Monday, March 14, 2016

News On The Horizon 3/14/2016


Sharp: Michigan State learns beauty of winning ugly in B1G semifinal--The Detroit Free Press
When was the last time Bryn Forbes didn’t hit a three-pointer?

“I couldn’t tell you,” he said. “Probably Purdue. No, I remember getting one in that game. I couldn’t tell you.”

It was 14 games ago against Iowa.

The Terrapins kept lanky Jake Layman on Forbes the entire game, following him every step he went. Forbes couldn’t get enough room to get the tiniest breath of air. He had better get used to it because opposing teams will more aggressively game plan against him in the tournament. Defenders aren’t chasing him through screens, but are now going underneath screens more and taking him out of his rhythm. Testing Forbes’ ability in finding other ways of contributing if the shots are dropping with the crazed regularity everyone saw when Michigan State blasted Big Ten weaklings by huge double-digit margins.
isportsweb: Bryn Forbes overcomes odds to excel at Michigan State--The Detroit Free Press
Wojo: A little adversity hones Spartans’ hunger--The Detroit News
Indianapolis — No drama here, just the way the Spartans like it. They’re rolling and running with such efficiency, they’re practically looking for something to fix.

For instance, when Bryn Forbes missed a couple shots early Friday, you know who kind of, sort of, liked it? Tom Izzo sort of liked it, not because he wants his hottest shooter to turn cold, but because he wants the rest of his team not to rely on a hot shooter.
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For the record, Forbes was one-for-four on 3-pointers in the first half, and 2-for-3 in the second half. Not exactly a crisis, but you get the point. The Spartans have evolved into Izzo’s best 3-point shooting team, leading the nation at 43.9 percent. It almost makes him itchy to see it, because he knows how fleeting a shooting touch can be.
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Before the game, Davis had some quality talk time with Valentine, who laid out exactly what the next few weeks would entail. The seniors, Valentine, Costello and Forbes, are so driven, they don’t let up on anyone who can help.
Cleveland State’s Season Ends Amid Little Protest (Or Effective Ball Handling)--Campus Pressbox

Oakland Golden Grizzlies' postseason focus: Vegas or bust--The Detroit Free Press
Oakland sets sights on Las Vegas 16 tournament--The Detroit News
Oakland AD on NCAA postseason options for men’s basketball: “It’s Vegas or bust”--Press Row Sports
Q&A WITH AD JEFF KONYA ON MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON--ougrizzlies.com

Down and out in Green Bay: women's basketball loses close one in league tourney--Oakland Post
OAKLAND EDGED IN DRAMATIC FASHION BY YSU AT HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT, 65-63--ougrizzlies.com

Flames End Season With HL Opening Round Loss--uicflames.com

2016 NCAA tournament: West region analysis and capsules--USA Today
14. Green Bay

Nickname: Phoenix. Location: Green Bay, Wis.

Record: 23-12, 11-7. Bid: Horizon champ

Last appearance: 1996, lost to Virginia Tech in round of 64

Coach: Linc Darner (first appearance)

Twitter: @GBPhoenix

Overview: Linc Darner’s up-tempo style that made him a Division II champion with Florida Southern in 2015 worked wonders for this team. The offense ranks sixth nationally at 84.2 points a game. The Phoenix also pestered their opponents masterfully, ranking second in the country with 9.8 steals a game and fourth with a 4.8 turnover margin.

Projected starters: G Charles Cooper, 6-4, Jr. (13.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg), G Carrington Love, 6-1, Sr. (17.7 ppg, 3.5 apg), G Jordan Fouse, 6-7, Sr. (12.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.3 apg), G Khalil Small, 6-2, So. (9.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg), F Kenneth Lowe, 6-8, Jr. (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Green Bay Men's Basketball 2016 NCAA Tournament Capsule--College Sports Madness
NCAA Tournament: Horizon League’s Green Bay to face Texas A&M on Friday--Press Row Sports
Gosse: Like UWGB, overcome with persistence--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB men's basketball team during NCAA Tournament selection show--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB men draw Texas A&M in NCAA tournament--Green Bay Press Gazette
Texas A&M vs. Green Bay: March Madness 2016 Preview Prediction--Bleacher Report
Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Tickets on Sale Now--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Green Bay a No. 14 Seed, Will Face No. 3 Texas A&M in Oklahoma City--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Triplets cheer at UWGB, Packers games--Green Bay Press Gazette

With RPI of 23, UWGB women ready for postseason--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB women win double overtime thriller--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB women earn tournament bid with rout--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Rallies Over NKU in 2OT, Reach Sixth-Straight Title Game--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Dancing, Again: Green Bay Claims Title Over Milwaukee, 64-32--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Women's Basketball to Host Selection Show Watch Party Monday--GreenBayPhoenix.com

UWM athletic director shuts down Panthers' postseason--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
No postseason for UWM men’s basketball team hints at bigger story--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Amanda Braun is essentially Rachel Phelps from Major League--PantherU
Panthers Can’t Get On Track In Tournament Final--uwmpanthers.com

Horizon League women’s tournament - UWM tips Wright State, will meet Green Bay for title--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lindner, Roenneburg Helping Rebuild Panther Program--Panther Blog Zone
Panthers Advance To Sunday’s Final After Win Over Raiders--uwmpanthers.com

Selection Sunday morning: One projection of the NCAA Tournament field--Hoopville
It’s often as much of an exaggeration as it is incorrect-you can’t have a soft bubble every year-but this year it’s also not true. This is a season where there are more NCAA-worthy teams than there are spots. Or at least, that’s likely the way it will end up.
The reason for that is the number of conference champions who have lost in their conference tournaments. Teams like Hofstra, Monmouth, Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, Temple, Valparaiso and Wichita State all are deserving of bids, but also all are in danger of missing the field.

A few of them might sneak in, but it’s unlikely so much as a majority will. And that’s too bad.
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On the fence. In contention for the final 9 spots:
Arkansas-Little Rock, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, George Washington, Hofstra, Michigan, Monmouth, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, St. Bonaventure, Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tulsa, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt, Wichita State.
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Bubble-out:
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Valparaiso: The Crusaders tried, they really did to play a brutal non-conference schedule. Then, Iona and Rhode Island both suffered major injuries, diminishing what should’ve been major wins. Horizon League champion that was dominant in most games this year, even while fighting injuries.
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Bubble-in, but should be out:
Oregon State: We’re fine with the Beavers getting in, as long as Valparaiso does, too. And since the Crusaders probably won’t, then neither should OSU.
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Bubble-out, but should be in:
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Valparaiso: Like Murray State a year ago, teams like Valpo that are at such scheduling disadvantages cannot be evaluated by sheer number of top 50 and top 100 wins. When they got to play what would be considered “name” competition, Crusaders won at Oregon State and took Oregon to the wire on the road. If one is asking who is better between Oregon State and Valparaiso, we already know the answer based on results on the court.
2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN: Did the committee make right call on bubble teams?--CollegeBasketballTalk
The one thing that the NCAA tournament selection committee made clear to us on Sunday: With the exception of Wichita State, they did not value the profiles of the mid-major programs.

Monmouth, Saint Mary’s and Valparaiso did not get in. San Diego State — from the typically high-major Mountain West Conference — and St. Bonaventure — from the Atlantic 10 — did not get in, either.
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Saint Mary’s didn’t beat anyone other than Gonzaga and didn’t leave California until Feb. 4th. Whatever. Valparaiso is good enough to be a Sweet 16, but they didn’t win the games they needed to win. I wish they were in, but I get it. That’s not the hill I’m going to die on. San Diego State? They beat Cal … and basically no one else, while losing to San Diego (gross). Again, whatever.
Here are this year's six biggest NCAA tournament snubs--The Dagger
6. VALPARAISO (26-6, 16-2): Valparaiso had big dreams entering the season thanks to the return of nearly its whole rotation from a team that came within a bucket or two of upsetting Maryland in the NCAA tournament last March. The Crusaders won the Horizon League by three games this season, but a loss to Green Bay in the conference tournament semifinals wrecked their hopes of returning to the NCAA tournament. A 4-2 record against top 100 teams highlighted by a victory at Oregon State was Valparaiso's best argument, but the Crusaders also had four losses to sub-100 RPI opponents.
Monmouth, Bonnies, South Carolina, Valpo top seeds in NIT--USA Today
NCAA tournament selection committee brutally snubs Monmouth, mid-majors--USA Today
Valparaiso

The Crusaders (26-6, 16-2) were a long shot to make the field after losing to Green Bay in the Horizon League semis and it's a shame because Bryce Drew's veteran-laden squad had major Cinderella potential. The whole roster from a team that nearly stunned Maryland last year was all back, including dynamic big man Alec Peters. But if Monmouth wasn't in the field, there's no way Valpo was getting in, either. The team's RPI of 49 and strength of schedule of 161 just weren't enough despite a nice road win at Oregon State and a 25-point beatdown of Iona, a Cinderella favorite in the NCAAs after winning the MAAC.

Drew pointed out that, like Wichita State, injuries had a lot to do with his team falling off. In the Horizon League semis against Green Bay, Valpo was without starter Tevonn Walker. Drew believes the committee needs to change its criteria for putting mid-majors in the field.

"You have a regular season champ that proves itself for several months, literally dominating opponents (Valpo beat Horizon League foes by an average of 15 points a game). But we're putting in these teams that get hot for three days," Drew said. "How does that make March Madness special? How about we put the best mid-majors in the NCAA tournament. Put us in a play-in game in Dayton against a power school. Just give us a chance."
Bracket overview: Either Kentucky or Indiana fans will melt down Saturday--CBS Sports
When the RPI doesn't matter: I lead with this category every Selection Sunday, and it never disappoints. What you need to know is that no power-five school with a top-54 RPI was omitted from the NCAA Tournament this season, but eight non-power-five schools with top-54 RPIs were -- specifically St. Bonaventure (30), Akron (34), Saint Mary's (38), Princeton (39), San Diego State (41), Valparaiso (49), Monmouth (52) and Hofstra (54). This means the two best RPIs omitted belonged to non-power-five schools for the 12th straight year, and the best three KenPom ratings omitted from the field this season -- No. 34 Saint Mary's, No. 36 Valparaiso and No. 43 San Diego State -- also belonged to non-power-five schools. So, once again, we are reminded that respectable computer numbers can save you if you're a big brand. But they won't help much if you're not.
Valpo Men’s Basketball gets No. 1 seed in 2016 NIT Tournament--Press Row Sports
Niedner: Amid the madness of March, a moment of clarity--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso awaits Selection Sunday for NIT or NCAA Tournament fate--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso snubbed by NCAA Tournament committee, shifts focus to NIT--The Post-Tribune
Crusaders appear headed for NIT--The NWI Times
Selection Sunday brings vast uncertainty for the bubble--The NWI Times
Valparaiso snubbed from NCAA, earns top seed in NIT--The NWI Times
Valpo Faces Tough Test Against Texas Southern in NIT First Round--HLeagueHoops.com
Crusaders Earn One Seed in NIT, To Host Texas Southern Tuesday--valpoathletics.com

Slow start dooms Valparaiso’s season--The NWI Times
NKU Defense Stifles Crusaders in Second Round Showdown--valpoathletics.com

Hyle named Assistant Director of Development for Athletics--nkunorse.com

Norse blast Valpo to advance to Horizon semifinals--The Northerner
Heartbreak for Norse with double OT loss--The Northerner
Glick's career night leads @NKUNorseWBB over Valpo--The Northerner
Heartbreak in double overtime for @NKUNorseWBB--nkunorse.com
Uetrecht named to #HLWBB All-Tournament Team--nkunorse.com

Women Defeat UIC in Horizon League First Round--wsuraiders.com
Women Roll to HL Second Round Win Over Youngstown State--wsuraiders.com
Women Fall to Milwaukee in Horizon League Semifinals--wsuraiders.com
Demmings Named to HL All-Tournament Team--wsuraiders.com

Slocum’s 700th Win, Morse’s Spectacular Sophomore Season Highlight Hoops Campaign--ysusports.com

YSU exits Horizon tourney--Youngstown Vindicator
Jackson carries YSU to Horizon victory--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Jackson’s Fourth Quarter Leads YSU Over Oakland--The Jambar
Raiders Eliminate Penguins From HL Tournament--The Jambar
Jackson's Game-Winner Sends Penguins Past Oakland, 65-63--ysusports.com
Wright State Eliminates YSU from Horizon League Tournament--ysusports.com

Green Bay to Face Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament--Horizon League Network
Valparaiso Selected as One-Seed for NIT--Horizon League Network

Northern Kentucky and Wright State Roll to Semifinals--Horizon League Network
Top Seeds Set for Championship Final--Horizon League Network
Green Bay Captures 14th #HLWBB Title--Horizon League Network

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