On The Horizon

Jim Squire

The NC-Double-Eh Schedule - Jan. 5--Raptors HQ

And here is where the ladies are playing today ...
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8:00pm Detroit @ Illinois-Chicago
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8:05pm Cleveland State @ Valparaiso - Cleveland State's Takima Keane is a scoring and passing threat averaging 11.8 points and 2.8 assists this season and should be looking for her shot and any dimes tonight.

Questions surround Raja Bell’s ‘situation’ with Jazz--Salt Lake Tribune

Bell’s diminished standing and role on a team balancing the promise of youth with a desire to remain competitive are among the main issues.

He is the only Utah player besides Devin Harris and Gordon Hayward to start all six games, but his minutes have been severely limited and he’s often been left out of the Jazz’s offense.

Bell ranks 11th out of 13 Utah players in average scoring (2.3) and 10th in field-goal attempts (3.8), despite being the team’s starting shooting guard.

After starting 63 games and averaging 30.8 minutes last season, Bell’s averaged just 18.5 this year. He played only 13 minutes Tuesday during Utah’s home win against Milwaukee, seeing less court time than 20-year-old rookie Alec Burks (28 minutes) and the 21-year-old Hayward (25).
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Leader needed

Harris said a Jazz team still without an elected captain needs Bell’s leadership and experience.

Last season, Bell rivaled Williams as Utah’s most active on-the-court guide. This year, Bell’s still been engaged, offering in-game coaching and supporting his teammates. Even obvious moments of public frustration have been offset by his mentor role with young players such as Jeremy Evans, Hayward and Burks.

Monson: Ty Corbin must head off a potential Jazz rebellion--Salt Lake Tribune

The Jazz have four young lottery picks on their roster — Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks — who have to be brought along sooner rather than later. Thanks to a flawed system, a system that was left unfixed in the recent labor negotiations, wherein clubs can lose their drafted talent in relative short order on account of free agency, the Jazz are on the clock with their young core.

Kragthorpe: Jazz trying to figure out who they are--Salt Lake Tribune

Amid the flashes of goodness that second-year-players Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors and rookies Enes Kanter and Alec Burks have shown, it is too soon to write off this season, give them major minutes every night and look forward to the draft lottery.

Wizards hold players-only meeting--Washington Post

Blatche was referring especially to the rookies and his younger teammates. The Wizards have seven players 23 years or younger, including rookies Jan Vesely, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack. Jordan Crawford, 23, was among the most despondent players in the locker room following Wednesday’s loss to the Magic, which put on an exhibition of team basketball the Wizards would be delighted to match.

Hopkins emerges by changing approach--Victory Firelight
Butler Back at Top in New Horizon League Power Rankings--Bark of Hinkle
Know the Opponent: Wright State--Bark of Hinkle

Bulldogs Host Youngstown State Thursday Night--ButlerSports.com

LeBron James makes up for Dwyane Wade’s absence, leads Miami Heat to win--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Chris Bosh scored 22 points for his fourth game this season of at least 20 points. Mario Chalmers had 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2 of 5 from three-point range. Norris Cole finished with 10 points off the bench and Udonis Haslem had eight points and 10 rebounds. Center Roy Hibbert led the Pacers with 16 points but Danny Granger was 2 of 13 from the field and 1of 7 from three-point range.James finally took his seat on the bench with 5:13 left in the game after a floating one-handed jumper by Cole gave the Heat a 35-point lead. Bosh didn’t leave the game until 4:45 remained in the game. The Heat finished the game with Cole, Dexter Pittman, Juwan Howard, Terrel Harris and Chalmers.Miami outscored Indiana 30-17 in the fourth quarter, which featured a flurry of highlights from the home team. Most notably was an alley-oop from Cole to James over the outstretched hand of a Pacers defender. James elevated high above the play and slammed down a dunk with his left hand.