On The Horizon

Jim Squire

MSU hoops happy with Italy trip, which ends with loss--The Detroit Free Press
MSU sees progress during third straight setback--The Detroit News

Valparaiso Crusaders 2015-16 Season Preview--Mid-Major Madness

Jim Squire

Cleveland State Class of 2019: Find Your Sports Teams. All of Them.--More Than A Fan

Report: Boomers' Broekhoff finds new home--Sportal NBA Australia

Jim Squire

Double Bonus: Breaking Down the 2016 College Hoops Marathon--Mid-Major Madness

Green Bay Phoenix at East Tennessee State Buccaneers, 6 am, ESPN2

This game will be my coffee and will be a big stage for two first year head coaches in Steve Forbes at ETSU and Linc Darner at Green Bay. Darner is especially intriguing coming from Florida Southern where he went 218-72 over nine seasons, which included a national championship last season. The Phoenix are looking to replace superstar guard Kiefer Sykes, while the Bucs need to replace at star of their own in Rashawn Rembert.

ETSU has gone the transfer route to reload and should have Deuce Bello (Missouri/Baylor), Ge'Lawn Guyn (Cincinnati), and Peter Jurkin (Indiana) all eligible for this one. It's an interesting experiment in Johnson City to say the least.

This will be a great early game to see where these two teams are as they both are in semi-rebuilding mode.
...
Valparaiso Crusaders at Rhode Island Rams, 10 am, ESPN2

Speaking of mid-major star power, this game will have plenty. Rhode Island is loaded and looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time this century. E.C. Matthews gets a little help from Memphis transfer Kuran Iverson and sharpshooting Towson transfer Four McGlynn.

On the other side of the court Valpo is poised for another Horizon League title run with Alec Peters leading the way. Peters has already posted over 1,000 points in his first two seasons as a Crusader and also averaged 6.7 rebounds per game last season. It'll be fun to watch him go at it with Hassan Martin in November.

Forbes scores 18 as MSU wins first exhibition in Italy--The Detroit Free Press
MSU coasts to 98-54 victory in first game on Italy trip--The Detroit News
Cleveland State basketball to play games at Quicken Loans Arena--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Titan Athletics Welcomes The Class Of 2019 On Freshmen Move-In Day--detroittitans.com

Oakland hoops to incorporate transfers, sightsee in Spain--The Detroit Free Press
Can’t Cheat The Grind--SLAM Online
MEN'S BASKETBALL SUMMER TOUR OF SPAIN--ougrizzlies.com

Putting pieces together--Whoosh!Net
Q&A: Flames head coach Steve McClain--Whoosh!Net

Jerro Elevated to Associate Head Coach at UIC--uicflames.com

GB lands commitment from Trevor Anderson--Phear The Phoenix

Women's Basketball to Take Part in Paradise Jam--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Former Panther Anthony Hill Signs With CAB Madeira--uwmpanthers.com

Valpo Basketball Preview: Canada Wrap-Up--valpoathletics.com

Women's Basketball Welcomes Llorens to Staff--valpoathletics.com

NKU Basketball Coaches at Rally House on August 29--nkunorse.com

Men's Basketball: Get to Know Freshman Jordan Andrews--ysusports.com
Men's Basketball to Hold Second Annual Wine Taste--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

MSU's Izzo: Harris, Ellis won't play in Italy--The Detroit Free Press

He reiterated that senior guard Bryn Forbes has been the team MVP and most improved player this summer.

Hey Joe: Hoops observations before MSU zooms to Italy--The Detroit Free Press

Izzo continues to gush about Forbes, and Forbes continues to show why. His upper body is much different and he understands how to defend now. And the shot is still falling.

Harris, Ellis won’t play in Italy for Spartans--The Detroit News

Izzo also praised senior Bryn Forbes.

“He’s got arms now,” Izzo said. “He doesn’t have toothpicks sticking out of his shoulders. He’s got arms. He gained the 12-15 pounds. He has been, as we listed him yesterday, he has been our MVP of the summer. He has been our most improved and most consistent player this summer.”

Kate Peterson Abiad Sticking With Cleveland State Long-Term--More Than A Fan

Calihan Hall Upgrade To Include New Sound System--detroittitans.com
Detroit Sports Zone High School Hall Of Fame To Honor Three Former Titans--detroittitans.com

Oakland's Greg Kampe talks about Kuwait trip--The Detroit Free Press
U.S. troops join OU coach Greg Kampe's regiment in Kuwait--The Detroit Free Press
Oakland basketball ready for international trip to Spain--The Oakland Press
OAKLAND BASKETBALL READY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRIP TO SPAIN--ougrizzlies.com
PETROS SIGNS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT WITH RILSKI SPORTIST SAMOKOV--ougrizzlies.com

Men's Basketball Helps With Move-In Day--uicflames.com

Regina Miller Assists with Chicago Sky Cares Foundation--uicflames.com
Women’s Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule--uicflames.com

UWGB to be part of ESPN’s Tip-Off marathon--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay to Take Part in ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon on ESPN2--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Double Bonus: Foreign Tours, Schedule Leaks, Summer Wrap Up--Mid-Major Madness

Another November tournament to keep an eye on is down in Fort Myers for the Gulf Coast Showcase. It's a mid-major party as the eight team field features Central Michigan, Drake, Duquesne, Murray State, Milwaukee, Pepperdine, Weber State, and Western Kentucky. There are obviously plenty of strorylines in this one but the biggest will be the Murray State Racers who suddenly find themselves without Cameron Payne and Steve Prohm.

Everything you need to know about the College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon--CollegeBasketballTalk

UNDER THE RADAR GAMES:

There are two that I think qualify here:
...
Stephen F. Austin vs. Northern Iowa features two well-coached, veteran mid-major ball-clubs, but given what both programs lost for last season, the first game on Tuesday that is a must-watch comes at 10:00 a.m. ET when Valparaiso makes the trip to Kingston to take on URI. Valpo may be the best mid-major in the country this side of Wichita State (are they a mid-major?), while this may be the year that Danny Hurley finally breaks through with the Rams.

Ranking the 12 best games in next year's Tip-Off Marathon--The Dagger

8. Valparaiso at Rhode Island (Nov. 17, 10 a.m. EST): The under-the-radar gem of this year's Tip-Off marathon pits one of the nation's premier mid-majors against an Atlantic 10 squad poised for a breakout season. Valparaiso returns every key player from a team that went 28-6 and pushed Maryland in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, but the Crusaders will be challenged on the road against a Rhode Island team led by Atlantic 10 player of the year candidate E.C. Matthews.

Valparaiso recuperates, looks ahead after productive trip to Canada--The Post-Tribune
Drew excited following Canada trip--The NWI Times
Vashil is Back (and Here’s Why It’s Really Important)--The Valparaiso Crusaders Fan Zone
Crusaders To Play at Rhode Island as Part of ESPN Tip Off Marathon--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale--valpoathletics.com

Northern Kentucky gets a new court … with a boat? (VIDEO)--CollegeBasketballTalk
Strategic plan Uprising unveiled for Norse--nkunorse.com
John L. Griffin Court gets a new design--nkunorse.com

Donlon Adds Two to Staff--wsuraiders.com

Green Bay & Valparaiso to Appear on ESPN's Eighth Annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Penguins Take Two of Three Games on Bahamas Tour--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

2015-16 College Basketball Conference Tournaments: What's Changing--Blogging the Bracket

The Northern Kentucky Norse, entering their final transition year on its journey to full DI membership, surprisingly left the conference that sponsored its entry, the Atlantic Sun, for the Horizon League. While the move brought NKU to a league it fit better with geographically, it was a bit surprising when you consider that the A-Sun even let Norse teams compete in conference championship events last year—a full two years before those squads could claim bids to NCAA championships. The Horizon, however, will extend this courtesy to NKU in 2016.
...
Horizon: 10 members, 9 postseason-eligible (minus NKU, who will participate in the conference tournament)
...
Two conferences moved to neutral sites for the next few seasons. The Big Sky will play at the Reno (Nev.) Events Center for the next three years, while the Horizon League signed a five-year deal with Olympia Entertainment to play in Detroit. Joe Louis Arena will be the conference's home for the first two seasons, with three years in the new Detroit Arena completing the term.
...
Otherwise, it looks like every other conference is sticking with the same format as last season, though the ACC will play and extra Tuesday opening round game with Syracuse's return and the A-Sun may lose a quarterfinal if Stetson is ruled out. However, it's possible the Horizon changes its double-bye format with a move to a neutral site and the Summit might include all nine teams.

Michigan State guard hoping to diversify offensive game--CollegeBasketballTalk
Graduate students Trey Lewis, Damion Lee stepping forward as leaders for Louisville--CollegeBasketballTalk

Hogan, Foster-Smith Traveling Europe With Global Sports Academy--detroittitans.com

Women's Basketball Gives Back at Oak Park Summer Fest--detroittitans.com

#92 Oakland Men's Basketball 2015-2016 Preview--College Sports Madness
OU's Kampe headed to Kuwait for military tourney--The Detroit Free Press
KAMPE SET TO COACH HARDWOOD CLASSIC IN KUWAIT--ougrizzlies.com

2015-16 Men's Basketball Intros: Najeal Young--uicflames.com

UWGB lands recruit from Michigan--Green Bay Press Gazette
Kameron Hankerson commits to Green Bay--Phear The Phoenix

Milwaukee Men’s Basketball Golf Classic Is Huge Success--uwmpanthers.com
McWhorter Signs Pro Contract To Play In Holland--uwmpanthers.com

Green Bay to Host 2016 Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship--uwmpanthers.com

Valparaiso heads to Canada in advance of expectations-filled season--The Post-Tribune
Ranking the Most Complete Players for the 2015-16 College Basketball Season--Bleacher Report
Terker's Top 50 Previews: #44 Valparaiso Crusaders--/r/collegebasketball
Crusaders Win Pair of Games on First Day of Action From Canada--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Take Down McGill, Improve to 3-0--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Fall at Carleton Thursday Night--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Take Down Ottawa To Close Out Foreign Tour--valpoathletics.com

WBB closes out Costa Rica trip with a win--nkunorse.com

Women Wrap Up Canada Trip With Win Over McGill--wsuraiders.com

Penguins Defeat Patron Regulators, 79-76, Behind Hain's Double-Double--ysusports.com
Men's Basketball's Comeback Falls Short in 93-90 Loss, Hain Nabs Second Double-Double--ysusports.com
Penguins Paced By Andrews' 23, 13 3-Pointers in 101-69 Win Over Real Deal Shockers--ysusports.com

Penguins moving on after departure--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

Wright State, Northern Kentucky Conclude Foreign Tours--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

Valpo Men's Basketball - Canada Trip--valpoathletics.com

Lyttle scores big in victory over Costa Rica--nkunorse.com

Men's Basketball Arrives In Bahamas For Foreign Tour--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

U of L's Lee, Lewis locking up starting roles--Louisville Courier-Journal
Graduate transfers guaranteed to start for Louisville--CollegeBasketballTalk
Forbes builds up strength for senior year--The Detroit Free Press

Green Bay to Host 2016 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship--detroittitans.com

Hoops tournament gives fresh life to an old-school concept--nba.com

Overseas Elite controlled play in the second semifinal, with five players in double figures, to take an 84-71 win. It had been a tumultuous journey for Overseas, which had to win its opening round game July 10 with just five players. The fifth player, former Oakland University guard Travis Bader, had spent the morning of the game playing his final game for the Oklahoma City Thunder's Summer League team in the Orlando Summer League.

The Basketball Tournament's championship bracket had a cinematic feel to it.

Unfortunately, Overseas Elite's game that afternoon was in Atlanta.

After scoring four points for OKC, Bader scooted to the airport, caught a flight to Atlanta, and got to the arena about 45 minutes before tipoff.

"I was talking with Drew (Morrison, the team's "Booster"), and he was just like, 'Okay, when you get here, I'll pick you up from the airport and drive you to the game,' "Bader said. "I was like, cool. I got there about an hour before the game started, and he was like, 'You're gonna have to play.' And I was like, 'Okay, I'll play like five, 10 minutes.' I had just played that morning. I was like, cool, I'll play a little bit. And he was like, 'No, you have to play. We have four guys right now. You're the fifth.' "