On The Horizon

KW: I've been spending some time in the America East these past couple of days, and a name that keeps coming up is Bryan Dougher at Stony Brook. Sophomore guard who averaged double-digits in scoring last year but has really upped his numbers in every category. Then he dropped 30 against Boston U. on Saturday. Definitely a name to remember if the 9-5 Seawolves keep winning. But I'm a little surprised you haven't mentioned the Horizon League yet, where you were holding court over the weekend. What's going on in the Raise Your Sights conference?

DL: There were some oddities, that's for sure. After all the home teams won on Thursday, all the road teams (except Butler) won on Saturday. The most impressive was Detroit going into the Gentile Center at Loyola and slowing the Ramblers' roll. I was one-half of the broadcast team in the HL's first attempt at self-produced regional television, and it was a smash! The game wasn't great, as Butler ran over Milwaukee, but it was somewhat expected. What was unexpected, was the play of Milwaukee's Anthony Hill. 18 points and 5 boards in 20 minutes off the bench. He, and others, will need to step up because after the game the Panthers announced that All-League performer, Tone Boyle, is going to take a medical redshirt. Tough loss.

Monday's Shootaround: Weekend Recap--Ballin' is a Habit

Other notable scores:
...
* Butler 80, Milwaukee 67: Shelvin Mack had 25, and Gordon Hayward added 16 and 10, but the Bulldogs only got 8 points, 5 boards, and 4 fouls from Matt Howard.

Butler might not return to AP's Top 25--Indy Star Butler Insider
Shelvin Mack Named Horizon League Player of the Week--ButlerSports.com

Titans Trounce Raiders, 68-47, in Horizon League Opener--detroittitans.com

Mid-Season All-Chicago College Basketball Team--ChicagoNow.com
Flames look listless, lost--Whoosh!Net

Women's Basketball Looks To Start Streak Tonight At Butler--uicflames.com

Could there be problems ahead for Loyola in the Horizon League--ChicagoNow.com

Women's basketball: Tonight's UWGB vs. Youngstown State preview--Green Bay Press Gazette
Tetschlag earns player of the week honor--UWGB Basketball
UWGB women move up to No. 18--UWGB Basketball
Tetschlag Named Horizon League P.O.W. for Second Time this Season--uwgbathletics.com

MBB: Decade of the 2000's - Heartbreakers--Panther Blog Zone
Milwaukee Returns To Non-League Play At SIUE--uwmpanthers.com

Here's for a Happy New Year--The Post-Tribune

This would be a happy 2010 for me if ...

* If Valparaiso University's basketball team upset Butler on Feb. 26 at the ARC, I'd say the Crusaders have finally proved they belong in the Horizon League. Until they can whip the 'Dawgs, VU shouldn't be scheduling grownups like North Carolina, Purdue and Michigan State.

Horizon no pushover--The Post-Tribune

Crusaders out to halt losing streak at 9--The Post-Tribune
Scouting Valparaiso women's basketball: Loyola vs. VU--The NWI Times

Gardner’s finger may be fractured--Dayton Daily News

Wright State Women's Basketball Drops 68-47 Decision at Detroit to Open League Play--wsuraiders.com

Penguins Push No. 18 Green Bay Before Falling, 76-60--ysusports.com

Butler's Shelvin Mack named Men's Basketball Player of the Week--The Horizon League
Men's Basketball Weekly Release #8--The Horizon League
Dawg Pound Shows Dedication--Horizon League Network

Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- Jan. 4--The Horizon League
Tetschlag named Women's Basketball Player of the Week--The Horizon League
'Tis the REAL Season--Horizon League Network

Jim Squire

TMM A.M. - December 31, 2009--The Mid-Majority
TMM's Weekend Warriors: Week 8--The Mid-Majority
Mid-Majority Chat Block, Episode 607--The Mid-Majority

[Comment From Bob (Valparaiso IN)Bob (Valparaiso IN): ]
All four home teams won in Horizon League action last night, meaning the HL enters 2010 with just one unbeaten and two winless teams in league play? Is it parity or just difficulty winning on the road?

I still think that when it all shakes out, that there will be a real split between the good teams and the bad ones. I'll credit what happened last night to the toughness of playing on the road in conference during the holiday season. Decent teams like Wright and Milwaukee just didn't look themselves on NYE.
...
[Comment From Butler BulldogButler Bulldog: ]
6'11" Freshman Andrew Smith from Butler looked solid last night in his first real opportunity for playing time behind Matt Howard with 6 points and 8 rebounds in 11 minutes. Do you think he will be a force in the Horizon League as a big man once Howard graduates?

Wow...right in my wheel-house. Smith did look good last night. I think it was a matter of two things: 1) Horizon League opponents don't have a lot of the intimidating size which would have crushed Smith's confidence had he played more earlier in the year. 2) Matt Howard continues to make silly, silly fouls.

I think Coach Stevens has reached a breaking point with Howard, and isn't going to mess around when Howard gets in foul trouble. If that continues, expect to see more Andrew Smith, especially if he performs like he did last night.

As for the future... being 6'11" with good footwork in the Horizon League always pays dividends.

The State of the Other 24: Week 3--The State of the Other 24: Week 3--The Mid-Majority
New Year's Shootaround--Ballin' is a Habit

Other notable games:

* Butler 72, Green Bay 49: Shelvin Mack had 14 to lead the Bulldogs, but Matt Howard (7 points, 5 boards, 16 minutes) once again struggled.

Wins keep Howard content--The Indy Star
Tough tests yet to come for Bulldogs--The Indy Star
Mack a model of consistency--Indy Star Butler Insider
BUTLER 80, MILWAUKEE 67--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Bulldogs Roll Past Milwaukee--ButlerSports.com

Thornton Powers BU Past Loyola, 72-53--ButlerSports.com
Bulldogs Host UIC Monday Night--ButlerSports.com

Report Card: Cleveland State basketball = D-plus--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Revamped lineup pays off for Cleveland State in romp over Youngstown State, 70-48--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings Resume League Play At Youngstown State--csuvikings.com
Vikings Race Past YSU, 70-48--csuvikings.com

Vikings Drop League Opener to No. 20/22 Green Bay, 78-60--csuvikings.com
Vikings Host Milwaukee on Monday Night--csuvikings.com

Detroit Mercy 59, Loyola (Ill.) 42--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Mercy sends Loyola to first home loss--The Detroit News
Titans’ Big Second Half Leads Detroit Over Loyola--detroittitans.com

Titans Trounce Raiders, 68-47, in Horizon League Opener--detroittitans.com

Wright State defeats UIC 64-47--Daily Herald
Men's Basketball Beaten By Wright State, 64-47--uicflames.com

Jessie Miller Scores 23 To Lead Women's Basketball Over Valpo, 60-51--uicflames.com

Another wacky day in the Horizon League--ChicagoNow.com
Detroit rips Loyola in 2nd half for 59-42 victory--The Chicago Tribune
Titans' big second half sinks Ramblers--The Chicago Sun-Times
Detroit runs past Loyola-Chicago 59-42--Daily Herald
Cold-Shooting Loyola Has Seven-Game Winning Streak Snapped By Detroit--LoyolaRamblers.com
Post-Game Quotes Loyola vs. Detroit--LoyolaRamblers.com

Big First Half Run Costly As Loyola Drops Horizon League Opener At Butler, 72-53--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: 12-0 Phoenix gets off to 'good start' in Horizon--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Opens Conference Play with a Win over Cleveland State--uwgbathletics.com
Green Bay Heads To Youngstown to Take on the Penguins--uwgbathletics.com

Men's basketball: Phoenix gets key road win--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Stumps Valparaiso Offense in 64-58 Win--uwgbathletics.com

Learning along the way--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Weekly Panthers report--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Free Throws, Rebounds Key As Panthers Fall At Butler--uwmpanthers.com

Panthers Pull Away To Win League Opener At YSU--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Continue Trip At Cleveland State--uwmpanthers.com

Crusaders erase two deficits only to suffer loss--The Post-Tribune
Green Bay at Valparaiso, Jan. 2, Live Blog--Off The Mark
Valpo men lose close game to UWGB--The NWI Times
Live from the ARC: Valparaiso vs. Green Bay (MBB)--Region Sports Extra
Crusaders Fall to Green Bay Saturday Evening--valpoathletics.com

Wrapping up Saturday’s action at the ARC--Region Sports Extra

New lineup doesn't solve VU's problems--The Post-Tribune
Valpo women drop record ninth straight game--The NWI Times
Live from the ARC: Valparaiso vs. UIC (WBB)--Region Sports Extra
Adams’ 16 Not Enough as Valpo Drops Horizon League Opener--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Women Wrap Up Brief Homestand Monday Hosting Loyola (Chicago)--valpoathletics.com

Wright State shoulders UIC aside in road victory--Dayton Daily News
Raiders shut down UIC’s scoring threat--Dayton Daily News
Commentary: It’s time for WSU fans  to support their team--Dayton Daily News
Road victory for Raiders--Mark Katz's Blog
Road teams show some muscle--Mark Katz's Blog
Raiders (10-5, 3-1 HL) defeat Flames to split Chicago series--RaiderRoundball.com
Raiders Pull Away in Second Half for 64-47 Win at UIC--wsuraiders.com

Cleveland State routs YSU men--Youngstown Vindicator
Unhappy new year for YSU--Youngstown Vindicator
Slow Start Dooms Guins in 70-48 Loss to Cleveland State--ysusports.com

YSU comeback bid falters, 68-59--Youngstown Vindicator
UWM Catches Fire in Second Half to Win 68-59 in HL Opener--ysusports.com
Guins Host No. 20/22 Green Bay Monday in Quick Turnaround--ysusports.com

Men's Basketball Scoreboard - Jan. 2--The Horizon League

Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- Jan. 3--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

Thursday's Pregame Beat--Ballin' is a Habit

7:00 pm: Green Bay @ Butler: Butler struggled a bit against some of the better teams in country. They need an excellent season in the Horizon if they want to ensure an at-large bid.

Smith gets bigger bite of game time--The Indy Star
Butler reclaims Horizon League supremacy--The Indy Star
Butler adds shop in Hinkle--The Indy Star
Butler starts year in first place--Indy Star Butler Insider
BUTLER 72, GREEN BAY 49--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
LIVE BLOG: Men's Basketball vs. Green Bay--ButlerSports.com
Butler Cruises Past Green Bay In First Place Showdown--ButlerSports.com
Butler Begins New Year At Home Against Milwaukee--ButlerSports.com
LIVE BLOG: Men's Basketball vs. Milwaukee--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Open League Play Vs. Loyola--ButlerSports.com

Cleveland State looks to revive season with matchup vs. Youngstown State--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Vikings Open New Year With League Opener Against Green Bay--csuvikings.com

UDM loses--The Detroit Free Press

Illinois-Chicago 60, Detroit Mercy 56

CHICAGO — Robo Kreps went 18 for 18 from the free-throw line Thursday as Illinois-Chicago defeated Detroit, 60-56.

The Flames (5-8, 1-2 Horizon) shot just 28.1% (16-for-57) from the floor, including 17.6% (3-for-17) on three-point attempts. But they made up for it by hitting 25 of 31 free throws and taking advantage of 23 turnovers by Detroit.

Kreps was the only hot hand for Illinois Chicago. He finished with 31 points, accounted for all three Flames three-pointers and hit 5 of 10 field goals overall.

Chase Simon had 14 points and Thomas Kennedy 11 for Detroit (9-5, 2-1 Horizon League), which attempted only 14 free throws, making nine. The Titans pulled within two points, 58-56, when Simon hit one of two free throws with 50 seconds remaining, and got the ball back with a chance to tie it. But Xavier Keeling’s layup with 4 seconds left was blocked by the Flames’ Brad Birton.