Morning Five: 05.27.13 Edition--
Rush The Court
Lost in the wake of the Rice/Rutgers fiasco was the continuing investigation into Wisconsin-Green Bay coach Brian Wardle who had been accused of abusing his players both verbally and physically. On Friday, the school announced that an outside investigation had cleared Wardle. Unlike Rice, Wardle had the support of many of his players and perhaps most importantly did not have a video of his alleged actions floating around for the world to see. Given what was released the school’s decision should not be that much a surprise. What is interesting is the concessions that Wardle will have to make despite being cleared–receive a disciplinary letter, have someone overseeing him, and not be able to renegotiate his contrast, which ends in 2017. Given those concessions it would seem like there was something happening at Wisconsin-Green Bay (perhaps something considered as benign in sports as cursing) even if it was not as bad as what Wardle was initially accused of.
Heat silent on Roy Hibbert's claims of dirty play by Shane Battier--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Battier also got into a minor scuffle with Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough in Game 1. The physical play continued with Heat guard Norris Cole being whistled for a foul while trying to drive past Indiana's David West. Cole hit West in the groin area, a play he says was unintentional.
"I don't think they were shots or anything like that," Bosh said. "It's a part of the game. We know some plays are going to be physical."
As Stephenson's game matures, Pacers move forward--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Mahinmi's foul upgraded
For all the talk of the knee toward the groin area of Pacers center Roy Hibbert by Heat forward Shane Battier in Game 1, and of Norris Cole landing a shot to the same area of Pacers forward David West, the NBA has lowered its hammer on a different play.
The Sun Sentinel learned Friday that the NBA has upgraded a foul by Indiana backup center Ian Mahinmi on James, with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game, from a common foul to a Flagrant 1 foul.
Had that ruling been made at the time of the foul, not only would James have received the two free throws awarded, but the Heat also would have retained possession, which was not the case on the play as called during the game.
No league action was taken on the Battier and Cole plays.
Jon Harris Transfers to Cleveland State--
Cleveland State Hoops
Titans Add Scoring Punch In Wisconsin Product Lizzy Connors--
detroittitans.com
Oakland’s Travis Bader dismisses transfer talk--
Grizzlies Den
20 Mid-Major College Basketball Teams You Should Watch at Least Once in 2014--
Bleacher Report
Artwork Commemorating Loyola's 1963 NCAA Title Still Available--
LoyolaRamblers.com
Despite allegations Green Bay will retain head coach Brian Wardle--
CollegeBasketballTalk
UW-Green Bay announces Brian Wardle will be retained despite allegations he mistreated players--
The Dagger
Wardle keeps Green Bay job following probe of mistreatment--
Eye On College Basketball
Brian Wardle's story shows that straying from 'soft' comes with a price--
Sporting News
Mike Vandermause column: Chancellor's decision no vote of confidence for Wardle--
Green Bay Press Gazette
Wardle to keep job as UWGB men's basketball coach--
Green Bay Press Gazette
Heat, Pacers say Game 2 should be even better--
Miami Herald
In Miami's case, key reserves Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Norris Cole combined to shoot 2 for 16. In Indiana's case, George - who finished with 27 points - only had two at halftime, and Lance Stephenson shot just 2 for 10.
Hibbert on Battier below-belt knee: 'Wasn't inadvertant'--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
It was just one of several physical plays in the series-opener that had 58 fouls. In the fourth quarter, Heat guard Norris Cole was called for an offensive foul after hitting Pacers forward David West between the legs while driving toward the basket.
Cole said the contact unintentional.
Norris Cole goes south on West--
Through the Arch
Former Titan Thomas Kennedy Wins Championship in Japan--
detroittitans.com
Replay: Chat with Oakland U. basketball coach Greg Kampe
UIC Basketball to Face Illinois, Northwestern and Loyola in 2013-14--
uicflames.com
Johnny Hill Talks Transfer--
Chicago Hoops
“It's pretty slow honestly. I want to play high-major, but a lot of high-majors don't have any scholarships available right now, so there are quite a few mid majors interested like Valpo, Fairfield, Nevada, Ball State and a few more schools.”
Moore reportedly among finalists for NU assistant job--
Lincoln Journal Star
Raiders need to develop secondary ball handler--
Dayton Daily News
Report: Wright State’s Moore a finalist for Nebraska assistant job--
Wright State University Sports
Women's Basketball to Host Coaches Clinic--
wsuraiders.com
Who's That Guy? Norris Cole!--
Grantland
Norris Cole Dunked, Heat Eliminate Bulls with 94-91 Win [Video]--
The Big Lead
Erik Spoelstra plays Miami Heat point guards more--
Miami Herald
Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade intends to play despite painful knee injury: ‘It is what it is’--
Miami Herald
PICKING UP THE SLACK
For now, it’s up to players such as Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers to carry the load for Wade.
Last year, despite his knee injury, Wade helped propel the Heat past Indiana when Bosh was out with an abdominal injury. It appears Bosh is now doing his part to account for Wade’s lack of production. After his 20-point, 19-rebound effort in Game 3, Bosh made seven of his first eight shots in Game 4. With Wade going 0 of5 from the field to begin the game — and 3 of 10 overall — the Heat needed Bosh to be on his game.
Said James: “When one guy goes down, another guy has to step up or the same guys just step up more, and we know that D-Wade is battling an injury right now and he’s nowhere near 100 percent, so everyone has to step up.”
Reserves spark Miami Heat comeback--
Miami Herald
Linda Robertson: Chicago Bulls gasp as Miami Heat cuts lifeline--
Miami Herald
Who else but Dwyane Wade to deliver the crushing blows. First he came on with a lovely floater, and the expression on Heat players’ faces changed from perplexed to miffed, as in let’s get this done already. Sure enough, a moment later Wade elevated as high as he’s been in a month to slam a follow-up of a Norris Cole miss.
...
Cole passed to Chris “Birdman” Andersen for a dunk that inflamed the crowd and narrowed the gap to three points. Battier shook off his shooting doldrums. Then Cole sank a three to give Miami its first lead since 4:27 of the second quarter. When Cole snaked inside to dunk over the Bulls’ big men, the suspense began to ebb away.
Miami Heat eliminates Chicago Bulls, advances to Eastern Conference Finals--
Miami Herald
Heat's Dwyane Wade ready to move past injury talk--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
"He's a competitor," guard Norris Cole said. "We don't doubt him. We don't worry too much in the locker room about what the media says. We know if he's out there, he's going to give us his all. We all know what he's capable of. His credentials speak for themselves. He's going to be productive in some type way for us."
Hyde5: Five things we learned from Heat-Bulls series--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Now the playoffs really start for Heat--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Heat blow lead, find way to finish off Bulls 94-91--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
In a laughter that became a near disaster, the Heat found a way behind 23 points from LeBron James, 18 from Dwyane Wade in a sharp bounce back from his knee issues, 12 from Chris Bosh and a late bench spark provided by Norris Cole and Shane Battier.
You expected a relaxed evening? You got Heat fans jumping off their seats when Norris Cole hit a jump shot, then ran down the lane with a dunk, to give the Heat a lead for the first time since the second quarter.
3. Norris Cole can change games (depending on the matchup). He had 18 points in each of Games 2 and 3. He shot nine of 11 on 3-point shots in the series. He kept Chicago’s 5-6 Nate Robinson from shooting over 40 percent in the final four games when he began to be used on him more. Even in Game 5, when Cole had only five points, four game in the final minutes to spark the Heat, including a drive through the lane and dunk.
But don’t overdo this: At six-feet, Cole needs the right matchup to play. The small Robinson was a perfect fit for him and a tough cover for Mario Chalmers. Indiana has 6-2 George Hill, so that’ll be interesting to see how it works.
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5. The Heat need to shoot better on 3-pointers. This team relies on great shooters from distance to separate themselves some nights. Cole aside, they aren’t burning it up in the playoffs. LeBron (32.1 percent), Allen (37.8), Shane Battier (26.1) and Mike Miller (16.7) are all shooting below their season average – Allen is the closest at 4.5 percent below his season average.
McCallum to Attend NBA Pre-Draft Camp--
detroittitans.com
Detroit Titans Court Report Nominated for Michigan Emmy--
detroittitans.com
UWGB gets investigator's report; Wardle decision could take 2 weeks--
Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB receives investigator's report on Wardle, decision coming--
UWGB Hoops Blog
Amanda Braun will build carefully at UWM--
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Malcolm Moore chooses Milwaukee--
PantherU
Former Alabama center Moussa Gueye transfers to Valparaiso--
CollegeBasketballTalk
3-point shot: ACC and MSG?--
College Basketball Nation Blog
2. Valparaiso picked up a key big man in Alabama 7-foot transfer Moussa Gueye. Gueye, according to Valpo coach Bryce Drew, can play immediately. Gueye originally committed to the Crusaders before going to Alabama. Gueye blocked 52 shots last season for the Tide. He'll be a major distraction for teams in the Horizon League and give the defending conference champs quite a frontline with 6-9 Bobby Capobianco, 6-8 Rice transfer David Chadwick and 6-10 big man Vashil Fernandez.
Valparaiso lands Moussa Gueye -- for real, this time--
The Wisdom of Oz
Alabama's Moussa Gueye transfers to Valparaiso--
The NWI Times
Moussa Gueye and Mohamed Kone--
Inside VU Sports
Early look at 2013-14 Valparaiso Men's Basketball team--
Inside VU Sports
Bradbury looking forward to summer practices--
Dayton Daily News
McCallum to Participate in NBA Pre-Draft Camp--
Horizon League Network
James, Heat beat Bulls 88-65 for 3-1 series lead--
Miami Herald
Norris Cole also struggled with seven points after back-to-back 18-point performances, but the Heat had more than enough in this one.
...
Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the postseason, but was just 3 of 14 from the field. Jimmy Butler scored 12 and Joakim Noah grabbed nine rebounds, but it was a miserable night for Chicago - particularly Nate Robinson. With Cole and Mario Chalmers harassing him and the big men helping out, he missed all 12 of his shots and did not score.
Heat stifle Bulls 88-65, take 3-1 series lead--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Against a Bulls team again without ailing Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, that was more than enough, no need in this one for Heat bench theatrics from Norris Cole or Ray Allen, although Cole did beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer that pushed the Heat to a 61-42 lead entering the fourth.
Coach Rademacher Signs Tayla Gibb To A NLI--
detroittitans.com
Press Row’s Not Safe Podcast: Raphielle Johnson & Greg Kampe: 4/29--
Press Row's Not Safe
Former Rambler Robinson Named Player Of The Year In Iraqi League--
LoyolaRamblers.com
Men's basketball: Milwaukee Destiny guard DeBerry commits to UWGB--
Green Bay Press Gazette
GB offers scholarship to Tre Harris--
Phear The Phoenix
Deberry commits to GB--
Phear The Phoenix
Women's basketball: UWGB's Tetschlag shines in Luxembourg--
Green Bay Press Gazette
Champs! NetScouts USA All-Star Team Wins Chinese Tournament--
GreenBayPhoenix.com
