Position Rankings: The 20 Best Small Forwards--CollegeBasketballTalk
The Next 10Tempo-free countdown: No. 4 Detroit--Horizon League Hoops
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18. Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)
Pomeroy and Hanner rank the Horizon League--Horizon League Hoops
New Pomeroy Rankings Cluster Mid-Majors, Elevate Ivy League--Mid-Major Madness
After that, there is a big drop down to the next league, which was quite a surprise for me. The Ivy League is currently projected at No. 12 in the country. With the top teams in the Horizon, or the Ohio Valley, or even the Colonial Athletic Association, you would have expected that one of them might have snuck ahead. However each of those leagues has a team or two that weigh down the rankings of the conference in general.The State of Mid-Major Basketball: Part II--Big Apple Buckets
The WAC begins the season at No. 13, followed by the MAAC and Horizon.
50 Players to Watch (alphabetically):Previewing the mid-majors--ESPN
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Ryan Broekhoff, F, Valparaiso
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Alec Brown, C, Green Bay
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Ray McCallum, G, Detroit
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The Impact of Realignment:
The one big question currently facing all of mid-major basketball is the whirlwinds of realignment. Whether it is the Horizon League sending out rumors of adding Oakland, the MAAC looking to add a new 10th team, or the CAA grabbing the College of Charleston it doesn’t look like alignment is going to let up anytime soon. It’s ending natural rivalries and putting coaches in some awkward positions. This isn’t going to settle down soon. The one benefit thus far has been that previously unwanted independents are starting to find homes. Cal State-Bakersfield will make its way to the WAC and former Great West schools are finding inviting homes. If the standard of inclusion continues at least all Division I schools will have the ability to make the NCAA tournament, which is what every player and coach ultimately wants.
Horizon League
My pick: Detroit
If Butler hadn't left the Horizon League for the Atlantic 10, it would probably be favored to win the conference title. But the Bulldogs are gone. And that opens the door for Detroit to build on last season's strong finish. The Titans certainly encountered challenges throughout the season but won 10 of 11 before losing to national runner-up Kansas in the NCAA tournament. That rally included a win over contender Valparaiso in the Horizon League tourney title game. Ray McCallum Jr. (15.4 ppg) is the catalyst for a program that returns three starters. If Nick Minnerath, a 6-9 forward, gets back on track after suffering an ACL injury last season, Detroit could represent the conference again in March.
Greatest threat: Valparaiso's 20-point loss to Detroit in the Horizon League title game was unexpected, given its strong showing that led to a regular-season title. Ryan Broekhoff (14.9 ppg) and Kevin Van Wijk (14.1 ppg) ensure that the Horizon League title will not be won without a fight. But Van Wijk is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
X factor: Alec Brown, a 7-1 junior who averaged 2.97 blocks per game last season (ninth in the country), leads four returning starters on a UW-Green Bay squad that could shake up the conference.
Preseason MVP: Ray McCallum Jr., Detroit
Outliers and sleep deprivation--Kenpom.com
108. Cleveland State: Digging deep here, but I have to note that the Horizon preseason poll has the Vikings finishing fifth in the league while I have them winning it. Likewise, Valparaiso is the league’s pick, but I have the Crusaders fourth. Last season in the Horizon was weird. Valpo won the regular season, but I had them as the fourth-best team. Cleveland State was the best team and finished two games behind. They lose three senior starters, but one of them wasn’t particularly efficient. Besides, they have rising sophomore Anton Grady and he will personally make each and every one of you respect the system by season’s end.Heat's LeBron James focused on title No. 2--Miami Herald
Sleep lost: one hour, daydreaming about Grady and Alan Williams on the same front line. Talk about respecting the system.
Cole improvedLeBron, Wade, Allen ring in season by holding off Celtics--Miami Herald
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra deemed Norris Cole as the team's most improved players since last year's NBA Finals.
He cited Cole's work ethic as the main reason for the distinction.
"He was here literally about 10 days after we won, and then he's preparing for summer league," Spoelstra said. "After summer league, he took a week off, and he was here the rest of the summer. You could see it in his improvement in his shooting."
Cole averaged eight points a game during the preseason, but shot 81 percent (9 of 11) on 3-pointers.
"I don't think you'll continue seeing him shoot 80 percent from 3 but somebody gets better if you spend weeks and hours in the gym," Spoelstra said.
Along the way, Allen received a rousing ovation when he checked in late in the opening period, promptly converting a corner 3-pointer in front of the Heat bench. Udonis Haslem, Norris Cole and Lewis also saw time off the bench in the opening period, as Spoelstra went nine deep before the start of the second quarter.Miami Heat’s Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis embrace new roles--Miami Herald
The Heat held off the Celtics despite James leaving the game early in the fourth quarter because of cramping in his legs. All told, the Heat went 10 deep, something that rarely happened last season. Miller and Norris Cole each played seven minutes off the bench, and Haslem had three rebounds in 12 minutes.Cleveland State's Vikings look to finish strong: 2012-13 Horizon League men's basketball preview--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Season Opener on Nov. 9 is John McLendon Game--csuvikings.com
Women's Basketball Opens 2012-13 With Exhibition Against Walsh University--csuvikings.com
Best of the best: The top 10 point guards--College Basketball Nation Blog
9. Ray McCallum Jr., Detroit: This might be McCallum’s last season at Detroit, where he plays for his father. The former McDonald’s All-American propelled the Titans to the NCAA tournament as a sophomore in 2011-12, when he led his squad in points (15.4), assists (4.0) and steals (1.6). McCallum’s biggest problem as a sophomore last season was his poor showing from beyond the arc. He connected on just 30 of his 125 attempts from 3-point range (24 percent). If he can improve in that area and continue to play with the same kind of passion and intensity that has defined his first two seasons, McCallum may be in the NBA a year from now.U of Detroit AD and assistant hoops coach resign--Sports Illustrated
Detroit Titans Athletic Director and Men's Assistant Basketball Coach Resign--Mid-Major Madness
UDM athletic director, hoops coach make sudden departures to pursue other interests--Detroit Free Press
AD Keri Gaither, men's basketball assistant Derrick Thomas resign from Detroit Mercy--Detroit News
University of Detroit athletic director, assistant hoops coach resign--Oakland Press
Veteran leaders will play a key role in success--Varsity Press
No Butler, but non-conference gams will be a big challenge--Varsity Press
Six new players will contribute--Varsity Press
Time Change For Men's Basketball Game Against Ryerson--detroittitans.com
Men's Basketball Exhibition Season Starts on Saturday--detroittitans.com
Titans Cruise Past Ryerson 87-55 in Exhibition Game--detroittitans.com
Detroit Titan Court Report Returns for an Expanded Third Season--detroittitans.com
Titan hopes--Varsity Press
Brown rewritting record books--Varsity Press
Women's Basketball All-Around In The Community--detroittitans.com
ESPN Chicago to Serve as Broadcast Home for UIC Basketball--uicflames.com
Men's Basketball Blog #2: Joe Crisman--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola's Ben Averkamp Named Candidate For Senior CLASS Award--LoyolaRamblers.com
Men's basketball: UWGB's Brown on NBA teams' radar--Green Bay Press Gazette
Knee surgery likely for UWGB's Humphrey--UWGB Hoops Blog
UWGB's Turner cleared to return--UWGB Hoops Blog
Exhibition game: St. Norbert at UWGB (live blog)--UWGB Hoops Blog
Phoenix soars past Judson Eagles--UWGB Fourth Estate
Phoenix Ties Earliest Ranking in Preseason Top 25 Poll--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Milwaukee Women Host Hillsdale In Exhibition Saturday--uwmpanthers.com
CBSSports.com Top 50 Shooters--CBS Sports
28 Ryan Broekhoff 6-7 | 215 | F | SR | Valparaiso
Could be the Horizon League Player of the Year and also its top marksman. Shot a sizzling 45 percent (64-of-143) as a sophomore and while he dropped off last season, he still shot 39 percent from beyond the arc (66-of-169).
New incentives and awards available for attending basketball games--The Guardian
Raider insider with Tavares Sledge--The Guardian
YSU men’s basketball eyes equality--Youngstown Vindicator
Loyola's Averkamp Named Senior CLASS Nominee--Horizon League Network
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