On The Horizon

Jim Squire

O26 Weekly Awards: Wichita State, Davon Usher, Gary Waters & Yale…--Rush The Court

O26 Team of the Week
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Honorable Mentions: Yale (2-0: @Dartmouth, @Harvard); Cleveland State (2-0: @Oakland, @Wright State); Western Michigan (2-0: vs. Ohio, @Northern Illinois)
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O26 Coach of the Week

Gary Waters has done a fine job with the Vikings. (CSU Athletics)

Gary Waters – Cleveland State. Waters is quietly putting together another really good season at Cleveland State. After suffering several tough losses early in the year and starting a disappointing 11-9, his Viking have since won six straight — including three in a row on the road — and now sit just one game out of first place in the Horizon League. The veteran coach has assembled a resilient and adaptive lineup, made evident by last week’s road victories over Oakland and Wright State. Against the offensive-minded Grizzlies, Cleveland State was unfazed by a somewhat quicker, looser pace, matching an incredible night from Travis Bader — the NCAA career three-point leader nailed 10 triples — with 61 percent three-point shooting of their own, coupling behind-the-arc proficiency with trips to the free throw line for a 92-55, come-from-behind victory. On Saturday at defensively-tough Wright State, the Vikings remained sharp offensively (which is crucial against the Raiders, which boasts the sixth-highest turnover percentage in the country), again using hot three-point shooting and free throws to claim yet another road win. Waters deserves credit for not only game-planning effectively against markedly different opponents, but for succeeding with a rotation that’s unlike the majority of his past teams. While traditional Cleveland State units tend to feature aggressive defenses adept at forcing turnovers, this year’s Vikings are more offensively-minded. With a 19th-ranked effective field goal percentage, this is easily the best-shooting squad Waters has ever had, a team more likely to bury the opposition with a swarm of made baskets than a swarm of steals. The eight-year coach has taken a new-look roster, with two first-year transfers and a forward who medical redshirted last season, and found a different way to win. He is our Coach of the Week as a result.

Honorable Mentions: James Jones – Yale; Rob Jeter – Milwaukee; Randy Rahe – Weber State
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O26 Upset of the Week
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Honorable Mentions: New Hampshire over Stony Brook (73-69); Milwaukee over Green Bay (73-63); Colgate over American (63-60)

The Rundown: February 13--Run The Floor

Green Bay at Youngstown St - ESPN3

(:30) Illinois Chicago at Cleveland St

Green Bay only leads the Horizon by a game over Cleveland St after the weekend. I suspect they will continue to do so because Green Bay and the Vikings won their first meetings against the respective schools by double digits.

Game Recap: Green Bay routs Youngstown St. in record setting night--Mid-Major Madness
Oakland vs. Detroit Game Recap: Grizzlies Survive Overtime Thriller Against Rival Titans--Mid-Major Madness
Paul Oren of NWI.com Discusses Horizon League Race--Cleveland Leader
Oakland takes OT thriller against Detroit before record-crowd at O'rena--The Detroit News

Miami Heat, LeBron James fend off Golden State Warriors--Miami Herald

The Heat received noteworthy contributions from reserves Norris Cole and Michael Beasley in the first half. Cole had 10 points and Beasley scored 12 points in 13 minutes. They combined to go 9 of 12 from the field and Cole gave the Heat a 14-point lead with 4:10 left in the second quarter when he converted a three-point play against Curry. Beasley, receiving his first significant minutes in eight games, finished with 16 points.

LeBron James rewards Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s faith with game-winner--Miami Herald

The Heat received noteworthy contributions from reserves Norris Cole and Michael Beasley in the first half. Cole had 10 points, and Beasley scored 12 points in 13 minutes. They combined to go 9 of 12 from the field, and Cole gave the Heat a 14-point lead with 4:10 left in the second quarter when he converted a three-point play against Curry. Beasley, receiving his first significant minutes in eight games, finished with 16 points.

Winderman's view: Heat 111, Warriors 110--South Florida Sun Sentinel