Wednesday, November 2, 2011

News On The Horizon 11/2/2011

Prologue: All of Us vs. Each of Us--The Mid-Majority

The Arena Pulse '11-12 Season Preview: 10 Coaches On-The-Rise--YardBarker

Brad Stevens, Butler

Stevens is an obvious selection. After guiding Butler to back-to-back National Championship games, Stevens lacks a title, but his accomplishments over the past two seasons are virtually unmatched. Stevens has an amazing .824 winning percentage as a head coach (all with Butler), racking up an overall mark of 117-25 in four seasons at Butler. Stevens is currently signed on at Butler through the 2021-22 season, while he continues to express loyalty to the only program he's known.

Non-conference Season Preview, part 1--Banners On The Parkway

Butler (22-9, 33, 41) -- Wednesday, December 7, 9pm -- Indianapolis, IN (ESPN2/ESPN3)


The series with Butler has become one of the more enjoyable match ups on Xavier's schedule. Not only has Butler's increased national profile in turn boosted Xavier's, but X gets to play in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the travel from Cinci to Indiana makes it an accessible game for Muskies fans. The series showcases a pair of the best programs outside the BCS conferences, and the last two years' games have both been decided by a single possession.

Butler - in case you missed it - has been to back-to-back national title games. While the cupboard appears to be running bare on Coach Brad Stevens, he returns a couple of potentially big time interior talents in Andrew Smith and Khyle Marshall. The two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year will have his hands full shaping this team into a contender, but the same could have been said of his situation last season. There's usually only room in the national media's heart for one "mid-major" team; knocking off the current darling not only helps XU make fill that void but also provides the very real return of a quality road win. That prize won't be easy to earn in Indy this year. For our full write-up on the Bulldogs, click here.

Bottom line: The Butler game is always a good time, and there is also the boost in cachet and RPI that comes with playing a well-exposed and successful program. Xavier has the more impressive talent in this game, but Butler in Indy is never an easy game.

Butler's Hopkins sidelined for exhibition opener--The Indy Star
Time for Butler basketball to move on from Final Four loss--The Indy Star
Men’s basketball: New-look Bulldogs ready to roll--Butler Collegian
Seat not saved--Butler Collegian

Women’s basketball: Ladies open with win--Butler Collegian

Vikings Top John Carroll, 87-55 In Exhibition Opener--csuvikings.com

Titans 15th in First Mid-Major Top 25 Poll--detroittitans.com
McCallum Named to Lou Henson Preseason All-America Team--detroittitans.com

Flames Host University of Chicago in Exhibition Game Wednesday--uicflames.com
Flames down Maroons in Home Exhibitioner 61-45--uicflames.com

Moser announces 3 starters, Simpson says Ayoub will miss season--Loyola Phoenix
Do the Ramblers reign supreme?--Loyola Phoenix

Women's Basketball Blog Entry #2: Patrice King--LoyolaRamblers.com
Individual Game Tickets On Sale Now For Women's Basketball--LoyolaRamblers.com

2011-2012 Season Preview: One Sleeper (in each conference) to rule them all--Ballin' is a Habit

Horizon League: UW-Green Bay
Preseason Ranking: 6th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 6th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Why? Because after Butler, this conference is up for grabs. Detroit is not going to be as good as people think, Cleveland State is without Norris Cole, and Milwaukee is still searching for conference stability. Alec Brown, the Phoenix's 7-foot sophomore center will face little competition on the interior during Horizon League play. Green Bay might not finish in the top-three, but don't be too surprised if they do.

Men's basketball: UW-Green Bay downplays 3-point shooting--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB announces full radio/TV package--UWGB Basketball
Four Chi Guys Episode 3: Green & White Scrimmage--uwgbathletics.com

Green Bay Basketball Releases Full TV and Radio Schedules--uwgbathletics.com

Women's basketball: UWGB ranked 24th in preseason coaches poll--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix in Preseason Poll for First Time in Program History--uwgbathletics.com

Single-Game Men's Basketball Tickets Now On Sale--uwmpanthers.com

Milwaukee Women Open Exhibition Play Friday--uwmpanthers.com

With UNC 10 Days away, Spartans working on Defense--YardBarker

The team seems to be moving the ball well. There is a decent flow to the offense, and the squad is loaded with unselfish players. Dawson likes to create off rebounds, Keith Appling is becoming more of a distributor, Brandon Wood never forces anything, and we have all seen numerous examples of Draymond’s passing ability. Izzo made multiple mentions about how he is impressed by the teams passing and unselfishness. Offensively, the starting five is going to be effective.

Follow Along With Valpo Men's Basketball in Exhibition Action Thursday!--valpoathletics.com

Valpo freshman nets double-double in rout--The Post-Tribune
Valpo Cruises Past Huntington in Exhibition Play--The Post-Tribune

WSU basketball faces more ranked nonconference opponents than normal--Dayton Daily News
Prices adjusted for WSU tickets--Dayton Daily News
WSU, UD basketball coaches exchange thoughts about rivalry--Dayton Daily News
Raider Connection Q&A: Jerry Slocum, Youngstown State basketball coach--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU players: Alex Pritchett, freshman forward--Wright State University Sports
Wright State Focus: Donlon dealt with inexperience at UNC-Wilmington--Wright State University Sports
Previewing WSU players: Brooklyn Bradley, freshman guard--Wright State University Sports
Dayton vs. Wright State in Coaches vs. Cancer ?--Through the Arch

WSU women win exhibition opener--Dayton Daily News

‘There’s no success without any adversity’--The Jambar

Men's Basketball Hopes Offseason Prep Work Pays Dividends in 2011-12--ysusports.com

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