Wednesday, December 21, 2011

News On The Horizon 12/21/2011

Wednesday's Shootaround: Two buzzer-beaters, Louisville and Ohio win--Ballin' is a Habit

Wright State 80, Idaho 78 OT: Double buzzer-beater?

Don't mind if I do. Idaho's Landon Tatum hit a half-court heave at the end of regulation to force overtime. After Dazmyne Sykes his a layup to put the Vandals up 78-77 with just four seconds left in the extra frame, Julius Mays (who finished with 28 points) hit a running three-pointer as the horn went off to win the game.
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Gonzaga 71, Butler 55: Kevin Pangos and Elias Harris both had 19 points as the Zags gave the Bulldogs a pretty thorough beating. We all know that Butler is not the same team that it has been the past couple of seasons, but Gonzaga isn't either. Among the issues the Zags have is that they need to have David Stockton running the point and Pangos playing off the ball, but when that it is the case, the Zags cannot guard anyone.

The NC-Double-Eh Schedule - Dec. 20--Raptors HQ

9:00pm Butler @ Gonzaga – This should be titanic. Mid-major royalty are going to duke it out tonight and it should be a good match up. Rob Sacre had a solid, not spectacular, week but the player that got the criticism seemed to come out in stretches the wins over Oral Roberts and Arizona. I’m sure he’ll be pumped for this game especially since it’s at home. Kevin Pangos also had a solid week but his shooting was not great. He was a combined 3-of-12 from the field but he was 17-of-20 from the free throw line and averaged 7.5 assists. I’m really curious to see how he handles Butler tonight.
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And here is where the women are playing today …
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6:00pm Cleveland State vs. Murray State – Cleveland State’s Takima Keane, sister of former Big Ten Player of the Year Tamika, is averaging 16.3 points and 3.8 assists in her last three games.

MAC Basketball Review: Ivo Baltic Avenue--Hustle Belt

Valparaiso 59, NIU 48 — Are you sitting down for this? Northern Illinois had a halftime lead. I know! But getting just 20 points in the second half was clearly not enough to put away an actually capable team like Valpo. Shot-happy Abdel Nader had 12 points on 16 shots, but Aksel Bolin had an efficient day with six points, six rebounds and four assists.
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In women's games:

CMU 65, Wright State 60 — Not one of their faster games, obviously, but it was definitely enough to win the Wright State Invitational. CMU is on a five-game winning streak which doesn't sound like much until you hear it's their longest in almost five seasons. Crystal Bradford had an immense 17 points and 13 rebounds despite a weak-shooting day (6-for-19).
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Detroit 70, EMU 69 (OT) — This counts as a bad loss. The Titans are not a very strong team and the Eagles were down in most of the game, requiring a comeback in the final minute to force an extra five minutes. Tavelyn James had a very poor game (3-for-14 shooting, nine points) but Natachia Watkins pickedup the slack to the tune of 28 points. Olivia Fouty also had a double-double: 17 points, 10 rebounds. But this one hurts. With the way CMU's playing, I'm not convinced the Eagles are better than them.
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Green Bay 80, Ball State 39 — Well, that's just painful. The Phoenix held BSU to a mere 12 points at halftime. They were overwhelmed at every spot on the court, but with GB being undefeated and ranked, this makes some sense. But being doubled up in the final score is never painless.


Set Your TiVo: 12.20.11--Rush The Court
Night Court: C.J. Leslie beats the buzzer--Eye On College Basketball

Player(s) who does not deserve improper benefits: Coming off Butler’s win against Purdue over the weekend, we expected the Bulldogs to show better against Gonzaga. Instead, they got behind early and fell, 71-55. Three of Butler’s top four scorers – Andrew Smith, Chase Stigall and Chrishawn Hopkins – combined to shoot 3-for-21 for a grand total of seven points.

Utah Jazz: Shooting woes, turnovers plague Jazz in preseason opener--Deseret News

Toward the end of the first quarter, the quartet of Utah’s highly touted youngsters — Favors, Enes Kanter, Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks — were playing together. And each showed why Jazz fans are optimistic about the future. Favors paced the Jazz with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Kanter was strong off the glass, nabbing 10 caroms himself. Rookie Burks brought a lot of energy, as did second-year man Hayward. Not to be ignored, Jeremy Evans chipped in nine points in just nine minutes.

Utah Jazz: Rookies agree that team's future is 'so bright'--Deseret News

Throw in 20-year-old Derrick Favors' phenomenal performance and a decent outing by 21-year-old Gordon Hayward, and the Junior Jazz members of this squad came through with Monday's brightest moments.

"One of the positive things, I thought the young group of guys, they did a pretty good job of attacking the basket," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said of Monday's 110-90 loss in Portland. "They were a little bit more energetic."

Monson: Some friendly advice for the Jazz — go young--Salt Lake Tribune

If those guys get the minutes, at the expense of Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Jeremy Evans and Alec Burks, Corbin will be setting the club back in its effort to revitalize — Kevin O’Connor won’t use the word “rebuild” — a franchise in bad need.
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Like most issues, this one isn’t all in or all out. If the Jazz from the beginning give most of the minutes to Favors, Hayward, Kanter and Burks, the cost in the win-loss column would be too steep. Not only do they have to be brought along from a seasoning standpoint, NBA referees would kill them with calls. For whatever reason, respect from behind the whistle comes slowly. But Corbin can mesh Favors, who is still just 20, on the court alongside Jefferson, or Kanter alongside Paul Millsap.

He’s got to find combinations and rotations that make sense at the 2 and 3 spots with Hayward, Josh Howard, Evans, Bell, Miles and Burks.

Bell said the young guys benefit from an advantage of having no clue what their limitations are: “They don’t know any better.”

Utah Jazz: Muscle or fat, Jazz mostly heavier--Salt Lake Tribune

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Utah Jazz have talked about how hard they hit the weight room and gym during the extended offseason.

The poor team scale noticed.

Tires on the team bus, be warned. Turns out, Jazz players packed on extra weight with all of that extra work.

Official player weights have been released, and the 13 Jazz athletes with guaranteed contracts for the 2011-12 season gained a combined 27 pounds since their last weigh-ins last year.
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Other beefier Jazz players include rookie Enes Kanter (plus eight), Raja Bell and Earl Watson (plus four), Gordon Hayward and Paul Millsap (plus three), and Derrick Favors and Devin Harris (plus two).

Wizards vs. 76ers: Washington shows improvement, but struggles in loss to Philadelphia--Washington Post

Booker didn’t show any signs of fatigue in his preseason debut, as he led the team with 11 rebounds. Saunders said before the game that he “felt” Booker in practice and that energy carried over as he and rookie Shelvin Mack (seven points, five rebounds, three assists) played so well that Saunders relied on them, and let starters Blatche and Wall rest for most of the fourth quarter.

Butler Vs. Gonzaga: ESPN 2 Hosts Battle Of Two Of Top Mid-Majors--SB Nation Indiana
Butler Vs. Gonzaga Final Score: Bulldogs Fall 71-55 to Zags--SB Nation Indiana
The Morning After Recap: Wednesday, December 21--Searching for Billy Edelin
Bulldogs can't rally this time--The Indy Star
Butler remains a conundrum--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler’s reward is date with Zags--Victory Firelight
Butler vs Gonzaga: Recap Notes--Butler Blue Fever
Butler Beaten By Gonzaga, 71-55--Butler Blue Fever
Gonzaga Wins Battle of Bulldogs--ButlerSports.com

Butler Closes Non-Conference Schedule vs. IUPUI--ButlerSports.com

Big East Basketball Wrap-Up: Notre Dame, USF, West Virginia Win, No. 10 Marquette Falls On Monday--Big East Coast Bias

USF 70, Cleveland State 55: As unexpected as Marquette's loss was, this was a game we didn't think the Bulls could win. Cleveland State entered with an 10-1 record and a five-game win streak. South Florida head coach Stan Heath had a more interesting way to describe Jawanza Poland's 13 point (3-5 from three-point), 5 rebound night than we can:

"He's one of those guys that's a rhythm guy," Heath said. "Once Jawanza gets going, he's like that heater in the basement - he gets hot and starts throwing steam out." (via Tampa Bay.com)

In his first game this season, Poland came off the bench and led USF in scoring. After a close first half, Cleveland State was put away midway through the second half as the Bulls shot 65% in the second frame. Despite losing the rebounding battle, USF had a 22-6 advantage in free throws and outscored the Vikings 28-26 in the paint. Ron Anderson Jr., Augustus Gilchrist and Anthony Collins also reached double figures in scoring for the Bulls.

Cleveland State (10-2) Faces Sam Houston State (4-7)--Vikings Ball
Vikings Return Home to Host Sam Houston State--csuvikings.com

Winton and Blue help CSU Defeat Murray State, 68-61 in OT--csuvikings.com

Detroit (5-8) Goes Up Against Alabama State (2-8)--Titans Update
Boutte pleads guilty to possessing stun gun, alcohol--The Varsity Press
Titans Host Hornets in Pre-Holiday Clash--detroittitans.com

Titans Clip Eagles, 70-69, In Overtime--detroittitans.com
Detroit Looks To Extend Winning Streak To Three--detroittitans.com

UIC Seeks Seventh Win Against EIU on Thursday--uicflames.com

Thursday's matchup: Loyola at Canisius--The Chicago Tribune
Loyola (Chicago) (4-7) Goes Up Against Canisius (2-8)--LU Wolf Ball
Ramblers Look For Fourth Consecutive Victory, Visit Canisius Thursday--LoyolaRamblers.com

Ramblers Close Out Non-Conference Slate At Drake--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: Refreshed Phoenix rolls past Ball State--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay (5-6) and Idaho (7-5) Square Off--Phoenix Fever
Watch: Inside Phoenix Basketball: Dec. 19--uwgbathletics.com
Green Bay Hosts Idaho Thursday for Final Home Game of 2011--uwgbathletics.com

Green Bay Basketball Presents The 12 Days of Christmas--uwgbathletics.com

No. 18/14 Green Bay Rolls to 80-39 Win over Ball State--uwgbathletics.com
Watch: Inside Phoenix Basketball: Dec. 19--uwgbathletics.com

This is what is wrong with us--PantherU
@AnonymousEagle interviewed me--PantherU
On this day 9 years ago - Dec 21, 2002--UWM Update
Milwaukee (9-3) vs. 10th Ranked Marquette (10-1)--UWM Update
Another Stiff Test Awaits As Panthers Face Marquette At Bradley Center--uwmpanthers.com
Video: Panthers Getting Ready For Thursday Battle With Marquette--uwmpanthers.com

Valparaiso 59, N. Illinois 48--Associated Press
Shorthanded VU escapes with win--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso at Northern Illinois, Dec. 20, Live Blog--Off The Mark
VU men use 21-5 second-half run to move past winless Northern Illinois--The NWI Times
Valparaiso vs Northern Illinois: Recap Notes--Valpo Daily
Valparaiso Picks Up Win Over Northern Illinois, 59-48--Valpo Daily
Game Wrap Up: An ugly win...--SectionEE
Game Preview: IUPUI--SectionEE
Crusaders Take Time Out to Visit Children’s Hospital--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Earn Road Victory at NIU Tuesday--valpoathletics.com

Timmerman steps it up for VU women--The Post-Tribune
Timmerman trey lifts VU women past Eastern Illinois--The NWI Times
Timmerman’s Three Lifts Valpo Past Eastern Illinois--valpoathletics.com

Wright St. 80, Idaho 78--Associated Press
Boyd keeps shooting for Wright State--Dayton Daily News
Wright State senior honored for joining 1,000-point club--Wright State University Sports
College roundup: Wright State women conclude tournament play with a loss--Fairborn Daily Herald
Ladies compete in home invitational--The Guardian
Women Fall to Central Michigan--wsuraiders.com

Raiders edge Idaho with overtime buzzer-beater--Dayton Daily News
Mays returns strong from injuries--Dayton Daily News
Game 13 Preview: Idaho (7-4) at Wright State (4-8)--Wright State University Sports
Mays runner at the buzzer gives Wright State 80-78 OT win against Idaho--Wright State University Sports
Overtime win, with two buzzer-beaters, earns Wright State some ESPN attention--Wright State University Sports
Raiders (5-8) win thriller in OT 80-78 over Idaho Vandals (7-5)--RaiderRoundball.com
Idaho vs Wright State: Recap Notes--Rowdy Review
Wright State Over Idaho in Overtime, 80-78--Rowdy Review
Wright State (5-8) and Central Michigan (5-7) Face Off--Rowdy Review
One step forward and two steps back--The Guardian
Mays Three Lifts Men to Overtime Win Over Idaho--wsuraiders.com

The Annual Unofficial MAC-Horizon Challenge--The Mid-Majority
On this day 6 years ago - Dec 21, 2005--Guin Report
Youngstown State (6-5) and Robert Morris (9-3) Face Off--Guin Report
Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face Robert Morris Thursday Night--ysusports.com

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