News On The Horizon 2/10/2012

Detroit hands Green Bay women first loss of season--MICentralSports.com

Valparaiso Crusaders Dominate Cleveland State Vikings 59-41--Hoopville
Friday's Shootaround: Murray State and St. Mary's lose--Ballin' is a Habit

Valparaiso 59, Cleveland State 41: Valpo's win gave them a sweep of the Vikings, my pick to win the Horizon this season, and in the process took over sole possession of first place in the league, although they are only a half-game up on CSU and tied in the loss column. Of note: Kevin Van Wijk injured his knee in the game and didn't return.

Today's Specials: Bubblers try to make statements--Eye On College Basketball

Three things to keep an eye on:
...
Valparaiso at Cleveland State (7 p.m.) will battle for first place in the Horizon League. Cleveland State is a half-game up, but lost the first meeting to Valpo.

Believe in Butler? Why not?--Fox Sports Ohio
Utah Jazz: Hayward earns spot in Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend--Deseret News
No Utah Jazz players make 2012 NBA All-Star team--Salt Lake Tribune

Second-year Jazz forward Gordon Hayward was chosen Wednesday to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge.

Monson: Ty Corbin steering Utah Jazz ship through tricky seas--Salt Lake Tribune

The end of last season was mostly clean up, as the Jazz skidded through the remainder of their schedule. But by the night of the draft, the club had new hope in a fresh young core of promising players that included present lottery picks Enes Kanter and Alec Burks, and past lottery selections Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward. Those pieces, mixed with veterans Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Devin Harris, C.J. Miles and Raja Bell, among others, gave Corbin a powerful-yet-delicate stock of ammo with which to go to battle this season, once the extended labor dispute got settled.
...
Which is to say, getting them time is worth it, alongside Hayward, even if the Jazz don’t always win. Preparing for serious winning next season and the season after with the youngsters should be a priority over getting some scattered wins right now with veterans who likely won’t be around in coming years. Again, this season, the Jazz will be fortunate to even qualify for the playoffs. Remember also that the clock is ticking on players like Favors, who could bolt when their time is up. It’s a useful idea to make them comfortable, a part of the basic infrastructure, as soon as possible in hopes of keeping them.

Butler Vs. Youngstown State Final Score: Bulldogs Earn 68-59 Road Win Over Penguins--SB Nation Indiana
Butler beats Youngstown State on road 68-59--The Indy Star
Butler has selective memory in win over Youngstown State--The Indy Star
Whoa . . . league didn’t want to see that--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler builds lead, survives drought for win--Victory Firelight
Butler Drops Youngstown State, 68-59--Butler Blue Fever
BUTLER 68, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 59--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Butler Stifles Penguins In 68-59 Road Win--ButlerSports.com

These 3 High Variance Teams Could Be March Madness Sleeper Picks--Team Rankings

Potential Sleepers (High Variance Teams)
...
Cleveland State Vikings (TR Rank: 58, Off. SD: 12, Def. SD: 13.6): Cleveland State has quietly become the best team in the Horizon League, and they’ve done it with defense. The Vikings force a huge number of turnovers, and have held six opponents to 0.80 PPP or lower. The Vikings have the ability to be an extremely good defensive team, and that skill can win a game against a better opponent in the NCAA tournament.

Heat's Cole out, Brandon Knight in for Rising Stars--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Cleveland State men's basketball falls flat, loses an ugly one to Valparaiso--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Loss to Valparaiso changes the outlook on rest of schedule: Cleveland State Men's Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State men's basketball team shoots itself in foot from point-blank range: Terry Pluto--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Stumbles With Loss To Valparaiso, 59-41--Vikings Ball
StatSheet Projects Cleveland State as NIT Three Seed: 02/10/2012--Vikings Ball
Horizon League Basketball: Cleveland State Comes out Flat, Loses to Valparaiso--Bleacher Report
Vikings Fall to Valparaiso, 59-41--csuvikings.com

Illinois upsets Ohio State women's team with 2 seconds remaining: College Basketball Roundup--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland State 67, Loyola 65 Shalonda Winton scored 29 points to lead the Vikings (9-14, 4-8 Horizon League) to a victory in Chicago over the Ramblers (10-13, 5-7). The Vikings scored 10 of the first 12 points in the second half.

Loyola shot just 39 percent from the field and was 0-for-8 from the three-point line.

Winton Scores 1,000th Point As CSU Earns 67-65 Victory At Loyola--csuvikings.com

Women's college basketball roundup: Detroit Mercy, Michigan knock off ranked teams on road--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Mercy women hand No. 9 Green Bay first loss of season--The Detroit News
Titans Knock Off #9/9 Green Bay, 70-58, For Historic Win--detroittitans.com

Detroit (13-12) vs. Milwaukee (15-10)--Titans Update
Boutte sentenced--Varsity Press
Panthers, Titans Clash Friday at 7 on ESPN3--detroittitans.com

Strickland Nets Career High 26 Points; Flames Drop Penguins, 70-62--uicflames.com

Women's Basketball Blog Entry #9: Gabby Micek--LoyolaRamblers.com
Late Rally Comes Up Short As Loyola Falls To Cleveland State, 67-65--LoyolaRamblers.com

Loyola Closes Out Homestand By Hosting UIC Saturday--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball: Brown's stuff puts him in record books--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay (9-13) Squares Off With Wright State (11-14)--Phoenix Fever
Green Bay Begins Busy Stretch Friday Night at ESPNU--uwgbathletics.com

Women's basketball: Foul trouble, lack of depth sink UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
No. 9/9 Green Bay's Streaks Halted with 70-58 Loss to Detroit--Phoenix Fever

Senior Meier has dealt with injuries, coming off bench--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Keeping chase--PantherU
Eli Holman is no cautionary tale--PantherU
Milwaukee (15-10) Faces Detroit (13-12)--UWM Update
Video: Panthers Prepping For Contests At Detroit, Wright State--uwmpanthers.com

Second-half spurt buries Panthers--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Video: Women's Basketball "Pink Zone" Game Previewed--uwmpanthers.com
Second-Half Surge Sends Wright State Past Milwaukee--uwmpanthers.com

Valparaiso Takes Full Control In Horizon League--SB Nation Indiana
Homer Drew and wife fight their cancers together--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lazerus: Crusaders better off without Wood--The Post-Tribune
Edwards steps up for Valparaiso--The Post-Tribune
Red-hot Valparaiso blitzes Cleveland State--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso at Cleveland State, Feb. 9, Live Blog--Off The Mark
VU men ride spectacular start to win Horizon League battle for first--The NWI Times
Valparaiso Gets Win Over Cleveland State, 59-41--Valpo Daily
StatSheet Projects Valparaiso as NCAA Tournament Bubble Team 16 Seed: 02/10/2012
Crusaders Conquer Vikings--Section EE
Single-Game Tickets For Butler On Sale Now--valpoathletics.com
No-Doubt Victory Puts Crusaders in First Place--valpoathletics.com

WSU's Donlon uses 'balance' with criticism--Dayton Daily News
Preview: Wright State vs. Green Bay--Dayton Daily News
Raiders want more production outside of Mays--Dayton Daily News
Wright State (11-14) vs. Green Bay (9-13)--Rowdy Review

Women Pull Away for 64-52 Win at Milwaukee--wsuraiders.com

Long shooting droughts extinguish YSU’s chances against the Flames--Youngstown Vindicator
Cold Stretches Doom Penguins in 70-62 Loss at UIC--ysusports.com

Ice-cold Penguins fall to Butler--Youngstown Vindicator
Butler bounces?YSU--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Youngstown State Struggles in 68-59 Loss To Butler--Guin Report
Penguins off the mark, fall to Butler--The Jambar
Late Butler Run Too Much For Penguins to Overcome--ysusports.com

First, Third Place on Line Thursday Night--Horizon League Network
Valparaiso, Butler Make Statements with Road Wins--Horizon League Network

Women's Basketball Standings Tighten Up after Thursday Night--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 2/9/2012

Battle for the top: Breaking down Valparaiso at Cleveland State--Horizon League Hoops

Utah Jazz-Indiana Pacers: Instant Analysis--Deseret News

Odds n’ends:
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He did not receive the same welcome he did last year (nor did it rival the one Sacramento guard Jimmer Fredette received in Utah), but Gordon Hayward had a nice homecoming to the Hoosier State. With 11 points, three assists, and three boards, he was solid throughout.

Utah Jazz-Indiana Pacers: Report card--Deseret News

FORWARDS: Gordon Hayward, the hometown hero, gave a solid performance in his return home, scoring 11 points while tallying three assists and three rebounds. Indiana's Danny Granger matched the effort with 16 points and five rebounds. Paul Millsap outplayed David West, notching a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while going perfect (8-8) from the charity stripe. Grade: B+

Utah Jazz notebook: Jamaal Tinsley misses game but makes final cut--Deseret News

HAPPY HOMECOMING: Gordon Hayward didn't make SportsCenter's top play like last year, but he still gave his hometown crowd plenty to cheer about in his second pro outing in Indiana.

The former Brownsburg High and Butler star scored 11 points, totaled three rebounds and assists, and made a highlight-reel-worthy block and mid-air catch on Indiana's Danny Granger.

The Pacers' fans sporting No. 20 Jazz jerseys in his honor got the best of both worlds — a solid showing from Mr. Local Boy Did Good and a 104-99 Indiana win.

"It was great coming home and it was a lot of fun playing in front of my friends and especially my family," Hayward said. "It was great hearing some of the response from the fans that were supporting me. And even with the loss, this was a good experience."

A short one, though.

The Jazz arrived in Indianapolis from New York at about 3 a.m. and then had an 11 a.m. breakfast meeting. That only allowed a brief while for Hayward to visit family and take his girlfriend out to lunch.

Utah Jazz: Corbin hopes team learned lessons after back-to-back losses--Deseret News

The Jazz defense received a boost when they began pressuring Indiana for 94 feet and Utah's bigs helped attack the pick-and-roll up high, Corbin explained. Small forward Gordon Hayward and Harris said the Jazz need to be more aggressive in dictating what direction opponents go on offense.

Once that happened in Haywardland, the comeback kicked in.
...
"It's a tough road trip for us," Hayward added after Utah fell to 2-7 away from EnergySolutions Arena. "But we've got to go home and get back on track."

A win over the Thunder would do that. But then Utah will be in Memphis, New Orleans and Oklahoma City for games Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Still, even though they lost, the Jazz hope Tuesday's second-half effort was a turning point.

Added Corbin: "That's what you build on."

Utah Jazz: Hayward selected to play in NBA Rising Stars Challenge game--Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz Notes: Gordon Hayward going to All-Star weekend--Salt Lake Tribune
Indiana Hoosiers' Non-Conference Schedule: Surprise Teams Build IU's Resume--The Crimson Quarry

Butler 13-12 (7-6) – Oh Butler. Butler, Butler, Butler, what are we going to do with you? I’ve been saying since September that you aren’t rebuilding you’re retooling but several players have taken some steps back this season. They’ve popped off some good wins this season, but they aren’t the team that they should be. Even in their off year they should be competing for the conference championship but instead are toiling in the middle. They currently have no shot at the regular season crown and they’ll need a near miraculous tourney run to make the big one in March. Prognosis: Wait ‘til next year. Butler flames out in the conference tourney. No NCAA.

Men's college basketball preview: Butler at Youngstown State--The Indy Star
VF, Hayward, H.L. chaos all return--Victory Firelight
Butler (13-12) and Youngstown State (13-10) Square Off--Butler Blue Fever
Former Dawg Hayward Returns Home To Play The Pacers--ButlerSports.com

Miami Heat’s Norris Cole snubbed for Rising Stars Challenge--Miami Herald
Miami Heat struggles in loss to Orlando Magic--Miami Herald

Meanwhile the Heat was out of sorts from beginning to end. . Mario Chalmers was placed on the inactive list less than an hour before the game, and the Heat struggled with only one true point guard, rookie Norris Cole. Surprisingly, the normally fearless rookie approached the opportunity a bit timidly. He only attempted eight shots and finished with nine points.

“I would have liked to have won — that’s the main thing” Cole said. “But I made some good plays out there but still have a long way to go to learn in this league.”

Shots from LeBron critics and Magic too much for Heat--South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Heat opened with rookie Norris Cole at point guard, with starter Mario Chalmers sidelined by a sprained left hand sustained at the close of the third period of Tuesday's home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

ASK IRA: Does Chalmers' injury show need for another point?--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Cleveland State's Tim Kamczyc enjoys being a flexible part of Vikings' success--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Men's basketball to fight for first-place in HL--The Cauldron
CSU & Crusaders Lose Key Cogs But Keep Rolling--Let's Go Vikes!
Brown is Questionable This Week with Groin Injury--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State Host Valparaiso with first place on the line--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State (20-4) vs. Valparaiso (17-8)--Vikings Ball
On this day 15 years ago - Feb 08, 1997--Vikings Ball

Crusaders slay Lady Vikings, 66-48--The Cauldron
CSU student athlete awarded for Courage--The Cauldron

Registration Now Open For 2012 Loyola Basketball Camps--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: UWGB on high alert for tonight's game against Detroit--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women Phoenix blow past Panthers--UWGB Fourth Estate

Milwaukee 3-pointers extinguish Phoenix--UWGB Fourth Estate

Indiana College Basketball: Purdue Faces Must-Win Weekend--SB Nation Indiana

Valparaiso at Cleveland State 7pm Thursday

With a win over Cleveland State the Crusaders can take a huge step towards a regular season Horizon league title. Valparaiso beat Cleveland State at Valparaiso 75-66 on January 15th and the Vikings have not lost since. Cleveland State leads the league at 10-2, but Valparaiso is only a half game back at 10-3. Kevin Van Wijk and Ryan Broekhoff each average 15 points per game, and if Valpo can win both games this weekend at Cleveland State and Youngstown State the Horizon League will be theirs to lose.

Valpo finishes with only Illinois Chicago (3-10 in league play), Loyola (IL) (0-13), and Butler all at home. A regular season title means the Horizon League tournament will be played at Valparaiso with the hosts receiving a bye to the semifinals.

Valparaiso, CSU square off with first place on the line--The Post-Tribune
Big test awaits VU men's basketball team in Cleveland--The NWI Times
No. 11 Spartans 77, Nittany Lions 57: Notes, quotes from Wednesday's win--The Detroit Free Press

CHANGING LINEUP: For the second straight game, Austin Thornton started in place of Brandon Wood. Thornton, a senior shooting guard, scored six points on two three-point shots, grabbed five rebounds and had a steal. Wood also scored six points on two three-pointers.

Valparaiso (17-8) vs. Cleveland State (20-4)--Valpo Daily

Home stretch key for Raiders in tight league--Dayton Daily News

YSU looks for series split with Butler--Youngstown Vindicator
Youngstown State (13-10) Takes On Butler (13-12)--Guin Report
Perry rounds out HL POTW honors--The Jambar

Women head for Windy City--The Jambar
Guins Start Chicago Trip at UIC on Thursday Evening--ysusports.com

News On The Horizon 2/8/2012

Welcome, fans, to the best week of the season--

Streak-busting?

Some impressive streaks are in jeopardy over the next five weeks of play. Keep an eye on them:
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Butler (28). The Bulldogs have an active streak of six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and two Final Fours in a row. The latter definitely isn’t happening in 2012, and the former looks dicey as well. Butler (13-12 overall, 7-6 in the league) has no chance at an at-large bid and likely will have to battle through a tough Horizon League tourney draw to have a shot at the auto bid on someone else’s home court. But don’t weep for Brad Stevens, who is paying the price for early entries to the NBA (Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack would have been seniors on this team, which would have been scary). The Bulldogs could be Horizon favorites again next season.

Kragthorpe: Utah Jazz’s playoff hopes fading fast--Salt Lake Tribune

Afterward, the best question of the night may have come from a fan during a homecoming Q & A session for Indiana native Gordon Hayward, who was asked why he was on the bench and not guarding Granger in the fourth quarter after shutting him down until then.

Hayward naturally did not have much to say in response, on a night when the Jazz provided some answers about their future, but ultimately produced only more questions.

Utah Jazz dig a hole, then pay price in 104-99 loss to Indiana Pacers--Salt Lake Tribune

Bell shouted out everything from "Let’s go blue" and "Yes, sir" to "We do it by committee" and "Oh my God" from the bench. Paul Millsap (game-high 18 points) found a rhythm, Gordon Hayward locked in and the Jazz suddenly looked like the Jazz, stealing an 85-84 lead with 7:35 to go.

All that Jazz: Hayward making an impact in Utah--The Indy Star
Butler player Chrishawn Hopkins overcomes upbringing tainted by violence, family struggles--The Indy Star
Jazz lose in Hayward homecoming--Indy Star Butler Insider
Men’s basketball: League standings remain crowded--Butler Collegian
Dawg Pound makes deal--Butler Collegian
Butler Begins Ohio Swing At Youngstown State--ButlerSports.com

Hiring coaches a team effort--Butler Collegian

Women’s basketball: Squad wins third straight contest--Butler Collegian

Vikings hope Brown's groin treatment will work: NE Ohio Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Gary Waters Talks About D'Aundray Brown's Status for Valpo--Let's Go Vikes!
Crucial Homestand Will Clear Focus of Horizon League Race--Let's Go Vikes!
Vikings Vs Valpo Game Info--Let's Go Vikes!

Vikings Travel To Loyola For Thursday Contest--csuvikings.com

Detroit Visits No. 9 Green Bay On Thursday--detroittitans.com

Flames Host Penguins on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT--uicflames.com

Ramblers split road trip: Lose in Detroit, beat Wright State--Loyola Phoenix
Ramblers Prep For Thursday Night Clash With Cleveland State--LoyolaRamblers.com

Loyola To Hold Backcourt Club Event On February 21 In Valparaiso--LoyolaRamblers.com

Watch: Inside Phoenix Basketball: Feb. 6--uwgbathletics.com
Wojta Added to Wade Trophy Watch List--uwgbathletics.com
No. 9/9 Greeen Bay Hosts Detroit Thursday at 7 p.m.--uwgbathletics.com

VIDEO/NOTEBOOK: Brown Tops Green Bay's Blocks Chart--uwgbathletics.com

Groupon deal for Loyola game #IamUWM--PantherU
A Letter to Panther Nation--PantherU
Panthers Start Weekend Road Swing At Detroit Friday--uwmpanthers.com

Panthers Back At Home To Take On Second-Place Raiders--uwmpanthers.com

On this day 10 years ago - Feb 07, 2002--Valpo Daily
Valpo Heads to Cleveland State For First-Place Showdown--valpoathletics.com

On this day 10 years ago - Feb 07, 2002--Rowdy Review
Road struggles continue for men with losses to Butler and Valparaiso--The Guardian

Fox has career high in loss to Loyola--The Guardian

YSU's Nortey embraces her grand finale--Youngstown Vindicator

Youngstown St. Basketball: Important Games Coming Up Against Butler, Valparaiso--Bleacher Report
On this day 14 years ago - Feb 07, 1998--Guin Report
Men's Basketball Hosts National Runners-Up Butler Thursday on ESPN3.com--ysusports.com

The Barbar Shop: On the Bubble--Horizon League Network
Trio of Men's Basketball Players Earn Capital One All-Region Accolades--Horizon League Network

Green Bay's Julie Wojta Added to List of State Farm Wade Watch Hopefuls--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 2/7/2012

Power Rankings: Week 13--Horizon League Hoops
The Horizon’s 5 freshman to watch--Horizon League Hoops
Men's Basketball Games of the Week 2/6 - 2/10--College Sports Madness

VALPARAISO at CLEVELAND STATE (7 p.m. Thursday at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio)

With Valparaiso only a half-game behind Cleveland State and the Crusaders having beaten their Horizon League opponents once this season, this game will effectively decide the conference’s regular-season championship. Since dropping back-to-back games to Indiana-Purdue and Milwaukee, Valparaiso (17-8, 10-3) has won nine of its last 11 thanks to the scoring of Kevin Van Wijk (15.1 points per game) and Ryan Broekhoff (15.0 points, 8.6 rebounds). Valparaiso won 72-66 over Cleveland State on January 15. Cleveland State (20-4, 10-2) has also lost to Hofstra, Youngstown State and South Florida, but it appears to be a strong candidate for the NCAA tournament, especially if it can knock off Valparaiso. Cleveland State has won five in a row.

Women's Basketball Games of the Week 2/6 - 2/10--College Sports Madness

DETROIT at No. 11 GREEN BAY (8 p.m. Thursday at Kress Events Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin)

In all likelihood, the Phoenix will rise again and the Horizon League title will be decided in this game. Detroit (12-11, 8-3) has a little misleading record, however. The Titans started out the season 1-8 before dramatically turning things around, and its loss to Green Bay was only by nine points, 68-59. Illinois-Chicago and Youngstown State have also beaten the Titans this season. Green Bay (20-0, 10-0) has beaten five straight opponents by 20 points or more since its closer game with Detroit. Look for this game to be a closer one than Green Bay has had recently.

2012 NCAA Tournament: Indiana, Notre Dame, and Louisville Are Safe--SB Nation Indiana

Conference Tournament or Bust:

Valparaiso Crusaders - 17-8, 10-3 Horizon League - Thursday night is a huge game for Valpo, as they travel to Cleveland State in Horizon League play with first place on the line. A win would tie the teams in the loss column, but it would give Valparaiso a critical season sweep of the Vikings. That would put the Horizon League tourney on Valpo's floor and they would need only two home wins to go the NCAAs as long as they win the regular season title. A regular season title also assures an NIT berth at worst.

If Valparaiso can sweep this weekend's road trip to Cleveland State and Youngstown State they only have remaining conference games against Loyola (IL) and Illinois-Chicago (thee two worst teams in the league) and a home game against Butler.
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Longshots:

Butler Bulldogs - 13-12, 7-6 Horizon - I've downgraded Butler this week because they can't gain any traction in a crowded Horizon League. Their loss at home to Detroit was a pretty bad one, and it could get worse this week with trips to Youngstown State and Cleveland State. Butler will have a very long road in the Horizon League Tournament as opposed to the favorable placement at home that they are used to.

Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward goes back for seconds at Olive Garden in New York City--Deseret News
Roosevelt Jones Receives Honorable Mention for the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Butler Blue Fever

Beth Couture Show - Episode 7--ButlerSports.com

Tuesday Truths--Basketball Prospectus

Horizon: My multi-week salute to Gary Waters continues!

                      W-L   Pace    PPP   Opp. PPP    EM
1.  Cleveland St.    10-2   62.5    1.10    0.91    +0.19
2.  Valparaiso       10-3   63.6    1.06    1.01    +0.05
3.  Detroit           7-6   64.7    1.06    1.01    +0.05
4.  Youngstown St.    8-5   62.4    1.06    1.02    +0.04
5.  Milwaukee         8-5   64.3    0.97    0.94    +0.03
6.  Butler            7-6   64.3    0.95    0.95     0.00
7.  Wright St.        6-7   61.3    0.93    0.94    -0.01
8.  Green Bay         5-7   66.2    1.01    1.03    -0.02
9.  UIC              3-10   61.7    0.96    1.06    -0.10
10. Loyola           0-13   58.0    0.87    1.09    -0.22

AVG.                        62.9    1.00

No team -- not even Syracuse or Kentucky -- is dominating their Tuesday Truths league in per-possession terms the way Cleveland State is dominating the Horizon. It's true the conference has taken a step back from what we've seen in recent years, but Gary Waters' team is clearly moving in the opposite direction. Since the first installment of these figures was posted three weeks ago, the Vikings have run away from the rest of the conference and vaulted over 40-plus teams nationally in the Pomeroy ratings. And yet even at this late date no one's talking about CSU, which is weird because they did win at (Festus Ezeli-less) Vanderbilt way back when. Maybe no one's talking because it's true that Cleveland State will still have to win the Horizon tournament to go dancing. Assuming they do, however, you don't want to see this team in the brackets.

Anton Grady Wins the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Vikings Ball
First Place Vikings Host Valparaiso on Thursday--csuvikings.com

Eli Holman Wins the StatSheet Horizon Sixth Man of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Titans Update
CHEER FOR A COIN! – Detroit Titans v. James Madison--detroittitans.com

Brown Tabbed College Sports Madness HL Player Of The Week--detroittitans.com

Vikings show hustle and muscle--Whoosh!Net
Free Bus Rides to Loyola Available for UIC Students--uicflames.com

Skube steps up with Samplawski sitting at Loyola--The Post-Tribune

Prudential To Serve As Title Sponsor For Loyola Basketball Doubleheader Feb. 11--LoyolaRamblers.com
Take Advantage Of Groupon Deal For Loyola Men's Hoops Tickets--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: UWGB rises to No. 9 in AP Top 25--Green Bay Press Gazette
Rob Demovsky column: UWGB women's basketball team flourishes under coach Matt Bollant--Green Bay Press Gazette

Keifer Sykes is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Phoenix Fever

Records are made to be celebrated--PantherU
Milwaukee Long-Distance Barrage Sinks Green Bay, 81-75--Milwaukee Panther Tracks

After Brandon Wood's bounceback vs. Michigan, Tom Izzo will reconsider lineup--The Detroit Free Press
Spartans' Tom Izzo: 'I do think we are going to be a better team two weeks from now'--The Detroit Free Press

Freshman Branden Dawson has played his best ball the last four games -- he scored in double digits back-to-back games and finally is playing with the energy Izzo has been seeking. Senior transfer Brandon Wood didn't start in Sunday's win over Michigan but responded with his best effort in almost a month.

"We are getting some improvement," said Izzo, citing, along with Dawson and Wood, freshman Brandan Kearney, who "has done way more than I thought he would do."

Brandon Wood adjusts to coming off bench for Michigan State--The Detroit News
2013 Wing Clay Yeo.--Hoosierland Report
Richie Edwards is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Sixth Man of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Valpo Daily
A PPS Statistical Preview for Thursday--Section EE

Wright State women’s basketball enters week tied for second place in Horizon League--Wright State University Sports
AJ Pacher Receives Honorable Mention for the StatSheet Horizon Sixth Man of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Rowdy Review

YSU makes Horizon history--Youngstown Vindicator
Kendrick Perry named Horizon League Player of the Week--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Damian Eargle Wins the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - February 6th, 2012--Guin Report

Middlebrooks shoots for stars--The Jambar

News On The Horizon 2/6/2012

Youngstown St. 80, Loyola of Chicago 63--Associated Press
Cleveland St. 70, Ill.-Chicago 42--Associated Press

Utah Jazz extra: No Earl Watson jersey, but here are five free items--Deseret News

COMING ATTRACTIONS
...
Tuesday at Pacers, 5 p.m. MT, ROOT

Brownsburg's Gordon Hayward got a hero's welcome in his Indiana pro debut last year. Expect lots of No. 20 Jazz jerseys this time, too.

Non-Conference Opponents Update: February 6--Hammer and Rails

Butler Bulldogs - 13-12, 7-6 Horizon, RPI: 151 - Memo to Butler: STOP SUCKING! This loss continues to be an anvil tied to our ankles that is getting heavier as the season goes on. If we miss the NCAAs, this loss may be why. Butler lost at home to Detroit on Saturday and has now lost three of four. For good measure they get a weekend road trip to Youngstown State and Cleveland State, who are among the league leaders. They drew in-state rival Indiana State in the BracketBusters

On this day 12 years ago - Feb 05, 2000--Butler Blue Fever

Jenna Cobb Tabbed Horizon League Player of the Week--ButlerSports.com

Non-BCS Power Pyramid, Week 12--Eye On College Basketball

14. Cleveland State (20-4). A Sentence: With Nevada losing and Gary Waters’ team continue to roll in the Horizon, it’s time to get the Vikings back in the mix. A Statistic: No Pyramid team is worse in any category than Cleveland State is at getting to the foul line. The team’s free-throw rate is 26.1 percent, third-worst in the country. The Schedule: vs. Valpo, Thursday; vs. Butler, Saturday.

Toronto Raptors (8-16) at Miami Heat (17-6), 1 p.m. (ET)--Miami Herald

Mario Chalmers and Bosh scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Mike Miller also had 12 points and Norris Cole added 11 in the win. The Heat shot 51.9 percent and aim for a fifth straight win at home Sunday. They are 10-2 as the host and own a 1 1/2-game lead over Atlanta for the top spot in the Southeast Division. Miami is 12-3 versus the Eastern Conference this season and sports a 5-0 mark against Atlantic Division inhabitants. It has won nine in a row against teams from that division during the regular season.

Center, point guard, Battier secondary issues for Heat--South Florida Sun Sentinel

In a perfect world:
...
-- A veteran point guard is added for stability, an upgrade on last season's Mike Bibby addition, because we're still not sure about Norris Cole's motor being a playoff fit.

D'Aundray Brown's status for Valpo showdown uncertain: Cleveland State Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Balanced Cleveland State breezes to road win over Illinois-Chicago--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Is the college game lacking depth behind the premier teams? National College Basketball Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer

On the Horizon: Gary Waters has Cleveland State (20-4, 10-2) rolling, particularly on the defensive end. Since losing at Valparaiso, CSU has dispatched its opponents by 10, 26, 18 and 28 points, with most games decided by halftime.

If that trend continues this week with second-place Valparaiso (17-8, 10-3) at the Wolstein Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and league icon Butler (13-12, 7-6), at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Wolstein Center, national pollsters might have to revisit the notion of the Vikings being a Top 25 team. CSU received votes early in the season, but have not received many since losing to Hofstra, which remains the lone black mark on the Vikings' ledger this season.

Cleveland State Takes Down UIC, 70-42--Vikings Ball
Vikings Reach 20 Wins With 70-42 Win at UIC--csuvikings.com

On this day 14 years ago - Feb 05, 1998--Titans Update
Send a Kid to the Game Feb. 18 for $5--detroittitans.com

Cleveland State's big second half buries UIC--The Chicago Tribune
UIC hammered at home--Daily Herald
UIC Slips With Blowout Loss To Cleveland State, 70-42--Flame Fanatic
First-Place Cleveland State Defeats Men's Basketball, 70-42--uicflames.com

Loyola (5-18, 0-13) loses 11tth straight game--The Chicago Tribune
Loyola keeps battling despite 11-game skid--The Chicago Tribune
Loyola (Chicago) Drops One To Youngstown State, 80-63--LU Wolf Ball
Loyola Falls To Hot-Shooting Youngstown State, 80-63--LoyolaRamblers.com

On this day 14 years ago - Feb 05, 1998--Phoenix Fever

Injuries, free throw shooting threaten Panthers men’s season--UWM Post
Simplicity breeds offense--PantherU
On this day 7 years ago - Feb 05, 2005--UWM Update

The inexperience of the Panthers proves harmful--UWM Post

Michigan State Spartans 64, Michigan Wolverines 54: Draymond Green leads the way at home--The Detroit Free Press

Down 13, the Wolverines continued to scratch away. Trey Burke's three-pointer, followed by Morgan's layup cut the lead to 45-37 with 8:35 left. But the lead crept back into double-digits after Appling's driving layup and Derrick Nix's hook shot with 4:36 to go, making it 53-40 MSU. With less than 3 minutes to play, Wood hauled in an offensive rebound and then tripled, pushing the lead up to 17 with 2:48 remaining.
...
The Spartans outscored the Wolverines, 20-6, during about a 10-minute stretch in the first half. During the run, MSU turned U-M over five times and scored three layups on those turnovers. Also, Wood scored six of MSU's 20 points in the run to give the Spartans a 25-11 lead with 4:49 to go in the half.

MSU looked like it would have a double-digit lead going into halftime, but Burke's long three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired made it 30-22. Green and Wood each had six points at the break as MSU shot 59% (13-for-22). Novak had eight points for U-M.

Demoted Brandon Wood makes most of bench role with Spartans--The Detroit Free Press
Notebook: Michigan State targets, shuts down Michigan's Trey Burke--The Detroit News

Slam dunk

Austin Thornton started for Michigan State instead of Brandon Wood, who has struggled the past few games for the Spartans. Wood responded off the bench, though, with nine points, four rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes.

Draymond Green backs up bold words, MSU rolls over U-M--The Detroit News

It was also the fourth straight game Dawson scored in double-figures, and Brandon Wood, coming of the bench for the first time, scored nine and grabbed three offensive rebounds.

They're feeling good in East Lansing again--The Detroit News

The memory of that Jan. 17 loss also resonated with some of his less-experienced teammates, though. Izzo's "three-and-a-half freshmen" — rookies Travis Trice, Branden Dawson, Brandan Kearney and senior transfer Brandon Wood — all struggled in the loss at Ann Arbor.
Wood displays energy

None more so than Wood, whose play in the three games since has been spotty, at best, leading Izzo to replace him in the starting lineup with Austin Thornton.

But there was Wood on Sunday, hustling for as many offensive rebounds (three) as Michigan grabbed all game and finishing with nine points, four rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes.

Late in the second half, it was Wood who effectively sealed the win in a spirited sequence, grabbing an offensive rebound to reset the shot clock and then later hitting a 3-pointer to give the Spartans their largest lead at 57-40 with 2:48 left.

"Brandon just wasn't playing with energy," Izzo said. "And I want to coach basketball; I don't want to coach energy. So I told him, 'This is a challenge now. You can sulk about it or you can play.'

"Give him credit, I think the kid grew up a little bit today. I'm happy for him, and it's gonna make us a better team."

Michigan State's Brandon Wood responds to heavy heart, benching vs. Michigan--MLive

Wright State junior guard continues to play well in Horizon League games--Wright State University Sports
Raiders Host Wisconsin Teams--wsuraiders.com

Perry, Penguins take down Loyola--Youngstown Vindicator
Perry leads Youngstown State past Loyola 80-63--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Perry powers YSU men--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Youngstown State Gets Win Over Loyola (Chicago), 80-63--Guin Report
Kendrick Perry, Hot-Shooting Penguins Take Down Loyola, 80-63--ysusports.com
Kendrick Perry Named Horizon League Player of the Week--ysusports.com

Second-Half Runs Push Cleveland State, Youngstown State to Big Wins--Horizon League Network
YSU's Perry Grabs Player of the Week Accolade--Horizon League Network

Butler's Jenna Cobb Named Women's Basketball Player of the Week--Horizon League Network