News On The Horizon 2/15/2016

The Morning Dish – Monday, February 15, 2016--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

A couple of early games are on tap on this holiday in addition to the usual evening slate.
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Oakland visits Wright State in a battle of 10-4 teams chasing Valparaiso in the Horizon League.

Oakland beats Wright State 89-73 for 2nd place in Horizon--CBS Sports
Green Bay edges rival Milwaukee 70-68--CBS Sports
Mid-Major Rankings for the Week of Feb. 15--The Catch and Shoot

3. Valparaiso (21-5, 11-2 Horizon). Last week: 1
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Dropped from rankings: Oakland, Belmont

Vikings Host League-Leading Valparaiso on Tuesday Night at Quicken Loans Arena--csuvikings.com

Detroit Visits Northern Kentucky On Tuesday--detroittitans.com

Metro & state: OU's Kampe to get Sparky Anderson Award--The Detroit Free Press
Oakland tops Wright State to gain 2nd place in Horizon--The Detroit Free Press
Monday’s roundup: Oakland alone in second in Horizon--The Detroit News
Oakland beats Wright State 89-73 to take second place in the Horizon--The Oakland Press
FELDER TABBED HORIZON LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR SIXTH TIME--Oakland Post
Oakland wins crucial game against Wright State, moves to second place in league--Oakland Post
OAKLAND TAKES DOWN WRIGHT STATE, 89-73--ougrizzlies.com

TAYLOR JONES AND OLIVIA NASH EARN WEEKLY HONORS--ougrizzlies.com

Illinois Rankings for the Week of Feb. 15--The Catch and Shoot

10. UIC (5-19, 3-10 Horizon). Last week: 12

UIC pulled off a pair of upsets last week, defeating Wright State and Northern Kentucky. The Flames have won three of their last four games.

Chicago Weekly Awards, Feb. 15--The Catch and Shoot

Player of the Week

Tai Odiase, UIC

Odiase dominated in UIC’s pair of wins last week, averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks. He also made a game-winning block in the final seconds of a victory against Northern Kentucky.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore has recorded at least 12 points, six rebounds and six blocks in five of the last 10 games.

Honorable mentions: Dikembe Dixson, UIC; Tre Demps, Northwestern



Freshman of the Week

Dikembe Dixson, UIC

Dixson averaged 23.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and three assists in a pair of UIC’s wins. Although he struggled from the field in a win against Northern Kentucky, he dominated with 9-of-16 shooting when the Flames defeated Wright State.

Dixson is starting to run away with Horizon League Freshman of the Year. He is averaging 18.1 points per game.
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Team of the Week

UIC

A couple of weeks ago, UIC was winless against Division I competition. Now the Flames have won three of their last four games, providing a glimpse of the potential first-year coach Steve McClain’s program has to offer.

Odiase, Dixson earn Horizon League honors--The Catch and Shoot
Which Chicago-area college basketball team will (finally) break through?--The Chicago Tribune

Beyond the commonality of not attracting enough good players, the six area schools listed above have their own issues.

Chicago State coaches clip coupons to survive. UIC is rebuilding under Steve McClain.
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A UIC-Illinois game at the United Center in December drew a mere 5,151 fans (witnesses estimated the crowd at 3,000), and DePaul's home crowds, the smallest in the Big East, are inflated by ticket giveaways.

Block, party--Whoosh!Net
Flames Double Up on Horizon League Weekly Honors--uicflames.com
UIC Heads to Youngstown State for Tuesday Tilt--uicflames.com

Ruvanna Campbell Named Horizon League Player of the Week--uicflames.com

REGION COLLEGIANS: Former Hornet Charles Cooper buzzing up some noise at Green Bay--The NWI Times
UWGB men hold on for big win over UW-Milwaukee--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay heads home after tough road stretch--Phear The Phoenix
Green Bay Hangs On Over Milwaukee, Moves Up League Standings--GreenBayPhoenix.com

UWM point guard Jordan Johnson nears single-season assist record--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers can't overcome turnovers in loss to Phoenix--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Men’s Basketball Week in Review: Rough Road--UWM Post
Panthers need to avoid Phoenix’ transition game--PantherU
Buzzer-Beater Comes Up Just Short As Panthers Fall--uwmpanthers.com

Women’s Basketball: Penguins Shoot Past Panthers--UWM Post
Women's Basketball Garnering More Media Attention--Panther Blog Zone

CBT BRACKETOLOGY: Kansas leads race for No. 1 seeds--CollegeBasketballTalk

Spokane   Denver
5) Utah   5) Purdue
12) ARK-LITTLE ROCK 12) WICHITA STATE
4) DAYTON   4) KENTUCKY
13) VALPARAISO   13) AKRON

Three NCAA tournament bubble teams that could win it all--USA Today

*Assuming teams don't win their smaller conference tournaments and secure the automatic bid.

Locks: N/A
Probable: N/A
Bubble: Monmouth, Wichita State, San Diego State, Little Rock-Arkansas, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Valparaiso, Chattanooga
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Out for now
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Valparaiso: 19-5 (11-2) 66 RPI, 197 SoS, 54 non-conference SoS

The Good: Win vs. Oregon State
The Bad: Losses vs. Wright State (twice), Ball State

Mid-Major Madness Power 15: Ivy League Making Their Mark--Mid-Major Madness

3. Valparaiso Crusaders (21-5) 2

March Madness: Three mid-major at-large tourney candidates fall--Busting Brackets
Top 25 Rankings for the Week of Feb. 15--The Catch and Shoot

Dropped from rankings: Wichita State, Valparaiso, Providence, South Carolina

Valparaiso falters late vs. Wright State, ending long home win streak--The Post-Tribune
Men's college basketball preview: Valparaiso at Cleveland State--The Post-Tribune
Matchups We Would Love to See in the 2016 NCAA Tournament--Bleacher Report
Crusaders Look For Bounce-Back Performance Tuesday--valpoathletics.com

Detroit serves as @NKUNorseMBB’s foe on Senior Night--nkunorse.com

Preview: Oakland at Wright State--Dayton Daily News
Oakland game worth more than one win for WSU--Dayton Daily News
Oakland blows out Wright State to take over second in Horizon--Dayton Daily News
Tom Archdeacon: Oakland’s Hooper a true three-point specialist--Dayton Daily News
3 takeaways from Wright State’s loss to Oakland--Dayton Daily News
Oakland takes a second place lead over WSU--The Guardian
Men Drop Decision to Oakland--wsuraiders.com

YSU’s potential struggles to emerge--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU ends homestand tonight against UIC--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Penguins Mistakes Lead to Lost to CSU--The Jambar
YSU Learned From First Game With UIC--The Jambar
Men’s Basketball Closes Out Homestand Against UIC Tuesday--ysusports.com

Penguins are proud of toughness following loss--Youngstown Vindicator

Oakland's Felder and UIC's Odiase and Dixson Collect Men's Basketball Honors--Horizon League Network
Green Bay & Oakland Move Up Standings with Wins--Horizon League Network

UIC's Campbell and Oakland's Jones Tab Weekly Accolades--Horizon League Network