Thursday, January 19, 2012

News On The Horizon 1/19/2012

Kansas Handles Baylor--Ballin' is a Habit

Valparaiso 72, Cleveland State 66
Tim Kamczyc has emerged as one of the best interior scorers in the country, and he poured in 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Unfortunately for him, his teammates shot a combined 33% from the field, and Valpo ran away with the upset victory. Meanwhile, Cleveland State's post defense continues to be a problem. Their 49.6 2P% against is 238th in the nation and third worst in the Horizon League. Valpo shot an incredible 75% on twos in this game.

Cleveland State was the one team in the Horizon League that had a plausible shot at an at-large bid. This loss doesn't end those chances, but it makes it much less likely. That win over Vanderbilt remains their only quality win of the season and they have bad losses to Hofstra, Youngstown State, Valparaiso and South Florida. Their Sagarin ELO_CHESS has slipped to 55th. They can't afford to lose too many more times the rest of the season. At 5-2 in Horizon League play, they'll have to finish at least 13-5 to have a shot at an at-large bid heading into the Horizon tournament.

Valpo has improved throughout this season under first-year coach Bryce Drew. In non-conference play they finished 6-5 against Division I opponents with losses to IPFW, Oakland and IUPUI. But they're now 5-2 and tied for second place in the Horizon standings. They'll play at Loyola-Chicago tomorrow, and then at Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.


Utah Jazz veterans lead by example with tough-guy attitude--Deseret News

As much publicity as the Jazz's youth movement has received — and youngsters Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks do offer reason for high hopes — it's the vigorous veterans who've shown they'll stand up to opponents in the way of those wins.
...
Hayward agreed that experienced Jazzmen — whom he says play with a chip on their shoulder — have set a tone of toughness.

"Every team needs guys like that to give you a little edge. If something goes down, they're going to be right there to have your back," Hayward said. "We're a tough team. We play defense tough, try to be physical with guys. I think that's the goal — you try to disrupt the other team as much as you can, scrap, do whatever you can to win."

Utah Jazz notebook: GM poll tabs Earl Watson as future coach--Deseret News

Not only that, Watson ratted out teammates Jeremy Evans and Gordon Hayward for helping him get named as one of the NBA's current players most likely to become a head coach.

"I broke into the website," he said, smiling. "The three votes came from us."

Watson was joking. (Or was he?)

Truth be told, he was honored.

Utah Jazz dig in, toughen up, turn season around--Salt Lake Tribune

“He jumped on us. But for me, personally, you take [the blowouts] as embarrassing. … It’s like, you can’t have this anymore,” Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said.

Men's college basketball preview: Butler at Illinois-Chicago--The Indy Star
Horizon runner-up could get advantage--The Indy Star
Butler (10-9) and UIC (6-11) Square Off--Butler Blue Fever

Xavier still looking to rebound from December brawl fallout: National College Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer

On the Horizon: Had Cleveland State pulled off wins at Butler and Valparaiso, the Vikings could have earned some Top 25 votes. An impressive road win, like CSU's 76-69 triumph over Butler Friday night, will always catch the eye of at least a few voters. Even though Butler is barely .500, it is a brand-name victory that sits right beside CSU's season-opening triumph over Vanderbilt.

Sunday's loss canceled that. However, CSU's at-large resume for a NCAA Tournament bid is bolstered by every road win. The Vikings have the most road wins in the country (8-2), which will help as long as the Vikings get back on the winning track.

CSU's Waters patiently awaits Aaron Pogue's breakout: NE Ohio Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Valparaiso 72, Cleveland State 66--Cleveland State Hoops
Vikings Host Green Bay on Friday on ESPNU--csuvikings.com

Thursday's matchup: Butler at UIC--The Chicago Tribune
UIC (6-11) and Butler (10-9) Face Off--Flame Fanatic
Flames Set to Host Butler Thursday Night--uicflames.com

Thursday's matchup: Valparaiso at Loyola--The Chicago Tribune
Munster’s Crisman hopes to help resurrect Loyola program--The Post-Tribune
Loyola (Chicago) (5-12) Takes On Valparaiso (12-7)--LU Wolf Ball

Women's Basketball Battles Valpo In Search Of Third Straight Win--LoyolaRamblers.com
Women's Basketball Blog Entry #7: Gabby Micek--LoyolaRamblers.com

Today's Horizon League women's basketball preview: Youngstown State vs. UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix Returns Home Thursday, Hosts Youngstown State at 7 p.m.--uwgbathletics.com

Loyola gets a new logo--PantherU
Slocum says Milwaukee is “Best in the League”--PantherU
First-Place Panthers Open Key Road Trip At Youngstown Friday--uwmpanthers.com

Women Back Home To Welcome Cleveland State Thursday--uwmpanthers.com

Women’s basketball: Valparaiso visits Loyola tonight--The Post-Tribune

Lazerus: Loyola’s new arena a shining example for VU--The Post-Tribune
Harris brings fresh energy to the court for Valparaiso--The NWI Times
Michigan State hurt by lack of experience--The Detroit News

That'd be first-year players Travis Trice, Branden Dawson and Brandan Kearney, as well as senior transfer Brandon Wood. And with the exception of Kearney's cameo, none of them looked the slightest bit comfortable as they stepped into the fray Tuesday against a Michigan squad that's no longer afraid of its in-state sibling.

Wood had the most disastrous showing, starting with some wild 3-point attempts early and ending with a crucial defensive breakdown late. But he was hardly alone.

"I thought our young guys really looked young," said Izzo, who wasn't in the mood to say much about the young guy for Michigan (freshman guard Trey Burke) who really looked great. "The inexperience hurt us."

On this day 9 years ago - Jan 18, 2003--Valpo Daily
Valparaiso (12-7) Takes On Loyola (Chicago) (5-12)--Valpo Daily
Road Warriors?!?! (Let's hope so!)--Section EE
Valpo Travels to Rogers Park To Take On Loyola--valpoathletics.com

WSU's leading scorer Mays still not practicing--Dayton Daily News
Wright State leading scorer not practicing because of Achilles tendon injury--Wright State University Sports

YSU WOMEN’S PREVIEW | Today’s game--Youngstown Vindicator

Green Bay, Milwaukee on tap--The Jambar

Herff Jones Enters Agreement to be HL's Preferred Championship Ring Provider--Horizon League Network

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