Tuesday, August 29, 2017

News On The Horizon 8/29/2017

Mid-Major Madness Offseason Roundtable--Mid-Major Madness
What has been your favorite storyline to follow during the offseason?
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Chris Schutte: I’ve been way too invested in the Mitchell Robinson saga, but I’ll go a different route. As an IUPUI student and lone Jaguar fan online, their abrupt move to the Horizon League was exciting for me. I’m very much looking forward to watching them in a new league and talking trash to people online throughout the season.
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Who are you looking forward to watching most this season?

Russ: Dikembe Dixson, just to see if he lives up to the hype he’s giving himself on Twitter.
PREP NOTEBOOK: Novi’s Maddox commits to Oakland; Cannon to Northwestern--The Oakland Press

OAKLAND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 2017-18 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE--goldengrizzlies.com
Former Illini great Dee Brown to join UIC coaching staff: report--Chicago Tribune
Registration Open for 2017-18 Phoenix Phenoms--greenbayphoenix.com
NKU to host annual “A Night with the Norse” gala--nkunorse.com

Friday, August 25, 2017

News On The Horizon 8/25/2017

Top Ten Mid-Major Players at Each Position: Shooting Guard--CBB Central
#1. Kendrick Nunn (Oakland)

Stats (2015-16 at Illinois): 15.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 39.1% 3-pt FG%

Nunn is the type of talent that rarely, if ever, lands at the mid-major level. A proven dynamic scorer in his 3 years at Illinois, off-the-court issues led to his eventual dismissal from the Illinois program, and he resurfaces this year at Oakland for his final year of eligibility. Nunn should absolutely dominate the Horizon League in his only season, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he winds up with his name on NBA Draft boards after his senior campaign.

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#7. Cameron Morse (Youngstown State)

Stats: 22.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 31.9% 3-pt FG%

Morse is fourth among all returning players in scoring average from a season ago, and those prolific numbers could go up even more in his senior campaign with a new coach in Jerrod Calhoun.

“Coming into my last year, I’m really excited,” Morse said in a piece published on thejambar.com. “He wants to play an up-tempo style. He sold me when he said that we were going to average 85 points a game. Scoring is what I do, so I’m feeling confident in him.”

Morse needs to regain his 2015-16 3-point shooting form (41% from downtown), but if he does, the sky is the limit for him this season.
Horizon League filed a lawsuit against Valparaiso--College Basketball Talk
Horizon League files lawsuit vs. Valparaiso and MVC after Crusaders' early exit--CBS Sports
Top Ten Mid-Major Players at Each Position: Small Forward--CBB Central
It’s hump day, and we have reached the halfway point of our mid-major positional rankings. Today, we’ll look at the small forward position, one that is loaded with talent at the mid-major level. The difficult thing in ranking these guys is labeling the small forwards when many spend significant time at multiple positions, whether it be guys on the small side who also see action at shooting guard or “big wings” who are also deployed as small-ball 4’s.
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#7. Dikembe Dixson (UIC)

Stats: 20.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 36.7% 3-pt FG%

Before tearing his ACL in a victory over DePaul last season, Dixson was well on his way to a special sophomore campaign. He’s an incredible talent at the mid-major level, a do-it-all wing who can absolutely fill it up. The big question that looms is his health, but should he come back strong from that ACL injury, he has a chance to be MUCH higher on this list when the season comes to a close.
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Just Missed the Cut:
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Martez Walker (Oakland)
Top 10 Mid-Major Players at Each Position: Power Forward--CBB Central
Whenever you do a rankings list like this, you always find yourself surprised by some of the things you find out doing some deep digging. The biggest takeaway from my doing these rankings has been the incredible star power at the power forward position in mid-major basketball. I had an incredibly difficult time cutting this list to just 10, but I think I’ve found the ten best power forwards at the mid-major level.
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Just Missed the Cut
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Jalen Hayes (Oakland)
Drew McDonald (Northern Kentucky)
Tickets On Sale For The District Detroit College Basketball Showcase--detroittitans.com

Titans Welcome Madison Ristovski to Women's Basketball Family--detroittitans.com
#78 Oakland Men's Basketball 2017-2018 Preview--College Sports Madness
OAKLAND BASKETBALL ADDS TRANSFERS NEWMAN AND PALMER--goldengrizzlies.com
Top Ten Mid-Major Players at Each Position: Center--CBB Central
#5. Tai Odiase (UIC)

Vitals: Senior, 6-9, 220 pounds
Stats: 11.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 57.7% FG%

Odiase is an elite defensive player whose offensive skillset has improved each season of his college career. A standout at the recent Adidas Nations event earlier this month, Odiase enters his senior campaign as an under-the-radar potential NBA prospect. For now though, he joins Dikembe Dixson and Tarkus Ferguson in a scary 3-headed monster in Chicago for Steve McClain, who hopes to have his Flames contending for a Horizon League title this season.


Meet the Newcomers: Kara Wilson--uicflames.com
Missouri’s non-conference basketball schedule leaves a little to be desired--Rock M Nation
vs. Green Bay Phoenix, Dec. 9

Last season record: 18-14
Last season KenPom: 190
Returning Offensive Value: 18.4%

Man, there seems to be a theme of Mizzou playing teams who are in a rebuild. Green Bay loses seven of its top eight contributors, including Kerem Kanter and Charles Cooper.

Head Coach Linc Darner has a tough turnaround. Darner is a solid coach and they’ve got a decent group of newcomers, enough to be decent.
Can Green Bay finally be a three point threat this season?--Phear The Phoenix
Men's Basketball Program Enjoys Successful Trip to Puerto Rico--greenbayphoenix.com
Men’s Basketball Unveils Non-Conference Schedule--mkepanthers.com

Women’s Basketball Announces 2017-18 Non-Conference Schedule--mkepanthers.com
Haygood, Morse experience hoops, life in Spain--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Men's Basketball Host Fourth Annual Wine Taste Oct. 10--ysusports.com

Sunday, August 20, 2017

News On The Horizon 8/20/2017

College Hoops Fan Mailbag: 8/17--CBB Central

Oakland has a chance to be one of the best mid-majors in the country. The trio of Martez Walker, Jalen Hayes, and Illinois transfer Kendrick Nunn should be special to watch. However, the recent departure of rim protector Isaiah Brock to focus on his education brings Greg Kampe’s team back to the pack a bit in the Horizon League. They are still the clear favorites, but I could see a couple teams hopping in and giving the Grizzlies a run for their money. One is Northern Kentucky, which claimed the league’s auto-bid last season and bring back 4 starters from last season. However, the team that has the most upside other than Oakland is UIC. The talent that Steve McClain has assembled is impressive, and this could be the year it all comes together. If superstar wing Dikembe Dixson recovers well from a torn ACL he suffered early last season, that team could be flat-out scary. Center Tai Odiase is an outstanding big man who turned heads with his play at the Adidas Nations camp this summer, making the all–tournament team. Rising sophomore guard Tarkus Ferguson stuffed the stat sheet a season ago (one of just 7 players to average at least 11.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 4.8 apg) and could contend for all-conference honors if he cuts down on turnovers. Guard Marcus Ottey also flashed the ability to score in bunches as a freshman. The Flames need to improve defensively, but the talent is there for a special season in Chicago.
The Mid-Major Basketball TV Streaming Guide--Mid-Major Madness
As cutting the cord becomes more prevalent in today’s television consuming society, one reservation that can hold people back is losing their beloved live sports.

Look, I get it. We spend so much of our time watching sports, it’s hard to imagine a life where you don’t have access to your favorite team at the click of a remote. But there are other ways to watch your favorite team if you don’t have cable.

Here’s how you can stream the games from every mid-major conferences.
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Horizon League

Site: WatchESPN
Cost: Free w/ ESPN subscription
Cleveland State’s Slow, Steady Social Media Burn--Campus Pressbox
Cleveland State among finalist for Tamell Pearson--Cleveland State Hoops
Reynolds Realizes Professional Basketball Dream, Inks Contract in Scotland--detroittitans.com
Athletic director ‘hungry for success’--UIC News

Meet the Newcomers: Kiarra Thompson--uicflames.com
Milwaukee Basketball Set To Host “Black & Gold Shootout”--mkepanthers.com
Austin Arians To Start Professional Career In Ukraine--mkepanthers.com
NKU men’s basketball team honored with ImageMaker Award from NKy Chamber of Commerce--Northern Kentucky Tribune
Chamber of Commerce to honor NKU men’s basketball--The Northerner
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to honor @NKUNorseMBB--nkunorse.com
Arbanas in stretch run of comeback--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

Saturday, August 12, 2017

News On The Horizon 8/12/2017

#FridayWithFelton: On Downtown Cleveland--csuvikings.com
Tickets Now Available For Detroit Mercy Vs. Michigan Men's Basketball Game On Dec. 16--detroittitans.com
Army veteran leaves Oakland basketball program--College Basketball Talk
Coach Greg Kampe is happy to be alive and well--Oakland Post
Isaiah Brock steps down from Oakland University men’s basketball--Oakland Post
Meet the Newcomers: Jada Nneji--uicflames.com
College basketball’s mid-major breakout players: Killian Tillie, Xeyrius Williams, and more--Mid-Major Madness
Ron Patterson - IUPUI

The Jaguars will make the transition to the Horizon League without last season’s top three scorers. Patterson, who thrived as the team’s sixth-man last year, will have every opportunity to showcase the talent that once made him a coveted high-major recruit. In conference play last year, Patterson shot 45 percent from distance on just under five attempts per game. Coming in at just under 10 points per game last year, Patterson should be able to make the adjustment to carrying a heavier scoring load for the Jags this year.
UWGB men's basketball team will use Puerto Rico trip to get acquainted--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay prepping for season in Puerto Rico--Phear The Phoenix
Men's Basketball Program Ready for Team Trip to Puerto Rico--greenbayphoenix.com
Milwaukee Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale--mkepanthers.com
NKU adds 20 courtside seats for @NKUNorseMBB, @NKUNorseWBB home games--nkunorse.com
Men's Basketball to Host Penguin Premiere at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sept. 7--ysusports.com

Women's Basketball Announces 2017-18 Non-Conference Schedule--ysusports.com