News On The Horizon 5/4/2013

Miami Heat’s Norris Cole carves out a role--Miami Herald
Spoelstra appreciates 'body blow' from his bench--South Florida Sun Sentinel

While an enduring memory of last season's championship run was Mike Miller making 7 of 8 3-pointers to close out the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the reality was that Spoelstra not only tightened his bench to Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem, James Jones and Miller, but that only Haslem received consistent minutes.

Now Haslem plays as a token starter, Miller barely plays and Jones practically doesn't play at all.

Instead, there is the consistency of Battier and Ray Allen, the energy of Chris Andersen and the newfound poise of Cole.
...
Point-ed approach

In three of the four games against the Bucks, point guards Mario Chalmers and Cole combined to play more than the 48 minutes, spending the time on the court together, as well. In Game 2, they combined to play exactly 48 minutes.

It is a decidedly different approach than a year ago in the playoffs, when some of the minutes at point guard were handled by James or Wade or another wing player.

"We're playing more point-guard basketball than we have in the past," Spoelstra said. "It's been an interesting, subtle change in our game. The reason is those guys have been earning those minutes. And so we have confidence in them.

"I think the bigger thing is their teammates have more confidence in them and that's great to see in the playoffs."

To a degree, Cole outplayed Chalmers in the opening round, particularly defensively.

"It's a credit to his work ethic, the time that he puts in," Spoelstra said. "He earned the minutes to play a bigger role in the last series, in a playoff series. We'll see what happens in the next one."

Cleveland State basketball tries to schedule amidst Horizon League changes--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Birt, Three-Star Recruit from Texas, Joins UIC Basketball Program--uicflames.com

By what criteria will Wardle be judged?--Fox 11
Men's basketball: Wardle investigation report could come by next week--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB to play in Great Alaska Shootout next season--UWGB Hoops Blog
Ex-UWGB women's coach Bollant offers support for Wardle--UWGB Hoops Blog
Green Bay to Play in 2013 Great Alaska Shootout--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Bring the Norse north--PantherU

OP/ED: Year of Valparaiso University sports reviewed--The Torch

YSU basketball coach sees recruits as Horizon League ready--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Men’s Basketball Adds Forward Kyle Steward During Late Signing Period--ysusports.com

Milwaukee's Harris Moves from Basketball Court to Football Field--Horizon League Network