On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Big Apple Buckets’ Mid-Major Podcast #2--Big Apple Bucket
ATB: Notre Dame WINS an Important Game, Indiana Cruises at Penn State and Cincinnati Loses Another Home Game…--Rush The Court

…and Misses.

It’s Official: UIC Is Bad Again. Maybe the biggest early surprise in the unpredictable mid-major realm was UIC. Howard Moore’s team ripped off a 9-1 start, with wins over Northwestern, Iona and Colorado State mixed in. I saw this team up close when they toppled the Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and I have to admit, they looked positively competitive. There was every reason to believe the Flames’ torrid start was totally legitimate. What was once one of the great turnarounds in college hoops has now sputtered into desolation. After Monday night’s loss at Cleveland State, the Flames have now whiffed in four of their past five, nary a formidable opponent on tap. The Horizon League is so weak and so open that the Flames can win the league even if this current rut endures a bit longer. Beating Valparaiso, the league frontrunner, when it visits Chicago Wednesday is optimal.
...
Dunkdafied. I owe a grave apology to Doug Anderson of Detroit University. Anderson, you see, is one of the best dunkers in college basketball. And here we are, more than two months into the season, and Anderson hasn’t made his Dunkdafied debut. He flushed this alley-oop off a Ray McCallum pass in last Thursday’s win over Milwaukee. Time frame is a priority in this space, but on tonight’s bare-bones hoops docket, it’s a perfect time to pay tribute to Anderson – this is something of a season career achievement award.

Pregame Shootaround 1.7.2013: Notre Dame plays … Cincinnati?--CollegeBasketballTalk

Mid-Major Matchup of the Day: Illinois-Chicago at Cleveland State

UIC has been one of the nation’s most pleasant surprises after putting together wins against the likes of Mercer, Iona, Northwestern and Colorado State. A recent three-game losing streak aside, the Flames look to be a serious contender in the Horizon. Cleveland State was a favorite to win the league in the preseason, but after a series of injuries — including one to stud sophomore Anton Grady — the Vikings have fallen back to the pack.

Today's Specials: Gridiron title game overshadows Monday hoops--Eye On College Basketball

Second-best game: Illinois-Chicago at Cleveland State (6 p.m.). Illinois-Chicago got some publicity in mid-December, getting off to a 9-1 start after winning a total of eight games last season. However, the Flames proceeded to lose three in a row before bouncing back with a win over Youngstown State last week. Cleveland State has had trouble replacing four starters from last season and has dropped five in a row against Division I competition. With that said, even if UIC wants to be taken seriously in the Horizon this season, a road game against Cleveland State won't be easy.

2013 NBA Draft Podcast: Scouting The Mid-Majors--NBA DRAFT INSIDER
SLU Transfer Carter Weighs Options--Chicago Hoops

Cleveland State Vikings beat Illinois-Chicago in Horizon League home opener--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Picks Up Win over UIC 60-50--Vikings Ball
Vikings Top UIC, 60-50, For First League Win--csuvikings.com

Vikings Open Horizon League Play At UIC--csuvikings.com

College basketball roundup: Detroit might be tempted to look beyond Horizon--The Detroit Free Press
Ray McCallum is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - January 7th, 2013--Titans Update
Bus Trip to Cleveland State SOLD OUT--detroittitans.com