On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Men's Basketball Preseason Tournament Game Breakdowns - November 12--College Sports Madness

Akron vs. Youngstown State-7:30 PM ET (ESPN3) Northeast Ohio Doubleheader Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer
Taking the number two spot we got Akron against Youngstown State, the second game of the doubleheader happening in Northeast Ohio tonight. Now, if this game was being played at a truly neutral location, there really wouldn’t be much to see here. Akron figures to challenge for the MAC title, while Youngstown State is improved in the sturdy Horizon League, but still has a few years to go before they can be seen as true competitors. Akron is currently ranked 87th in my rankings, while Youngstown State is at 255th. However, this game isn’t at a neutral site. It’s taking place at the Beeghly Center; the home court for Youngstown State. Now, will zero Akron fans show up? Absolutely not. The distance between the two schools is only 50 minutes. But, home court advantage is real in college basketball, quite possibly more than any other sport in the United States. For Youngstown to win this game, they’re going to have to defend at an elite level. This team can score, no one is doubting that. The Penguins are returning their top four scorers from a year ago, and that includes 20.3 ppg scorer Cameron Morse, a rising junior. But Akron, coached by Keith Dambrot (13th year), simply don’t allow a ton of points on the defensive end. They never have, and likely never will. So if the Penguins aren’t ready to play some defense against the likes of Isaiah Johnson (13.6 ppg) and Antino Jackson (11.8 ppg), it could be a long night for YSU. It doesn’t feature as much overall talent as the game above, but this early night clash shouldn’t be overlooked.

Cleveland State vs. Kent State-5 PM ET (ESPN3) Northeast Ohio Doubleheader Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer
Next up we got the opening of the Northeast Ohio Doubleheader between Cleveland State and Kent State. While Kent State was a popular pick last year in the MAC, 2016-17 figures to be a different kind of year for the Golden Flashes. Jimmy Hall, the team’s best player, returns; but the loss of Kellon Thomas (12.3 ppg), and Xavier Pollard (11.6 ppg) in the backcourt certainly doesn’t help the cause. Hall proved to the world a season ago that he’s a player to be feared (16.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg), but he also proved that he can’t do it alone. Cleveland State, on the other hand, is a team on the rise. The young Vikings are returning a ton of talent from last year’s solid squad, and could very well compete in the Horizon League as soon as this season. With a coach as experienced and talented as Gary Waters, I doubt the potential solid season is much of a surprise to anyone. This game shouldn’t be nearly as competitive as the first two matchups, but this late afternoon clash has the potential to be a nice appetizer for the two better games happening later on. Kent State could move into the top 200 with a win (221st currently), and Cleveland State could only fuel the hype train (currently 103rd) if they put forth an honest effort. Not anywhere close to an elite matchup, but plenty to like here.

College basketball preview: Scouting WMU, CMU, EMU, UDM, Oakland--Detroit Free Press
College hoops roundup: Oakland tops WMU; Detroit Mercy falls at ETSU--Detroit Free Press
HLeagueHoops: Top 21 Players Countdown (Top 5)--HLeagueHoops.com
H-League is Solid in First Weekend of Season--HLeagueHoops.com

Michigan mid-major women's basketball preview--Detroit Free Press

Edwin lifts Kent State past Cleveland State in OT 79-74--CBS Sports
Cleveland State holds off Canisius 67-64--CBS Sports
Cleveland State rallies but falls to Kent State in overtime, 79-74--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State University’s president overseeing continued growth--The News-Herald
College basketball: Cleveland State men looking better on offense after last season’s struggles--The News-Herald
Garfield Heights Recruit Shawn Christian Signs National Letter of Intent with Cleveland State--NEO Sports Insiders
Cleveland State Vikings Fall to Kent State In OT Thriller--NEO Sports Insiders
Cleveland State Wins Home Opener over Canisius 67-64--NEO Sports Insiders
Vikings Open Season Plus a Scorer, Minus a Point Guard--Campus Pressbox
Cleveland State basketball: Gavin Peppers out 3-5 weeks with foot injury--Cleveland State Hoops
VIDEO: Wednesday With Waters--csuvikings.com
CSU Basketball To Air On WHK, 1420 AM & WHKW, 1220 AM--csuvikings.com
Shawn Christian Signs NLI With CSU Basketball--csuvikings.com
Vikings Rally to Force Overtime, but Fall to Kent State in Season Opener, 79-74--csuvikings.com
Vikings Top Canisius, 67-64, in Home Opener--csuvikings.com

11/14 Women's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Madness High-Major Conference Players of the Week
...
Horizon Khayla Livingston G Cleveland State

Women’s Basketball Announces 2017-18 NLI Trio--csuvikings.com
Vikings Pick Up 66-62 Victory At Evansville In Season-Opener--csuvikings.com
Vikings Travel To No. 8 Ohio State For Wednesday Night Contest--csuvikings.com

Detroit pulls away from Adrian College for 99-69 win--CBS Sports
Cromer scores 27, ETSU beats Detroit 107-78--CBS Sports
College hoops: Detroit Mercy wins opener; Eastern Michigan falls in OT--Detroit Free Press
Alexander hopes for quick learning curve at Detroit Mercy--Detroit News
Titans Leash Bulldogs For Coach Alexander’s First Win--detroittitans.com
McFolley, Titans Unable To Keep Up With ETSU--detroittitans.com

Titans Down Delaware State in Opener, 90-71--detroittitans.com
Titans Drop Overtime Thriller at East Carolina, 83-81--detroittitans.com
Women's Basketball Inks Two Local Products to NLI--detroittitans.com

Raitanen's FTs lifts San Francisco over UIC 82-80--CBS Sports
UIC comeback falls short at San Francisco--The Catch and Shoot
UIC preview: Dikembe Dixson, Tai Odiase raising Flames' talent level--Chicago Tribune
UIC signs Nigerian center from Detroit high school--Chicago Tribune
Eboigbodin signs letter of intent with UIC--UIC News
Showing heart in San Francisco--Whoosh! Net
Greg Eboigbodin Signs NLI with UIC--uicflames.com
Massive Comeback Falls Short at San Francisco--uicflames.com
Flames Open Home Slate vs. UTSA--uicflames.com

Flames Use Balanced Attack to Stomp Lake Forest--uicflames.com
Missed Opportunities Doom Flames--uicflames.com

The Morning Dish – Tuesday, November 15, 2016--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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Also overnight: Damon Stoudamire picked up a nice win for his first at Pacific, as the Tigers shut down Wisconsin-Green Bay in the second half to win 76-58.

Green Bay uses 25-0 run to beat Northland College 84-49--CBS Sports
College basketball marathon: Predictions to get you ready for 30 hours of hoops--CBS Sports

Game 5

Matchup: Green Bay at Pacific
Time: 2 a.m. ET
Thoughts: This is always the type of game I point to when I hear administrators talk about the importance of academics because it's those same administrators who schedule games to tip at 11 p.m. local time on a school night whenever a television network tells them to do it. But that's a column for another day. In the meantime, if you want to watch former NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire coach, this is your opportunity. He's in his first year as Pacific's head coach after spending five seasons as an assistant at Memphis and Arizona.
Prediction: Green Bay 81, Pacific 78

Pacific tops Green Bay 76-58 in wee hours of morning--CBS Sports
Your College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon Study Guide--Mid-Major Madness

Championship expectations persist for UWGB men

Green Bay Phoenix head coach Linc Darner arrived in Green Bay to a program that had not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1996. It took Darner and his squad all of one season to end that streak. Green Bay plays at Pacific at 2 a.m.and Scott Venci explains here why last season may have been the start of a more positive streak.

ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon: Here’s what I’m told happened while I was sleeping--Mid-Major Madness

Try as I might, I could not stay awake past halftime of the Pacific-Green Bay game last night. I am a child and it was past my bedtime. Luckily, I woke up around midway through the Niagara-Hartford game, so there’s still plenty of college hoops tip-off marathon action for me to catch.

Here’s what I’m told I missed, but I didn’t really see any of it, so I’m just assuming it’s right:

Pacific 76 Green Bay 58

Green Bay led by one at the half, but the Tigers dropped 50 on the Phoenix in the second session to cruise to their first victory of the season. Pacific dominated on the glass, 61-28, as four Tigers tallied double-digit boards. David Taylor led all scorers with 17 points, while Trevor Anderson had 14 for Green Bay. Pacific used a 19-3 run midway through the second half to put the game away.

Torrance Jones, who stayed up for this game, will have more on it shortly.

College Basketball Viewing Guide For Monday, November 14, 2016--Blogging The Bracket

Green Bay Phoenix (1-0) at Pacific Tigers (0-1), 2 a.m. (ESPN2)

The defending Horizon League Tournament champs visit a squad likely to tussle with San Diego to stay out of the WCC basement this time around. UCLA mauled the Tigers by 39 on Friday, while the Phoenix blew out somebody called Northland by 35.

2016-17 RTC Preseason O26 All-America Teams--Rush The Court

Player of the Year

Valparaiso’s Alec Peters is our pick for O26 Player of the Year. (Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images)

Alec Peters – G – Valparaiso. Peters, an outstanding shooter with tremendous size, could have transferred nearly anywhere he wanted this offseason and probably started immediately—something people thought might happen following the departure of head coach Bryce Drew in April. Instead, the senior chose to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Valparaiso, making the Crusaders instant favorites to win the Horizon League and establishing himself as a legitimate AP All-American candidate. As a tall, mobile, high-percentage outside shooter (44% 3FG), Peters’ ability to stretch the floor is virtually unparalleled in the mid-major ranks, enabling him to create and exploit mismatches all over the court. His usage numbers are substantial (82% Min, 25.2% Shots), but you wouldn’t know if from his sparkling true shooting percentage (64.7% TS) or Offensive Rating (127.1 ORtg)—the 20th-best in college basketball. What’s more, Peters became a better offensive rebounder last season, which, along with his improved post game, helped him become nearly as dangerous in the paint as he is on the perimeter. The Illinois native could average more than 20 points per game this season, and even non-conference opponents like Oregon, Rhode Island and Kentucky may have a difficult time stopping him.

Mid-Majors to watch come March--College Basketball Talk

Valparaiso: The Crusaders are certainly no stranger to college basketball fans, but Valpo once again has the profile to play Cinderella. Alec Peters looked like he may transfer out of the program, but instead returned for his senior season and now may be the best player outside a Power 5 conference and is a potential All-American. The Crusaders lost a significant amount off last year’s 30-win team, but Peters’ presence means they’re going to be a program to contend with at the end of the year.

LATE NIGHT SNACKS: Villanova tops Purdue; UConn upset at home again--College Basketball Talk

NOTABLES
...
All-American candidate Alec Peters had 20 points and eight rebounds as Valparaiso knocked off Coppin State. The Crusaders were led by Shane Hammink with 23 points.

Expert Predictions: SI writers make picks for Final Four, Player of the Year, more--Sports Illustrated

Best shooter
...
Winn: Alec Peters, Valparaiso. The nation’s best shooter is rarely a 6' 9" forward, but Peters is almost automatic in pick-and-pop situations, and he’s made 45.1% of his treys for the Crusaders over the past two seasons. Expect him to post another 40-plus percent year as a senior, and play well enough all-around to potentially be the first NBA draft pick out of Valpo since his ex-coach, Bryce Drew, was selected 16th overall in 1998.

Hamilton: Peters. He eschewed the chance to play his final season as a grad transfer elsewhere, which means one of the country’s most efficient producers at all levels may toil in semi-obscurity again. But Peters shot 56.2% on two-pointers, 44% on three-pointers and 85% from the line in 2015–16. He averaged 1.191 points per possession on half-court jump shots, per Synergy Sports, good for the 93rd percentile nationally. Even in guarded catch-and-shoot scenarios, his 1.197 PPP landed in the 83rd percentile (still in Synergy’s “excellent” range). And Peters was a 1.254 PPP performer on post-ups, ranking again in the 94th percentile in that department. He doesn’t do much mid-range work—such shots accounted for just 41 possessions all year. But Peters doesn’t need to toil there when he’s so effective at the offensive extremes.

Sixty-eight predictions that are sure to come true (unless they don't)--The Dagger

56. Mid-major star whose name you’ll know by March: Alec Peters, Valparaiso. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.4 points and 8.5 rebounds this past season. He could have transferred to one of many power-conference suitors last spring, but he chose to remain loyal to Valparaiso and new coach Matt Lottich.

Preseason Naismith Watch List released: 50 players deep, few surprises--CBS Sports

The college basketball season starts in one day.

On Thursday, the preseason 50-player watch list for the Naismith Award -- one of the six national POY awards in college basketball -- was released. No mega surprises here, obviously, with a list so deep.

In alphabetical order, here's who's on it:
...
Alec Peters, Valparaiso, Sr.

Lottich gets 1st win, Valparaiso beats Southern Utah 79-65--CBS Sports
Peters sparks Valparaiso comeback win over Trinity, 89-75--CBS Sports
Hammink, Peters lead Valparaiso past Coppin State, 78-58--CBS Sports
RECAP: Northern Iowa dominates, Davidson and Valpo sneak away and mid-majors falter out West--Mid-Major Madness
Valparaiso Crusaders see ups, downs in busy opening weekend--Mid-Major Madness
Amid changes, league favorite Valparaiso seeks return to NCAA Tournament--Post-Tribune
Max Joseph steps up as Valparaiso opens with win over Southern Utah--Post-Tribune
Lottich Era set to begin Friday night--NWI Times
Crusaders victorious in Lottich’s debut--NWI Times
Valparaiso avoids upset with second-half comeback--NWI Times
Crusaders improve to 3-0 under first-year coach Matt Lottich--NWI Times
Merrillville's McMillan signs with Valparaiso for men's basketball--NWI Times
Hazen Signs NLI With Valpo Men’s Basketball--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Take Down Thunderbirds in Season Opener--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Earns Second Straight Win Saturday--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Roll to Victory Over Coppin State--valpoathletics.com
McMillan Signs NLI to Join Valpo Men’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

Franklin eager to give Valparaiso a better start--NWI Times
Franklin Turns in Program’s Best Individual Scoring Performance Since 1992 in Loss at Stetson--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Head to Chicago State to Collide with Cougars--valpoathletics.com

Garrett leads N. Kentucky to 96-56 win over D-III Earlham--CBS Sports
Illinois outlasts Northern Kentucky in 79-64 battle--CBS Sports
College roundup: Illinois outlasts Northern Kentucky in 79-64 battle--Chicago Tribune
2016-2017 Horizon League men’s basketball preview--The Northerner
Norse look to push pace in Brannen’s second season--The Northerner
Men’s basketball schedule preview--The Northerner
Norse cruise to season opening victory--The Northerner
Hill too large as NKU falls short at Illinois--The Northerner
Norse MBB radio broadcasts set for iHeartMedia stations--nkunorse.com
Seven-foot center Vogt signs with @NKUNorseMBB--nkunorse.com
Garrett’s double-double leads @NKUNorseMBB in win--nkunorse.com
Norse take fight to Illini, but fall 79-64--nkunorse.com
Williams named #HLMBB freshman of the week--nkunorse.com

Predictions for the basketball season--The Northerner
Men’s, women’s basketball with full slate of home ESPN3 contests--nkunorse.com

2016-17 Horizon League women’s basketball preview--The Northerner
Six seconds or less: NKU women look to push the pace--The Northerner
Women’s basketball schedule preview--The Northerner
Offense struggles as NKU women open with road loss--The Northerner
Gallery: Norse struggle to shoot in first home game--The Northerner
Six added to @NKUNorseWBB signing class--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB Signing Day: Reece Mungar--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB Signing Day: Grayson Rose--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB Signing Day: Jazmyne Geist--nkunorse.com
Sycamores down Norse in Terre Haute--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB Signing Day: Jazmyne Geist--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB Signing Day: Grace White--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseWBB falls short in home opener against RedHawks--nkunorse.com

Scanning the Nation: Notes from opening weekend--Hoopville

It got little note, but Wright State’s 85-81 road win at Southern Illinois was a quietly very impressive debut for Raiders coach Scott Nagy. The former South Dakota State head man didn’t inherit a whole lot when he came to WSU, but in his first game the Raiders knocked off an SIU team that won 22 games a year ago and should be in at least the middle of the MVC this year.

Wright State holds off Southern Illinois, wins opener 85-81--CBS Sports
Alstork has 29 points, Wright St. beats Miami (OH) 89-87--CBS Sports
11/14 Men's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Madness High-Major Conference Players of the Week
...
Horizon Steven Davis F Wright State

Morse leads Youngstown State over Akron 90-82--CBS Sports
Under the Radar Game of the Day: Akron at Youngstown State--Hoops HD
2016 MAC Men’s Basketball Recap: Akron Zips vs. Youngstown State Penguins--Hustle Belt
YSU men open season with an upset of Akron--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU falls in OT to Rockets--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins open season against powerful Akron--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Penguins to honor cancer victims--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
YSU outscores Akron; Kent tops Cleveland State in OT--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
YSU Men’s Basketball Confident as Season Approaches--The Jambar
YSU Upsets Akron in Season Opener--The Jambar
Second-Half Surge Lead Men’s Basketball to 90-82 Come-Back Win Over Akron--ysusports.com
Men's Basketball Inks Duane Moss During Early Signing Period--ysusports.com
Penguins Erase 21-Point Deficit But Fall to Toledo in OT, 103-98--ysusports.com

YSU women’s team opens with loss--Youngstown Vindicator
Down three players, short-handed YSU falls to Pittsburgh--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU women ink 4 in early signing period--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Women’s Basketball Deals With Injuries as Season Begins--The Jambar
More Injuries as YSU Drops Season Opener--The Jambar
Women’s Basketball Welcomes Four from 2017 Class on Signing Day--ysusports.com
Second Quarter Costs Penguins in Season-Opening Loss to American--ysusports.com
Penguins Show Grit in 63-50 Loss at Pitt--ysusports.com

On The Horizon

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

News On The Horizon 11/16/2016

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