On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings: Dayton and BYU drop, UNC Wilmington on the rise--Mid-Major Madness

Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings

RANK    TEAM            RECORD  LAST WEEK       POINTS
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4       Valparaiso      9-2     5               163
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20      Oakland         9-1     20              44

Edwards hits 4 3s, scores 22 as Cleveland St beats Lake Erie--CBS Sports
David S. Glasier: The records tell only part of the story in Lake Erie-Cleveland State game--The News-Herald
Vikings Victorious against Lake Erie, 79-62--NEO Sports Insiders
Despite 79-62 win, Cleveland State’s Gary Waters wants to see more consistency from Big Three--Cleveland State Hoops
Vikings Top Lake Erie to Stay Perfect at Home--csuvikings.com

Abshaw Named Horizon League Player Of The Week--csuvikings.com
Vikings Close Out Non-League Schedule At Bowling Green Wednesday Evening--csuvikings.com

12/19 Men's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Madness High-Major Conference Players of the Week
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Horizon Josh McFolley G Detroit Mercy

McFolley Nets College Sports Madness Honor--detroittitans.com

Titans, Rockets Prepare for Wednesday Battle in Toledo--detroittitans.com

The Morning Dish – Tuesday, December 20, 2016--Hoopville

Today’s Menu:
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Northeastern looks to follow up its win at Michigan State when it faces 9-1 Oakland, which also has games coming up against Michigan State and Georgia.

Week 6: BTP Game of the Week: Rutgers at Seton Hall--BT Powerhouse

Honorable Mention:
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-Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Michigan State Spartans

After losing at home to Northeastern last weekend, Michigan State will be looking to rebound on Wednesday at home against Oakland. However, Oakland will enter the matchup with a 9-1 record and will be looking to pull off a huge win over a Michigan State program that has beaten it pretty regularly in recent years.

By any stretch of the imagination, this is a must win game for Michigan State and the key will be slowing down forward Martez Walker. So far this season, Walker has been a major contributor for the Grizzlies and has scored double-digits in nine of Oakland’s 10 games. The pressure will be on Kyle Ahrens and Josh Langford to slow him down.

Oakland's crazy week is part of midmajor basketball reality--Detroit Free Press
Oakland U.'s Isaiah Brock emerging: 'He's Dennis Rodman, as a rookie'--Detroit Free Press
Michigan State's 'DNA check' on deck against Oakland--Detroit Free Press
Huge week looms for 9-1 Oakland basketball--Detroit News
Oakland takes on MSU as part of three games in four days, with a chance to make a statement--Oakland Press
Isaiah Brock: A golden journey--Oakland Post
GAME 11-13: OAKLAND FACES THREE GAMES IN FOUR DAYS--goldengrizzlies.com

The Blitz: Dec. 19, 2016--Oakland Post

LITTLE'S NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS OAKLAND PAST VERMONT, 79-55--goldengrizzlies.com

How a state of Illinois holiday tournament would look--The Catch and Shoot
Chicago Weekly Awards, Dec. 19--The Catch and Shoot

Freshman of the Week

Godwin Boahen, UIC

Boahen averaged 13 points and 4 assists in two games last week. The freshman from Toronto exploded for 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, nearly carrying the Flames to an upset of local rival Loyola.

Honorable mention: Tarkus Ferguson, UIC
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Game of the Week

Loyola 81, UIC 75 (OT)

After blowing a 12-point lead, Loyola came from down six in the final three minutes to force overtime on Donte Ingram’s 3-pointer with one second left. The Ramblers then pulled away in overtime.

Ingram, who returned early from an MCL injury and was playing for the first time this month, finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds to give Loyola its fifth straight win against its crosstown rival.

Illinois Rankings, Dec. 19--The Catch and Shoot

8. UIC (5-6)

Last week: 10

UIC had a very good week and was one play away from a great week. The Flames upset rival DePaul on the road despite leading scorer Dikembe Dixson going down in the first half with an injury, and then without Dixson they nearly pulled off another rivalry upset against Loyola.

Although Dixson is out for the year with an ACL tear, these two performances showed UIC can remain competitive without him going into Horizon League play.

Where does UIC turn with Dikembe Dixson out for the year?--The Catch and Shoot
Ingram, Ramblers steal victory--Whoosh! Net
Flames Look to Bounce Back Against Lumberjacks--uicflames.com

Toney Leads Flames Past Howard--uicflames.com

The Morning Dish – Sunday, December 18, 2016--Hoopville

Side Dishes:
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Belmont’s trip to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday was postponed due to a snowstorm working its way through the Midwest, and it was a good decision with a solid 8-10 inches in the Green Bay area.