Primarily a collection of news links about all 11 Horizon League teams on a daily basis, culled from online newspapers, school athletic websites, the conference website, and school newspapers, plus some other content from time to time.
The women’s basketball split their road trip this past weekend. The two-game stretch began with Northern Kentucky University on Friday, Jan. 27. The Golden Grizzlies took down the Norse 61-47. Leah Somerfield led the way with a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds
The Golden Grizzlies were not as successful, however, against the Wright State Raiders on Sunday, Jan. 29. Despite Taylor Gleason’s team-high 16 points, four steals and four assists, and Taylor Jones’ 12 points and season-high eight rebounds, Oakland fell to the Raiders 84-66.
The split road trip brings the Golden Grizzlies to 5-5 in the Horizon League. Oakland returns to the Blacktop to face Green Bay at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2.
-Even as expectations were high coming into the season, Monmouth and Valparaiso are two teams that probably aren’t as good as they were last year, another example of just how damaging it is when the NCAA selection committee doesn’t get it right with its at-large selections and ignores teams like them. Both are still in the driver’s seat to win their leagues this year, though, and have plenty of pieces to win a game or two in the NCAAs, no doubt the biggest pieces being players who can take over a game in Justin Robinson (Monmouth) and Alec Peters (Valpo). Both are teams with the size and experience to win in March, though…
Green Bay: So it turns out Oakland is bad, which made Green Bay the team in the Horizon with the best shot at taking down Valparaiso. It’s not working out well for the Phoenix so far. Their 7-3 conference record isn’t bad, but their inexplicable loss over the weekend to Detroit does not bode well.
Also considered (likely CIT/CBI teams): Tulsa, St. Bonaventure, UCF, George Mason, Loyola (IL), Missouri St., San Francisco, Elon, Northeastern, UNCG, Furman, Georgia Southern, Yale, Harvard, Saint Peter’s, Oakland, La Tech, UAB, Old Dominion, New Hampshire, Cal St. Bakersfield, Sam Houston St.
UIC dropped a pair of home games last week and now has its first three-game losing streak of the season. The upcoming week will be tough as the Flames head to Green Bay and Milwaukee.
Boahen averaged 16.5 points and 2 steals last week, although UIC lost both games.
The 5’11” point guard’s assist numbers have been down recently, but his scoring has picked up. He shot 5-of-8 from two and 5-of-9 from three last week.
Honorable mention: Patrick Szpir, Chicago State; Tarkus Ferguson, UIC; Brandon Cyrus, DePaul
Tonight’s Menu:
...
Wisconsin-Green Bay travels to suddenly struggling Oakland (9 p.m., ESPNU), with the Phoenix now a game ahead of the Golden Grizzlies in the Horizon League standings.
Three projected auto-bids from one-bid leagues changed this week as well. Valparaiso replaces Oakland as the Horizon favorite, UNC-Asheville replaces Winthrop as the Big South favorite, and Mount St. Mary's replaces LIU as the NEC favorite.
...
13. EAST TENNESSEE ST (SOCON)
13. AKRON (MAC)
13. VALPARAISO (HORIZON)
13. FORT WAYNE (SUMMIT)
Matt Lottich, Valparaiso (16-4, 6-1 in the Horizon League)
I'm at the point where I'm older than a few of the coaches I have to write about. That's uplifting. The 34-year-old Lottich took over for Bryce Drew, who is now at Vanderbilt and under .500. Like Weir at New Mexico State, Valpo didn't go outside its campus to pick a replacement. The boon: Lottich managed to keep Alec Peters around for one final season, and it has been the game-changer. Without Peters, Lottich is probably not on this list, which isn't to downgrade his acumen, but rather another reminder that Peters is one of the 25 best players in college basketball. He doesn't receive the pub because Valpo is seldom on television. The Crusaders have wins over Alabama, BYU and Rhode Island and would be the No. 13 seed you have no interest in playing come time for the Big Dance.
He passed Bryce Drew as Valpo’s all-time scorer and did it with style, scoring 30 points in a romp over UIC. He’s also second in the nation in scoring behind Keene.
2. Wright State plays tonight, too, but you’ll have to stream it.
The Raiders play at Valparaiso on ESPN3 at 8 p.m.
WSU has won three games in a row and can pull within a game of first place by knocking off the Alec Peters and the Crusaders, who are 6-1 in Horizon League play.
RANK TEAM RECORD LAST WEEK POINTS
...
10 Valparaiso 16-4 10 123
...
Others Receiving Votes: Belmont 18; Bucknell 14; Boise State 13; Oakland 10; Louisiana 9; La Salle 8; North Dakota State 8; New Mexico 7; UC Irvine 7; UNC Greensboro 6; Georgia Southern 6; San Diego State 5; Santa Clara 5; Richmond 3; Harvard 3; Ohio 3; Fort Wayne 3; UNC Asheville 3; Canisius 1.
Luke Kennard, Duke
Malik Monk, Kentucky
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State
Markelle Fultz, Washington
Josh Jackson, Kansas
Justin Jackson, North Carolina
Jock Landale, Saint Mary’s Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Melo Trimble, Maryland
