On The Horizon

Jim Squire

No. 12 Green Bay blasts Valparaiso 72-36--MICentralSports.com

The More Things Change...--The Mid-Majority
Cleveland State Vikings Use Solid Contributions By Freshmen To Defeat Detroit Titans, 77-64--Hoopville
Butler's issue is perimeter shooting. Seriously.--Eye On College Basketball

3 Jazzmen happy to be playing in Orlando--Deseret News

Utah's young duo of 6-foot-8 swingman Gordon Hayward and 6-10 forward/center Derrick Favors will play in the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge that tips off tonight at 7 p.m. MT. The selection of Hayward and Favors marks the first time since 2008 that the Jazz will be represented in the annual game that features first- and second-year NBA players.
...
"I think it shows that the Jazz have some young talent," said Hayward, who's averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in his second season with the Jazz. "And it's great that D-Fave's gonna be able to go, and it'll be cool to be just out there representing the Jazz."

Many NBA players look forward to the annual All-Star break as a chance to take some time off, catch their breath and get re-energized for the second half of the season. And that may be even more true in this condensed NBA season.

But Hayward's happy to be spending his "off" weekend in Orlando.

"You only get this opportunity your first two years in the league," he said, "so I think you've got to be excited about being able to play and represent your team.

"It's still going to be relaxing. It's still going to be fun. We still get the time off, but we get to play basketball while we're at it. It'll be fun."

Utah Jazz: Corbin considering changes as Jazz continue to fall--Salt Lake Tribune

Toward the end of his postgame interview, Corbin unexpectedly announced he’s considering inserting small forward Josh Howard into Utah’s starting lineup for more than just a temporary run. During the Jazz’s last two games, Howard filled in for an injured Raja Bell, with Gordon Hayward sliding down to shooting guard. But after viewing Howard in full-attack mode Wednesday — 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting and six rebounds in 31 minutes, 48 seconds — Corbin embraced an idea he spent the first 30 games of the season avoiding.

From late December through mid-February, Utah’s coach was reluctant to make Howard a permanent starter for a variety of reasons. Now, with Bell shooting better than he has since signing with the Jazz 18 months ago and Hayward more involved in the offense than ever, Corbin’s acknowledged he’s open to shaking up Utah’s starting five in an attempt to increase the team’s offensive output while spurring a bench that sometimes fails to find traction.

Monson: At the break, Jazz need to rethink, readjust--Salt Lake Tribune

Moreover, at some point, it has to dawn on Corbin to play Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward as much as possible, even when it hurts.

Jazz’s Gordon Hayward: The brother from Brownsburg--Salt Lake Tribune
Men's college basketball preview: Butler at Valparaiso--The Indy Star
Valpo owns Horizon, but Butler has a lot on the line in finale--The Indy Star
Win at Valpo would secure No. 2 seed--Indy Star Butler Insider
Tourney’s 2nd seed on line at Valpo--Victory Firelight
On this day 7 years ago - Feb 23, 2005--Butler Blue Fever
Butler Finishes the Season With Valparaiso--Butler Blue Fever
BUTLER 69, UIC 44--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Ronald Nored Named Academic All-America--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Edged At Milwaukee In Final Seconds--ButlerSports.com

Recap: Miami vs. New York--Miami Herald

Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole did a stellar job of persistently flustering Lin, and Miami continually frustrated him with its trapping defense.

Heat contain Lin, roll to 8th straight win, 102-88--Miami Herald

If proof was needed that the Heat wanted to make a point against Lin, there was some clear evidence.

Exhibit A: Mario Chalmers stole the ball from Lin and went in for a two-handed dunk in the early minutes. Exhibit B: Norris Cole, Chalmers' backup at point guard, did the same thing in the second quarter.

Combined dunks this season for Chalmers and Cole entering Thursday? Zero.

Those strip-and-scores were part of a six-turnover first half from Lin, matching his third-highest total in any half this season. Amare Stoudemire also had six turnovers in the first 24 minutes, the Knicks were outscored 30-16 in the paint, 12-1 on fast breaks and 12-3 off turnovers.

Relentless Miami Heat defense overwhelms Jeremy Lin--Miami Herald
Miami Heat’s defense a cure for Linsanity--Miami Herald

From heartwarming to benchwarming — that was the story for Lin during this reality check. James, Dwyane Wade and Norris Cole turned his bobbles into dunks. For most of the fourth quarter he was an afterthought. When he returned, the Heat led by 14 and the Knicks looked demoralized by a series of offensive rebounds and follow-up baskets by Miami. Lin finished with one field goal in 11 attempts after averaging 24 points the previous 10 games.

Miami Heat contains Jeremy Lin, defeats New York Knicks--Miami Herald

The Heat imposed its will early, using a furious defensive start to build a 24-20 lead after the first quarter. Guards Chalmers and Norris Cole played the first half as if the arrival of Lin and all his overexposure was an affront to their collective manhood.

So amped was Chalmers that he picked up four fouls early in the third quarter and only played 25 minutes. Cole, after stealing the ball from Lin on his first possession of the second quarter, sprinted to the rim on a fast break and threw down the first dunk of his NBA career. His momentum during the play carried his 6-2 frame around the rim, and he crashed to the court on his side. The play sent even more electricity flashing through an already pulsating arena.

Jeremy Lin not the only New York Knick the Miami Heat hadn’t seen this season--Miami Herald

More depth

Last season, the Heat was in a similar position heading into the All-Star break, having won 10 of 11 games. The difference between last season’s team and this year’s team, according to Spoelstra, is the increased depth of the current team. Not only has Miami added Shane Battier and Norris Cole, but also Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller are healthy and contributing off the bench.

“We’re much deeper this year,” Spoelstra said. “It’s well-documented; we played the majority of the season without [Haslem and Miller] last year, and when they did come back they were a shadow of who they really were as players. This is the team we really anticipated.”

Heat step up to challenge of Lin, Knicks in 102-88 victory--South Florida Sun Sentinel

At times Thursday, it could have been argued the Heat possessed the game's two best point guards, with Norris Cole offering a solid, 10-point effort off the bench after starting point guard Mario Chalmers found himself in foul trouble. It was Chalmers' early defense, however, that set the tone.

Cleveland State's D'Aundray Brown ready for action: Vikings Men's Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State men's basketball team tops Detroit, snaps five-game losing streak--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Beats Detroit, 77-64--Vikings Ball
StatSheet Projects Cleveland State as NIT Eight Seed: 02/24/2012--Vikings Ball
Freshmen Help Spark CSU Past Detroit, 77-64--csuvikings.com

Ohio State's Samantha Prahalis sets school record with 42 points: College Basketball Roundup--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Detroit 65, Cleveland State 55 Shalonda Winton scored a game-high 26 points and had a team-high nine rebounds but the Vikings (10-17, 5-11 Horizon League) lost to the host Titans (15-12, 11-4).

Second Half Rally Falls Short At Detroit, 65-55--csuvikings.com

State basketball: Balanced Cleveland State cools off Detroit Mercy--The Detroit News
Detroit Falls to Cleveland State, 77-64--Titans Update
Second-Half Drought Costs Detroit in 77-64 Defeat--detroittitans.com

Jones breaks record--Varsity Press
Jones Breaks Titan Assist Record As Detroit Downs Cleveland State, 65-55--detroittitans.com

UIC loses to Milwaukee 72-61--The Chicago Tribune
Milwaukee’s barrage too much--Whoosh!Net
UIC Tripped Up By Milwaukee, 72-61--Flame Fanatic
Milwaukee Pulls Away From Men's Basketball Late, 72-61--uicflames.com

Loyola loses in overtime to Green Bay--The Chicago Tribune
Loyola (Chicago) Falls To Green Bay in Overtime, 73-70--LU Wolf Ball
Ramblers Drop Second Straight Overtime Heartbreaker, Fall To Green Bay, 73-70--LoyolaRamblers.com