Ray Allen will return to Miami Heat next season--
Miami Herald
Allen’s decision means the Heat will enter free agency Monday with 12 players signed to guaranteed contracts: Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Norris Cole, James Jones, Joel Anthony and Rashard Lewis.
Heat summer league roster starting to take shape--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Unlike year's past, the Heat staff will focus mostly during the summer on players who weren't on the current roster. Last season the attention was on the development of guard Norris Cole and center Dexter Pittman. Cole played a key role for the second straight year on a championship team while Pittman was traded at midseason. Forward Jarvis Varnado, who played sparingly, is the only player from the 2012-13 team who will participate in summer league.
Ray Allen bypasses opt-out, back with Heat for 2013-14--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
With Allen opting in, it leaves the Heat with 12 players under guaranteed contract for next season: Allen, James, Wade, Bosh, Haslem, Lewis, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Joel Anthony, James Jones, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.
Free-agency primer: Birdman Heat's focus at outset--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
For the Heat, still basking in a second consecutive championship, the concerns are limited, with 12 players already under guaranteed contract for next season: Allen, James, Wade, Bosh, Lewis, Battier, Jones, Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Joel Anthony and Norris Cole. In addition, neophyte center Jarvis Varnado has a non-guaranteed contract in place that starts to become guaranteed if he is on the opening-night roster.
UDM's Nick Minnerath gets call from Kings, will join Summer League squad--
The Detroit Free Press
Mike Vandermause column: Maybe Bothof tired of fighting for resources--
Green Bay Press Gazette
1983 Basketball Team Headed to Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame--
wsuraiders.com
#3: Football and Basketball Teams Win 31 Home Games--
ysusports.com
#2: Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball Beat BCS Teams--
ysusports.com
#1: Brandi Brown Highlights 2012-13 in YSU Athletics--
ysusports.com
1983 WSU National Champions to be Inducted into Ohio Basketball Hall--
Horizon League Network
Ray Allen's lack of opting in tells its own story--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Through it all, it means the Heat now have 11 players under contract for next season: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Joel Anthony, Norris Cole, Lewis, Jones and Jarvis Varnado (who holds the lone non-guaranteed contract of the group).
Heat contracts: How the offseason math works (Updated)--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Norris Cole
2013-14 contract status: Cole is under contract for $1.1 million next season, with the Heat controlling his rookie-scale draft rights for two additional seasons.
How the math works: Perhaps most cost-effective labor on the Heat roster.
Draft Profile: Nick Minnerath--
Scouting The Mid-Majors
The Hottest, Rising Prospects Heading into the Draft--
Scouting The Mid-Majors
Nick Minnerath-
Minnerath first became exposed to scouts when they came to see his teammate, point guard prospect Ray McCallum but left with Minnerath looking just as impressive. Minnerath averaged 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Detroit. For teams looking for a forward with a jump shot that can have an offensive impact at the next level, Minnerath has become extremely attractive. He has had 7 workouts (2 with the Celtics).
Detroit’s Doug Anderson drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters--
CollegeBasketballTalk
Ray McCallum Jr. Season Highlights--
Run The Floor
Where will Ray McCallum be picked in the 2013 NBA Draft?--
Horizon League Hoops
NBA Draft 2013: Sacramento Kings select Ray McCallum with No. 36 pick--
SB Nation NBA News
‘He Was Our No. 1 Choice’--
The Kings Blog
Following Sacramento’s selection of Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum in the NBA Draft, get reaction from Ranadivé, D’Alessandro, Malone, Kings fans and more.
...
Before the celebratory evening drew to a close, the Kings nabbed Detroit guard Ray McCallum – a three-time All-Horizon selection and 2013 Horizon League Player of the Year – with the 36th-overall pick.
“(McCallum is) one of the classiest, classiest young men you’ll ever meet and a heck of a player,” said D’Alessandro.
The Lute Olson All-American led the conference in scoring (18.7 points per game) and steals (1.9), while finishing second in assists (4.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2) and sixth in field-goal percentage (49.1 percent).
As the Kings strive for all-around improvement, Head Coach Michael Malone believes both draftees will make a significant impact on the court and in the locker room.
UDM's Doug Anderson picked by Globetrotters--
The Detroit Free Press
NBA draft: UDM's Ray McCallum says he has what it takes to be first-round pick--
The Detroit Free Press
NBA draft: Detroit Mercy's Doug Anderson, Nick Minnerath hope to go in second round--
The Detroit Free Press
UDM's Ray McCallum picked by Sacramento Kings in second round of NBA draft--
The Detroit Free Press
Detroit dunk master Doug Anderson drafted by Harlem Globetrotters--
The Detroit News
Draft is just another hurdle for University of Detroit's Nick Minnerath--
The Detroit News
Detroit's Ray McCallum Jr. banks on court savvy to enhance draft appeal--
The Detroit News
Ray McCallum Selected 36th Overall in NBA Draft by Sacramento Kings--
detroittitans.com
Women's Basketball Had Camp Fever Over The Weekend--
detroittitans.com
Switching leagues means salary bump for Oakland University coaches--
The Oakland Press
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Oakland's Travis Bader sets sights on Nike camp--
The Oakland Press
Ex-Oakland women's hoops player, Muslim says Christian beliefs were imposed unfairly by now-fired coach--
The Detroit Free Press
Former player says ousted OU women's basketball coach pressured her over religion--
The Oakland Press
Play by play: Beckie Francis drama--
Oakland Post
Christian coach canned: player comes forward--
Oakland Post
Sixty-Four UIC Student-Athletes Named to HL 2012-13 Honor Roll--
uicflames.com
Forty Flames to Follow' for 2013-14: Katie Hannemann--
uicflames.com
NKU names Ken Bothof director of athletics--
NKU News
NKU names new athletic director--
Cincinnati.com
UWGB's Bothof hired as Northern Kentucky AD--
Green Bay Press Gazette
Black Hawk's Jen Wellnitz commits to play basketball for Phoenix--
Green Bay Press Gazette
Eichler, NetScouts USA All-Stars Win Four Nations Tournament--
GreenBayPhoenix.com
Video: Coach Rechlicz At The 2013 Women's Basketball Golf Classic--
uwmpanthers.com
Australian teams named for 2013 World University Games--
Basketball Australia
Valparaiso Basketball What If... (2010-11 Edition)--
Inside VU Sports
Thompson finds right fit with Valparaiso University women's basketball--
The NWI Times
Future starts to take shape for Valparaiso women’s hoops--
The NWI Times
WSU camp puts bball players to the test--
WDTN.com
Former WSU women’s basketball coach takes over at Fairborn High School--
The Guardian
#6: Men’s Basketball’s Memorable Season Culminates with Tournament Wins--
ysusports.com
#4: Women’s Basketball Turnaround Catches National Spotlight--
ysusports.com
McCallum Tabbed 36th Overall by Sacramento in NBA Draft--
Horizon League Network
GB's Sarah Eichler, NetScouts USA All-Stars Roll to Four Nations Tournament Title--
Horizon League Network
Spurs turn back Heat, are one win from NBA title--
Miami Herald
Ginobili converted a three-point play after drawing a baseline foul on Ray Allen. He buried a hang-in-the-air floater over Norris Cole. He found Splitter for a reverse layup.
Finally, he scored on a six-foot bank shot, blowing past Cole and beating Udonis Haslem's block attempt.
Miami Heat struggles to slow down Spurs’ Tony Parker--
Miami Herald
LeBron James’ subpar shooting underscores Miami Heat’s struggles--
Miami Herald
• The Heat’s point guard play has deteriorated in the past week.
After an impressive showing earlier in postseason, Norris Cole has shot just 6 for 22 in the Finals. And after his 19-point, no-turnover gem in Game 2, Mario Chalmers scored 13 points on 4-for-19 shooting in the past three games, with more turnovers (10) than assists (7).
“We haven’t been getting the same looks we had in Game 2,” Chalmers said.
On fumes, title scent still there for Heat--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Sunday, though, it was Allen unable to contain Manu Ginobili, Norris Cole unable to corral Tony Parker, Mario Chalmers unable to control his worse instincts.
It was . . . a mess.
Hyde5: Five things the Heat need in Game 6--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
4. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have to give something. Anything would be better than their Game 5’s. After four games, Tony Parker decided he was going to take them to the basket every time he got the ball. Cole, especially, may have played himself out of the series against the best point guard in the game (or anyone else, as LeBron and Wade also tried to cover him). On four straight possessions, Parker had four scoring plays (three field goals, two foul shots). What’s more, they’re not making Parker exert energy on defense. Chalmers shot two-for-10. Cole missed his only shot. Since scoring 19 points in Game 2, Chalmers has totaled 13 points in the following three games.
Heat point guards in search of ways to contain Tony Parker--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Milwaukee Bucks Free Agent Mini-Camp--
NBA.com
Cedric Jackson
Cleveland State 3/5/86 6'3" 190 lbs Guard
Played for the NZ Breakers for two seasons (2011-13) and was named the 2013 Australian NBL regular season and finals MVP. Played in the Australian NBL All-Star Game in 2013.
In 2009-10, played in 12 games for three NBA teams – Cleveland, San Antonio and Washington – and averaged 1.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Played in the NBA D-League from 2009-11 with the Erie Bayhawks and Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Jackson participated in the D-League All-Star Game in 2011.
Spent two years at St. John’s for college before transferring to Cleveland State after the 2006 season. He competed for Cleveland State from 2007-09
Staying put: coaches whose jobs are older than their players--
Run The Floor
In addition to Boeheim and K, Greg Kampe (Oakland), Rick Byrd (Belmont), and Fang Mitchell (Coppin State) have all been at their jobs since the mid-80s.
Athletic director’s contract renewed through 2019--
UIC News
Harkness To Receive Muhammad Ali Award At Giants Awards Dinner--
LoyolaRamblers.com
Pair of in-state forwards recieve GB scholarship offers--
Phear The Phoenix
Thompson takes basketball skills to Indiana--
Idaho Mountain Express
High school boys basketball: Indiana Seniors rule--
South Bend Tribune
Triton’s Clay Yeo, a Valparaiso recruit, scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 2-of-2 free throws for the Seniors. Yeo’s total included a 3-pointers.
Video: Tai Odiase Talks Recruiting--
Chicago Hoops
Yeo goes out on top--
Pilot News
VU recruit Clay Yeo finds ways to contribute--
The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso Basketball What If... (2011-12 Edition)--
The NWI Times
The Game Has Changed: Mid-Majors and Online Streaming--
Big Apple Buckets
The Veteran Presence – The Horizon League Network:
Back before there was the Horizon League Network there was John Servizzi. The Butler graduate was experimenting with streaming the Bulldogs’ games on the Internet. At the same time, Horizon League commissioner Jon LeCrone was looking for a way to get more out of the conference’s Game of the Week broadcasts. Online streaming seemed like an option.
In 2006 WebStream Productions and Horizon League Network (HLN) were born. The online portal now provides a place for any Horizon League fan to catch conference and non-conference games. The site showed more than 450 events during the 2012-13 academic year and had more than 30,000 unique viewer streams.
“It’s become one of our chief marketing tools,” said Bill Potter, the Horizon League’s director of communications and new media. “From a marketing perspective we know that everyone around the country can find our games in one to two clicks. Coaches can tell parents, ‘You’ll be able to see your kids play.’ From a marketing, visibility, coaching and recruiting standpoint it’s been great for us over the past seven years.”
Servizzi is now the CEO of WebStream Productions, which is also working with the Missouri Valley Conference and Ohio Valley Conference. The Midwestern client base can be attributed to a corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. WebStream produces more than 1,000 streams annually.
“They’re great partners. There’s a trust that’s been built between their office and our office,” Potter said.
Throughout its entire history HLN has been a free service. It turns out that one of the hardest decisions a league has to make is whether its streaming will be free or have some sort of pay model attached. Potter said that internal discussions about making HLN paid come up, but that it would come at the cost of losing about half the league’s online audience.
“Initially we just wanted to expose it to as many people as possible,” Potter said. “From there once people caught on and they knew it was free and they liked that it was free, so we valued it more and more.”
HLN is still innovating. Their iPad application lets fans get to games almost instantly and has made the second screen an important viewing tool. The league has also embraced HD streaming. The rise in the numbers of online viewing options means every league must put out a top-notch product.
That includes the broadcasting teams as well. Most HLN basketball games rely on the home team’s radio broadcasters for audio. While it’s possible for away team fans tuning in to feel a little bias, Potter said that broadcasters have worked hard to be knowledgeable about both teams and that they use the technology to their advantage.
“What we’ve found is that our announcers, knowing that they are broadcasting both for a home and a road audience have really adjusted to being more neutral in their calls and they’re also using the HLN broadcast on their call as well,” Potter said. “It’s been another nice tool for our announcers and they continue to get better year in and year out.”
Put it all together and the Horizon League Network has become a model that other leagues are looking to follow as they move into online streaming.
Darryl Brown Joins Women's Basketball Coaching Staff--
csuvikings.com
Brian Wardle ‘better coach’ after investigation--
My Suburban Life
Piecing together non-conference schedules--
Horizon League Hoops
Ohio State, Cleveland State to enter into three game series says CSU insider--
Land-Grant Holy Land
Miami Heat’s Mario Chalmers heats up as Spurs’ Tony Parker goes cold--
Miami Herald
For Chalmers, the turnaround — however small — was welcome. Through the first six quarters in San Antonio, Chalmers was a nonfactor. He was hit with three quick fouls in Game 3 and was held scoreless, missing all five of his shots and turning it over four times. Making matters worse for the Heat, backup Norris Cole hasn’t been much better, hitting 3 of 12 shots in Games 3 and 4.
Miami Heat’s lineup tweak creates options--
Miami Herald
But by the time the Heat made its first substitution in Game 4 — Norris Cole replacing Chalmers — the Heat was already down 15-5.
Cleveland State's Norris Cole finding his place in the NBA Finals spotlight: Terry Pluto--
Cleveland Plain Dealer
NBA Mock Draft, Version 3.0--
Fox Sports Ohio
43. Milwaukee: Ray McCallum, 6-2, PG, Detroit
NBA Draft Capsule: Detroit PG Ray McCallum--
CSN Chicago
Beckie Francis out as Oakland women's basketball coach--
The Detroit Free Press
Gary Russi steps down as Oakland University president; wife fired as basketball coach--
The Detroit Free Press
Oakland fires women's basketball coach Beckie Francis--
The Detroit News
Beckie Francis relieved as women’s basketball head coach--
Oakland Post
Beckie Francis Relieved as Women's Basketball Coach--
ougrizzlies.com
Coach Wardle's Camps - Sign Up Today--
GreenBayPhoenix.com
Eichler Headed to China with NetScouts USA All-Stars--
GreenBayPhoenix.com
Gulley Part Of Thursday's Pre-Draft Workout With Bucks--
uwmpanthers.com
Raiders sign two players from Texas--
Dayton Daily News
Raiders Sign Pair of Texas Guards--
wsuraiders.com
YSU's Brandi Brown Earns Horizon League's NCAA Woman of the Year Nominations--
ysusports.com
Brown, Schmit Earn Horizon League's NCAA Woman of the Year Nominations--
Horizon League Network
Top Ten Mid-Major Point Guards to Watch in 2013-14--
Mid-Major Madness
Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State: Perry will enter his senior year with the Penguins next season and you may start to hear his name more and more outside of the Horizon League. He has become one the nation's most efficient guard over the past couple of years averaging over 17 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this past season. He helped lead the Penguins to the CIT this past year, which was the first postseason basketball appearance in school history.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay: Speaking of the Horizon League, how about Keifer Sykes from Green Bay. In his sophomore campaign for the Phoenix he put up 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds per game in route to being named to the All-Conference First Team. Sykes will add some stability to a program that has seen its fair share of instability this offseason.
Spurs’ Tony Parker burns the Miami Heat at pivotal moments--
Miami Herald
Before Thursday’s game, Spoelstra said the Heat had to be aggressive when it came to defending the quick and shifty Parker. When Miami was able to have Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole stay close, Parker was more apt to dish the ball off.
When they sat back a touch, as Cole did in the fourth, Parker attacked the basket and made Miami pay for it.
...
Said Cole: “A couple of them were just tough shots. That last one on LeBron was a busted play, a tough shot.”
Prior to that dagger shot, Parker’s biggest make of the night came at the midway point of the fourth when he turned the motor on and roared to the basket.
Parker left Cole frozen as he spun around and hit the layup to give the Spurs their first lead since the first quarter.
Focus of Heat's defense turns to Spurs guard Tony Parker--
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The most disappointing aspect of Parker's strong finish is that the Heat defended well for three quarters. Problems arose when he beat Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole for a couple of baskets. That prompted Spoelstra to turn to LeBron James.
Detroit's Ray McCallum could have Detroit Pistons on his calendar soon--
The Detroit Free Press
Loyola 1963 Men's Basketball Team To Enter Chicagoland Sports Hall Of Fame--
LoyolaRamblers.com
Former Loyola Guard DaJuan Gouard Named Head Coach At Danville Area College--
LoyolaRamblers.com
Green Bay announces addition Rutgers transfer Vincent Garrett--
CollegeBasketballTalk
Panthers pick up Akeem Springs--
PantherU
Ryan Broekhoff - 2013 NBA Pre-Draft Workout & Interview--
DraftExpress
What If? -- Valparaiso Basketball Edition--
The NWI Times
NBA Draft Blog Interview with Julius Mays--
NBA Draft Blog
Raider Roundup for Season Ticket Holders--
wsuraiders.com
Kendrick Perry Named Top Ten Mid-Major Point Guards to Watch in 2013-14--
ysusports.com
