Friday, December 6, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/6/2013

Morning Coffee: Harvard Tops in Boston, Toledo and Drexel Still Playing--Mid-Major Madness
Side of bacon:

Toledo Still Undefeated After Big Game from Pearson

Toledo is now 7-0 after taking out Detroit 91-75 on Wednesay. The schedule hasn't looked particularly daunting, with the best win coming against Boston College, but it has still included nice mid-major victories over Stony Brook and now twice over Detroit (these Bracket Buster payback games in a single year are fun, aren't they?)

This win belonged to Rian Pearson who helped lead a 17-0 run in the first half that basically put the game out of reach. He had 30 points, including half of those on a perfect night from behind the 3-point line. Pearson also added eight rebounds and three assists in the win.

If Pearson can show this kind of leadership and remain grounded as this season moves on, Toledo is going to be a real force inside the MAC. In the past, he has always struck me as too excitable and prone to errors as he attempts to do too much. The talent is there to be great, but it hasn't been harnessed into something useful at this level. That looks to be changing.

Pearson was paced by Detroit's Evan Bruinsma who had 25 points, 14 boards and three blocks in the loss. Detroit is now 4-5 on the season and really looks to be missing all of the upperclassmen that helped tie this team together last year.
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Drexel played just seven players, and yet was able to survive three overtimes for the second game in a row to defeat Cleveland State 85-82. Tavon Allen had 23 points and Frantz Massenat played 55 minutes while scoring 21 points and dishing nine assists. This is to take nothing away from another win for the Dragons, but this is where the loss of Damion Lee is really going to start taking its toll on the team. You need that extra body in there to take some of the brunt of playing 110 minutes over the past two games. That doesn't normally happen, and it could wear down this team if they fail to close out games early. The Dragons next two are against Tennessee State, and Davidson, both winnable, but given the legs on these guys right now, you have to wonder what will happen.

Miami Heat outrebounded, trampled by Chicago Bulls--Miami Herald
Allen’s insertion into the starting lineup — his first start since his days in Boston — shuffled the Heat’s rotation. A second quarter lineup of Beasley, Rashard Lewis, Udonis Haslem, Roger Mason Jr. and Norris Cole seemed more apt for a game at the end of the season instead of December.
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Of course, the night would not have been complete without the physical play continuing past the whistle. Kirk Hinrich continued to be the thorn in the side of Miami, mixing it up at every opportunity.

At one point, Hinrich infuriated the normally serene Cole, goading Cole into shoving Hinrich in his neck for a flagrant foul. But Hinrich was even more irritating on offense, hitting three threes en route to 13 points — more than any Heat starter not named James.
Bulls romp over Heat, dominate opposition's small-ball game with rebounding, defense and physical play--Miami Herald
It's also almost always chippy. Kirk Hinrich, one of five Bulls in double figures, drew a technical foul and Norris Cole a flagrant-one when they exchanged shoves in the third quarter. Thibodeau and Udonis Haslem exchanged words after the third quarter.
Pounded on glass, Heat fall 107-87 in Chicago--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Eventually there were bench boosts from Norris Cole and Michael Beasley, but not nearly enough to offset what Chicago got from Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng and Noah, whose animation reached the point of popping out the finger guns.
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About the only fight from the Heat came in a third-quarter shoving match between Cole and Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich, with Cole assessed a flagrant foul and Hinrich a technical foul.
Heat seeking answers, perhaps outside answers--South Florida Sun Sentinel
With Wade out, and with few off-the-dribble supporting scorers available beyond Norris Cole, it has left LeBron James as the only aggressive, attacking, athletic presence in the starting lineup.
Drexel Dragons trip Cleveland State Vikings 85-82 in 3OT--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Numbers show how Cleveland State, Kent State suffer defeats - Local college sports this morning--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Loses Heartbreaker to Drexel 85-82 in 3OT--Vikings Ball
On this day 13 years ago - Dec 05, 2000--Vikings Ball
Get to know the CSU MBB team...Raphael Veira--csuvikings.com
Vikings Host Local Rival Akron on Saturday Afternoon--csuvikings.com
Cleveland State MBB vs Akron Promo 12/7/13--csuvikings.com

Schmitt Scores Career-High 20 Points As Vikings Take Down Ohio--csuvikings.com

Toledo 91, Detroit 75: Rian Pearson scores 30 for Rockets--The Detroit Free Press
Titans Host Rhode Island on Sunday at Historic Calihan Hall--detroittitans.com

Another Tournament Weekend Has Detroit In Toledo--detroittitans.com
Second Half Rally Falls Short At Toledo--detroittitans.com

Oakland looking for an ‘indicator’ against streaking Ohio--The Oakland Press
On this day 4 years ago - Dec 05, 2009--Grizz Gang
Oakland (1-7) Takes On Ohio (6-1)--Grizz Gang
GOLDEN GRIZZLIES WELCOME BOBCATS ON SATURDAY--ougrizzlies.com

OAKLAND HOSTS MANHATTAN IN O'RENA ON FRIDAY--ougrizzlies.com
STRONG SECOND HALF LIFTS OAKLAND OVER MANHATTAN 75-61--ougrizzlies.com

UIC at Loyola--The Chicago Tribune
Battle of attrition--Whoosh!Net
Flames Battle City-Rival Loyola on Saturday at Gentile Arena--uicflames.com

Flames Seek Best Start in 12 Seasons at Butler Saturday--uicflames.com
Head Coach Regina Miller Interviewed On Comcast SportsNet--uicflames.com

Back home: Tony Bennett returns to UWGB as Virginia coach--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay places third in Alaska--UWGB Fourth Estate

Phoenix wins Maine event--UWGB Fourth Estate

Morning Coffee: UMass Wins, USCB Tries Really Hard, and J.J. Mann Rides Again!--Mid-Major Madness
Milwaukee finished off Northern Iowa to run their record to 8-2 and add to an impressive start to their year. The size of the Panthers (the Milwaukee ones) is just way too much for so many teams to handle, and Matt Tiby (19 points) is getting better every single game. At this pace, he is headed for All-Horizon honors and could have the Panthers making a huge turnaround this season.
On this day 2 years ago - Dec 05, 2011--UWM Update
Milwaukee Defeats Northern Iowa 83-72--UWM Update
Panthers Back On Campus As Bradley Visits Klotsche Saturday--uwmpanthers.com

Video: Snower Making Transition To College Basketball At UWM--uwmpanthers.com

GORCHES: Why would Bryce Drew ever leave Valpo?--The Post-Tribune
Familiar foe coming to the ARC in St. Louis--The NWI Times
Thanksgiving break sees men's basketball go 3-1, only loss in 3OT--The Torch
Basketball Freshmen Join Valpo All-Access--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Returns Home to Host Saint Louis--valpoathletics.com

Valpo loses three games over break, with all coming away from home--The Torch
Balanced Attack Vaults Valpo over Chicago State--valpoathletics.com

Morning Coffee: EKU and VCU Go an Extra 5, Battle For San Diego Ends Close, and Northern Illinois Wins--Mid-Major Madness
I questioned Wright State not too long ago, and I am going to have to question them again here. The Raiders lost 62-59 to North Carolina A&T. No offense to the Aggies, but this is a game that the Raiders should not be losing. It was another night when they lost the rebounding edge, they were out-shot, and they just generally didn't get it done when it mattered. The Raiders may require some closer inspection. Matt Vest led the way with 15 points in the loss. The Aggies got 12 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes from Bryan Akinkugbe off the bench, and Richaud Pack led the starters with 15 points in the win.
Preview: Wright State at VMI--Dayton Daily News
Donlon: Raiders humbled by losses, 5-5 start--Dayton Daily News
Wright State Loses Heartbreaker to North Carolina A&T 62-59--Rowdy Review

Men’s Basketball Seeks Slocum’s 100th YSU Victory at UMKC--ysusports.com

YSU Welcomes Cincinnati to Beeghly Center on Sunday--ysusports.com

Interview: Kim Demmings--Horizon League Network

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