News On The Horizon 3/20/2013

Dunk by Miami Heat’s LeBron James still trending--Miami Herald

The Internet is a ruthless place and the running joke, as is the case when anyone is on the receiving end of a vicious dunk, was that Terry expired on Monday after attempting in vain to defend the alley-oop from Norris Cole to James.

2013 NIT Tourney Preview: Detroit vs. Arizona State--Mid-Major Madness
Being Tommy Titan--Varsity Press
Titan men's hopes turn to NIT tourney--Varsity Press
NIT offers final shot at glory--Varsity Press
UDM denies Briggs' claims in lawsuit brief--Varsity Press
Episode #6: Titan Court Report To Air Today At 6 PM--detroittitans.com

Campus madness--Varsity Press

Titans To Play In Postseason For Second-Straight Year, Top Seed In East Region Of WBI--detroittitans.com

Wednesday's matchup: Chicago State at UIC--The Chicago Tribune
CIT bid reward for UIC's improvement--The Chicago Tribune
Game #33: Flames Begin CIT Against Chicago State Wednesday Night--uicflames.com

Tonight's UWGB men's basketball preview--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Opens CIT at Bradley on Wednesday--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Women's basketball: UWGB gets extra rest before preparing for LSU--Green Bay Press Gazette

Valpo's Drew following in his father's footsteps--MICentralSports.com
10 mid-major stars who could bust brackets--College Basketball Nation Blog

Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso) -- The 6-7 forward from Australia cracked ESPN's "SportsCenter" recently when his buzzer-beating 3-pointer knocked UW-Green Bay out of the Horizon League tournament. He’s one of the top mid-major players in the country. Broekhoff is averaging 15.9 PPG and 7.3 RPG for a Crusaders squad that will face Michigan State on Thursday in Auburn Hills. The atmosphere will favor the Spartans, but Valpo will be tough. The Crusaders are a versatile team with an offense that’s ranked 44th in adjusted offensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy. And Broekhoff is the key to that success.

Ex-Michigan State, -Valparaiso hoopster Brandon Wood has advice for both teams--The Detroit Free Press
Northwestern basketball coaching search: Bryce Drew--Sippin' On Purple
Ten moments that defined March Madness (plus two the NCAA won’t show you)--CollegeBasketballTalk

8. Bryce Drew (1998): Every crazy three-pointer from an underdog to knock out a power-conference foe will forever be compared to this shot. Much like Laettner’s effort, this one involved a long, long pass from under the opposite basket (the one that belonged to Ole Miss), but this one went down the wing to Valparaiso shooting star Bryce Drew, who calmly put it up and watched it fall in, just moments before being buried beneath ecstatic teammates. The shots of his father, good-guy coach Homer Drew, smiling with pride on the sidelines give this one a little extra glow.

VIDEO: Tom Izzo on the Dan Patrick Show--CollegeBasketballTalk
Complete Midwest Region Analysis--Basketball Predictions

As I said, Louisville is going to stroll into the Round of 32. Don't sweat the Duke game either. But Valparaiso over Michigan State is a popular upset pick, so I want to talk about that game. On first glance, I get the appeal. Valparaiso's offense relies on scoring a lot of points in and around the paint with duel big men Kevin Van Wijk and Ryan Broekhoff, while Michigan State was only 9th in the Big Ten in 2P% defense. But you can't exactly compare Horizon League 2P% stats to the Big Ten. There are a lot of really premier interior defenders (and scorers) in the Big Ten, and Michigan State still has several really athletic bigs that will be able to get very physical with Van Wijk and Broekhoff, neither of whom is huge by Big Ten standards. For example, Van Wijk physically dominated most of the Horizon League in the paint, but he will be giving up 30 pounds to Derrick Nix.

At the same time, Valparaiso's defense will struggle with Michigan State. Valpo's defense is very perimeter oriented - they had the best 3P% and 3PA/FGA ratio defense in Horizon League play, but their paint defense wasn't nearly as good and they got killed on the defensive glass at times. Michigan State is not an outside shooting team - they were 11th in the Big Ten in offensive 3PA/FGA ratio, and are going to really get after second chance opportunities in the paint. Valparaiso is playing their best basketball of the season now and they absolutely have a real chance to beat Michigan State, but the Spartans are the favorites.

Valpo has plenty of experience, but none in NCAA tourney--The Post-Tribune
Valpo's Drew following in his father's footsteps--The NWI Times
Valparaiso coaching staff brings NCAA experience to the table--The NWI Times
Van Wijk and Eksten’s relationship has helped push the Crusaders to the NCAAs--The NWI Times
Opponent Q&A: The Only Colors--Beyond the ARC
Valparaiso Game Notes - 2013 NCAA Tournament vs. Michigan State--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders' Journey Continues With Press Conference, Open Practice Wednesday--valpoathletics.com

Preview: Tulsa vs. Wright State--Dayton Daily News
Donlon: Tulsa has improved as season has progressed--Wright State University Sports
Raiders accept bid to CBI, host Tulsa Wednesday--The Guardian

Dissapointing season ends for women’s hoops with loss to Detroit--The Guardian

ATB: An NIT Marvel, Gaels Cruise and a Fitting Conclusion For Florida State…--Rush The Court

Tonight’s All Americans.
...
Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State – From the dark depths of the College Insider Tournament (CIT), Perry rattled off 31 points in a first-round game against Oakland.

Video: Youngstown State takes out Oakland in CIT--Horizon League Hoops
YSU defeats Oakland in CIT opener--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins get historic victory--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
YSUs record 3-point night downs OU--The Jambar
YSU Sets 3-Pointers Record in 99-87 Win Over Oakland in CIT--ysusports.com

Penguins’ basketball programs improving--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

Serious Penguins ready to play hard--Youngstown Vindicator

Men's Basketball Final Shot: March 19 - Penguins Set Three-Point Mark in CIT Win--Horizon League Network