On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Hub Fans Bid Kid...--Sports Illustrated

Just as creatively (and as important), Stevens kept his players in situations—offensively and defensively—where they had a high probability of success. Shelvin Mack, a thick 6'3" guard, was seldom asked to guard an explosive dribbler (a duty that usually fell to Ronald Nored or Shawn Vanzant); Matt Howard, a 6'8" forward on both Final Four teams with a propensity for overplaying and fouling, was usually assigned to an opponent's weakest forward (while Hayward or Willie Veasley would guard more athletic players). Hahn, strong and slow, sometimes guarded players who were six inches taller but not highly skilled. "They were really, really good at cross-matching on defense," says Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew, who was an assistant under his father, Homer, during Stevens's Butler era. "They would play a one with a three, or a four with a two, just to limit your best players. They really knew who they were."

Offensively, Butler ran precise sets, especially on out-of-bounds plays. "I don't want to say they were flawless," says Cleveland State coach Gary Waters, "but Brad's teams were absolutely great in situational execution."

10 impact guards from @sportsbloggerDS--The Horizone
Welcome to the Horizone!--The Horizone

Cleveland State, Kent State, Akron basketball players enjoy overseas trips--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Oregon lands yet another key one-year transfer, adding ex-Detroit guard Jason Calliste--The Dagger
Ducks add another transfer--Register-Guard
Detroit’s Calliste heads west to Oregon--The Horizone

Oakland’s Travis Bader will keep shooting, and NCAA records may fall--Sports Illustrated
Oakland Adds Robert Morris to Basketball Schedule--ougrizzlies.com

Opinion: Oakland women’s hoops will be OK--The Horizone
Coach Tungate Speaks at Mid-Michigan Leadership Forum--ougrizzlies.com

Illinois, NU enliven UIC hoops schedule--The Chicago Tribune
UIC Men's Basketball Releases 2013-14 Non-Conference Schedule--uicflames.com