Tuesday, November 29, 2011

News On The Horizon 11/28/2011

Around the Horizon League: Weeks 2 and 3--Hoopville

The Way vs. The Hall--The Mid-Majority
Minnesota Loses Game And Trevor Mbakwe--Basketball Predictions

Indiana 75, Butler 59
Indiana fans have watched Butler have so much success the past couple of years, but they now feel like they've got the talent they need to contend in the Big Ten, and it was clear coming into this game that they had this one marked on their calendar. And Indiana put on a shooting display in this game, going 8-for-13 behind the arc (compared to 5-for-18 for Butler) and 80.6% at the free throw line (compared to 54.5% for Butler). Indiana's not going to shoot that well so often, and Butler can feel like the Hoosiers got a little bit of hometown reffing, but I don't think this result really was that much of a fluke.

First of all, Butler struggled in the same ways they've struggled all season. Their ball handling and offensive creation has been awful. Ronald Nored is the only backcourt player who can create his own shot, and even he's not creating a lot of offense for his teammates. As a whole they had seven assists and 19 turnovers, and allowed Indiana to collect 14 steals. In addition, this is just one in a string of disappointing results for Butler. They lost to Evansville, got destroyed at home by Louisville and had a very narrow win over a mediocre Gardner Webb team. Their Pomeroy rating has slipped to 105th and their Sagarin PREDICTOR is 193rd, believe it or not.

I expect things to get better for Butler. They're not playing up to their talent, and Brad Stevens does a terrific job of adapting his game plans to his talent. He's just still figuring this team out. They're not the 193rd best team in the country - that's for sure. I'm very curious to see how they handle their conference opener against Valparaiso on Saturday. It's a game that they should win if they play well. The Hoosiers are now 6-0, though their best wins were over Butler and Evansville, so they've still got to prove themselves. They've got an interesting Big Ten/ACC Challenge game on Wednesday night at NC State. It will be a great opportunity to steal a win against a team that they might be fighting with for an at-large spot on Selection Sunday.

NBA: By staying the same, Utah Jazz could start season stronger--Salt Lake Tribune

Beneath the surface: an interesting blend of veterans seeking redemption — Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell — and young guns who form the building blocks of the Jazz’s uncertain future — Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans, Kanter and Burks.
...
Utah also won’t have to fill its roster with overpriced mercenaries, relying instead on nine athletes who already know the Jazz’s system and some of whom — Millsap, Miles, Jefferson, Favors, Hayward — are expected to show up for camp Dec. 9 in the best shape of their careers.

Ex-Butler stars Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack ready for NBA season to start--Washington Post
Indiana-Butler notebook: Hoosiers badger Bulldogs--The Indy Star
Sheehey relishes coming off bench for IU--The Indy Star
Oakland City at Butler men's basketball preview--The Indy Star

Bulldogs Have Home Opener Against Bradley--ButlerSports.com

Men's basketball highlights: Vikings 5-1 through Saturday--The Cauldron
Cleveland State Enters Horizon League Play as Conference Favorites--Let's Go Vikes!
Vikings Drop 2 Slots in Mid-Major Top 25--Let's Go Vikes!
Viking Voyage Details for 2011-2012 Cleveland State Basketball--Let's Go Vikes!
Celebrate the Holiday and Vikings Hoops on Dec 22nd--Let's Go Vikes!
Vikings Open League Play on Thursday at Wright State--csuvikings.com

The NC-Double-Eh Stat Leaders - Week 3--Raptors HQ

Assists

Junior Cadougan, Marquette – 6.4
Myck Kabongo, Texas – 5.2
Hernst Laroche, New Mexico State – 4.8
Christian Kabongo, New Mexico State – 3.5
Matthew Wright, St. Bonaventure – 3.3
Alex Johnson, NC State – 3.2
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga – 3.0
Jason Calliste, Detroit – 2.9
...
Free Throw % (minimum two made free throws per game)

Christian Kabongo, New Mexico State - .920
Nik Cochran, Davidson - .900
Ty Nurse, Texas Tech - .871
Jason Calliste, Detroit - .857
...
Minutes

Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure – 33.8
Tyler Murray, Wagner – 31.7
Jason Calliste, Detroit – 31.1

Detroit Mercy starter Nick Minnerath lost for season--The Detroit Free Press
UDM hoops loses forward Nick Minnerath for season--The Detroit News

Flames Fall to Sharpshooting Redbirds, 77-56--uicflames.com

Fordham at Loyola (Ill.) 11/26/2011--The Mid-Majority
Rambler women’s basketball team to face off against crosstown rival DePaul--Loyola Phoenix
Women's Basketball Blog Entry #5: Lyndsey Booker--LoyolaRamblers.com

Check it out--Loyola Phoenix

Ramblers Open Horizon League Play At Milwaukee Thursday Night--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: UWGB moves up to No. 17 in USA Today/ESPN coaches poll--Green Bay Press Gazette
Video Feature: San Juan Shootout--uwgbathletics.com
Phoenix Cracks AP Top 25 Poll, Moves up in Coaches Poll--uwgbathletics.com
Watch: Inside Phoenix Basketball: Nov. 28--uwgbathletics.com

Green Bay Battle Tested as Horizon League Play Begins Thursday--uwgbathletics.com

Panthers hold on for win--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
WBB: Milwaukee at Bradley--Panther Blog Zone
Postgame Report: Milwaukee at Bradley--Panther Blog Zone
Milwaukee Hangs Tough For 71-67 Victory Over Bradley--uwmpanthers.com
Women's Basketball Tip Time At Western Michigan Changed--uwmpanthers.com

Kaylon vs. Ray Jr. – who is the better player?--PantherU

IU Northwest at Valparaiso--The Post-Tribune
Valpo Women Open Three-Game Homestand Wednesday Hosting Indiana-Northwest--valpoathletics.com

Cleveland State winning despite losing NBA talent--Dayton Daily News
Recovering Wright State sophomore expected to play much more this week--Wright State University Sports

Women's Hoops Returns Home to Play Western Michigan on Wednesday--ysusports.com

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