On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Mid-Major Rankings, Preseason Edition 2014-15--The Catch and Shoot

13. Cleveland State

Losing Bryn Forbes hurts the Vikings a ton, but no Horizon League team has a better top-three players than Trey Lewis, Charlie Lee and Anton Grady.

14. Green Bay

Keifer Sykes is one of the best guards in college basketball, but the Phoenix have to replace big man Alec Brown. Seniors Greg Mays and Alfonzo McKinnie, who spent a lot of last season injured, will need to produce in the frontcourt.

Dwyane Wade shows flashes of old self in Miami Heat’s preseason win over Rockets--Miami Herald

Norris Cole started at point guard in place of Mario Chalmers for the sixth consecutive game, Luol Deng is taking the place of LeBron James at small forward and the Heat’s power-forward position is a work in progress. Williams started at the four against Houston, and he could get the call for the regular-season opener, but the position will ultimately be filled by another new face, Josh McRoberts.

Video - Cleveland State Basketball Preview--Cleveland Leader
Cleveland State hoops to face Xavier in 'secret scrimmage'--Cleveland State Hoops
VIDEO: Charlie Lee at Horizon League Media Day--csuvikings.com
VIDEO: Anton Grady at Horizon League Media Day--csuvikings.com

Recap: LA Lakers vs. Sacramento--Sacramento Bee

Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) - Ray McCallum beat the final buzzer with a tip-in to lift the Sacramento Kings a 93-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the preseason finale for both teams.

After Jeremy Lin sank 1-of-2 from the free throw line to put the Lakers in front, McCallum isolated on the right wing and put up an 18-footer that was off the mark with just under three seconds left. Reggie Evans fought for the offensive rebound and put up an air ball. McCallum followed his shot and was right there to meet the ball at the rim and guide it in.

A Jerk’s Guide to the Detroit Titans--PantherU
Titans Host Basketball Media Day on ESPN3--detroittitans.com
Titan Tip-Off Helps Usher in New Basketball Seasons--detroittitans.com

Meet The Newcomers: Chea Taylor--detroittitans.com
Meet The Newcomers: Nicole Urbanick--detroittitans.com

Oakland’s Petros ready for last shot at NCAA tournament--The Oakland Press
A Jerk’s Guide to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies--PantherU

Sporting blitz week of Oct. 22--Oakland Post

Men's Basketball

Oakland was picked to finish seventh in the 2014-15 Horizon League Preseason Poll. The league's nine head coaches, staff and media voted on the preseason poll. Corey Petros and Kahlil Felder were preseason all-league selections, with Petros named to the first team and Felder to the second.

Women's Basketball

Elena Popkey has been named to the Madness 2014-2015 Preseason All-Horizon League Women's Basketball Second Team. Popkey averaged 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds last season, posting six games of over 20 points along the way.

Illinois College Basketball Rankings, Preseason Edition 2014-15--The Catch and Shoot

9. UIC

Howard Moore has a talented group of newcomers that could pull UIC out of the Horizon League’s cellar. Point guard D’Juan Miller is very athletic, graduate student Jay Harris is a veteran with outside shooting ability and freshman Tai Odiase is a defensive stalwart.

Scrimmage showcases men’s basketball team--UIC News
Men's Basketball: Getting to Know the Newcomers - Jason McClellan--uicflames.com

Regina Miller Set to Host Free Coaching Clinic on Oct. 26--uicflames.com

2014-2015 Season Preview: College Basketball’s Top 13 Dunkers (VIDEOS)--CollegeBasketballTalk

6. Keifer Sykes, Green Bay: Sykes is the smallest player on this list, but he may actually be the best leaper. How many players do you know that can throw an alley-oop to themselves?:

Fletcher off to a good start in Great Britain--Phear The Phoenix
Alfonzo McKinnie 'still getting to 100%'--Phear The Phoenix

Green Bay Basketball Programs Host Successful Media Day--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Join the Phoenix Basketball Teams for FanFest and #PHXMadness--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Horizon League Preview: #5 Milwaukee Panthers--Busting Brackets
Replacing Jordan Aaron's game points will take team effort--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
International Panthers: Mens Basketball Players Continue Careers--UWM Post
Gold Takes Down Black In Mens Basketball Scrimmage--UWM Post
Intrasquad scrimmage set for Tuesday--PantherU
The Big Announcement That Was…Not Announced--PantherU
Many positives come out of Panther scrimmage--PantherU
A Jerk’s Guide to the Milwaukee Panthers--PantherU
Gold Tops Black, 74-64, In Milwaukee Men’s Basketball Scrimmage--uwmpanthers.com

Top Mid-Major Players to Watch in 2014-15: 45-41--Mid-Major Madness

45. Alec Peters, Valparaiso, F: Peter's busted out his freshman year for Bryce Drew's Crusaders averaging 12.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. Now it's time for the 6'8 big man to refine his game in year two as he recently noted to Mid-Major Madness at Horizon League Media Day, "As you play you don't’ get away with as much as you do when you are a new player. You got to find different ways to get yourself open and find different ways to score. My coaches have talked with me a lot. People know who you are now, everyone is going to do their scouting report.". It'll be interesting to see how Peters matures this season.

Graduations and injury at Valparaiso create opportunities for new and returning Crusaders--The Catch and Shoot
A Jerk’s Guide to the Valparaiso Crusaders--PantherU

A Jerk’s Guide to the Wright State Raiders--PantherU
Blog: Don’t fret over TV deal--The Guardian
Blog: You dropped the bombshell on me--The Guardian
Blog: Big Four Classic has me thinking--The Guardian

Roster changes won’t slow Penguins--Youngstown Vindicator
Seniors Schlegel and Walker Lead Penguins--The Jambar
Women’s Basketball Holds Media and Photo Day--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

Napier shines again as Heat Lite edge Spurs 111-108 in OT--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Against that backdrop, Spoelstra opened with a lineup that featured Shawne Williams Udonis Haslem, Danny Granger, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole, while moving quickly to the likes of Johnson, Birch and Shawn Jones before the end of a first quarter.

MSU coach Izzo 'threw up' when rewatching UConn game--The Detroit News

It will have to be the same formula for Michigan State, which will need contributions outside of the big three.

Will it be sophomores Alvin Ellis or Gavin Schilling? Could it be junior transfer Bryn Forbes? Or could it be the freshmen class of Lourawls Nairn, Javon Bess or Marvin Clark?

"We are really talented," Trice said. "You cannot replace any of those three guys, but the guys we gained can really help us."

Charlie Lee Exclusive Interview | 2014 Horizon League Media Day--Hidden Diamond Productions

College Sports Madness Names Ruvanna Campbell All-Horizon League--uicflames.com

Jim Squire

2014-2015 Season Preview: Mid-Major Power Rankings--CollegeBasketballTalk

7. Green Bay, 24-7, 14-2 Horizon (1st): The Phoenix lose center Alec Brown, but they return four of their top five scorers — including star point guard Keifer Sykes — from a team that beat ACC champion Virginia last season.
...
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Belmont, Chattanooga, Cleveland State, Hofstra, Louisiana-Lafayette, Manhattan, Sam Houston State, Siena, Stony Brook, UC Santa Barbara, Western Michigan

Highlights From the 2014-15 Horizon League College Basketball Media Day--Mid-Major Madness

Horizon Women's Basketball 2014-2015 Preseason All-Conference Teams--College Sports Madness
High-Major Women's Basketball 2014-2015 Preseason All-American Teams--College Sports Madness

Miami Heat uses the long ball to rally for first win of the preseason--Miami Herald

Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier are all splitting minutes, vying for the job.

Cole got the start in Friday night’s game, finishing with five points.

Late 3-pointers lift Heat over Warriors, to first preseason win--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Even with the game played not far from the campus he delivered an NCAA championship, Chalmers again played off the bench for the Heat, with Norris Cole starting at point guard.

Harlem Globetrotters Announce 2015 Rookie Class--Harlem Globetrotters

Detroit native Carlos “Dizzy” English played parts of three seasons in the NBA Development League after averaging 8.3 points per game in his career at Cleveland State University. The 5-9 dribbling dynamo played the two years prior to his time at Cleveland State at Mott Community College (Mich.), where he helped lead the team to a 61-10 record over that span.

Cleveland State picked second in Horizon League men's basketball preseason poll--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State offers Damarri Moore--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State men’s basketball picked to finish second in Horizon League--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State Press Conference at Horizon League Media Day '14--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State to face three ranked teams--Cleveland State Hoops
Vikings Tabbed Second in League Preseason Poll--csuvikings.com

Kings’ Ray McCallum finds himself in same position entering second season--Sacramento Bee
Titans Picked Third, Howard Named to Preseason First Team at HL Media Day--detroittitans.com

Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Rick Albro Inducted Into BCAM Hall Of Fame--detroittitans.com

Mid-major Oakland takes on murderer's row as prep for Horizon League season--The Sporting News
Top Mid-Major Players to Watch in 2014-15: 50-46--Mid-Major Madness

49. Kahlil Felder, Oakland, G: Kahlil Felder bust on to the scene a year ago and finished the season as a Freshman All-American and the Horizon Leauge's top freshman. The 5'9 guard created a talented combo with senior Duke Mondy and ended up averaging 9.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. His assists numbers were enough to lead the Horizon League and finish tied for seventh nationally. Felder's top performance came against rival Detroit in front of a national TV audience where he finished the 83-82 Golden Grizzlies win with a triple-double of 15 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Greg Kampe might have lost some household names but Felder gives Oakland a bright future.

GOLDEN GRIZZLIES PICKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON LEAGUE POLL--ougrizzlies.com

POPKEY NAMED TO COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAM--ougrizzlies.com

UIC newcomer D’Juan Miller frontrunner to land starting point guard spot--The Catch and Shoot
UIC players throw down jams at preseason dunk contest--The Catch and Shoot
A Jerk’s Guide to the UIC Flames--PantherU

2014-2015 Season Preview: NBCSports.com’s Mid-Major All-Americans--CollegeBasketballTalk

FIRST TEAM

Keifer Sykes, Green Bay, Sr. (20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.9 apg): High-flying, high-scoring point guards aren’t that easy to find. Sykes is the reason that the Phoenix have a shot at winning a game-or-two in the NCAA tournament.

Green Bay star Keifer Sykes throws down impressive dunk in practice--College Basketball Nation Blog
Green Bay is top pick for team and player in the Horizon League--Eye On College Basketball

Jeter, McWhorter speak at Horizon League Media Day--PantherU
Replacing Jordan Aaron--PantherU
Three Basketball Events On Tap For Milwaukee Basketball--uwmpanthers.com

Men’s Basketball: Valparaiso picked fourth in the Horizon League--The Post-Tribune
Thoughts from Horizon League Media Day--Inside VU Sports

Men’s Basketball: Horizon League announcement postponed--The Guardian

A Jerk’s Guide to the YSU Penguins--PantherU

Schlegel Named to Preseason All-Conference Team by College Sports Madness--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

High-Major Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preseason All-American Teams--College Sports Madness
2014-15 College Basketball Preview: Picking champions for every conference--The Catch and Shoot

Horizon League—Cleveland State

Between Cleveland State and Green Bay, the Horizon League title race should be an exciting one. Green Bay won the league last year, and although it returns outstanding senior guard Keifer Sykes, it also lost talented and versatile big man Alec Brown.

Cleveland State also lost a couple of key pieces, but the Vikings have two very good guards in junior Trey Lewis and senior Charlie Lee and one of the league’s best big men in junior Anton Grady.

Illinois State transfer Kaza Keane gives the Vikings another solid option in its backcourt.

2014-15 Horizon League Preview: Can Keifer Sykes, Green Bay Repeat?--The Catch and Shoot
Green Bay named Horizon League preseason favorite--Daily Herald

Miami Heat tones down hype before preseason game against LeBron James, Cavs--Miami Herald

Search for scoring

Bosh was better on Tuesday night against the Magic than in the Heat’s preseason debut, and that was a positive step.

He finished with 18 points and found open shots early in the game thanks to better ball movement behind new starting point guard Norris Cole.

Wade hoping Heat can get to consistent rotation--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Women’s Basketball Unveils Remodeled Locker Room With Special Ceremony--detroittitans.com

Page’s Xavier Hill-Mais commits to Oakland--The Oakland Press
Athletic Department creates new Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance position--Oakland Post
Sporting blitz, week of Oct. 15--Oakland Post
Max Hooper set to help replace Travis Bader's outside shooting--Oakland Post

Red vs. Blue Scrimmage offers first look at men’s basketball--UIC News
Annual Red vs. Blue Scrimmage Set for Oct. 17--uicflames.com
Men's Basketball: Getting to Know the Newcomers - D'Juan Miller--uicflames.com
UIC MBB Participates in Horizon League Media Day--uicflames.com

UWGB, Sykes named Horizon League favorites--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix to Host Annual FanFest, Green & White Scrimmage on Oct. 25--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Men's Basketball Set for Horizon League Media Day--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Green Bay Tabbed Preseason Favorite, Sykes Named Preseason POY--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Phoenix to Host Annual FanFest, Green & White Scrimmage on Oct. 25--GreenBayPhoenix.com

UWM Panther Arena should not be demolished--On Milwaukee
Horizon League To Hold Men’s Basketball Media Day Wednesday--uwmpanthers.com
Tiby Named Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League--uwmpanthers.com

Men’s Basketball: Valparaiso picked fourth in the Horizon League--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso adds recruit Daniel Relvao--The Wisdom of Oz
Son of Indiana Pacers star Rik Smits commits to the Crusaders--The NWI Times
Peters named First Team All-Horizon League; Crusaders tabbed for fourth--The NWI Times
Early look at Horizon League Projections/All-Conference--Inside VU Sports
Peters Named Preseason First Team Selection; Crusaders Picked Fourth--valpoathletics.com

Gun found in car led to WSU player’s dismissal--Dayton Daily News
Wright State picked to finish 5th in Horizon--Dayton Daily News
Donlon finds loaded weapon during custody exchange at WSU’s practice facility--The Guardian
Men’s Basketball: Raiders face lower expectations heading into 2014-15 season--The Guardian
Basketball Luncheon Set--wsuraiders.com
Raiders Picked Fifth in HL Preseason Poll--wsuraiders.com
Howloween Hoopla Set for October 28--wsuraiders.com

Open Competition: Nine Newcomers Litter YSU Men’s Basketball Roster--The Jambar
Men's Basketball Holds Annual Media Day--ysusports.com
Bobby Hain Named Preseason All-Horizon League Second-Team; Penguins Picked Eighth--ysusports.com

#HLMBB Media Day ESPN3 Schedule--Horizon League Network
Green Bay Tabbed Horizon League Favorite; Sykes Voted Player of the Year in Preseason Poll--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Vague and Tenebrous Tweets by Almario Vernard Chalmers: Did Chalmers get benched today?--Miami Herald

Why would Chalmers be depressed? Well, being demoted to second-string point guard is enough to put anyone from Miami in a bad mood. (Of course, so is being in stuck in traffic on Biscayne Boulevard waiting on that damn bridge, or getting busted for smash porn, or, you know, getting plucked from your bubble by the Coast Guard.) Anyway, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has said several times during training camp that competition is wide open at point guard. Norris Cole has made it clear that he is pushing to be the team's starter, and, of course, Chalmers didn't exactly have the best possible finish to the 2014 playoffs.

He was benched for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and there was probably a time after The Finals when he thought he wasn't returning to the Heat.

Anyway, Chalmers went 0 of 2 for two points in the Heat's preseason opener. He played just 21 minutes and recorded two assists and two turnovers. Meanwhile, Cole played more than 23 minutes and went 4 of 8 from the field for 10 points and had four steals, two assists and didn't commit a turnover.

Stuff from the Heat's shootaround today, including Spoelstra on LeBron, Stan Van Gundy and this 'microwave society' we all live in--Miami Herald
On the Heat's growing concerns at point guard and other observations from the second preseason game--Miami Herald
Heat's Birdman fascinated with Rio's Big Mac
--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Cole not getting comfortable

"It feels great to start," Cole said "My confidence is always pretty high. It's great to be moved in there, but this is early and it's still preseason. We're still trying to get better and do whatever we have to do to get better. If that means me starting, then that's what that means."

Horizon League Basketball Preview: #7 Oakland Golden Grizzlies--Busting Brackets
Top 25 Countdown: Others Receiving Votes--CollegeBasketballTalk

Dayton Flyers

Last Season: 26-11, 10-6 Atlantic 10 (t-5th), lost in the Elite 8
Key Losses: Devin Oliver, Vee Sanford, Khari Price
Key Returnees: Dyshawn Pierre (11.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 40.9% 3PT), Jordan Sibert (12.2 ppg, 42.6% 3PT)
Key Newcomers: Ryan Bass (transfer), Darrell Davis, Detwon Rogers
Outlook: Dayton was as good as any team in the country in February and March of last season, going 9-1 to close out the Atlantic 10 season before making a run to the Elite 8. Losing Devin Oliver will hurt, putting pressure on Jordan Sibert and Dyshawn Pierre to take on a bigger role offensively. The combination of Oakland transfer Ryan Bass and sophomore Scoochie Smith will be counted on to take over ballhandling duties. Dayton should compete for top four in the A-10.

Redshirt freshman’s foot injury a hit to Oakland’s perimeter depth--CollegeBasketballTalk
Kampe, Hovland nominees for Michigan Sports Hall of Fame--The Oakland Press
OAKLAND BASKETBALL SUSPENDS ARTIS CLEVELAND--ougrizzlies.com
GREG KAMPE AND PETE HOVLAND NOMINEES FOR MICHIGAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME--ougrizzlies.com

Horizon League Basketball Preview: #9 UIC Flames--Busting Brackets

2014-2015 Season Preview: 25 must-watch non-conference games--CollegeBasketballTalk

TEN MORE TIMES YOU’LL NEED TO SET YOUR DVR

16. Kentucky vs. UCLA - (CBS Sports Classic in Chicago) - Dec. 20: Two blue-bloods square off in the United Center.
17. Texas vs. UConn - Nov. 30: Ryan Boatright vs. Isaiah Taylor will be fun.
18. Arizona vs. Michigan - Dec. 13: Sean Miller’s defensive mastery vs. John Beilein’s offensive ingenuity.
19. Arizona vs. UNLV - Dec. 23: The Runnin’ Rebels have a ton of young talent on their roster.
20. Syracuse vs. Michigan (ACC/Big Ten Challenge) – Dec. 2: Syracuse have PG questions while Michigan has an unproven front line.
21. Ohio State vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic in Chicago) - Dec. 20: Are the Buckeyes truly a top 15-caliber team?
22. Minnesota vs. Louisville (U.S. Air Station in Puerto Rico) - Nov. 14: Big Pitino vs. Little Pitino.
23. Green Bay vs. Georgia State - Dec. 4/27: Arguably the nation’s two-best mid-majors. Keifer Sykes vs. Ryan Harrow and R.J. Hunter. And yeah, these two teams meet twice.

Green Bay’s Keifer Sykes will wow you this season (VIDEO)--CollegeBasketballTalk

Son of former NBA star commits to Valparaiso--CollegeBasketballTalk
Rik Smits' Son Derrik Smits Commits to Valparaiso--Mid-Major Madness

Horizon League Preview: #6 Wright State Raiders--Busting Brackets
Wright State parts ways with a veteran forward--CollegeBasketballTalk
Wright State gets three new uniforms (PHOTO)--CollegeBasketballTalk

Horizon League Preview: #8 Youngstown State Penguins--Busting Brackets

Jim Squire

Horizon Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preseason All-Conference Teams--College Sports Madness

Wade on LeBron and other things he said today at #Heat training camp--Miami Herald

—Wade called Norris Cole "a monster" defensively, and said the next step in his career would be learning "how to be effective as a point guard and as a scoring guard."

"He's got to figure out the perfect way to do that, and it's not always easy for guys," Wade said. "But if he can figure it out, he can be very dangerous for us. But I'm very confident. He's a kid who loves to work, and he wants to be as great as he wants to be. So, I think he'll figure it out."

Some questions before the Heat's open scrimmage tonight--Miami Herald

2. Will there be a breakout youngster?

There are plenty of young players in camp this week and they'll each get their chances to make solid impressions tonight. Norris Cole first showed signs of his potential during the team's preseason training camp scrimmage. Small forward James Ennis starred in Australia last year and Heat coaches and executives are hoping for big things. Rookie point guard Shabazz Napier improved throughout summer league, so he'll be expected to build off of that momentum.

Stuff I saw at the Heat scrimmage and other things from training camp like the depth chart and also some craft beer--Miami Herald

DEPTH CHART AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF CAMP

POINT GUARD

—Mario Chalmers

Chalmers entered camp in good shape, which is important because his backup is a fitness nut and a workaholic and gunning for starting point-guard role. Chalmers had some good moments during the scrimmage, but his attempted alley-oop off the glass to Tyler Johnson was a poor decision.

—Norris Cole

Always improving, Cole's development as a point guard could give the Heat some options this season on the depth chart. If Cole can start at point guard, then Chalmers might come off the bench to spell Dwyane Wade. Chalmers could be a solid Sixth Man if put in the right situation, at least that's what the Heat might be thinking.

—Shabazz Napier

The Heat is hoping he can develop fast enough to be a viable option as a backup. That would free up Chalmers to be the Sixth Man, and allow Cole to be the starter. The most important thing Napier can provide at this point is solid defense, and he did that during the scrimmage.