Sunday, June 28, 2015

News On The Horizon 6/28/2015

The Morning Dish – Friday, June 26, 2015--Hoopville
Always a story on draft night is the players who weren’t selected. Among the notable college players who were not picked (in alphabetical order): Arizona forward Brandon Ashley, Kansas forward Cliff Alexander, Florida guard Michael Frazier, Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison, Texas forward Jonathan Holmes, UTEP forward Vince Hunter, North Carolina State guard Trevor Lacey, Wisconsin-Green Bay guard Keifer Sykes, Maryland guard Dez Wells, UC Santa Barbara forward Alan Williams and UNLV forward Christian Wood. Of those, all but Holmes, Sykes, Wells and Williams were underclassmen. Obviously the name-brand stunners there are Alexander and Harrison, once ultra-highly touted college recruits, but for our money the biggest disappointments are guys like Hunter and Lacey, who had a chance for spectacular conclusions to college careers.

#DetroitsCollegeTeam Hosts Toledo on Dec. 9--detroittitans.com
#DetroitsCollegeTeam Hosts BGSU on Dec. 12--detroittitans.com
NBA Legends to Hold Youth Event at Calihan Hall June 27--detroittitans.com
#DetroitsCollegeTeam Hosts UCF on Dec. 19--detroittitans.com
UDM Successfully Hosts Basketball Camps This Week--detroittitans.com

Cincinnati Bearcats Come to Town On Dec. 2--detroittitans.com

Former Wyoming standout boosts Flames’ performance--UIC News
McClain fanning the Flames--Whoosh!Net
Putting pieces together--Whoosh!Net
Q&A: Flames head coach Steve McClain--Whoosh!Net
2015-16 Men's Basketball Intros: Chris McMillian--uicflames.com
Sixty-One Flames Named to 2015 HL Spring Honor Roll--uicflames.com

Sixty-One Flames Named to 2015 HL Spring Honor Roll--uicflames.com

Desiree Jackson Newest Member of Women's Basketball Roster--uicflames.com

Ex-UWGB star Sykes ready for NBA draft--Green Bay Press Gazette
Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk returning to face UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
Sykes goes undrafted, will sign with Cavs--Green Bay Press Gazette

Algoma's Anna Dier commits to UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB’s Edison named recipient of top Horizon award--Green Bay Press Gazette
Ellen Edison Awarded 2014-15 Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor--GreenBayPhoenix.com

More Vashil?--Inside VU Sports

Raiders’ intensity in mid-season form--Dayton Daily News
Q&A with WSU basketball coach Billy Donlon--Dayton Daily News

Ybarra, Edison Named 2014-15 Cecil N. Coleman Award Winners--Horizon League Network

Saturday, June 13, 2015

News On The Horizon 6/13/2015


New Coach, New Scoreboard & Some New Rules For Women’s Basketball In 2015-16--detroittitans.com

Kampe leads the way to raise $162,250 for American Cancer Society--Oakland Post
Horizon League welcomes Northern Kentucky University--Oakland Post
OAKLAND ANNOUNCES MEN'S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS--ougrizzlies.com

Dikembe Dixson Commits to Flames Prior to Upcoming Season--uicflames.com

Regina Miller named to WBCA/USA Today Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll Committee--uicflames.com
2014-15 WBB Highlights: Imani Moore--uicflames.com

STEVE HANLON: All-Star week is a whirlwind of fun--The NWI Times
On the girls team are Merrillville's Victoria Gaines and Michigan City's Michal Miller. Along with Holba on the boys team, Zionsville's Derrik Smits, a Valparaiso University recruit, is also enjoying the busy days filled with non-stop travel.
...
"I didn't know that Wooden could've gone to Purdue instead of UCLA," Smits said. "The state of Indiana could've had a few more national championships had he stayed. It was fun learning about all the history."

Smits father, Rik Smits, was a star for the Indiana Pacers and played against Valpo coach Bryce Drew back in the day. So this 7-foot Crusader is already entrenched into this state's history.

And my steak money says he will make even more history once he arrives at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Valpo's Smits has monster game to lead Indiana All-Stars to win--The NWI Times

Ross Memorial Service Set--wsuraiders.com

Men's Basketball Team Camp Breaks Records--ysusports.com

Sunday, June 7, 2015

News On The Horizon 6/7/2015


Cleveland State lands prized assistant Jermaine Henderson--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Jermaine Henderson Named Assistant Men's Basketball Coach--csuvikings.com

Titan Legend John Long ’78 Michigan Sports Hall Of Fame Finalist--detroittitans.com

Coach Scott Announces Fleming, Blanton As Assistant Coaches--detroittitans.com
Coach Scott: "My First 30 Days"--detroittitans.com

BEAT CANCER EVENT--ougrizzlies.com

INTERVIEW: Steve McClain Speaks with JR the Bossman Show--uicflames.com

2014-15 WBB Highlights: Kendyl Nunn--uicflames.com

Jalen Gibson set to visit Green Bay this weekend--Phear The Phoenix

Disconnect between Iowa State President, athletic director in search to replace Hoiberg--CollegeBasketballTalk
Bryce Drew among candidates to replace Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State--College Basketball Nation Blog
Eight potential replacements for Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State--The Sporting News
Jeff Hornacek's agent denies report his client declined ISU meeting--CBS Sports
Meantime, sources told CBSSports.com that the search firm Iowa State has hired for assistance (Parker Executive Search) has contacted, or at least tried to contact, Stephen F. Austin's Brad Underwood, Valparaiso's Bryce Drew, Murray State's Steve Prohm and Hornicek. Those four, along with Iowa State assistant T.J. Otzelberger, remain under consideration. SI.com reported Wednesday that former Suns coach Lindsey Hunter is also a candidate. And sources have told CBSSports.com that Oregon's Dana Altman might too be an option, though it's possible the sexual assault allegations three players in his program endured two seasons ago could hurt Altman with Iowa State's administration.
Peterson: Pros and cons of top ISU coaching candidates--The Des Moines Register
I've heard the same names you have — possibly even from the same people.

Bryce Drew. T.J. Otzelberger. Steve Prohm. Brad Underwood. That's alphabetical order; I'm not predicting or endorsing anyone. Publicly, at least.

Those guys were supposed to interview for the position this weekend, according to A. Source, and according to national college basketball followers. Are they the only candidates on the Jamie Pollard-Steven Leath list? We'll get a big "no comment" from the Iowa State AD and university president on that one, but it's at least worth the question when all the drama ends.
...
BRYCE DREW, Valparaiso head coach

He's 94-42 in four seasons at his alma mater, and he's coached in two NCAA Tournaments. How does 49-17 in the Horizon League translate to twice-a-season games against Kansas, Oklahoma and his Baylor-coaching brother, Scott?

You can ask that question of any mid-major coach, but last I heard, the Butler coaches from that league — some of them anyhow — didn't do horribly at the next level. Think Brad Stevens.

I've heard people wonder how fans would get used to a system that's not as offensively focused as what they've been watching. And for some, that might be an issue. Valpo averaged 69.6 points last season, about eight fewer than ISU. Drew's team averaged four fewer possessions and didn't shoot as many 3-pointers as the Cyclones. Defensively, his guys were pretty good, allowing around nine fewer points than Hoiberg's team.

Iowa State guys (other than the shot-blocking McKay) playing top-shelf defense? Now there's some out-of-the-box thinking.

You decide.