On The Horizon

Jim Squire

MSU's Draymond Green, UDM's Ray McCallum finalists for Team USA--The Detroit Free Press

#131 Valparaiso Men's Basketball Preview--College Sports Madness

Activity makes for busy summer at WSU--Dayton Daily News

Jim Squire

Study: Butler Basketball Generates Over $1 Billion in Publicity For School--Rush The Court
Morning Five: 07.27.11 Edition--Rush The Court

Most college players spend their summers trying to improve their games in one way or another. Some kids shoot 500 jumpers a day, while others work on improving their lateral quickness or positioning and footwork. Butler’s rising senior point guard Ronald Nored, the Bulldogs’ defensive dynamo who has lived in the shorts of the opposing team’s best perimeter players for the better of three seasons, spent some of his offseason prepping for what he figures will be his ultimate destiny: Coaching. His AAU team, called The Truth, attempts to bring The Butler Way to amateur prep basketball, and to hear one of his players tell it, the difference Nored provides as the head man is music to our ears: Greg Gardner says, “He’s not like most AAU coaches. We run offense, we play tough defense. Most AAU coaches let the kids run up and down. We don’t do that – we actually play real basketball.” Can we clone a thousand of these Noreds to start teaching basketball at the amateur level all around the country — please?

Morning Five: 07.28.11 Edition--Rush The Court

It’s roughly 16 months away, but when is discussing the tropical paradise of Maui a bad thing? The Maui Invitational released its roster of invited teams for its November 2012 island tournament, and one of its attendees, Butler, is still basking in the glow of a report stating its last two NCAA Tournament championship game runs were worth over a billion dollars in media publicity. Well, the publicity train continues to roll, as Brad Stevens’ Bulldogs will join North Carolina, Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, Southern California, Texas, and host Chaminade in what promises to be another strong field. It’s difficult to project any team two seasons out these days, but you can more than likely expect that, at a minimum, UNC, Butler, Texas and Marquette will all have strong squads in 2012.

Morning Five: 07.29.11 Edition--Rush The Court

The big winner out of the Oklahoma scandal? It might be Butler, who is the other reported finalist for the services of Arkansas transfer Rotnei Clarke. With just one year of eligibility remaining the Oklahoma native and all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma high school basketball history may have to think twice about transferring to a program that has asked the NCAA to put it on probation for two years. Clarke was supposed to make his decision by the end of the week and many expected him to select Oklahoma, but with the new report he may wind up at Butler or at the very least will spend some more time before deciding where to transfer.

Zak Irvin Down to Two--UM Hoops
Butler guard Ronald Nored trades his hightops for a clipboard--Rivals.com
Butler's Nored already prepping for second career--Sporting News
Who needs Don Draper when Butler’s in Final Fours?--Beyond the Arc
Clarke decision expected this week--The Slophouse
POSTERIZED: Chrishawn Hopkins rises up at the Indy Pro-Am--Ballin' is a Habit
2 Butler players sign deals to play in Europe--YardBarker
Final Four runs earn Butler $500 million--Eye On College Basketball
Maui 2012 field officially released--Eye On College Basketball
Matt Howard, Media Darling, Will Play In Euroleague Next Season--Ridiculous Upside
Study: Butler basketball team made more than $500M in PR--The Indy Star
Butler's wins pay huge PR dividends--The Indy Star
Butler to play in 2012 Maui Invitational--The Indy Star
Butler to play in 2012 Maui Invitational--The Indy Star
Former Butler star Matt Howard to play in Greece--The Indy Star
Ex-Butler star Howard to play in Greece--The Indy Star
Butler Basketball Brings Significant Media Value--ButlerSports.com
Bulldogs Join Strong Tournament Field In Hawaii--ButlerSports.com
Shawn Vanzant To Play In Finland--ButlerSports.com
Matt Howard Heading To Greece--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Ready 'Fore' Hoops N Hope Golf Outing--ButlerSports.com

Montgomery To Take Part in Global Sports Academy Summer Tour--csuvikings.com

Keane Selected to Tryout for Canadian National Team--csuvikings.com

D-I's Top 100 Players--Basketball Prospectus

Preseason Mid-Major POYs
A-10: Tu Holloway
Colonial: Kent Bazemore
C-USA: Arsalan Kazemi
Horizon: Ray McCallum
Missouri Valley: Kyle Weems
Mountain West: Drew Gordon
West Coast: Kevin Foster
WAC: Deonte Burton

Doug McDermott, Ray McCallum and special cases--Big Apple Buckets
Games vs. St. John's, Mississippi State on UDM home schedule--The Detroit News
Ray McCallum's game gets boost--The Detroit News
UDM's Ray McCallum, MSU's Draymond Green aim to join Team USA--The Detroit News
Men's Basketball Announces Home Non-Conference Schedule--detroittitans.com
McCallum Headed to USA Basketball World University Training Camp--detroittitans.com

Knowing the Newcomers: Freshman Greg Travis--uicflames.com
Knowing the Newcomers: Freshman Sammy Sutter--uicflames.com

Women's basketball: UW-Green Bay's run to NCAA Sweet 16 captured on documentary--Green Bay Press Gazette
SummerTimeOut Featuring Stephanie Sension--uwgbathletics.com
SummerTimeOut Featuring Jenny Gilbertson--uwgbathletics.com
Fans Encouraged to Cheer on Phoenix in San Juan Nov. 23-27--uwgbathletics.com

Still Plenty Of Time To Become A Panther Basketball Season Ticket Holder--uwmpanthers.com

Milwaukee Announces 2011-12 Women's Basketball Schedule--uwmpanthers.com
Schell Named Assistant At Hillsdale College--uwmpanthers.com

SectionEE's Horizon League Picks--SectionEE

Valpo Women's Hoops Launches Blog for China Trip--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Announces 2011-2012 Women's Hoops Schedule--valpoathletics.com
China Preparation--Women's Basketball China Trip
Gearing Up for China--Women's Basketball China Trip

WSU basketball player Evans to play for Macedonia pro team--Dayton Daily News
Wright State continues facilities projects as fall sports seasons approach--Wright State University Sports
Wright State’s Evans signs first professional contact overseas--Wright State University Sports
Wright State updates athletic website with new look--Wright State University Sports
Talking Compliance with the Horizon League’s Stephanie Jarvis--RaiderRoundball.com
Out with the Old Videoboard--wsuraiders.com

Butler to Headline 2012 Maui Invitational Field--Horizon League Network
McCallum Invited to USA Basketball World University Games Training Camp--Horizon League Network
Evans, Howard, Vanzant to Embark on Professional Careers in Europe--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Dickie V Preseason Top 40: 21-30--ESPN

23. Butler: Brad Stevens lost Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack but will work his mid-major magic. Look for Khyle Marshall to step up and lead the Bulldogs.

Next coaching generation: Reason to fret?--ESPN

During last week's EYBL Peach Jam, ESPN.com surveyed 15 coaches on a wide variety of topics, including this simple question:

Do you trust the next generation of coaches to care for the future of college basketball?

Plenty did. Eight of the 15 said they had full faith in the next generation, with three more straddling the fence.

“Sean Miller, Brad Stevens, they’re such good men, so I do trust them,’’ said Louisville coach Rick Pitino, echoing the sentiments of many. “They’re so smart and so focused and they really do care, so I think we’re in very good hands.’’
...
This Final Four showcased two of the brightest young coaches in the game -- a pair of 34-year-olds, Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart -- coaches who did come up from their bootstraps, who boost even the doubters’ sagging hopes.

“My worry is that the game is tilting to the very young and you need experience and you need beacons of light,’’ said 56-year-old Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's. “Having said that, I think every administration right now is endeavoring to find the next Brad Stevens and he is a beacon of light. If we have guys like him, we’re in great shape.’’

Butler's title game runs rank among college hoops' top team feats--CBSSports.com
Morning Five: 07.22.11 Edition--Rush The Court

Excellent and difficult question by CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman: on the list of college basketball’s great accomplishments, where does Butler making consecutive title games rank? Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim both had pretty high praise, as you’d expect. We’re not going to tell you where Mr. Goodman listed it, so you’ll have click on the above link to find that out, but one thing we’re wondering is…what about next season? If Butler doesn’t have another great Tournament run (Bulldog fans, we’re not saying it won’t happen, this is a hypothetical), you know there will be people who will say that Brad Stevens should have cashed in and switched jobs when the gettin’ was good. If you hear such things, after you’ve rolled your eyes, please do it again on our behalf.

Around The Blogosphere: July 22, 2011--Rush The Court

Recruiting

Video: Trevon Bluiett Highlights at Best of the Midwest: “Recruiting interest is on the rise for Park Tudor’s Trevon Bluiett as Arizona is now the latest school to express interest in the 2014 forward. Bluiett, who is playing AAU with Spiece Indy Heat, already holds offers from Indiana and Virginia and is being looked at by Butler, Florida, Florida State, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia Tech.” (Inside the Hall)

Coaching survey: Smartest guys around--ESPN

Ben Howland, UCLA: Brad Stevens and Jamie Dixon. “He looks pretty darned smart to do what he’s done. And Jamie’s winning percentage at Pittsburgh is incredible.’’

Jazz’s Burks, Hayward make quick connection--Salt Lake Tribune

CSU Basketball Incoming Freshman Arrive on Campus--csuvikings.com
CSU Basketball Incoming Freshman Arrive on Campus--csuvikings.com

David Gale Leads U.S. Team To Gold Medal At Maccabi Games--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball: UWGB's Fletcher to play in Dutch pro league--Green Bay Press Gazette
Fletcher Signs to Play Professionally for WCAA Giants--uwgbathletics.com

Women's basketball: UWGB's Tetschlag, Hoewisch will play together in Belgium--Green Bay Press Gazette
Hoewisch and Tetschlag Will Remain Teammates Professionally--uwgbathletics.com

UWM to open against UW, play at Oklahoma, Baylor--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Valpo forwards to meet at World University Games--The NWI Times
Meet Griffyn Carpenter: Sharpshooter--SectionEE
Johnson Inks Deal With WCAA Giants of Dutch Basketball League--valpoathletics.com

UW-Green Bay coach staying to continue leading Horizon League bully--Wright State University Sports

YSU Men’s Basketball Summer Update--ysusports.com

Johnson, Fletcher Headed to WCAA Giants of Dutch League--Horizon League Network
Youngstown State's Rohrs Refocuses on Life Off the Court--Horizon League Network

Hoewisch, Tetschlag to Continue Careers Together with Waregem of Belgian League--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Chat with Shelvin Mack--ESPN

Samba Johnson Named Director of Basketball Operations--csuvikings.com

Knowing the Newcomers: Junior Gary Talton--uicflames.com

Women's basketball: Quilling, Wojta look to lead by example, build on UWGB's success--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: UWGB boosts coach Matt Bollant's pay following run to Sweet 16--Green Bay Press Gazette
Sneak Peek at the 2011-12 Season--uwgbathletics.com
Phoenix Players Watch Premiere of A Season to Remember--uwgbathletics.com
Green Bay's Matt Bollant Receives New Contract--uwgbathletics.com

UWM announces hirings--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Ranked In WBCA Academic Top 25 For Fifth Time--uwmpanthers.com
Botham Hires Wilhite, Glover To Complete Staff--uwmpanthers.com

Coaches size up their 2011-12 teams--Sports Illustrated

Michigan State

Tom Izzo wouldn't come out and say it, but if you read between the lines it's not hard to discern that there's a part of him that thinks losing Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers will amount to addition by subtraction. That is not an indictment on the character of those two youngsters -- and nobody would claim they lacked talent -- but the chemistry on last year's team was clearly lacking. A fresh turnover of leadership may be just what Dr. Sparty ordered.

Those seniors are going to be replaced by a stellar freshman class headlined by Branden Dawson, a 6-6 bull who will help the Spartans reclaim the rebounding and toughness they have lacked the last couple of seasons. Izzo got another fortuitous addition in May when Brandon Wood, a 6-2 all-conference senior shooting guard from Valparaiso, transferred to Michigan State. Wood, who lit up Izzo's team for 24 points two years ago, will be able to play right away because he is a graduating senior with a year of eligibility remaining. "He can really score," Izzo said. "We need that."

ARC Upgrade!--Valpo Daily

Rohrs Refocuses on Life Off the Basketball Court--ysusports.com

Farley, Peterson Abiad Headline River Falls H.S. Inaugural Hall of Fame Class--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' leaders, Cleveland State's revamped hoops roster and trade targets for the Tribe--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Viking Notes: CSU's Freshman Class Enrolls for Summer Classes--Cleveland State Hoops

Houston-area summer basketball figure found dead--Eye On College Basketball

David Salinas, an investment adviser who doubled as the founder of a prominent Houston-area summer basketball program, died of an apparent suicide Sunday, multiple sources have told CBSSports.com. According to a source, the development comes in light of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigating Salinas for fraudulent practices that might've cost several college basketball coaches who had invested with Salinas millions of dollars.

Salinas was 60.

"A lot of coaches got (expletive)," said one college coach who spoke to CBSSports.com on the condition of anonymity. "It's bad."

Former Arizona coach Lute Olson, Baylor coach Scott Drew, Texas Tech coach Billy Gillispie and former Utah coach and current Gonzaga assistant Ray Giacoletti are among those CBSSports.com has confirmed invested with Salinas. A document obtained late Sunday by CBSSports.com has testimonals from other coaches who invested with Salinas -- specifically Nebraska coach Doc Sadler, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coach Willis Wilson, former Houston and Nevada coach Pat Foster, former Duquesne coach and current United States Merchant Marine Academy coach Danny Nee and Augustana College coach Grey Giovanine.

"But the list is much longer," a source said. "Lots of coaches had money with him, but they're going to try to deny it and just hope it doesn't come out."

The reason some might be concerned about their financial connection to Salinas is because it's unclear how the NCAA would view college coaches investing money with the founder of a summer basketball program that supplied recruits to several universities over the years. Among the prominent prospects who played in Salinas' program are Juwann McClellan (Arizona), Demetri Goodson (Gonzaga), Joseph Jones (Texas A&M), Dexter Pittman (Texas) and Cartier Martin (Kansas State), the last of whom spent last season with the NBA's Washington Wizards.

The Nickname's are in...--SectionEE

Jim Squire

Morning Five: 07.15.11 Edition--Rush The Court

ACC Sports Journal asks the question: What’s the succession plan for Duke basketball? Everyone knows that Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski is still probably several years, a couple hundred more wins, and perhaps even a fifth national championship away from retiring, but as he turns 65 next season, it’s a fair question. The national pundits believe that Butler’s Brad Stevens is tailor made for the job, and we agree for the most part. But we also think that Stevens, as a Hoosier born and bred, will settle at one or the other destination job — Duke or Indiana — at some point in the next five to seven years. For fans of either school, it may become a bit of Faustian bargain — IU fans rooting for Tom Crean to ultimately fail (hoping the job opens prior to Duke), and Duke fans rooting for Crean’s success (hoping the IU job won’t open until after K retires).

Tough Questions: Whither Duke After Coach K?--ACC Sports Journal

Duke might go outside the Coach K coaching tree to find a replacement. Many Blue Devils see Butler’s Brad Stevens as a young doppelganger for Krzyzewski. But Stevens has strong Midwest roots, turned down a blank check from Phil Knight at Oregon, and has refused to talk to Wake Forest, N.C. State, Maryland or anybody else about their coaching vacancies. Would Duke automatically get a different response?

No ESPY award, but nice highlights--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler blog on hiatus--Indy Star Butler Insider
Brad Stevens Joins NABC Board--ButlerSports.com

D-II Quincy will visit UIC in regular season--ChicagoNow.com
Knowing the Newcomers: Freshman Will Simonton--uicflames.com

Green Bay's Alec Brown Featured by Yahoo! Sports--uwgbathletics.com

7.14.11 In Related News--Anonymous Eagle

Last, but not least, UW-Milwaukee returns to the Bradley Center for their yearly beating at the hands of the men's basketball team on December 22.

Meier, Williams, Haarsma Should Be Among League's Best In 11-12--Panther Blog Zone

Wood gets another shot at Michigan State--Rivals.com
Nick Shelton Spotlight Interview Valparaiso University (Former Frankenmuth Standout)--Elite Preps Live
Wood talks Michigan State and his time at Valpo--SectionEE

Former WSU star happy to find overseas home--Dayton Daily News

Jim Squire

Former Wright State star signs with Austrian team after standout season in Holland--Wright State University Sports

Jim Squire

Best mid-major coaches--Rivals.com
Adidas Invitational Thursday Update--Fivestarbasketball.com

Standout performers:
...
* Chris Harrison-Docks, Michigan Mustangs - Butler head coach Brad Stevens had to be excited watching his future floor general perform brilliantly over the past two days. The 6' point guard who looks every bit a Butler man is super quick, makes great decisions, controls the tempo of the game, and can shoot the lights out from deep. Docks led the Mustangs with 20 points in their 87-82 defeat of the Compton Magic. He was arguably more impressive in their comeback win over Illinois Old School, a game in which Docks was matched up with the equally smart and almost as effective Michael Orris, a recent Creighton de-commit.

Video: VJ Beachem Talks Recruiting at Adidas Invitational--UM Hoops
Nineteen thoughts from 2011's FIBA U19 World Championships--Sports Illustrated

7. And the U.S. forwards/centers:
...
Khyle Marshall, Butler (13.3 mpg, 5.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg): He proved to be an excellent offensive rebounder in the NCAA tournament, and true to form in Riga, he had more offensive boards (14) than defensive (13). He's a more valuable player in the Bulldogs' team-oriented setting than in a situation like this one, where the U.S. offense often devolved into AAU-like freelancing. Impressively, he stayed behind at the gym to watch every Australia game in Riga, because he wanted to support future Butler teammate Jackson Aldridge, the Emus' starting point guard.
...
11. Beyond McDermott and the U.S. staff, which consisted of Hewitt, Randy Bennett of St. Mary's and Cliff Warren of Jacksonville, I saw five college coaches in the gym. Boise State assistant John Rillie, a former Australian pro, was there tracking two Broncos commits, Anthony Drmic and Igor Hadziomerovic, and other Aussie recruits. Butler assistant Terry Johnson stopped by for a day to check in on Aldridge. Dayton assistant Allen Griffin was following the Canadian team closely, in particular Dyshawn Pierre, and Utah assistant Andy Hill was checking on the Polish team, among others. Duquesne's Ron Everhart dropped in on the final two days after working a Latvian coaching clinic next door.

Possible Temple-Butler basketball game in the works--Temple Owls Examiner
USA U19 team gains experience in Latvia--Andy Katz Blog
Field set for the 2012 Maui Invitational?--Ballin' is a Habit
2012 Maui Invitational Field Looks Set; WAC Likely Expanding Again--Blogging the Bracket
U.S. picks up victory--The Indy Star
U.S. edges Australia to complete U-19 tournament--The Indy Star
USA tips Aussies for 5th--Indy Star Butler Insider
Should Butler pay athletes more?--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler Teammates To Meet At World Championship--ButlerSports.com
USA Places Fifth At U19 World Championship--ButlerSports.com
Bulldogs Nominated for an ESPY Award--ButlerSports.com

NBA Lockout Could Provide Big Opportunity for Cleveland State Basketball--Cleveland Leader

18 holes with … Howard Moore--The Chicago Tribune
Knowing the Newcomers: Freshman Rob Robinson--uicflames.com

Five Ramblers Named To NABC Honors Court--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola Men's Basketball Season Tickets On Sale Now--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's Basketball No. 19 in WBCA Academic Top 25 for NCAA Division I--uwgbathletics.com
SummerTimeOut Featuring Katie Bushman--uwgbathletics.com
Lukan Earns Spot on Junior National Team--uwgbathletics.com

Green Bay Men's Basketball Summer Preview--uwgbathletics.com

Recruiting the region a challenge for Valparaiso--Off The Mark
Valpo All Decade Team 2000-2010--Section EE

Former Wright State signee leaving Clemson after one season--Wright State University Sports
88-year-old Loyola gym becomes rubble in video, and Detroit builds a floor--Wright State University Sports

Women's Basketball Recognized in WBCA's Academic Top 25--ysusports.com

Perspectives: Behind the Curtain--Horizon League Network
IMG, Horizon League Form Multimedia Rights Partnership--Horizon League Network
Milwaukee, Youngstown State and Green Bay women's basketball teams crack WBCA Top-25--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Morning Five: 07.07.11 Edition--Rush The Court

Most of the attention in the US for the U-19 World Championships has been on Team USA and its college stars, but as Luke Winn reports college fans may want to start paying attention to the Australian team as several of their players may be heading to college campuses near you in the very near future. While some schools (St. Mary’s) dominated the Australian recruiting scene in recent years, the players have started to shift their focus to other schools and Winn reports the current favorites for the present group of Australian star U-19 players are Butler, Boise State, and New Mexico.

2011 Recruiting Trip: Marking Day 2 in Milwaukee--Eye On College Basketball

Then we got in Marks’ mother’s 2002 Lexus and headed to Milwaukee, where we walked into the gym at the NY2LA Sports event around 8 a.m.

It was then that Marks realized they had switched the schedule – and the player we had rushed to see for an 8:15 a.m. game was actually playing an hour later.

There were literally a handful of coaches in attendance when we got there – and Marks and Drake’s Mark Phelps were the only D-1 head men in the building.

The building slowly began to fill up with coaches – nearly all of them of the low-major, mid-major and even of the Division 2 and Division 3 variety.

There were even a few more head coaches that showed – Mike Young (Wofford), Brian Wardle (Green Bay), Rob Jeter (Milwaukee), Tim Jankovich (Illinois State) and Kerry Keating (Santa Clara).