Sunday, July 29, 2018

News On The Horizon 7/29/2018

Top Ten Mid-Major Players By Position: Center--CBB Central
4. Drew McDonald (Northern Kentucky)

Vitals: 6-7, 250 pounds, Senior
Stats: 17.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, .464/.337/.802

It’s hard to overstate just how important McDonald has been to the Northern Kentucky program. After struggling in their first 4 years as a D1 program, McDonald’s ascension into a star has led NKU to a pair of 20-win seasons and an NCAA Tournament berth. Now, the bruising big man gets one last crack at leading the Norse to a Horizon League title, and in the process could score his 2,000th career point.
...
Honorable Mention:

Nico Carvacho (Colorado State), Trayvon Reed (Texas Southern), Pauly Paulicap (Manhattan), Demajeo Wiggins (Bowling Green), Loudon Love (Wright State), Trey Porter (Nevada), Josh Cunningham (Dayton), Rashaan Holloway (UMass), AJ Brodeur (Penn), Chris Lewis (Harvard), Trey Moses (Ball State), Shawntrez Davis (Bethune-Cookman), Matt Rafferty (Furman), Cameron Jackson (Wofford)
Previewing the Horizon: Cleveland State--The Norse Report
CTE, other injuries convinced Traveon Maddox Jr. to choose basketball--Detroit Free Press
Oakland University's next AD 'humbled' by hiring--Detroit News
Top Ten Mid-Major Players By Position: Small Forward--CBB Central
Honorable Mention:

Courtney Stockard (Saint Bonaventure), Eric Williams (Duquesne), Javon Bess (Saint Louis), BJ Stith (Old Dominion), Sandy Cohen (Green Bay), Myles Stephens (Princeton), Daniel Utomi (Princeton), Marques Townes (Loyola-Chicago), Terry Taylor (Austin Peay), Kevon Harris (Stephen F. Austin), Zach Jackson (Nebraska-Omaha), Matej Kavas (Seattle)
Green Bay Athletics Unveils New "GB" Logo and Wordmarks--greenbayphoenix.com
Matt Tiby To Continue Professional Career In Turkey--mkepanthers.com
Papa John's removed from NKU food court after 'offensive, hurtful' comments--Cincinnati Enquirer
Thomas More golfers named All-America Scholars; NKU basketball attendance growth among nation’s best--Northern Kentucky Tribune
Attendance Increase at NKU Men's Basketball Games Ranks 12th in NCAA--River City News
Know Your Norse: Bryant Mocaby--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseMBB among nation’s leaders in attendance growth--nkunorse.com
WSU men’s basketball to play road game vs. SEC school--Dayton Daily News
Raiders Release Non Conference Slate--wsuraiders.com
YSU Women’s Basketball Program to Host Annual Golf Outing on Aug. 25--ysusports.com

Saturday, July 14, 2018

News On The Horizon 7/14/2018

5 Question Friday: A-10 Stars, two-bid leagues, and more.--Mid-Major Madness

Save for the aforementioned Horizon League run, Cleveland State was not great last year. The Horizon League, in general, was not great. However, Cleveland State should be better in theory.

They’ll bring back a solid sophomore duo in Tyree Appleby and Stefan Kenic, who should carry the bulk of the scoring load. Kasheem Thomas also showed flashes last year and should be able to solidify the backcourt with Appleby. Are they going to dominate the Horizon League? Unlikely, but they can definitely build upon last season’s run and continue moving forward in Dennis Felton’s second year there.
Sam Ferry Named Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at CSU--csuvikings.com
Previewing the Horizon: Detroit Mercy--The Norse Report
IUPUI BASKETBALL EARNS NABC TEAM ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD--iupuijags.com

BROWN, BREEDLOVE NAMED TO HL SAAC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS--iupuijags.com
Allie LeClaire Inks Contract to Play for Liffey Celtics in Ireland--greenbayphoenix.com
5 under-the-radar tournaments for mid-major fans to watch this November and December--Mid-Major Madness
Belfast Classic

Nov. 29-Dec. 1

Field: San Francisco vs. Stephen F. Austin, Milwaukee vs. Buffalo | Marist vs. Dartmouth, LIU Brooklyn vs. Albany

Taking a bunch of mid-majors and sending them to Ireland for a few days is cool enough on its own. Like, to the point that maybe I should start begging one of these teams to take me (hmu LIU I go to a lot of your games). Add to it that these teams are, for the most part, really interesting, and you have a pair of mini-tournaments that I can’t wait to see. Start with San Francisco — a solid team overshadowed by the titans of the West Coast Conference. The Dons impressed friend of the site Jon Rothstein when he visited practice last month and you’ll want to scroll back in his timelines a bit for a few things he saw. 5’11 Frankie Ferrari seems to be the guy to watch there, and this blog loves the literal little guys, so we’re on board. The Dons will face Stephen F. Austin, which has found its footing in the Kyle Keller era and is again the class of the Southland. That won’t change with Shannon Bogues and TJ Holyfield headed into their senior years.

Milwaukee lost everyone and their mother (presumably) to transfer, so they shouldn’t be much of a match for Buffalo, a team that could flirt with the Top 25 this year. That’s OK — the Bulls should get a solid challenge against either the Dons or the Lumberjacks in the final. The other bracket doesn’t look nearly as exciting, but keep an eye on the New York matchup between LIU Brooklyn and Albany. The reigning NEC champs and the America East second place team will both look drastically different next year and this will be a fun opportunity to see what each can bring to the table.
Panthers Welcome Boys & Girls Club To Practice--mkepanthers.com
Milwaukee Basketball Adds Will Sessoms To Roster--mkepanthers.com

Golf Outing Spots Filling Up For Women’s Basketball--mkepanthers.com
#117 Northern Kentucky Men's Basketball 2018-2019 Preview--College Sports Madness
Northern Kentucky Set to Host a Multi-Team Event in November--College Court Report
NKU's Drew McDonald on Team USA at FISU America Games later this month--Cincinnati Enquirer
NKU men’s basketball to host three-day tournament in November, will feature NCAA Tourney squads--Northern Kentucky Tribune
NKU standout McDonald to play for Team USA at upcoming FISU America Games in Brazil--Northern Kentucky Tribune
NKU Men's Basketball Team will Host a Multi-Team Event in November--River City News
NKU’s McDonald will represent the United States at FISU America Games--River City News
@NKUNorseMBB to host multi-team event in November--nkunorse.com
NKU’s McDonald will represent the United States at FISU America Games--nkunorse.com
NABC honors @NKUNorseMBB with Team Academic Excellence Award--nkunorse.com
Wright State newcomer to represent Team USA in Brazil--Dayton Daily News
Men's Basketball Honored by NABC--wsuraiders.com
Wampler to Travel to Brazil--wsuraiders.com
Three #HLMBB Programs Earn NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards--The Horizon League

Green Bay's Allie LeClaire Inks Contract to Play for Liffey Celtics in Ireland--The Horizon League

Saturday, July 7, 2018

News On The Horizon 7/7/2018

DePaul offers 2020 power forward Terrance Thompson--Big East Coast Bias
Per 247Sports, Thompson is currently an unranked recruit. There is, however, plenty of time for that to change. According to Verbal Commits, DePaul is the third program to offer him at this point. The Blue Demons join a short list that includes the Milwaukee Panthers and the Green Bay Phoenix. He’s the fourth power forward that DePaul has offered in the 2020 cycle. That list includes Allen Udemadu, three-star recruit Shon Robinson and four-star recruit Richard Springs.
Cleveland State hires Sam Ferry as assistant coach--Cleveland State Hoops
Sam Ferry Named Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at CSU--csuvikings.com

Kielsmeier Announces 2018-19 Coaching Staff--csuvikings.com
Gradwell & DeGraffenreid Set To Join Women’s Basketball For 2018-19 Season--csuvikings.com
Top Ten Transfers Still on the Board--CBB Central
Other names to watch: Jonah Antonio (Mount St Mary’s), Josh Ayeni (St Bonaventure), Pedro Bradshaw (Eastern Kentucky), Jeremy Combs (LSU), John Dewey III (Sam Houston State), Tyrik Dixon (MTSU), Greg Eboigbodin (Illinois), Troy Holston Jr (South Florida), Jermaine Jackson Jr (Detroit), Antwain Johnson (MTSU), Mustafa Lawrence (Missouri State), Tyler Maye (VCU), Jalyn Patterson (LSU), Marcell Pettway (Nevada), Isaiah Ross (UMKC), Matz Stockman (Minnesota), Quatarrius Wilson (McNeese State).
NCAA Tournament-Tested Mike Davis Named Detroit Mercy Head Men’s Basketball Coach--detroittitans.com
Titans To Play At California, Temple In 2018 Legends Classic--detroittitans.com
Registration Now Open for 2018 Titan Golf Outing--detroittitans.com
Juwan Howard Jr. To Play For New York Knicks Summer League Team--detroittitans.com
Golden State Warriors thoroughly vetted Kendrick Nunn before signing--Detroit Free Press

Taylor Gleason continues professional basketball career--Oakland Post
UIC forward Tai Odiase to join Suns for summer league--Chicago Tribune
Suns Sign Odiase to Summer League Roster--uicflames.com
Blount Helps Ireland Win Bronze at FIBA Championship--uicflames.com

Flames Place 75 on Horizon League Honor Roll--uicflames.com

Booker and Lillard Join @UICWBB Staff--uicflames.com
BRENNAN INKS PROFESSIONAL DEAL IN GERMANY--iupuijags.com
MEN'S BASKETBALL NAMES LOECHLE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS--iupuijags.com
Former UWGB, SNC coach Mike Heideman dies--Green Bay Press Gazette
Former Green Bay Men's Basketball Coach Mike Heideman Passes Away--greenbayphoenix.com

One Hundred and Two Student-Athletes Named to League's Spring Academic Honor Roll--greenbayphoenix.com

Green Bay Adds Gallasová to 2018 Recruiting Class--greenbayphoenix.com
Head Coach Pat Baldwin Enters Year No. 2 At Milwaukee--mkepanthers.com
Milwaukee Men’s Basketball Opens Summer Workouts--mkepanthers.com
Milwaukee Basketball Program Adds Harrison Henderson--mkepanthers.com
VIDEO: Checking In With Men's Basketball Summer Workouts--mkepanthers.com

Milwaukee Places 113 Student-Athletes On Spring Academic Honor Roll--mkepanthers.com

Video: Women's Basketball Kicks Off Summer Practice Schedule--mkepanthers.com
Ten Underrated Graduate Transfers for the 2018-19 Season--College Court Report
Zaynah Robinson – Northern Kentucky Norse

2017-18 Program: Norfolk State Spartans
2016-17 Stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.6 spg; 37.9% FG (DNP in 2017-18)

Zaynah Robinson didn’t suit up for Norfolk State this past season, but he was one of the top guards in the country in 2016-17 that nobody talked about. Robinson enjoyed a breakout season in 2016-17, finishing second on the Spartans in scoring behind Jonathan Wade. Now, Robinson has transferred from the perennial powerhouse in the MEAC, and is off to the Horizon League as a member of the Northern Kentucky Norse.

Robinson averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 2016-17, all of which were career high marks for the 5’11” guard from Atlanta. With all that the Norse have lost from last season, Robinson should be the feature guard on offense, and he will form a nice one-two punch with returning forward Drew McDonald. The Horizon League is home to some of the nation’s most underrated guards, and Robinson is one of them. Robinson will look to build off his 2016-17 numbers and close out his collegiate career with another impressive campaign.
John Brannen and NKU look to keep Norse’s momentum going--The Athletic
John Brannen signs four-year NKU contract extension through 2021-22 season--Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bearcats, NKU Norse to play home-and-home men's basketball series--Cincinnati Enquirer
Brannen inks new four-year contract with NKU, will remain Norse head coach through 2021-22--Northern Kentucky Tribune
After 30-year series hiatus, NKU to battle Cincinnati in men’s basketball this season--Northern Kentucky Tribune
NKU, Coach John Brannen Agree to Contract Extension--River City News
Brannen to lead Norse through 2022--The Northerner
@NKUNorseMBB Summer Update--nkunorse.com
NKU, Brannen agree to contract to lead @NKUNorseMBB through 2021-22--nkunorse.com
Northern Kentucky hosts Miami (Ohio) in men’s basketball as part of 2018-19 slate--nkunorse.com
Know Your Norse: Silas Adheke--nkunorse.com

NKU lands 96 student-athletes on 2018 Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll--nkunorse.com

Spots available for Camryn Whitaker Basketball Day Camp--nkunorse.com
#141 Wright State Men's Basketball 2018-2019 Preview--College Sports Madness
Fairmont grad who scored 52 points in game last season joins Wright State basketball team--Dayton Daily News
99 Raiders Honored by League--wsuraiders.com