News On The Horizon 1/16/2017

The Morning Dish – Monday, January 16, 2017--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

At long last, college basketball has Monday all to itself, and because it’s a holiday, the slate is not as light as usual on Mondays.
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There’s also an early showdown in the Horizon League as Green Bay visits Valparaiso at 8 p.m.

Bubble Watch: Teams beginning to build conference résumés--Sports Illustrated

Finally, Oakland (14–3, 4–0) and Valparaiso (12–4, 2–1) will give the college basketball world an exciting fight for the Horizon League crown, with the Grizzlies drawing first blood in Indiana last week. Neither team, however, did enough out of conference to warrant at-large consideration. Oakland went 1–1 against potential at-large teams, beating Georgia but losing to Michigan State, and also fell to Nevada and Northeastern. Valparaiso has solid wins over Rhode Island, Alabama and BYU, and challenged itself by scheduling Oregon and Kentucky, but that just doesn’t add up to an at-large bid.

Hoop Thoughts: Five-minute guide for the second half of the season--Sports Illustrated

Under the Radar

1. Alec Peters, senior forward, Valparaiso. Enjoying a stellar senior season, ranking second in the country in scoring (24.1), 12th nationally in rebounding (10.6) and 17th nationally in free throw shooting (90.6). He’s also 19th in the Horizon League in field goal percentage (45.4).

Titans Host Northern Kentucky in Monday Doubleheader--detroittitans.com

GAME 17: OAKLAND WELCOMES WRIGHT STATE ON MLK DAY--goldengrizzlies.com

Chicago Weekly Awards, Jan. 16--The Catch and Shoot

Freshman of the Week

Dominique Matthews, UIC

Matthews averaged 16 points with a 66.7 effective field goal percentage in two games last week. Fresh off 11 points in a win against Cleveland State, Matthews exploded for a career-high 21 points along with three assists to help UIC defeat Youngstown State in overtime.

Honorable mention: Isiah Brown, Northwestern; K.J. Santos, UIC

Illinois Rankings, Jan. 16--The Catch and Shoot

7. UIC (10-8, 3-2 Horizon)

Last week: 8

After sweeping its Ohio road trip, UIC has won three of its last four games to move into fourth place in the Horizon League. If the Flames beat Milwaukee on Tuesday, they will be 4-2 in the conference for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

The few, the proud--Whoosh! Net

Lew Wallace graduate Charles Cooper leads Green Bay into Valparaiso--Post-Tribune

Mehryn Kraker Honored with Horizon League Player of the Week Award--greenbayphoenix.com

Panthers Look To Extend Recent Stretch Of Success Against Flames Tuesday--mkepanthers.com

UWM Hosts UIC Tuesday On Time Warner Cable--mkepanthers.com

First place Green Bay to face Crusaders for first time since conference tournament--NWI Times

Road Stretch Continues as Crusaders Visit Phoenix--valpoathletics.com

@NKUNorseWBB travels to the Motor City for tilt with Detroit Mercy--nkunorse.com

Big Second Quarter Carries Women to Win at Oakland--wsuraiders.com

Maturing Penguins--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU taking steps in right direction--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU Looks to Sweep Homestand Monday vs. Cleveland State--ysusports.com

Horizon League Men's Basketball Players of the Week (Jan. 16)--The Horizon League

Horizon League Women's Basketball Players of the Week (Jan. 16)--The Horizon League