Horizon League Championship: Detroit at Valparaiso – 9:00PM EST on ESPN (****)
Detroit has already lost to Valpo twice this season, but you can ask Cleveland State how much that means. The Vikings found out on Saturday that it’s very difficult to beat a team three times in one season. Detroit has turned things around, having only lost twice since the beginning of February. They are going to have to improve their field goal defense if they want to beat a solid-shooting Valpo squad on its home floor. The Titans allowed Valparaiso to shoot an eFG% of 58% and 68% in its first two matchups this season. Detroit was able to keep the previous games close by winning the battle on the boards and getting to the free throw line. Keep an eye on those indicators as this game progresses.
Valparaiso has been a solid shooting team throughout the season. They excel at hitting shots inside the arc, where they are making 54.1% of their two-point attempts. The Crusaders should be able to outshoot the Titans in this matchup, and they have proven they can knock down shots in the last two meetings. It is imperative that they maintain some presence on the boards too, though. Second chance points and fouls could make Valpo the latest victim of the Titans.
This game hinges on Valpo’s shooting. If they can shoot like they did in the previous games against Detroit, they will win the game. However, if they come out cold, this one could be very, very close.
ATB: Big East Tourney Begins and Four More Teams Punch NCAA Tickets…--Rush The Court
Last night’s Quick Hits…
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Detroit Reaches Its Upside En Route to Berth. In the preseason, Detroit was expected to have a big-time year under the guidance of Ray McCallum, Sr., thanks to his son, Ray Jr.’s expected emergence as a star in the Horizon League. Throw in two other talented seniors in Eli Holman (former IU transfer) and Chase Simon, and the Titans had the talent to take the Horizon League crown from Butler. A very mediocre start to the season left this team as a disappointment, but by the end of the year it has gelled to reach that high upside. It culminated in the 70-50 beatdown of #1 seeded Valparaiso in the conference tourney finals, and the Titans have indeed stolen the Horizon bid from Butler (and Valparaiso, on its home floor). A team with solid talent that is 13-2 in its past 15 games, Detroit will be a scary matchup as a projected #14 seed.
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Tuesday’s All-Americans.
Ray McCallum, Detroit (NPOY) – A former McDonald’s All-American who went to Detroit to play for his father, McCallum but the Titans on his back with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals on Tuesday night en route to the Horizon League title.
Utah Jazz: Young, old unite as Jazz slowly mature as a team--Salt Lake Tribune
Butler and coaching carousel--Indy Star Butler Insider
Catching up during downtime--Victory Firelight
On this day 6 years ago - Mar 07, 2006--Butler Blue Fever
Men’s basketball: Streak broken, Stevens looks to future--Butler Collegian
Women’s basketball: Team victorious on Senior Day--Butler Collegian
Cleveland State Men's Basketball 2012 NIT Capsule--College Sports Madness
Atlanta Hawks (23-15) at Miami Heat (29-9), 7:30 p.m. (ET)--Miami Herald
Dwyane Wade tweaked his ankle late in the second quarter and sat out the remainder of the contest. Wade had 13 points and is expected to play tonight versus the Hawks. Norris Cole had 13 points off the bench for Miami, which has won 10 straight at home and is 16-2 in south Florida. The Southeast Division- leading Heat will close out the homestand Saturday versus Indiana.
CSU falls to Detroit in HL semifinals--The Cauldron
Vikings finish season in fashion--The Cauldron
Ray McCallum Jr. leads Detroit (and his dad) into NCAAs--CollegeBasketballTalk
Detroit thumps Valpo, heads to tourney--ESPN
NCAA Tournament Cheat Sheet: Get to know Detroit--CollegeBasketballTalk
11 Tourneys, 11 Celebrations--Run The Floor
Tiny Dancers: Detroit--Eye On College Basketball
March Madness 2012: The Detroit Titans are Dancing in the NCAA Tournament--The Big Lead
The NC-Double-Eh Schedule - Mar. 6--Raptors HQ
9:00pm Detroit @ Valparaiso - Detroit's Jason Calliste is a forgotten man of sorts behind Ray McCallum, Chase Simon and Eli Holman all season but that only makes him an X-factor in this game. In the Titans' last two games in the Horizon League tournament, he's averaging 11 points, 4.5 rebounds and an assist. Look out for him tonight to have a big game.
Detroit Mercy 70, Valparaiso 50: Ray McCallum leads Titans to Horizon crown, NCAA tournament berth--The Detroit Free Press
National columnist: 'Best birthday' ever for Detroit Mercy coach Ray McCallum--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Mercy tops Valparaiso, punches NCAA ticket--The Detroit News
Titans Are Going Dancing After Downing Valpo in Title Game--detroittitans.com
No. 4 UIC Hosts No. 5 Butler In Horizon League Quarterfinals--uicflames.com
Women's basketball: UWGB returns to top 10 in polls--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: In Matt Bollant's coaching era, UWGB's NCAA hopes no longer ride on league tourney--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: UWGB's Julie Wojta named a John R. Wooden Award finalist--Green Bay Press Gazette
No. 10/10 Green Bay Hosts Valpo Wednesday in Quarterfinal--uwgbathletics.com
Wojta Named to Wooden Award Final Ballot--uwgbathletics.com
Watch: Inside Phoenix Basketball: March 5--uwgbathletics.com
Rob Demovsky column: Ex-UWGB coaches are hoping for the best--Green Bay Press Gazette
Valpo falls to Detroit 70-50 in Horizon final--The Chicago Tribune
Detroit win ‘best birthday present’ for McCallum--The Post-Tribune
Valpo’s NCAA dream dashed by Detroit--The Post-Tribune
Despite loss, title game a memorable moment for VU--The Post-Tribune
Horizon League championship, Detroit at Valparaiso, Live Blog--Off The Mark
HL FINAL: Detroit 70, Valparaiso 50, game recap--Off The Mark
VU fans loyal through thick and thin--The NWI Times
No dancing for the Crusaders--The NWI Times
Crusaders struggled to keep up with Detroit’s energetic style of play--The NWI Times
Crusaders begin to pick up the pieces--The NWI Times
Detroit fans suspected in vandalism--The NWI Times
Live from the ARC: No. 1 Valparaiso vs. No. 2 Detroit (HL Championship)--Inside VU Sports
StatSheet Projects Valparaiso as CIT Team: 03/07/2012--Valpo Daily
Game Wrap Up: We were this close--Section EE
Crusaders Fall in HL Title Game to Detroit--valpoathletics.com
Women’s basketball: Valpo at Green Bay--The Post-Tribune
VU women prepare for the impossible: beating No. 10-ranked Green Bay--The NWI Times
Loyola’s range worries WSU women--Dayton Daily News
Mike Bradbury Issues Apologies--wsuraiders.com
Emotional endings--The Jambar
Men’s Basketball Concludes Historic, Record-Breaking 2011-12 Campaign--ysusports.com
Detroit Captures Men's Basketball Championship--Horizon League Network
Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Photo Gallery--Horizon League Network
Wright State Head Coach Mike Bradbury Issues Apologies--Horizon League Network
Womens' Basketball Quarterfinals on Tap for Wednesday Night--Horizon League Network
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