News On The Horizon 3/27/2015

NJIT Party Continues With Win Over Cleveland State--Big Apple Buckets
The Morning Dish – Tuesday, March 24, 2015--Hoopville

New Jersey Tech continues to make a run in the CIT, as the Highlanders moved to the quarterfinals by defeating Cleveland State 80-77 when Ky Howard hit a three-pointer with 19.7 seconds left. Also advancing are Evansville-an 83-68 winner at Eastern Illinois-and Kent State, which won at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 69-65 in a back-and-forth game.

Izzo's staff worked diligently to alter plan vs. UVA--The Detroit Free Press

"We never play defense quite that way," junior Bryn Forbes said. "Usually, we jump to the ball and stay in the gaps. As guards, we weren't doing that. We were having our bigs being the nail (help) man in the middle. So when their guards would drive, (MSU's post players) would step up. We changed a lot, and it worked."

Team effort gives MSU win over Virginia in tournament--The Detroit Free Press

Alvin Ellis and Marvin Clark Jr. each chipped in 11 minutes – Clark playing power forward with Dawson at small forward for a stretch, in a lineup shift for Izzo – and Bryn Forbes had his second straight key contribution in an NCAA game.

Forbes played "the best defense of his life," Izzo said, and he also scored seven points. He hit his only three-point try, a second-half swish to make it 37-25 MSU. On the play, Valentine led Forbes to a spot, a chemistry moment between two childhood friends.
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Valentine needs five points on Friday to reach 1,000 for his career. Trice, Dawson and Forbes already have 1,000 points, though Forbes scored most of his in his first two seasons at Cleveland State.

Fatherhood, family illness top concerns for MSU's Forbes--The Detroit Free Press
Seidel: Forbes has made 'giant strides' since joining MSU--The Detroit Free Press
MSU vs. Oklahoma in NCAAs: Scouting report, pick--The Detroit Free Press

Benches

Oklahoma's top reserve is guard Frank Booker, a 6-4 guard who aids the pressure defense and is third on the team with 36 three-pointers. The Sooners also get help from 6-1 guard Dinjiyl Walker and forwards D.J. Bennett and Khadeem Lattin. MSU's bench has been huge in the past few weeks, though Bryn Forbes' surge is more recent than that. Matt Costello will be important in this game inside, and the Spartans need Marvin Clark Jr., Alvin Ellis and perhaps Colby Wollenman to give good minutes. If the Spartans can get some mileage out of their depth, they'll be better late.

Edge: MSU

Niyo: Bryn Forbes finally feeling at home for MSU--The Detroit News
CSU Basketball Notebook: Cleveland State visits NJIT Monday night for second-round CIT matchup--Cleveland State Hoops
Vikings Fall at NJIT, 80-77, in CIT Second Round--csuvikings.com

Growing up basketball: Son of a coach, Ackerman felt destined to pursue game--Varsity Press
'Thunder' looks back--Varsity Press
Howard MVP, Wilson most improved at awards dinner--Varsity Press

Season over, Titans rest, reflect--Varsity Press

'Rad' stays positive despite firing--Varsity Press

Athletes: Private lives in the public eye--Oakland Post
FELDER FINALIST FOR LOU HENSON AWARD--ougrizzlies.com

The Morning Dish – Sunday, March 22, 2015--Hoopville

Reports are that Illinois-Chicago is set to hire former Wyoming head coach and current Indiana assistant Steve McClain as its next coach. It sounds like a good move. McClain was 157-115 while coaching Wyoming from 1998-2007 and often had entertaining teams.

Steve McClain hired as new UIC basketball coach--Press Row Sports
New UIC coach Steve McClain sets expectations high--The Catch and Shoot
Keifer Sykes to participate in NCAA dunk contest--The Catch and Shoot
Indiana associate coach named head of UIC men’s basketball--UIC News
New Flames basketball coach ready to win next year--UIC News
McClain fanning the Flames--Whoosh!Net
UIC Hires Steve McClain as 11th Head Men's Basketball Coach--uicflames.com
UIC Welcomes MBB Coach Steve McClain at Wednesday Press Conference--uicflames.com

Keifer Sykes will be in Final Four dunk contest--Green Bay Press Gazette
Brian Wardle a potential candidate for Bradley job--Phear The Phoenix
New Resch Center scoreboard coming soon?--Phear The Phoenix
Sykes to Participate in State Farm College Slam Dunk Championship--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Keifer Sykes Named to NABC All-District 12 First Team--GreenBayPhoenix.com

NCAA Tournament first week review: few upsets, but history-rich programs remain--Hoopville

The real upsets in this year’s tournament are largely missing, and that’s ok. What makes the tourney the lovable, all-encompassing event that it is are not just the upsets, but the near upsets. It’s the way it consistently settles (or at least should settle) arguments that the champion of the Big West or Horizon League can’t compete with middling teams from the ACC or Big Ten, much less top 25 squads from those conferences.

No, teams like Buffalo, Harvard, Northeastern, UC Irvine, Valparaiso and Wofford didn’t win their first round games. But they were right there down to the final minute and literally came within a possession or two of pulling off wins. The bottom line is the bottom line, but if one peels the onion back even a little, they know the truth. Every one of those teams belonged, and all of them provided exciting moments, even if they didn’t give many the ultimate sugar high of a surprising win.

Tennessee basketball: Top candidates to replace Donnie Tyndall--The Sporting News
Sources: Bobby Hurley Still Planning to Interview at DePaul (UPDATED)--Zagsblog

Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew will also interview at DePaul in the coming days, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.
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Drew, 40, is 94-42 in two seasons at Valparaiso, including a 28-6 record this past season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

DePaul coaching search could come down to Bobby Hurley, Bryce Drew--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso to fill with inside hole with Derrik Smits, Daniel Relvao--The Post-Tribune
Griffith sets state basketball ticket sales--The Post-Tribune

VU's Drew up for coaching award: Valparaiso University's Bryce Drew is one of 16 finalists for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, given to the top mid-major coach.

Drew led the Crusaders to a school-record 28 wins, Horizon League regular-season and tournament titles and an NCAA tournament berth.

The award will be presented at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Andrew grad Jubril Adekoya changes roles, earns Horizon League honor--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso coach expects everyone, himself included, to return next season--The NWI Times
Drew shares thoughts on Maryland and the future--Inside VU Sports
Drew Named Finalist for Hugh Durham Award--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Basketball Preview--valpoathletics.com
Drew Named Region Coach of the Year; Peters An All-Region Selection--valpoathletics.com

Men’s basketball: LeCrone address HL changes--The Guardian

Keene & Vaughn leaving YSU men’s program--WKBN
Keene, Vaughn to leave YSU basketball progam--Youngstown Vindicator
Departures cause huge void for YSU--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

UIC Hires Steve McClain as Men's Basketball Coach--Horizon League Network
CSU Falls in Second Round of CIT--Horizon League Network
GB's Sykes to Participate in State Farm College Slam Dunk Championship--Horizon League Network
Oakland's Felder and Green Bay's Sykes Named Finalists for Lou Henson POY Award--Horizon League Network
Seven Horizon League Players Earn NABC All-District Honors; Bryce Drew District 12 Coach of the Year--Horizon League Network