On The Horizon

Jim Squire

2011-2012 Season Preview: Breakout Players--Ballin' is a Habit

Khyle Marshall, So., Butler: Marshall had a promising freshman campaign with the Bulldogs, putting together a pair of impressive performances during the Bulldog's run to the national title game. Marshall is not your typical Butler player. He's a terrific athlete, the kind of guy that normally gets scooped up to ride the bench of a high-major program. Marshall is an excellent rebounder (especially on the offensive end of the floor) and defender, and playing alongside Andrew Smith, that's about all he is going to be asked to do. Expect a significant bump from the 5.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg he averaged last season.

Butler looking to make another deep NCAA tourney run--The Indy Star
With Hopkins out, frosh get chance--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler Faces Northern State In Exhibition Game--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Win Exhibition 76-59--ButlerSports.com

Vikings Set To Open 2011-12 Exhibition Schedule Against John Carroll--csuvikings.com

Metro + state: Titans blow out Madonna in hoops exhibition--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit domination--Varsity Press
Offense in High Gear; Titans Blow Out Madonna, 112-52--detroittitans.com

Crusaders crushed--Varsity Press
Detroit Too Strong For Madonna As Titans Rout Crusaders--detroittitans.com

Women's basketball: Phoenix rusty but victorious--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay's Game at Virginia to be Televised on ESPNU--uwgbathletics.com

UWGB's game at Virginia picked up by ESPNU--UWGB Basketball
Ritchies Reunite as Green Bay Wins Exhibition Opener--uwgbathletics.com

Talent show--UWM Post

Michigan State Knocks off Ferris State 85-58 in Exhibition Play--YardBarker

I thought Brandon Wood stayed within himself and played an efficient game. He is not going to put up 17 points-per-game like he did at Valpo, but can knock down an open trey and score off the dribble. He did not force anything and played decent defense.
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Coach Izzo was happy with the intangibles. He enjoyed the way the young guys responded when he criticized them, and praised Draymond and Austin’s leadership. Brandon Wood was a good cheerleader when he was on the bench. This squad appears to have much more togetherness than last year’s team.

Around the Big Ten 2011-12: Michigan State--YardBarker

Fifth-year transfer Brandon Wood opted to attend Michigan State after leaving Valparaiso, what sort of role do you expect him to play during the upcoming season?

I think he’ll start and play a lot. He should bring experience and some scoring punch that was missing last year. I see him getting most of his minutes at the two-guard and being a primary option on offense – if he has to be drafted into running the offense then something has probably gone wrong with the anticipated Keith Appling/Travis Trice point guard rotation. The main question with Wood is how well he will fit into Izzo’s system. Initial reports have been positive.

Bryce Era opens with thrilling win--The Post-Tribune
Dawn of a new Drew era--The NWI Times
Crusaders knock off top Division II team with game-ending heroics--The NWI Times
Game Wrap Up: A coachable victory--SectionEE
Game Preview: Preseason Finale vs. Augustana--SectionEE
Valpo Downs Hillsdale, 73-71, In Exhibition Action--valpoathletics.com

WSU freshman guard Arceneaux adjusts to college game--Dayton Daily News
Cancer event special  for Donlon--Dayton Daily News
Previewing WSU players: Reggie Arceneaux, freshman guard--Wright State University Sports
Wright State By the Numbers: Raiders are 1-10 against ranked non-league opponents--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU players: Vance Hall, sophomore guard--Wright State University Sports
Wright State’s Week: Two basketball exhibition games, and women’s soccer in HL tourney--Wright State University Sports
Raider Ruckus Set for Thursday--wsuraiders.com

Raiders win exhibition opener--Dayton Daily News
Women Win Exhibition Over Georgetown (KY)--wsuraiders.com

YSU Athletics Announces Basketball Broadcast Coverage for 2011-12--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

RTC Conference Primers: #13 – Horizon League--Rush The Court
Podcast: Breakout players and teams for this year--Eye On College Basketball

Here's your aural checklist:

From the beginning: We share some of our worst driving experiences. Parrish has an unbelievable story that's so Parrish and so hilarious. And apparently Goodman was once a Domino's delivery boy. Who knew?
5:50: Into the hoop talk. Indiana and the expectation level there. Then the Brad Stevens talk begins, and we begin to senselessly speculate where and when Stevens would leave Butler.

2011-2012 Preseason Mid-Major Top 25--Ballin' is a Habit

6. Butler Bulldogs: It may take a while for Butler to prove me right on this. While Andrew Smith, Ronald Nored and Chase Stigall are returning starters, none of them are potential stars. Chrishawn Hopkins and Khyle Marshall are, but they are also sophomores. It may take a while for everything to come together, but the same thing happened last season. And when all the pieces finally did get put into place, the Bulldogs made their second straight run to the national title game. Advice: don't bet against Brad Stevens.

Butler hoping to make another Final Four run--Yard Barker
Utah Jazz: News sports writer Jody Genessy and the Jazz? It's just a fantasy--Deseret News

While a new labor deal is hammered out, Tyrone Corbin, Scott Layden, Jeff Hornacek and Sidney Lowe have extra time on their hands. Sure, they've strategized and prepared for whenever real basketball gets here. In the meantime, they've put on camp-like clinics at the team training facility for season ticket holders, sponsors and VIPs.

For a day, participants experience what it's like to be Paul Millsap and Gordon Hayward — minus the million dollar contracts and pink princess backpacks.

Jimmer, Jazz players to play for charity--Deseret News

Gordon Hayward has committed to play in a pro-am All-Star game the night before (Nov. 6) in Indiana, so it seems unlikely he'd participate in this one.

College Basketball Preview: The Most Tightly Handcuffed Teams--Searching for Billy Edelin

Butler - I don't know if I can put this kindly: the Bulldogs are going to have to get real creative when establishing team goals this season. After playing in consecutive National Championship finals, it appears that finally (and I say that endearingly), The Butler will not be one of the two remaining teams in the field of 68, I think. Assuming lighting never strikes three times...where the heck do these guys go from here? Winning the Horizon - while not a shoe-in this season - isn't going to feel particularly special and neither will knocking off juggernaut after juggernaut in the month of March. The Bulldogs have accomplished both with alacrity. A great non-conference schedule will keep Butler relevant this season, but in terms of program growth these guys might be stuck.

Butler’s TV presence--Indy Star Butler Insider
Piecing together these Dawgs--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler can keep up with change--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler sets series with Vandy--Indy Star Butler Insider
Close The Gap Crossroads Classic Ticket Information--ButlerSports.com

Women's Basketball Alumni Information--ButlerSports.com
Beth Couture Show - Episode 1--ButlerSports.com
Basketball Season At Butler Tips Off Sunday Afternoon--ButlerSports.com

Injuries disrupt preseason practice: NE Ohio College Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Taller Detroit Mercy women's hoops should be tougher, too--The Detroit Free Press
Mulroy out as assistant bball coach--Varsity News
Forward-thinking--Varsity News
Titan Women Working Hard In Preparation For Saturday’s Exhibition--detroittitans.com
Detroit Set For Exhibition Against Madonna--detroittitans.com

Basketball Media Day Streamed Live on HLN Today--detroittitans.com
Detroit Hosts Basketball Media Day--detroittitans.com

Detroit Mercy basketball will try to live up to great expectations--The Detroit Free Press
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Detroit Titans looking to live up to high expectations--The Oakland Press
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ray McCallum Jr. has skills to live up to preseason hype, resurrect Titans program--The Oakland Press
All smiles--Varsity News
"Get on the Bus" with Detroit's College Team--detroittitans.com
Exhibition Season Opens Saturday--detroittitans.com

Howard Moore to Co-Host WVON's--uicflames.com
Red Tops Blue; Carter, Robinson Win Dunk, 3-Point Contests--uicflames.com

HorizonLeague.com Interview With Regina Miller--uicflames.com

Loyola’s McCammon to play basektball in Europe--Daily Herald
Loyola Men's Basketball Individual Game Tickets On Sale Now--LoyolaRamblers.com
Men's Basketball Blog Entry #2: Jordan Hicks--LoyolaRamblers.com
Geoff McCammon Signs Professional Contract To Play In Europe--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola Announces 2011-12 Men's Basketball TV Schedule--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's Basketball Blog Entry #1: Lyndsey Booker--LoyolaRamblers.com
Late Run Pushes UW-Parkside Past Loyola in Exhibition Game, 60-53--LoyolaRamblers.com

Wardle brings in athletic Chicago-area recruits--UWGB Fourth Estate

Coaching Clinic Stresses Fundamentals--uwgbathletics.com
Women's Basketball Blog Now Active--uwgbathletics.com
Phoenix Opens Exhibition Play Saturday Against Michigan Tech--uwgbathletics.com

Panthers add another regular-season game--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Injuries slow Panthers’ start at scrimmage--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
My preview from RushTheCourt.net--PantherU
Jeter on WSSP--PantherU
New unis?--PantherU
For Panthers, Name of the Game is our place on the south side--PantherU
A Sneak-Peek Emboldens (already bold) Predictions..--Milwaukee Panther Tracks
What The Preseason Basketball Magazines Are Saying--Panther Blog Zone
Overseas List To Date--Panther Blog Zone
Panthers Add Regular Season Home Game With Nebraska-Omaha--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers And Sports32 Partner For Extensive Basketball Television Schedule--uwmpanthers.com
New Faces Shine Bright As Gold Beats Black In Intrasquad Scrimmage--uwmpanthers.com
Video: Milwaukee Basketball Tipoff Luncheon Interviews--uwmpanthers.com

Bryce Drew takes the helm for a Valpo team in transition--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso odds and ends--Off The Mark
VU Head Basketball Coach Bryce Drew--The NWI Times
Edwards ready to display artwork--The NWI Times
Michigan State's Tom Izzo sharpening two point guards -- Keith Appling, Travis Trice--The Detroit Free Press

NOTEBOOK: As of Tuesday, Izzo said his starting lineup likely would be Derrick Nix, Draymond Green, Brandon Wood, Dawson and Appling. ... Izzo said he'll probably look at a couple of different lineups in the second half of Sunday's exhibition opener against Ferris State.

Game Preview: Pre-Season Opener vs. Hillsdale--SectionEE
Sneak Preview--SectionEE
Crusader Basketball Hosts Season-Ticket Holder Event, Valpo Hoops Dodgeball Challenge--valpoathletics.com
Crusader Men’s Basketball Takes Time to Give Back--valpoathletics.com
New Era Set to Begin For Valparaiso Men’s Basketball--valpoathletics.com
Join the Live Chat For Bryce's First Game Saturday Night!--valpoathletics.com

Women's Hoops Season Set to Begin at Valpo--valpoathletics.com

Men's Basketball Season Tips Off Saturday--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Vegas Odds to Win It All: Preseason Review--Rush The Court

Your value teams this year are plentiful. You could buy Baylor (#16 at 3.2%), Butler (#24 at 2.0%), Washington (#24 at 2.0%), California (#42 at 1.0%), Xavier (#42 at 1.0%), AND the field (#12 at 4.8%) for less than the price of one Kentucky (16.7% vs. 14.0%). Your field this year would include Temple, VCU, New Mexico, Old Dominion, Creighton, Wichita State and everyone’s mid-major darlings this season, Belmont and Harvard. Jordan: “Baylor — maybe the most athletic team in the nation; Xavier — Tu, balanced attack around a superstar; Butler — pretty self-explanatory; Cal — our favorite in the Pac-12.”

Preseason Polls: Who Tends to be Overrated and Underrated?--Rush The Court

A more interesting observation may be in the Cinderellas of the college basketball world where their performances are widely divergent. Butler, BYU, and Xavier (bear with me Musketeer fans on the “Cinderella” description) all rank near the top in exceeding their preseason ranking while Gonzaga, the archetypal modern-day Cinderella, is near the bottom of the list. There are probably a myriad of reasons for Gonzaga’s underperformance including that most people no longer even consider them to be a Cinderella and consequently they get treated as such in preseason polls so they don’t have as much room to move up in the polls as the season progresses although this doesn’t seem to affect many other teams that are traditionally highly ranked.

14 Butler basketball games on TV--The Indy Star
Woods is one to watch--Indy Star Butler Insider
MyINDY-TV To Broadcast 12 Butler Basketball Games--ButlerSports.com

TIQ Player Ratings Reveals Top Returning Talent--Hoopville

As we prepare for the 2011-12 season, let’s take a look back at the top players from the 2010-11 season. To tally the top 50, I added the top players in various statistical categories to the list of players from major conferences. That adds the likes of Cleveland State’s Norris Cole, College of Charleston’s Andrew Goudelock and Morehead State’s Kenneth Faried to a list that predictably includes Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams.
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In fact, Cleveland State’s Cole (TIQ = 39.6 points) and College of Charleston’s Goudelock (TIQ = 39.4 points) come in at No. 1 and 2 for their ridiculously great performances last season.

Cole proved he could be a prolific scorer, averaging 21.7 ppg last season. However, he didn’t stop there. Cole also delivered 5.8 rpg and 5.3 apg for the Vikings. That’s a sick stat line, worthy of the No. 1 spot in the rankings. He didn’t receive much serious consideration for All-American status, but the AP writers did name him as an honorable mention for their list.
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Rank  Team  Class  Player  TIQ / 40 Minutes  % Minutes Played  Real Total Impact / Game  NBA Draft Status
1  Cleveland State  Sr.  Norris Cole  39.6  89.2  35

Kate Peterson Abiad Talks About Preseason Poll (Oct. 19)--Let's Go Vikes!

UIC Athletics Extends Broadcast Agreement with ESPN Chicago--uicflames.com
Men's Basketball Red-Blue Scrimmage Set for October 28--uicflames.com

Phoenix Practices Focus on Defense and Intensity--uwgbathletics.com

Green Bay Men's Basketball Goes Paintballing--uwgbathletics.com
Green Bay Holds Annual Green & White Scrimmage--uwgbathletics.com

Top 10 opponents await Wright State--Dayton Daily News
Horizon League turns taller among top returners--Wright State University Sports
Raider Connection Q&A: Brian Wardle, Green Bay basketball coach--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU opponents: Butler--Wright State University Sports
Wright State freshman forward Tavares Sledge raps … about a frog--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU opponents: Valparaiso--Wright State University Sports
Horizon League Focus: League hopes to build on improved attendance--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU opponents: Wisconsin-Milwaukee--Wright State University Sports
Adams Added As Speaker for Preseason Luncheon--wsuraiders.com

Jim Squire

Butler Projected to Win Horizon League, Two Chicago Teams Picked at Bottom--The Sports Bank
2011-12 Purdue Basketball: Picking The Schedule--Hammer and Rails

December 17 - Butler (at Conseco Fieldhouse) - After the past two years I am never counting out the Bulldogs. This is going to be a fun day as part of the renewed Crossroads Classic. This will be another close game, but I think we win. There is certainly no shame in losing to Butler anymore. Win

Monica Albano Named Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: UWGB remains team to beat in Horizon League--Green Bay Press Gazette

WSU women picked 3rd in HL--Dayton Daily News
Previewing WSU opponents: Illinois-Chicago--Wright State University Sports

2 WSU basketball players deal with injuries--Dayton Daily News

Brandi Brown named Horizon POY--Youngstown Vindicator
Brandi Brown Named Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

Post-Midnight Madness BP68--Basketball Predictions

Even the first week of the season will have games that matter for Tournament resumes (even on that opening night of November 7th we'll have a pair of games with two quality teams: Arizona vs Valparaiso and St. John's vs William & Mary).
...
But for now, I owe you a new bracket projection. As always, this is my projection of where the final bracket will end up on Selection Sunday:
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8. BUTLER (HORIZON)
...
Other teams with a decent shot to get onto the bubble:
..., Cleveland State, Detroit, ...

Other teams I'm keeping my eye on:
..., Valparaiso, UW-Milwaukee, ...

College Basketball Preview: What current players will pursue a coaching career (become a glorified townie)?--Searching for Billy Edelin

Ray McCallum (Detroit) - The McDonald's All-American decided to play for daddy at a mid-major school. And while he'll likely get a shot at the NBA, you gotta think there's a coaching position waiting for him back on campus if things fall through. Perhaps it's a classic example of nepotism, but if the Titans win the Horizon this season (and three preseason all-conference players means they most certainly can), dad might just owe a job to son.
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Ronald Nored (Butler) - There's no bad joke to tell here about townies being analogous to college basketball assistant coaches. Nored is genuinely a head - not assistant - coach in waiting. Just watch any interview he has ever given, and read up on the work he's doing with the next generation of players in Indianapolis. He's incredibly smart, well spoken and loves the game. Frankly, there's a far more redeeming career manning the sidelines waiting for Nored than globetrotting to continue his playing career.

College Basketball's 50 Can't Miss Non-Conference Games For 2011-2012--Ballin' is a Habit

36. Butler at Indiana (Nov. 27)

Neither team figures to be ranked come game day, but that will hardly limit the intrigue surrounding this meeting between the Hoosiers and the new darlings of the Hoosier state.

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30. Louisville at Butler (Nov. 19)

A likely top ten team (the Cardinals), the two-time defending national runners-up (the Bulldogs), and one of the sport's most legendary venues (Hinkle Fieldhouse); there's nothing not to like here.
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26. Butler at Gonzaga (Dec. 20)

The original mid-major darling versus the program that has done what the 'Zags never could...twice. Expect to hear "you can't really call these guys 'mid-majors' anymore" at least 950 times on Dec. 20.

Butler gets to work after two runner-up finishes--The Chicago Tribune
Khyle Marshall Interview--Brandon Gaudin
Six freshman add a new twist to Butler basketball--Fox 59
Brad Stevens interview--TheNewsSentinelVideo
Utah Jazz: Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker wants NBA to play--Deseret News

He was stoked about the late-season emergence of Gordon Hayward last spring, and he has an optimistic outlook about the mixture of the team's talent and promising pieces.

Butler picked pre-season favorite to win Horizon--The Indy Star
Butler picked to win Horizon League hoops crown--The Indy Star
Preseason picks? They never add up at Butler--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler Picked As Horizon League Favorite--ButlerSports.com

D'Aundray Brown's return to health buoys CSU preseason practice: NE Ohio College Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Butler is preseason pick for Horizon League hoops title, CSU is third--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Midnight Madness: It's basketball time--The Cauldron
Cleveland State Picked to Finish Third in Preseason Poll--Cleveland State Hoops
Harmon Named to Preseason All-League First Team--csuvikings.com

Vikings Tabbed Second In Horizon League Preseason Poll--csuvikings.com

2011-12 season preview: Top 100 players in college basketball--CBS Sports

74. Ray McCallum (sophomore guard, Detroit). Coming off a strong freshman campaign for his dad, Little Ray knows how to play. High IQ, makes his teammates better and scores when necessary. — J.G.

Detroit Mercy picked second in Horizon League preseason basketball poll--The Detroit Free Press
UDM's Ray McCallum gets Horizon preseason honor--The Detroit News
Titan Television Package Grows to a Dozen--detroittitans.com
McCallum Picked Preseason Player of Year, Three Titans on All-Horizon League First Team--detroittitans.com
Titans in the Community--detroittitans.com

Horizon League Rolls-out Preseason Honors Beginning Tuesday--detroittitans.com

Titans Selected Seventh, Shayok Named To Second Team As HL Releases Preseason Poll--detroittitans.com

Seniors Bailey and Green Named to Preseason All-League Teams--uicflames.com

Compression Shorts--Loyola Phoenix

Junior forward Ben Averkamp has been named to the Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League, according to a poll of media, sports information directors and coaches. Averkamp averaged 12 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He started all 31 games a year ago, the only Loyola player to accomplish that feat.

Averkamp, the highest-scoring sophomore in the Horizon League last season, is the first Rambler to be named to a Preseason All-League team since J.R. Blount back in 2008.

Men's Basketball Blog Entry #1: Jordan Hicks--LoyolaRamblers.com
Averkamp Named Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball: UWGB picked 6th in Horizon League preseason poll--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB men picked 6th in Horizon League preseason poll--UWGB Basketball
Men’s basketball strives for success--UWGB Fourth Estate
Brown Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team--uwgbathletics.com
Men's Basketball's Green and White Scrimmage Set for Saturday--uwgbathletics.com

Midnight Mania excites fans for season--UWGB Fourth Estate

Wojta Named First Team All-League Selection in Horizon League Preseaon Poll--uwgbathletics.com

UWM picked to finish fourth in Horizon League--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panther Madness a resounding success--PantherU
Panthers Picked Fourth As Williams, Meier Earn Preseason All-League Honors--uwmpanthers.com

The Madness is back--UWM Post
Rodriguez Named To Preseason All-League Second Team--uwmpanthers.com

Hutton: Tweeting without thinking is a problem--The Post-Tribune
My Horizon League preseason ballot--Off The Mark
All-Horizon League plus preseason poll--Off The Mark
Michigan State welcomes Valpo transfer for 1-and-done stint--The NWI Times
Transition doesn't faze Tom Izzo--The Detroit News

Appling primarily will be the point while senior transfer Brandon Wood plays shooting guard. How freshmen Travis Trice, Branden Dawson and Brandan Kearney figure into the rotation — as well as redshirt freshman Russell Byrd — will determine which big men play and for how long.

"I'm just trying to learn my team a little bit," Izzo said. "I'm trying to learn how good Wood can be and if he plays the two and Appling plays the point, and (Dawson) plays the three, that could be one thing.

"So I'm trying to figure out how good is Wood, how good is Trice, and how good is Dawson?"

Crusaders Tabbed Fifth in Preseason Poll; Broekhoff Named to Second Team--valpoathletics.com

Adams Named Preseason Second Team as Horizon League Announces Preseason Poll--valpoathletics.com