big shot carries Loyola past UIC, 67-66--ChicagoNow.com
Horizon League's Percent Chance of Making Sweet 16--ChicagoNow.com
NIT Bracketology - Going into Bracket Buster Weekend--ChicagoNow.com
Loyola stuns UIC at the buzzer--The Chicago Sun-Times
McCammon, Kreps meet once again--The Chicago Sun-Times

NCAA committee has tough calls in 68-team field--MICentralSports.com

The new format has already spawned some new jargon. The teams fighting for those precious final spots are now on the "soft bubble."

One team still trying to make its case is Butler.

After starting February on a three-game losing streak, last year's tourney darling and national runner-up has won five straight and needs one more victory for another 20-win season. The Bulldogs still visit Illinois-Chicago and host Loyola (Ill.) before starting Horizon League tourney play.

It could be enough to get back into the tournament, but at least it's put the Bulldogs back in the conversation.

"This program has a consistency and a way about it that demands we have to stay together through tough times but that there are going to be tough times," coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday. "That's why I am so proud of these guys to step up in Cleveland after a heartbreak two days before. It's given us a chance."

Most disappointing teams in 2010-11--FOX Sports

BUTLER

Record: 18-9, 10-5 (Horizon).
Preseason AP ranking: 17.

Why: The loss of Gordon Hayward. It’s really that simple. While Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack are terrific players, there’s a reason why Hayward was a lottery pick. He allowed Butler to switch defensively and also was a matchup nightmare on the offensive end, taking plenty of attention away from Howard and Mack.

Need: It appears as though the only shot for Butler to get in the NCAA tournament is to win the Horizon League tourney and get the automatic bid. Right now Butler is two games behind first-place Valparaiso in the loss column with three to go in the regular-season.

Prognosis: Butler was intimidating for Horizon league opponents to play over the past couple years, but that’s no longer the case. Milwaukee has swept the Bulldogs this season – and Valpo, Youngstown State and Wright State have all knocked off last year’s national title runner-ups. The Bulldogs will go from the national title game to the NIT.

C-a-C: Feed giraffes (like a Bosh), love and nurture (like a Bosh)--Ball Don't Lie

In our last adventure: Meet the new generation of the Utah Jazz.
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Runner-up, Solid as Iraq: Showing that he can still be a valuable member of the community, Gordon Hayward(notes) (right) shows his lighter side by dressing as a Boy Scout while taking a group of Boy Scouts to a Jazz game.

Utah Jazz: Shorthanded Jazz brace for Suns--Deseret News

Bell (calf) has a better chance of playing tonight than Price (toe). If neither player can go, the Jazz will start Deron Williams, C.J. Miles, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. Off the bench, there would only be one guard available in Earl Watson, and three big men in Francisco Elson, Kyrylo Fesenko and Jeremy Evans.

"Our bench would be short," said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. "We'd only have nine guys, so a couple guys we've talked to about playing a few different positions tonight. We've got to play them (the Suns) and go with what we have."

Corbin isn't having any sort of doom-and-gloom feelings about tonight's game as he attempts to pick up his first win as a head coach.

"It is what it is," he said. "We've got to play with who we have. We're a capable team. We only have to play five at a time."

Miles will start for the Jazz tonight. Hayward will start for Bell if he can't play.

Utah Jazz look to rest during All-Star break--Deseret News

For rookies Jeremy Evans and Gordon Hayward, the break means they get to see their girlfriends.

Evans said he is going to Kentucky, where he went to school at Western Kentucky, for a visit with his girlfriend.

Hayward is going to L.A. for league meetings, and said he is taking his girlfriend with him.

We have questions — will the Utah Jazz answer?--Deseret News

11. Can rookie Gordon Hayward's continued progress prove that the Jazz didn't make a mistake when they took him with the No. 9 overall pick in last year's draft?

Utah Jazz: Deron Williams talks candidly about Jazz's struggles--Deseret News

Williams' more immediate concern is the Jazz's playoff hopes. Two players, in Williams' mind, who could provide pivotal roles are newcomers Al Jefferson and Gordon Hayward. Jefferson leads the Jazz in rebounding (9.1 per game) and ranks second in scoring (17.4).

"Al's been doing a great job for us all year," Williams said. "He's improving every game and getting more and more used to our system of offense and our style of play. I look forward to him improving a lot in the second half."

Hayward, a rookie who led Butler to last year's NCAA final against Duke, has started just 12 of the 48 games in which he has played.

"It's been a strange year for him," Williams said. "He's had a large stretch when he wasn't playing any minutes. Then we had some injuries and he was inserted in the starting lineup. It's a lot to ask of a rookie.

"But I think he's progressing well. He plays well in practice. He works hard and, really, that's all you can ask for."

Jazz notes: NBA labor negotiations receive a spark--Deseret News

‘Strange’ times

Jazz rookie Gordon Hayward was scheduled to join Williams on Friday during labor negotiations.

While Hayward took in All-Star festivities and helped fill in for Utah’s main player rep, Ronnie Price, Williams offered praise for his young teammate. But Utah’s premier player acknowledged that it has been a “strange” season for Hayward, the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

The 20-year-old forward is averaging 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 49 games, shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36.7 percent behind the 3-point line. But Hayward has been forced to balance games where he never leaves the bench with sudden promotions to the starting lineup, and Williams knows that the uncertainty hasn’t been easy to deal with.

“It’s a lot to ask of a rookie. He’s a young guy,” Williams said. “But he’s progressing well. He plays well in practice. He does a lot of good things for this team, and he’s getting better and better every day. He works hard, and that’s really all you can ask for.”

Unusual circumstances link Butler, freshman Marshall--The Indy Star
Notebook: Ex-Butler center Cornette now in role of analyst--The Indy Star
Butler wins 5th in row, draws closer to Valpo--The Indy Star
Former IU football coach Bill Lynch returning to Butler--The Indy Star
Lynch joins Butler as athletic fund-raiser--The Indy Star
Butler basketball draws big crowds on road--The Indy Star
Howard rises to No. 3 on Bulldogs' scoring list--The Indy Star
Butler routs Illinois-Chicago--The Indy Star
Howard’s dunk keeps hope alive--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler can only wait, watch--Indy Star Butler Insider
Game Preview: Butler vs. Green Bay--Victory Firelight
Survival mode: Butler escapes Green Bay--Victory Firelight
Five things to remember going forward--Victory Firelight
Final games will determine fate of many in Horizon League--Victory Firelight
Game Preview: Butler vs. UIC--Victory Firelight
Howard, Smith lead Bulldogs past UIC--Victory Firelight
Butler vs Green Bay: Recap Notes--Butler Blue Fever
Butler Gets Close Win Over Green Bay, 64-62--Butler Blue Fever
Butler (19-9) Squares Off With UIC (7-21)--Butler Blue Fever
Butler vs UIC: Recap Notes--Butler Blue Fever
Butler Takes Down UIC, 79-52--Butler Blue Fever
BUTLER 79, UIC 52--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Hungry for a bone: Men’s basketball back in mix to host HL tournament--Butler Collegian
Bulldogs Begin Closing Stretch At Green Bay--ButlerSports.com
Tickets For 2/26 vs. Loyola: SOLD OUT--ButlerSports.com
Butler Edges Green Bay, 64-62--ButlerSports.com
Bulldogs Close Road Slate At UIC--ButlerSports.com
Coach Brad Stevens Featured in ESPN Commercial--YouTube
Butler Rolls At UIC, 79-52--ButlerSports.com

Women’s basketball splits conference affairs--Butler Collegian
Butler Hosts UIC Thursday Evening--ButlerSports.com
Bulldogs Scorch Flames, 78-57--ButlerSports.com
Senior Day 2011: Butler Hosts Loyola Saturday--ButlerSports.com
Seniors Pace Bulldogs In 69-53 Win--ButlerSports.com

The Week That Was: Feb. 8-14--Rush The Court

Your Seven-Day All-Americans
...
Norris Cole, guard, Cleveland State — Cole went from virtual unknown to national sensation Saturday when he became the first player since Blake Griffin (and second in 15 years) to score more than 40 points and grab at least 20 rebounds in a game. Cole, 6’2, posted 41 points and 20 boards in a win over Youngstown State

Ten Tuesday Scribbles--Rush The Court

The Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in college basketball released their finalists last week. The majority of the selections are uncontroversial and fair, from Kemba Walker to Jimmer Fredette and even Cleveland State’s Norris Cole.

College basketball's 12 most underrated players--NBC Sports

Norris Cole, Cleveland State

You surely heard about Cole's performance vs. Youngstown State when he became just the second player in the last 15 years to have a 40-20 game. (Blake Griffin was the other). What you may not know is that the guard has been doing this all season long, as he averaged 21.1 ppg, 5.4 apg, 6.1 rpg, and 2.3 spg.

Norris Cole being a Bob Cousy Award Finalist is pretty awesome actually--Waiting For Next Year
Past Imperfect: Kicking in the Door--Rush The Court
That’s Debatable: BracketBust?--Rush The Court

Tom Wolfmeyer, RTC contributor

The BracketBuster idea is one whose time has passed at this point. So let me offer another option. Block off the same weekend, but make it an exempt tournament involving the top eight teams from the leagues they currently draw the pool from. Tonight’s VCU and Wichita State game could be a great first round matchup; tomorrow’s Utah State-St. Mary’s game another. Include four other teams such as Cleveland State, Belmont, George Mason and Oakland, and all of a sudden you have a compelling reason to watch these games this weekend. It also helps fans who are gearing up for tournament basketball next month to learn about those teams, many of which they’ll be seeing again soon. It would give the mid-major schools a major boost to their RPI by playing other really good mids for up to three consecutive days and it would potentially leave the Selection Committee with an indelible impression based on their performance in this BracketBuster tourney. It would also give the schools themselves a big incentive to get picked for this tournament — there could be a selection show and everything.

Basketball's Best Beards--Ballin' is a Habit

Joe Latas & Jeremy Montgomery - Cleveland State

These guys must have been competing in a beard-growing contest a la DaShawn Stephenson and Drew Gordon. I mean god-damn look at these beards.

The Cleveland State duo is certainly embodying the "viking" culture, and I love it.

Horizon League Basketball Roundup: Where Things Start To Get Real For Cleveland State--SB Nation Cleveland
College Basketball On TV For February 20, 2011--Blogging the Bracket

Cleveland St. Vikings at Old Dominion Monarchs, ESPN2 (1 p.m. ET)
The BracketBusters finale pits a Vikings team that needs a quality non-conference win to stand a reasonable at-large chance against a Monarch team that's looking decent after the events of Saturday.
KenPom.com projection: Monarchs 62-58, 61 poss.

Vikings begin final push through Horizon schedule vs. Wright State: Cleveland State Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Norris Cole's double double a hard night's work vs. Wright's Duggins: Cleveland State Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State tops Wright State, regains first place in Horizon League--Cleveland Plain Dealer
What's wrong with the Cleveland State bench? Nothing (as in points)--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio State's resolute Buckeyes one of the few feel-good stories in college basketball: Bill Livingston--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings' Cole invited to Portsmouth tournament for prospective NBA draftees: Cleveland State Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State loses at Old Dominion, 74-63, despite 35 points from Norris Cole--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Men Put Up Big Stats, Lose HL No. 1--The Cauldron
PRESS RELEASE: Cole's Record-Setting Weekend Earns Him Fourth Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honor of Season--Let's Go Vikes!
CSU BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Vikings Control Own Destiny For No. 2 Seed--Let's Go Vikes!
Cleveland State 74, Wright State 72: Vikings Win at Wright State, Regains First-place in Horizon League--Let's Go Vikes!
Updated: Cleveland State (22-5) Takes On Wright State (17-11)--VIKINGS BALL
Cleveland State vs Wright State: Recap Notes--VIKINGS BALL
Cleveland State Escapes Wright State, 74-72--VIKINGS BALL
Cleveland State (23-5) vs. Old Dominion (21-6)--VIKINGS BALL
Cleveland State vs Old Dominion: Recap Notes--VIKINGS BALL
Cleveland State Beaten By Old Dominion, 74-63--VIKINGS BALL
Norris Cole Named Player Of The Week After His Record-Setting Weekend--csuvikings.com
Vikings Travel to Wright State--csuvikings.com
Vikings Win at Wright State, 74-72, as Pogue Scores 18--csuvikings.com

Vikings Travel To Old Dominion For Sears BracketBusters Matchup--csuvikings.com

PRESS RELEASE: Cleveland State's Winton picks up second women's basketball player of the week award--Let's Go Vikes!
Winton Named Horizon League Player of the Week--csuvikings.com
Vikings Play at Wright State on Thursday--csuvikings.com
King's Six Three's Help CSU Rally Past Wright State, 74-66, With Strong Second Half--csuvikings.com
Vikings Play at Detroit in Final Regular Season Road Game--csuvikings.com
Garland's 32 Help CSU Win at Detroit, 74-71--csuvikings.com

Drew Sharp: McCallums aim to rejuvenate Detroit Mercy--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Mercy 91, Youngstown State 79--The Detroit Free Press

Ray McCallum flirted with a triple-double tonight in leading Detroit Mercy to a 91-79 victory over Youngstown State at Calihan Hall.

McCallum had 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Titans (15-14, 9-8 Horizon League), who won their regular-season home finale.

Nick Minnerath hit three 3-pointers and led Detroit with 24 points. Chase Simon scored 17, Chris Blake 15 and Eli Holman 14.

The Penguins (8-18, 2-14), winless on the road and 1-9 in their last 10 games, got 25 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks from Damian Eargle. Kendrick Perry scored 13 and Blake Allen 11.

Detroit broke a 20-20 tie with a 10-1 spurt bookended by baskets from Holman. That gave the Titans a 30-21 lead with 9:16 left in the first half, which they extended to 48-31 at intermission.

The lead peaked at 23 in the second half, and the closest Youngstown State got was nine.

Drake 84, Detroit Mercy 76--The Detroit Free Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — Rayvonte Rice scored 22 points and Drake used a late 12-0 run to overtake Detroit Mercy, 84-76, in a BracketBusters game tonight.

Ryan Wedel added 14 points, Kraidon Woods 13 and Ben Simons and Kurt Alexander 10 apiece for the Bulldogs (12-16), who broke a two-game slide.

Chase Simon had 23 points for the Titans (15-15). Eli Holman and Ray McCallum scored 12 points each and Nick Minnerath 11.

LaMarcus Lowe’s dunk pushed Detroit ahead, 71-69, with 4:56 to play, but then the Bulldogs ran off a dozen in a row. The spurt featured five points by Woods and ended with a three-pointer from Simons that put Drake ahead, 81-71, with 1:53 to go and sealed the win.

Drake shot 56% (28 of 50), and Detroit was not far behind at 50% (29 of 58). However, the Bulldogs made 20 free throws to the Titans’ 12.

Detroit Mercy tops Youngstown State for fourth straight win--The Detroit News
Updated: Detroit (14-14) Goes Up Against Youngstown State (8-17)--TITANS UPDATE
Youngstown State vs Detroit: Recap Notes--TITANS UPDATE
Detroit Gets 91-79 Win Over Youngstown State--TITANS UPDATE
On this day 10 years ago - Feb 18, 2001--TITANS UPDATE
Updated: Detroit (15-14) Goes Up Against Drake (11-16)--TITANS UPDATE
Detroit vs Drake: Recap Notes--TITANS UPDATE
Detroit Falls To Drake, 84-76--TITANS UPDATE
Regular Season Home Finale Wednesday--detroittitans.com
Five in Double Figures, Detroit Wins Regular Season Home Finale 91-79--detroittitans.com
BracketBuster Pits Detroit at Drake--detroittitans.com
Late Drake Rally Gives Bulldogs 84-76 Win--detroittitans.com

Titans Mourn Loss of Virginia Calihan--detroittitans.com

Shayok Moves Into Top 20 In Rebounding--detroittitans.com
Detroit Looks For Season Sweep Over Youngstown State--detroittitans.com
Late Titan Spurt Lifts Detroit Over Youngstown State--detroittitans.com
Detroit Looks To Even Season Series Against Vikings On Saturday--detroittitans.com
Women's Basketball Edged by Cleveland State--detroittitans.com

Butler quiets Kreps, but UIC record books forever changed--ChicagoNow.com
UIC aspires to one day have same success as Butler--The Chicago Tribune
Butler easily fends off UIC 79-52--The Chicago Tribune
Butler answers UIC’s hot start to win 79-52--The Chicago Sun-Times
Up-Hill climb way too steep--Whoosh!Net
Updated: UIC (7-20) Takes On Loyola (Chicago) (14-12)--FLAME FANATIC
Loyola (Chicago) vs UIC: Recap Notes--FLAME FANATIC
Loyola (Chicago) Beats UIC in Overtime, 67-66--FLAME FANATIC
UIC (7-21) Squares Off With Butler (19-9)--FLAME FANATIC
On this day 14 years ago - Feb 19, 1997--FLAME FANATIC
Butler vs UIC: Recap Notes--FLAME FANATIC
UIC Loses Big To Butler, 79-52--FLAME FANATIC
The Howard Moore Podcast: Episode #13--uicflames.com
Flames, Ramblers Renew Rivalry at the UIC Pavilion Wednesday--uicflames.com
Follow the Flames LIVE from the UIC Pavilion!--uicflames.com
Buzzer Beater in OT Lifts Loyola Past Men's Basketball, 67-66--uicflames.com
Men's Hoops Collides with Butler in Saturday's Regular Season Home Finale--uicflames.com
Men's Hoops Falls to Butler in Regular Season Home Finale, 79-52--uicflames.com

Women's Basketball Looks To Continue Winning Ways Away From Home--uicflames.com
Women's Basketball Bested By Butler--uicflames.com
Women's Basketball Travels To Valparasio Saturday--uicflames.com
Women's Basketball Secures Road Win At Valparaiso--uicflames.com

RPI WATCH: 2/17/2011--Bring On The Cats

Finally, Duke, Emporia State and Loyola all took care of business, making a third straight day that the Cats' non-conference foes swept their conference opposition.

RPI WATCH: 2/20/2011--Bring On The Cats

That was more than balanced out, however, with typical losses by Alcorn State, North Florida and Presbyterian; disappointing losses by Loyola and UMKC; and absolutely crushing losses by Virginia Tech and Washington State.

Courtney Stanley YouTube Star--ChicagoNow.com
Loyola falls in final home game to St. Peter's--ChicagoNow.com
Loyola's McCammon lights up Chicago schools--The Chicago Tribune
Hicks injury proves costly--Loyola Phoenix
Minus Gibler, the Ramblers go 1-1--Loyola Phoenix
Updated: Loyola (Chicago) (14-12) vs. UIC (7-20)--LU WOLF BALL
On this day 2 years ago - Feb 15, 2009--LU WOLF BALL
Loyola (Chicago) vs UIC: Recap Notes--LU WOLF BALL
Loyola (Chicago) Beats UIC in Overtime, 67-66--LU WOLF BALL
UPDATED: Walt Gibler is questionable for Saturday's game against St. Peter's .--LU WOLF BALL
Loyola (Chicago) (15-12) Goes Up Against St. Peter's (16-11)--LU WOLF BALL
St. Peter's vs Loyola (Chicago): Recap Notes--LU WOLF BALL
St. Peter's Wins Thriller, 71-67 Over Loyola (Chicago)--LU WOLF BALL
Seeking Strong Finish To Regular Season, Loyola Visits UIC Wednesday--LoyolaRamblers.com
Stanley's Buzzer Beater In Overtime Douses Flames--LoyolaRamblers.com

Loyola Looks To Send Seniors Out In Style When It Hosts Saint Peter's In Home Finale--LoyolaRamblers.com
McCammon Sets Three-Point Record, But Loyola Rally Falls Short In 71-67 Loss To Saint Peter's--LoyolaRamblers.com

Getting to know LUC’s new athletic director--Loyola Phoenix

Women’s basketball downs UWM--Loyola Phoenix
Late Flurry Stuns Loyola In 72-68 Loss at Valparaiso--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola Closes Out Indiana Swing At Butler--LoyolaRamblers.com

Slow Start Costs Loyola In 69-53 Loss At Butler--LoyolaRamblers.com

Buffalo Pounds the Panthers--Bull Run
Weekly Panthers report--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Payback time for Panthers vs. Valparaiso--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers beat Valparaiso, claw way into Horizon race--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bigger games on Horizon--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers' Hill injured in loss to Buffalo--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Weekly Panthers report--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers we need you, it’s our time--UWM Post
Bracket bruiser--UWM Post
Horizon League Rankings (February 8-14)--PantherU
On the line: Game 27 vs. Valparaiso--PantherU
What to make of Tonight--PantherU
Time to bust the Bracketbuster--PantherU
Panthers still looking for partners in 11-12--PantherU
Valparaiso vs Milwaukee: Recap Notes--UWM UPDATE
Milwaukee Steals One from Valparaiso, 79-76--UWM UPDATE
Milwaukee (16-11) and Buffalo (15-9) Square Off--UWM UPDATE
Milwaukee vs Buffalo: Recap Notes--UWM UPDATE
Milwaukee's Ryan Allen Slowed, Questionable for the Next Game--UWM UPDATE
Milwaukee Beaten By Buffalo, 80-65--UWM UPDATE
The Fire--Milwaukee Panther Tracks
Live Blog: Milwaukee vs. Valparaiso--Panther Blog Zone
Postgame Extra – Valparaiso at Milwaukee--Panther Blog Zone
Live Blog - Milwaukee at Buffalo--Panther Blog Zone
Postgame Extra – Milwaukee at Buffalo--Panther Blog Zone
Winning Streak Put To Test When First Place Valpo Visits Wednesday--uwmpanthers.com
Boyle, Hill Spark Panthers To Key Senior Night Victory--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Head To Buffalo For BracketBusters Contest--uwmpanthers.com
Hot-Shooting Bulls Snap Panther Winning Streak At Seven--uwmpanthers.com

Phoenix clinch share of Horizon crown --Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers slip up against Loyola and UIC--UWM Post
Panthers can’t shake rival Green Bay--UWM Post
Live Blog: Milwaukee vs. #14/17 Green Bay--Panther Blog Zone
Post-Game Wrap-Up: Milwaukee vs. #14 Green Bay--Panther Blog Zone
Panthers To Host WBCA Pink Zone Game Saturday--uwmpanthers.com
Botham To Be Inducted Into WBCA Hall of Fame--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Host First-Place Green Bay Saturday--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Drop Hard-Fought Contest to No. 14 Green Bay--uwmpanthers.com

Valparaiso, Missouri St. battle for pride--ESPN
Saturday's Bubble winners and losers--Ballin' is a Habit

Losers:

* Missouri Valley: Wichita State lost at home to VCU. Northern Iowa lost at home to George Mason. Indiana State lost at home to Morehead State. Missouri State got smacked at Valpo. They needed the opposite to happen to have a chance at getting a second bid.

VU drops heartbreaker at UWM--The Post-Tribune
Valpo still in driver’s seat--The Post-Tribune
Is the BracketBuster a momentum buster for Valpo?--The Post-Tribune
Valpo looking for strong finish--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso at Milwaukee, Feb. 16, Live Blog--Off The Mark
Horizon League seeding scenarios--Off The Mark
Missouri State at Valparaiso, Feb. 19, Live Blog--Off The Mark
More weather woes for Valparaiso--Off The Mark
Vitale talks about the importance of BracketBuster for Valpo--The NWI Times
Dickie V is coming to Valpo, baby--The NWI Times
Valparaiso dominates Missouri State on national TV--Springfield News-Leader
Valparaiso drops to 1/2 game behind Cleveland St. with 3 league games remaining--The NWI Times
Crusaders are victim of scheduling dilemma with BracketBuster--The NWI Times
Crusaders men's basketball team busts the Bears--The NWI Times
Vitale wins over VU basketball crowd at the ARC--The NWI Times
Valparaiso vs Milwaukee: Recap Notes--VALPO DAILY
Valparaiso Drops Close One To Milwaukee, 79-76--VALPO DAILY
Valparaiso (19-8) Squares Off With Missouri State (21-6)--VALPO DAILY
On this day 12 years ago - Feb 18, 1999--VALPO DAILY
Missouri State vs Valparaiso: Recap Notes--VALPO DAILY
Valparaiso Beats Missouri State, 80-67--VALPO DAILY
Updated: Valparaiso (20-8) Goes Up Against Green Bay (12-16)--VALPO DAILY
Valpo Hits Road In Search of Win #20--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Suffers Close Defeat Wednesday in Milwaukee--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Prepare For National TV Appearance in BracketBusters Game--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Superb in BracketBuster Win Over Missouri State--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Hits Road For Final Time in Regular Season--valpoathletics.com

VU women host Loyola--The Post-Tribune
Valapraiso women host UIC--The Post-Tribune
Crusaders hit wall as Flames rally to victory--The Post-Tribune
Scouting Valparaiso University women's basketball>--The NWI Times
Valparaiso closes on a 20-3 run to beat Ramblers--The NWI Times
Scouting Valparaiso University women's basketball--The NWI Times
Hinkle helps UIC put away VU women's basketball team--The NWI Times
WBCA Pink Zone Game Set for Saturday--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Return Home Thursday to Host Loyola--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Finish with Furious Rally to Down Loyola--valpoathletics.com
Crusader Women Look for Fourth Straight Home Win Saturday Versus UIC--valpoathletics.com
Late UIC Rally Pushes Flames Past Valpo--valpoathletics.com

Road not kind to YSU men--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU Penguins go winless on road with loss to Detroit--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU comes up big vs. BG--Youngstown Vindicator
On this day 13 years ago - Feb 16, 1998--GUIN REPORT
Youngstown State vs Detroit: Recap Notes--GUIN REPORT
Detroit Beats Youngstown State, 91-79--GUIN REPORT
Updated: Youngstown State (8-18) Goes Up Against Bowling Green (12-14)--GUIN REPORT
Bowling Green vs Youngstown State: Recap Notes--GUIN REPORT
UPDATED: Devonte Maymon is questionable for Thursday's game against Wisconsin-Green Bay--GUIN REPORT
On this day 3 years ago - Feb 20, 2008--GUIN REPORT
Kendrick Perry Receives Honorable Mention for the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - February 21st, 2011--GUIN REPORT
Youngstown State Beats Bowling Green, 83-76--GUIN REPORT
Guins hope to bust the bracket--The Jambar
Ward scores 23 as Penguins defeat Bowling Green--The Jambar
Men’s Basketball Visits Detroit for Final Regular Season Road Game--ysusports.com
Eargle Scores Career-High, But Guins Fall 91-79 at Detroit--ysusports.com
Men’s Basketball Hosts Bowling Green in ESPNU-Sears BracketBuster--ysusports.com
Penguins Offense Gets in High Gear in 83-76 Win Over Bowling Green--ysusports.com

Cold-shooting YSU falls by 9--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU basketball previews | Today’s games--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU women come up short against Wright St.--Youngstown Vindicator
Women's Hoops Hopes to Carry Momentum to Motown--ysusports.com
Brown Goes for 24 and 15, but Guins Lose 52-43 at Detroit--ysusports.com
Women's Hoops Looks for More Offense at Wright State--ysusports.com
Penguins Battle but Drop Heart-breaker at Wright State, 70-67--ysusports.com

On The Horizon

Sunday, February 20, 2011

News On The Horizon 2/20/2011

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