Open and notorious solicitation of a school wanting to join a new conference isn’t confined only to the power leagues, of course. Oakland University (located in metro Detroit, not northern California) is hoping for consideration to replace Butler in the Horizon League when the Fighting Brad Stevenses move on to the Atlantic 10 after next season. A decade ago local rival Detroit, not wanting to share geographic space within the same league, managed to keep Oakland out — whether they’ll be able to turn down a program out of the Summit League that has made the NCAA Tournament three times in the last eight years remains to be seen. But it appears to be a natural fit if Detroit can find a way to play nice.
Conference realignment for Oakland could be on the ‘Horizon’--CollegeBasketballTalk
By the numbers: Is Oakland perfect for the Horizon League?--Run The Floor
Oakland and the Horizon League: By the numbers--Grizzlies Den
Conference moves could affect IPFW--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Recruits and the Horizon League--The Greg Kampe Show
Top Ten Thursday: Assistants 40 and under--ESPN
Matthew Graves (Butler): Last year, Brad Stevens promoted Graves, who’s in his late 30s, to an associate head coaching position, a credit to his role in the program’s success. You don’t reach back-to-back national title games as a mid-major program by accident. Stevens and his staff put the program on the national map. With a move to the Atlantic 10, the Bulldogs will attain even more national exposure. And Graves, who’s been vital to the program’s efforts in recent years, will end up on a multitude of lists once jobs open up again after next season.
INSIDER – Gordon Hayward compared to draft class--Locked On Jazz
Utah Jazz-San Antonio Spurs: Game 4 report card--Deseret News
However, Gordon Hayward played quite poorly for the third straight contest, shooting 0 of 7 from the field while laying a goose egg in the point category. Hayward finished Games 2 through 4 shooting an atrocious 4 of 27, making him 6 of 33 for the series.
Utah Jazz notebook: 'Honest Al' Jefferson hammered by media for his comments--Deseret News
WAYWARD SHOOTING: Second-year shooting guard Gordon Hayward was frustrated about his offensive performance during his first NBA playoff action.
Hayward went 0-for-7 and didn't score in Monday's 87-81 loss to the Spurs.
In the four-game series, the 22-year-old shot 6-for-33 (18.2 percent) from the field and only hit 1 of 12 3-pointers.
"It's just frustrating, especially with the work that I put in, to come out and shoot like that. That's unacceptable," Hayward said. "You've got to be able to just knock down shots. This series has just been a rough one for me personally, but something that I'll learn from and be ready on the next one."
Utah Jazz can't sit on perimeter woes--Deseret News
But in the big picture, the season was as orderly as the Jazz could have hoped. Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter made good progress toward becoming important players. The team made the playoffs, sooner than many expected. And the bitterness that threatened to tear apart the team in early 2011 was gone.
...
Yet it wasn't the Jazz youngsters who sabotaged them in the playoffs as much as the veterans. Although Hayward shot terribly (6-of-33) in the postseason, the older players could have played through that.
Utah Jazz move forward, but still search for identity--Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz guard Gordon Hayward saw light, but couldn’t shake the feeling he’d let his team and himself down during a time when Utah needed him most.
"I won’t feel good until [the playoffs] are over," said Hayward, who took a strong stride forward during his second season, but shot just 18.2 percent from the floor and 8.3 percent behind the 3-point line during his first postseason. "It’s always difficult after a loss, especially after the last game not even scoring. To drop a goose egg — that’s tough."
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End result
San Antonio’s merciless 4-0 sweep highlighted the questions everyone from Corbin and O’Connor to Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Hayward face as Utah attempts to turn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs into something more fulfilling.
The Jazz’s young core of Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter and Hayward is more exciting than ever. Corbin found his touch after the All-Star break, saving Utah from a second consecutive second-half fallout and turning an uneven 15-18 record on Feb. 28 into a promising 36-30. The Jazz’s Big Two of Jefferson and Millsap formed one of the premier interior combinations in the NBA, with both putting up All-Star caliber numbers and each playing the best overall basketball of their careers.
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The Jazz don’t have a point guard for the future, while Hayward has yet to be cemented at either shooting guard or small forward. Millsap and Jefferson are bigger than ever, but there’s no guarantee either will wear a Utah uniform after the 2012-13 season ends. The Jazz’s defense is still filled with painful holes, while the team’s inside-out offense became so predictable during the playoffs Spurs coach Gregg Popovich filled the paint and dared Utah to shoot from outside. It couldn’t, firing blanks to the numbers of 38.2 percent from the field and an embarrassing 20 percent beyond the arc, which produced an average of 86.3 points — 13.4 off the Jazz’s regular-season mark.
Kragthorpe: Jazz’s ‘perfect’ roster needs adjustment--Salt Lake Tribune
In the second half, Tyrone Corbin moved closer to becoming a proven coach, second-players Gordon Hayward and Favors improved, center Al Jefferson became a dependable scorer and point guard Devin Harris played much better.
Monson: Lessons learned about the Jazz--Salt Lake Tribune
The youngsters — Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks — work hard to grow their games. Those four must continue to improve.
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Hayward and Burks are both young shooting guards, although neither looked like much of shooter during a playoff series that saw them combine to go 0-for-15 in Game 4. Hayward can be much better, particularly if Corbin emphasizes his role. He is a rare commodity - a long, athletic guard who can score, pass and defend. Burks, coming off his rookie season, has still to show the breadth and depth of his skills. He has shown one thing: offensive aggression. He must add nuances to his game or he’ll end up a career bench guy.
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They need a steady point guard.
It’s fantasy, but think about how great Favors and Hayward would be if they had a set-up guy like Tony Parker or Steve Nash. Wow. What if they had half that guy? Devin Harris is not that half-guy.
Butler sports: Atlantic 10 primer--The Indy Star
Butler coaches start adjustment to new conference--The Indy Star
Butler makes offer to tiny Georgia guard--Indy Star Butler Insider
Oakland U. wants in Horizon League, but will UDM allow it?--The Detroit Free Press
Women's Basketball Participates In McAuley Heath Center's "Are You Kid Enough" Event--detroittitans.com
Porter Moser To Appear At White Sox Game May 12--LoyolaRamblers.com
Women's basketball: UWGB recruit follows Bollant to Illinois--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix Basketball Top-25: The Best Photos of 2011-12--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Panthers add pair to recruiting class--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
UW women's assistant Rechlicz is new UWM head coach--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
UWM Names Kyle Rechlicz New Women's Basketball Coach--uwmpanthers.com
Chicago’s Williams latest VU recruit--The Post-Tribune
Drew lands third commit for Class of 2013--The NWI Times
Valparaiso Basketball: Next Season and Beyond--Inside VU Sports
Early College Basketball 2012-13 Preview: The Nation's 10 Best Small Forwards--Bleacher Report
Ex-WSU star Mays has offer from UK--Dayton Daily News
YSU basketball adds Beamon as 2013 recruit--Youngstown Vindicator
Men's Basketball Adds Ronnye Beamon During Late Signing Period--ysusports.com
Milwaukee names Kyle Rechlicz new women's basketball coach--Horizon League Network
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