On The Horizon

Jim Squire

StatSheet Horizon Players of the Week - November 28th, 2011--Butler Blue Fever
High-Major Men's Basketball Game Breakdowns 11/28-12/1--College Sports Madness

LOYOLA-CHICAGO AT MILWAUKEE (8 p.m. Thursday at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

It’s hard to believe, but this game marks the start of Horizon League play for these two schools. It stands to reason for Loyola-Chicago, as 18 of its next 23 games are against Horizon teams. Loyola is off to a 1-4 start but found the win column Saturday in a 64-50 win over Fordham. Ben Averkamp (11.4 points) and Joe Crisman (11.0) lead a scoring attack that hasn’t been the best so far this year. Milwaukee (5-1) is licking its wounds following a 68-55 loss to Michigan State, and this game begins a stretch of three straight games against Chicago-area opponents (Loyola, Illinois-Chicago and DePaul). James Haarsma leads Milwaukee with 12.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Tom Crean gets biggest win in tenure over Butler--Eye On College Basketball
Utah Jazz: NBA's shortened, frantic-paced season may help Jazz--Deseret News

Considering they'll be one of the youngest teams in the NBA — with promising up-and-comers like Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter — maybe that will turn out to be a good thing for the Jazz.

Kragthorpe: Lockout’s end means Jazz’s reality resumes--Salt Lake Tribune

In their final appearance, the Jazz beat Denver behind the 34-point effort of rookie Gordon Hayward, inspiring hope for the future.

As long as opponents field teams of rec center regulars, as the Nuggets did that night, the Jazz will be just fine.

Otherwise, they’ll do well to win 30 of these 66 games. They will be healthier and more talented than the team that finished last season, but also younger. Imagine this: If Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks are in the rotation, the Jazz will be relying on four players between the ages of 19 and 21, who played a combined five years of college basketball.

Butler Vs. Indiana: Hoosiers Lead 31-28 At Half--SB Nation Indiana
Indiana 75, Butler 59: Hoosiers Pull Away In Second Half.--SB Nation Indiana
Indiana 75, Butler 59: Hoosiers pull away from Bulldogs.--The Crimson Quarry
Will Sheehey scores 21 points to lead IU past Butler 75-59--The Indy Star
What’s ahead more telling than what’s behind--Indy Star Butler Insider
BU has second-half meltdown (+Audio)--Victory Firelight
INDIANA 75, BUTLER 59--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Men’s basketball: Hoosiers use second half run to down Bulldogs--Butler Collegian
Second Half Lifts Indiana Past Butler--ButlerSports.com
Butler Starts Homestand With Oakland City--ButlerSports.com

Haley Howard Named To Nugget Classic All-Tournament Team--ButlerSports.com
Beth Couture Show - Episode 4--ButlerSports.com

Cleveland St. 67, Rhode Island 45--YardBarker
Pat Riley seeks to fill Miami Heat’s holes for another title run--Miami Herald

The starting point

Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent but would like to remain in Miami. He made an impressive leap during last season’s playoffs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Heat is comfortable with making him a full-time starter. The market is thin on point guard, however, with Dallas’ J.J. Barea seemingly the only other suitable option.

By necessity, draft pick Norris Cole likely will receive minutes this season in a reserve role. It’s a less than ideal situation for the Heat — Cole will have a shortened training camp to prepare for his first season in the NBA with the league’s most high-profile team — but one the team has anticipated. The Heat moved up in the draft to land the point guard from Cleveland State.