News On The Horizon 3/6/2012

A Case For The Double Bye--The Mid-Majority
Make It Count--The Mid-Majority
Championship Week: Day 9 Preview--Beyond the Arc

Game of the Night: Detroit vs. Valparaiso
Detroit will be looking for it’s first Horizon League tournament championship since 1999 and Valparaiso will be searching for it’s first Horizon League title in school history. The Crusaders won both regular season match-ups, but only by a combined seven points. The key to victory for Detroit will be controlling the glass and providing a balanced scoring attack. For Valparaiso, they will look to ride the efforts of forwards Ryan Broekoff and Kevin Van Wijk.

Valparaiso Vs. Detroit: Crusaders Can Clinch First Tourney Appearance Since 2004--SB Nation Indiana

Madness 2012 Women's Basketball All-High Major Teams--College Sports Madness

Butler’s NCAA Tournament Dream Ended Saturday Night. Playing the Part of Butler This March Will Be …--The Big Lead
Corbin will send out a new starting lineup tonight vs. Cleveland--Deseret News
Hayward leading Jazz against Cavaliers--Deseret News
Big Al, Big Hayward lead Jazz to rare road win--Deseret News
Jazz-Cavs: Report card--Deseret News

Forwards: Paul Millsap's 13-point, nine-rebound effort, along with Josh Howard's 14-point, five-board outing in his new role as a starter, would have made for a solid evening for the Utah forwards. But Gordon Hayward's stellar display as the team's new sixth man made for an excellent evening for this group, as the second-year pro responded to his redefined role with 23 points on 8-11 shooting. On the other hand, Cleveland's Antawn Jamison and Alonzo Gee combined for 37 points. Grade: B+.

Utah Jazz-Cleveland Cavaliers: Instant Analysis--Deseret News

Embracing new roles: If his move from the starting line-up to a bench role had any effect on Gordon Hayward, it did not show. In fact, it was the quite the opposite. Playing with great aggressiveness, inhibition, and poise, the second-year man had probably his best game of the season and one of the most well-rounded of his career.

Hayward entered the game with three minutes left in the first quarter and his impact was immediate. He scored 11 points in the first half and bested that in the second with 12 more, finishing with a season-high 23 points. His efficiency was a huge spark, as he shot 8 of 11 from the field, 2 for 3 on three-pointers, and made all five of his free throw attempts. On top of that, he added five assists and four rebounds while not having a single turnover in 27 minutes.
...
Hayward’s marksmanship spearheaded a solid team shooting night, as Utah shot 50 percent from the floor, 56 percent from downtown, and 83 percent from the charity stripe.

Utah Jazz: Team cures road woes against the Cavaliers--Deseret News

CLEVELAND — Maybe it was the change to the starting lineup and bench that injected the Utah Jazz with renewed vigor and focus.

Maybe they've really turned the corner on the road.

Maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers just aren't all that good.

Heck, maybe Gordon Hayward will prove to be sixth man of the year material.

Or maybe, all of the above.

Jazz notes: Gordon Hayward answers benching with aggressive play--Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz finish what they start by downing Cavaliers 109-100--Salt Lake Tribune

Cleveland • Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin shook things up for the start. Then he mostly got the finish he wanted.

With Josh Howard cemented in the starting lineup Monday and Gordon Hayward spending the opening tip on the bench, Utah fired out of the gate, opening a 17-point lead before putting away the Cavaliers 109-100 at Quicken Loans Arena.
...
With Utah, the Jazz are sometimes at their best when Jefferson picks his spots, then sets up everyone from Hayward and Watson to Devin Harris and Josh Howard.

"In an offense like this, a big man like me should average no [fewer] than three, four assists a game. … Now I’ve got guys around me, and it’s common sense. A double team: pass it out." Jefferson said. "Sometimes I get in that moment, and I feel like I can still score on a double team. But the best way to do it is just pass the ball out and my teammates will get me open."

Hayward got himself open. Making his first reserve appearance of the season, the second-year forward took the court with 3:28 left in the first quarter and never looked back.

It was G-Man at his best — aggressive, relentless and efficient. Everything from 3-pointers and midrange jump shots to fast-break layups followed, and the Jazz stormed the path blazed by him and Harris.

"We were just out there playing. Earl does a great job of running that unit, and he’s the one that’s kind of orchestrating the whole thing," said Hayward, who tied his season high with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting. "He was able to get me a couple more touches; we were able to run some pick-and-rolls. … Running in transition: Anytime we run like that it’s good for us, because we get a couple easy buckets and the offense just flows a bit more; we get some momentum."

Non-Conference Opponents’ Update Final--Hammer and Rails

Butler Bulldogs - 20-14, 11-7 Horizon, RPI: 114 - The Bulldogs had to take the long way through the Horizon Tourney after the regular season finale loss to Valparaiso, but they beat Wright State and Milwaukee before losing to Valpo again in the semis. This team is likely going to get snatched up by the NIT on name-recognition alone, and it is setting itself up for an NCAA return next year. As always, Butler is going to be dangerous. They'll be playing in the postseason somewhere.

StatSheet Projects Butler as CIT Team: 03/06/2012--Butler Blue Fever

VIDEO | Women’s basketball--Butler Collegian
Hamm, Cobb Earn All-Horizon League Honors--ButlerSports.com
Tourney Time: #5 Butler At #4 UIC--ButlerSports.com

Anton Grady Wins the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Vikings Ball

Winton Named To All-Horizon League First Team & All-Defensive Team--csuvikings.com
Vikings Advance To Quarterfinals With 59-56 Victory Over Youngstown State--csuvikings.com
Vikings Face Detroit In Quarterfinal Contest--csuvikings.com

Detroit Mercy will try to solve Valparaiso, make NCAA tournament tonight--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Mercy sets sights on Horizon crown, NCAA bid--The Detroit News
Ray McCallum Wins the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Titans Update
Detroit (21-13) vs. Valparaiso (22-10)--Titans Update

More Honors Roll Out For Titan Women--detroittitans.com

Paris Carter Receives Honorable Mention for the StatSheet Horizon Sixth Man of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Flame Fanatic

Senior Duo Earns All-Horizon League Honors--uicflames.com

Patrice King, Simone Law Named To Horizon League All-Newcomer Team--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola Takes On Wright State In Horizon League Quarterfinals--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball: Recruit Love to add depth at point guard for UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette

Women's basketball: Valparaiso beats UWM, advances to play Phoenix--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: UWGB moves up to No. 10 in nation--Green Bay Press Gazette
Wojta Earns Player of the Year Honors, Ritchie Second Team--uwgbathletics.com


Panthers season comes to an end--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Green Selected For Horizon League All-Newcomer Team--uwmpanthers.com
Valparaiso Claims Victory Over UWM In Defensive Battle--uwmpanthers.com

What Does Branden Dawson’s Injury Mean For Michigan State?--Rush The Court

Without Dawson, Michigan State will have lean more heavily on Brandon Wood (a senior who has struggled through some inconsistency this season, but started 22 of the Spartans’ 31 games) and Brandan Kearney (a freshman who has grown through the conference season, earning additional minutes). It was an adjustment the Spartans couldn’t make on Sunday, but few teams are better on a quick turnaround than Tom Izzo‘s Spartans (see the 2010 Final Four run without Kalin Lucas as an example, and that was as a #5 seed). Wood averages 8.2 points per game, just a hair below Dawson, but his double-digit scoring output Sunday was his first since February 22 at Minnesota. Kearney has progressed nicely, but averages just 1.1 points per game and hasn’t scored in a game since February 5 against Michigan. In all likelihood, the scoring pressure will fall on Wood and point guard Keith Appling.

Deja Drew? Valpo Hero Hopes for Big March--Lost Letterman
Parents' cancer battles give Valpo coach heavy dose of perspective--The Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso faces Detroit for NCAA tournament berth--The Post-Tribune
Horizon League Championship analysis--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso faces Detroit for NCAA tournament berth--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso, Detroit poised for physical, uptempo game--Off The Mark
Valparaiso hosts Detroit for the right to go to the NCAA tournament--The NWI Times
Win and VU is in--The NWI Times
MSU's Brandan Kearney might fill void left by Branden Dawson injury--The Detroit News

Izzo also said it will help getting guard Travis Trice closer to 100 percent and having Brandon Wood play like he did Sunday. He also didn't rule out using his big men more, including adding Alex Gauna to the rotation of Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne.

Ryan Broekhoff is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Valpo Daily
Valparaiso (22-10) vs. Detroit (21-13)Valparaiso (22-10) vs. Detroit (21-13)

Women’s basketball: Seniors give Valparaiso tourney-opening win--The Post-Tribune
Crusaders capture first Horizon League tournament victory in women's program history--The NWI Times
Richards Named to Horizon League All-Defensive Team--valpoathletics.com
Crusaders Score Defensive Victory to Open Horizon League Tournament--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Heads to #10 Green Bay for Horizon League Quarters--valpoathletics.com

Kendall Griffin is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Freshman of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Rowdy Review

Wright State women lose finale at Butler--Fairborn Daily Herald
Demmings, Fox Receive All-Horizon League Honors--wsuraiders.com

Damian Eargle Receives Honorable Mention for the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - March 5th, 2012--Guin Report

Brown named to HL’s second team--Youngstown Vindicator
Rally comes up short for YSU--Youngstown Vindicator
Misses in Final Seconds The Difference in 59-56 Loss at CSU--ysusports.com

Detroit, Valpo Looking to Fill Dance Card on Tuesday Night--Horizon League Network

Horizon League Announces Women's Basketball Award Winners--Horizon League Network
Cleveland State and Valparaiso Advance to Quarterfinals of Women's Basketball Tournament--Horizon League Network
Detroit's Shareta Brown Named Women's Basketball Player of the Week--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 3/5/2012

Being All That You Can Be?--The Mid-Majority
Sitting with the Enemy--The Mid-Majority
King's Court: Regular-season awards--ESPN

Best first-year coaches

Bryce Drew, Valparaiso: The son of longtime Crusaders coach Homer Drew won the Horizon League league title with a 14-4 conference record.
...
Don't Forget to Write ("Good Guy" seniors we'll miss)
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Ronald Nored, Butler: The defensive catalyst never got enough credit for his contributions to Butler's back-to-back appearances in the national championship game. Can't imagine the guy has an enemy off the court.

Winner: Five-way tie. They're all winners.

Horizon title game preview: Valpo vs. Detroit--Eye On College Basketball
2012 Madness Men's Basketball All-High Major Teams--College Sports Madness
Tuesday Truths--Basketball Prospectus

Horizon: Valpo plays for a bid at home

                      W-L   Pace    PPP   Opp. PPP    EM
1.  Cleveland St.    12-6   62.9    1.08    0.95    +0.13
2.  Valparaiso       14-4   62.9    1.05    0.99    +0.06
3.  Detroit          11-7   65.0    1.06    1.02    +0.04
4.  Youngstown St.   10-8   63.3    1.04    1.01    +0.03
5.  Butler           11-7   63.8    0.96    0.94    +0.02
6.  Milwaukee        11-7   64.2    0.99    0.97    +0.02
7.  Green Bay        10-8   65.8    1.03    1.02    +0.01
8.  Wright St.       7-11   61.4    0.93    0.96    -0.03
9.  UIC              3-15   62.2    0.96    1.08    -0.12
10. Loyola           1-17   59.0    0.92    1.09    -0.17

AVG.                        63.0    1.00

Tomorrow night Valparaiso will host Detroit in the title game of the Horizon tournament, with the winner receiving what will surely be the league's only NCAA bid. Ordinarily the fact that the Titans defeated the league's best per-possession team, Cleveland State, to get this far would be more impressive, but CSU really struggled over the last three weeks of the season. Then again UDM star Ray McCallum certainly helped extend those struggles in the semifinals, to the tune of 26 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. For their part the Crusaders will be able to call upon 2012 Horizon POY Ryan Broekhoff, a 6-7 junior who exhibited remarkable shooting accuracy from both sides of the arc this year. In a post-Butler league, these are indeed the conference's two most talented members.

ATB: Wild Weekend Full of Tournament Tickets Punched And Regular Season Finales--Rush The Court

Three Mid-Majors Blow Their Opportunity. Middle Tennessee, Iona and Butler were three strong mid-major teams to keep tabs on as possible NCAA Tournament Cinderellas. Iona leads the nation in scoring per game with several offensive stars, MTSU is top-five in the country in field-goal percentage, and we all know why you can’t doubt Butler. But all three of these teams lost in their conference tournaments over the weekend and sport lackluster resumes that are not likely to result in at-large bids. It’s a shame that we won’t be able to see Scott Machado play in the Big Dance or Brad Stevens gunning for a third straight Final Four appearance, but that’s what happens when you don’t perform best when it matters most. We’ll see you in the NIT.

Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks: Report card--Deseret News

Guards: Devin Harris, Gordon Hayward and C.J. Miles, who played 10 more minutes than the starter Hayward, combined to go 8-24 from the field, while Earl Watson was so-so (five points on 2-4 shooting with two turnovers). Backup guard and former Jazz signee Jason Terry scored 22 points and shot 3-6 from distance to pace the Dallas backcourt on a night that Jason Kidd and Vince Carter were nothing special. GRADE: C-

Wizards see strong back court emerging to lead their roster--Washington Post
Butler's NCAA Tournament Reign Ends in Conference Tournament Semi--Bleacher Report

Horizon League Semifinals: Detroit 63, Cleveland State 58--Cleveland State Hoops

Watch The Horizon League Network's Women's Basketball Awards Show Today At 2 P.M.--detroittitans.com


Former Ramblers Excelling In Pro Ranks--LoyolaRamblers.com

Down and out--UWM Post
On this day 6 years ago - Mar 04, 2006--UWM Update

Panthers lose to UIC and Loyola--UWM Post
Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship preview--UWM Post
UWM Opens Horizon League Tournament At Home Against Valparaiso--uwmpanthers.com

VU getting physical in tourney--The Post-Tribune
Horizon League commish believed it was only a matter of time for Crusaders to excel--The NWI Times
Ohio State 72, Michigan State 70: Spartans can't clinch Big Ten title outright, lose Branden Dawson for season--The Detroit Free Press

Still, with Keith Appling pushing the ball in transition and Brandon Wood hitting from the wings MSU was able to take a nine-point halftime lead. But Ohio State quickly cut the lead to three to begin the second half.

Ohio State 72, Michigan State 70: Spartans share Big Ten title after blowing lead--The Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING -- Coach Tom Izzo promised his family that if Michigan State lost its regular-season finale Sunday afternoon against Ohio State, and the outright Big Ten title with it, he wouldn't let it ruin the postgame senior day celebration to honor the careers of Draymond Green, Delvon Roe, Austin Thornton, Brandon Wood and Anthony Ianni.
...
Despite the rough finish, MSU did follow the game plan early, as Keith Appling pushed the ball in transition and Brandon Wood made shots from the wings.

MSU falls in thriller, shares title with Michigan, OSU--The Detroit News

Brandon Wood, who scored 15 points, was guarding Buford on the final play, but switched with Keith Appling.

"He made a great shot," Wood said. "Keith played it as well as he could, he's just a good player and he made a good shot."

Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State share the wealth in Big Ten--The Detroit News

Eyes on the bigger prize
...
The Spartans built their lead on the force of pure Green energy — along with the shooting of fellow senior Brandon Wood. And if you doubted whether regular-season basketball titles still mattered, you saw the graphic response in the physical and emotional toll of this one.

Crusaders Set For Title Game Against Detroit--valpoathletics.com

Horizon League women’s tourney preview--The Post-Tribune
Timmerman key to Valpo’s tourney hopes--The Post-Tribune
Junior Laura Richards prepared to lead Valpo into conference tournament--The NWI Times
Scouting the Horizon League Women's Basketball tournament--The NWI Times
Women's Hoops Tips Off Tournament Play Monday at Milwaukee--valpoathletics.com

On this day 9 years ago - Mar 04, 2003--Rowdy Review

Frosh Start--Youngstown Vindicator
On this day 9 years ago - Mar 04, 2003--Guin Report

Women's Basketball Heads Back to Cleveland for League Tournament--ysusports.com

News On The Horizon 3/4/2012

March of the Penguins? Not this Year.--The Mid-Majority
Beauty in the Eyes of Some Beholders--The Mid-Majority
Whose House Is This Anyway?--The Mid-Majority
The Other 26: Week 14--Rush The Court

Championship Week: What to Watch For
...
The Known Unknowns – T026 conference tournaments fall into a few categories. There are the ones where strong teams who don’t win out can fall back on an at-large bid (MVC, WCC). And there are the ones where clear favorites try to fulfill their destiny with an auto bid (MAAC, SoCon, Sun Belt, Summit). But perhaps the most exciting conference tournaments are those with no clear favorite and where a championship is the difference between a Tournament bid and the NIT at best. This combination of high stakes and unpredictability distinguishes a few of this year’s early tournaments, the most prominent of which is the CAA. Drexel won the regular season title, but did so on the strength of an unbalanced schedule, playing VCU and George Mason once each, with both games coming at home. No one would be surprised if any of those teams — or even ODU — were dancing at center court in Richmond on Monday night. And at the moment, it doesn’t look like anyone who’s not dancing will be able to snag an auto-bid. The other big entry in this category is the Horizon League, where Valpo won the regular season title, but hardly in dominating fashion. No one would be surprised if any of the other remaining semifinalists — Cleveland State, Butler, Detroit — emerged victorious, and the ones who don’t surely won’t be Tournament-bound. Finally, there’s the Big Sky, where Montana and Weber State are clear co-favorites; but you’d be hard-pressed to give either clear odds should they meet a third time for all the marbles.

Championship Week: Day 6′s best game, top player--Beyond the Arc

Player of the Night: Ryan Broekoff, Valparaiso
The Horizon League Player of the Year scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the Crusaders 65-46 victory over Butler in the Horizon League semifinals. The last time these two teams met, a week ago Friday, Broekoff scored just six points and shot 22 percent (2-of-9) from the field and was 0-of-4 from the foul line. But on Saturday, he shot 67 percent (6-of-9) from the field and 83 percent (5-of-6) from the foul line. The Butler Bulldogs will not be making a third consecutive trip to the National Championship game, and Broekoff is one of the reasons why.

W-1 BP68--Basketball Predictions

There is only one change to the 68 team bracket since my last projection: Valparaiso is in for Butler as my projected Horizon champ. Valpo beat Butler head-to-head on Saturday, ending Butler's chances of a third straight long NCAA Tournament run.

Horizon League Tournament 2012: Butler Vs. Valparaiso Preview--SB Nation Indiana
Horizon League Tournament 2012: Valparaiso Ends The Madness For Butler In March--SB Nation Indiana
Horizon League semis: Cleveland State vs. Detroit, Live Blog--Off The Mark
So much for the double bye: Titans upset No. 2 Cleveland State--The NWI Times

2012 Horizon Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams--College Sports Madness

Butler finally lost in March, but don’t get used to it--Beyond the Arc
A note on Butler and the unrepeated future--Eye On College Basketball
Utah Jazz notebook: Jazz ready to hit the road--Deseret News

"I think we need the road trip," Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward said. "It'll just be us against the world out there. Sometimes that's a good thing, so it should be fun."

Fun is one word.

Exhausting and daunting might be others that could be used to describe the next eight days.

Utah Jazz: Raja Bell to return, but he may not be a starter--Deseret News

Corbin wants to wait until everybody is healthy to decide if a change is in order. But he recently said Gordon Hayward is a possible candidate to be moved into a reserve role. The second-year swingman has started all 36 games, but his versatility and potential firepower could add the "spice" to the second unit that Corbin wants it to have on a consistent basis.

"I haven't spoken to him," Bell said of Corbin. "Those aren't my calls."

Valparaiso ends Butler's March reign, NCAA hopes--The Indy Star
Crossroads for young Dawgs--Indy Star Butler Insider
Valpo ends Butler’s bid for NCAA’s--Victory Firelight
VALPARAISO 65, BUTLER 46--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
BASKETBALL | Loss to Valparaiso dashes NCAA tournament hopes--Butler Collegian
Bulldogs Fall In Horizon League Semifinals--ButlerSports.com

Douglas Goes For 31 To Lead BU Past Wright State--ButlerSports.com

Frustrated Cleveland State left with a basketball season that fizzled away: Terry Pluto--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Valparaiso routs Butler to reach league finals: Horizon Tournament Insider--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State bows out of Horizon tourney with 63-58 loss to Detroit--Cleveland Plain Dealer
StatSheet Projects Cleveland State as CBI Team: 03/04/2012--Vikings Ball
CSU Falls to Detroit, 63-58--csuvikings.com

Vikings Hold Off Penguins For 79-69 Victory On Senior Day--csuvikings.com
Vikings Set To Host Youngstown State In Horizon League First Round Contest--csuvikings.com

Detroit Mercy Titans 63, Cleveland St. 58: Titans head to Horizon League finals--The Detroit Free Press
Saturday's state basketball: Ray McCallum Jr. leads Detroit Mercy into Horizon League final--The Detroit News
Titans Headed to Horizon League Finals Tuesday--detroittitans.com
Follow the Titans in the HL Championship!--detroittitans.com

Brown Paces Titans in Win Over Valparaiso--detroittitans.com
Horizon League Championship Women's Basketball Bracket Announced--detroittitans.com

UIC Hangs Tough in Losing Battle with # 11/11 Green Bay, 77-64--uicflames.com

Albano's Big Day Helps Loyola Past Milwaukee, 69-62--LoyolaRamblers.com
Loyola Draws Wright State In Horizon League Quarterfinals--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: No.11 Phoenix beat Illinois-Chicago 77-64--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Wraps up Regular Season Play on Winning Note--uwgbathletics.com

Men's basketball: Phoenix adds recruit Love for class of '12--Green Bay Press Gazette
On this day 6 years ago - Mar 03, 2006--Phoenix Fever

Panthers' climb never gets over the top--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ramblers Fend Off Panthers Down Stretch To Claim Win--uwmpanthers.com
Women's Basketball Set For Horizon League Tournament--uwmpanthers.com

VU feeds off energetic atmosphere at ARC--The Post-Tribune
Broekhoff leads Valparaiso past Butler (again) and into Horizon title game--The Post-Tribune
Horizon League semis: Butler at Valparaiso, Live Blog--Off The Mark
Valparaiso 65, Butler 46, game recap--Off The Mark
Valparaiso gives Butler a taste of own medicine in blowout victory--The NWI Times
Broekhoff leads Valpo rout of Butler to reach Horizon championship game--The NWI Times
Horizon men's basketball title game tickets on sale--The NWI Times
Live from the ARC: No. 1 Valparaiso vs. No. 5 Butler (MBB)--Inside VU Sports
After erratic season, Michigan State's Brandon Wood wants grand finale--The Detroit Free Press
Draymond Green, Michigan State look to celebrate unlikely run to Big Ten title--The Detroit Free Press

Today, the Spartans have a chance to do what only five MSU teams have done: win the Big Ten conference outright. Seniors Austin Thornton and Green -- who will be honored in a postgame ceremony for senior day along with Brandon Wood and Anthony Ianni -- have a chance to be the first players in school history to win two outright titles.

StatSheet Projects Valparaiso as NCAA Tournament Bubble Team 15 Seed: 03/04/2012--Valpo Daily
Game Wrap Up: Any more doubters out there?--Section EE
Crusaders Down Butler, Advance to HL Title Game--valpoathletics.com
Ticket Information for Tuesday's HL Title Game--valpoathletics.com

Women’s basketball: Valpo’s chance for upset falls short in finale--The Post-Tribune
Crusaders fall short in upset bid over Detroit women--The NWI Times
Valpo Falls to Detroit in Regular Season Finale--valpoathletics.com

WSU's early tourney exit caps season of losses--Dayton Daily News
Raiders hoping to have a productive offseason--Dayton Daily News

Women Drop Regular-Season Finale at Butler--wsuraiders.com

Loss sets up rematch for YSU--Youngstown Vindicator
CSU holds off YSU women’s comeback--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Cleveland State Ends Strong to Beat YSU, 79-69; Rematch Set for Monday--ysusports.com

Detroit and Valparaiso to Meet for Men's Basketball Championship--Horizon League Network
Tickets Available for Tuesday's Men's Basketball Championship--Horizon League Network

Field Set for 2012 Women's Basketball Championship--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 3/3/2012

Clash of the Dangerous on a Neutral Court--The Mid-Majority
ATB: Friday Night Lights With Jack Cooley, Harvard, and Plenty of Conference Tourney Action…--Rush The Court

Survive & Advance. Twenty-two more teams were eliminated from eight conference tournaments tonight as we continue to whittle our way down from over 300 teams to currently 258 still vying for the national championship.
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Horizon League. Uh-oh. #5 Butler crushed #4 Milwaukee on Friday night, setting up a showdown with #1 Valparaiso on the Crusaders’ home floor Saturday, and making everyone wonder if Brad Stevens is working his magic again. On the other side of the bracket, #3 Detroit easily dispatched #6 Youngstown State to move into the semifinals as well.

Today's Specials: Tourneys take center stage--Eye On College Basketball

Another one to watch: Butler vs. Milwaukee (8:30 p.m., ESPN3). The Horizon League has a wide-open conference tournament this season, and these two teams have the pieces to make a run and get the automatic bid. The two teams split the regular-season meetings 1-1, with each team winning on its homecourt. Both teams play very good defense, with Milwaukee defending the arc closely and Butler preferring to control the glass and interior.

Detroit pounds Youngstown State--The Post-Tribune
HL Tournament, second round, YSU vs. Detroit, Live Blog--Off The Mark
Horizon League Quarterfinal #1: No. 3 Detroit vs. No. 6 Youngstown State--Inside VU Sports

A Butler loss means a new Cinderella must emerge--Beyond the Arc
Does anyone want to hold out hope for some Butler magic?--Beyond the Arc
Utah Jazz: Millsap, Harris good to go tonight vs. Heat--Deseret News

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said Gordon Hayward will begin against Wade and Josh Howard will start on James, but Utah (16-18) needs a team effort to have a chance against Miami (28-7).
...
Hayward said the Jazz need to be "aggressive defensively." When it comes to guarding the freakishly athletic 6-foot-8, 250-pound James, which Hayward will likely do at times, the 6-8, 210-pound Hayward said Jazz players need to "get in his way, make him do things that he doesn't want to do and get him a little frustrated."

Hayward also emphasized the importance of limiting turnovers and not taking poor shots, which lead to fast breaks for the Heat.

Andray Blatche eager to get back and ‘do something I love to do’--Washington Post

Andray Blatche had waited so long to be back on the court, back with his teammates, that he couldn’t leave the floor on Thursday immediately after the Washington Wizards concluded practice. He stayed around to play two-on-two basketball with rookies Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack, eagerly trying to make up for more than an entire month of lost time.

Horizon League Tournament Bracket Update: Butler Advances, Semifinals All Set For Saturday--SB Nation Indiana
Tonight's Viewing Guide: Championship Week Continues--Casual Hoya

Horizon Conference Quarter Finals:

3 Seed Detroit vs. 6 seed Youngstown State 6pm ESPN3

4 seed Milwaukee vs. 5 see Butler 8:30pm ESPN3

Can Butler make a 3rd straight miracle NCAA run? Not unless they win the Horizon Tournament. The Bulldogs are getting hot at the right time again though winning 6 of their last 7.

Butler advances to Horizon League semifinals against Valparaiso tonight--The Indy Star
March is Stevens’ month--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler pounds UWM, Valpo awaits--Victory Firelight
BUTLER 71, MILWAUKEE 49--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
BASKETBALL | Butler tops UW-Milwaukee, advances in Horizon League Tournament--Butler Collegian
Bulldogs Beat Milwaukee, Advance To Horizon League Semifinal--ButlerSports.com
Butler Meets Top-Seed Valparaiso--ButlerSports.com

WBB Senior Day: Butler vs. Wright State--ButlerSports.com

Miami Heat’s win streak ends at nine--Miami Herald

Heat guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole combined to score five points on 2-of-14 shooting from the field. Chalmers didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. Instead, James played point guard and ran the offense. James was visibly frustrated with Chalmers in the first half and also scolded Dexter Pittman for a silly foul.

Cleveland State to face Detroit in Horizon League men's basketball tournament after Titans rout Youngstown State--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State men's basketball team's young players know the time is now--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings to Play Detroit in Horizon League Semifinals--csuvikings.com

Preview capsules for today's women's college basketball games--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland State vs. Youngstown State

Tipoff: 2 p.m. Wolstein Center.

Notable: Cleveland State (10-18, 5-12 Horizon League) ends the regular season looking to snap a two-game losing streak against neighboring Youngstown State (10-18, 4-13), which has lost seven straight.

Next for CSU: Monday TBD, Horizon League Tournament.

College hoops roundup: Detroit Mercy advances in Horizon tourney--The Detroit Free Press
Friday's state basketball: Detroit Mercy makes Horizon semifinals--The Detroit News
On this day 10 years ago - Mar 02, 2002--Titans Update
Coach McCallum Shows Them How It's Done--Detroit Titans Blog
Strong First Half Leads Titans to Semifinals Saturday--detroittitans.com
Titans to Face Cleveland State Saturday in HL Semifinals--detroittitans.com

Detroit Closes Out Regular Season At Valparaiso--detroittitans.com

Senior Day Saturday Against #11/11 Green Bay--uicflames.com

On this day 5 years ago - Mar 02, 2007--LU Wolf Ball
Loyola Closes Out Regular Season With Matinee Against Milwaukee--LoyolaRamblers.com

Men's basketball notebook: Postseason still possible for Phoenix--Green Bay Press Gazette
Men's basketball: Young Phoenix 'fired up' for more
Perhaps UWGB's season isn't over--UWGB Basketball
Phoenix men earn road win at Chicago--UWGB Fourth Estate

Today's UWGB-UIC women's basketball preview--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay clinches 14th Horizon League Championship--UWGB Fourth Estate
Bauer, Phoenix cruise past Crusaders--UWGB Fourth Estate
No. 11/11 Green Bay Closes Regular Season Play at UIC Saturday--uwgbathletics.com

UWM brushed aside by Butler in the paint--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Butler shuts down Panthers, 71-49--PantherU
Butler's Inside Efforts Knock Panthers From Horizon League Tournament--uwmpanthers.com

UWM Closes Season At Loyola, Looks To Secure Home Postseason Game--uwmpanthers.com

Butler dominates Milwaukee, sets up rematch with Valparaiso--The Post-Tribune
Second round HL tourney, Milwaukee vs. Detroit, Live Blog--Off The Mark
Butler manhandles Milwaukee, sets up Round 3 with Valparaiso--Off The Mark
Valparaiso vs. Butler III: This One Counts--Inside VU Sports
A final Breslin bow for Draymond Green--The Detroit News

Ohio State at Michigan State

Tip-off: 4 p.m. Sunday, Breslin Center, East Lansing
TV/radio: CBS/WJR
Records: No. 10 Ohio State 24-6 (12-5 Big Ten), No. 5 Michigan State 24-6 (13-4)
Outlook: Michigan State looks to capture the Big Ten title outright and sweep Ohio State. The Buckeyes can grab a share of the title with a victory, though the Spartans have locked up the No. 1 seed for the Big Ten tournament. … It’s the final home game for seniors Draymond Green , Austin Thornton , Brandon Wood and Anthony Ianni.

Valpo to Host Butler in HL Semifinal Action--valpoathletics.com

Women’s basketball: Key game awaits Valparaiso tonight--The Post-Tribune
Women's Hoops Hosts Detroit on Senior Day Saturday--valpoathletics.com

Slow start dooms YSU in tourney--Youngstown Vindicator
Damian Eargle Scores 25 As Penguins Fall to Detroit 93-76--ysusports.com

2nd Round Features Offensive, Defensive Showdowns--Horizon League Network
Detroit, Butler Advance to Men's Basketball Semifinals--Horizon League Network
Packed ARC to Play Host to Semifinal Matchups--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 3/2/2012

No. 11 Green Bay beats Loyola of Chicago 85-56--MICentralSports.com
Titans face tough test Friday--Fox Sports Detroit
Night Court: Ian Miller new FSU hero--Eye On College Basketball

On tap:

Plenty of conference tourney action:

1) The Horizon second round -- and that means Butler is in action. The Bulldogs face UW Milwaukee at 8:30.

Men's college basketball preview: Butler vs. Milwaukee--The Indy Star
VF Podcast: Talking BU & Horizon tourney--Victory Firelight
Butler vs. UWM: Survival of the fittest--Victory Firelight
Butler Closes Their 2011-2012 Season With Milwaukee--Butler Blue Fever
Bulldogs Face Milwaukee In League Tournament--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Edged By Detroit 57-52--ButlerSports.com

Miami Heat (27-7) at Portland Trail Blazers (18-17), 10:30 p.m. (ET)--Miami Herald

Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole did a stellar job of persistently flustering Lin, and Miami continually frustrated him with its trapping defense.

On this day 15 years ago - Mar 01, 1997--Vikings Ball

Vikings Host Youngstown State On Senior Day--csuvikings.com

The NC-Double-Eh Stat Leaders - Week 15--Raptors HQ

Minutes

Devoe Joseph, Oregon - 35.2

Hernst Laroche, New Mexico State - 32.7

Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga - 31.2

Kris Joseph, Syracuse - 31.2

Justin Edwards, Maine - 31.1

Tyler Murray, Wagner - 30.8

Ty Nurse, Texas Tech - 30.4

Jason Calliste, Detroit - 30.2

Harouna Mutombo, Western Carolina - 29.6

Myck Kabongo, Texas - 29.6

Defense crucial for Detroit Mercy in Horizon League tournament--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Closes Their 2011-2012 Season Against Youngstown State--Titans Update

Thank You Seniors--Detroit Titans Blog
Titans Hold Off Butler, 57-52, Clinch #2 Seed In The Horizon League Championship--detroittitans.com

On this day 9 years ago - Mar 01, 2003--Flame Fanatic

Flames Clinch Four Seed With, 59-52, Triumph over UWM--uicflames.com

Big Second Half Pushes No. 11 Green Bay Past Loyola, 85-56--LoyolaRamblers.com

Women's basketball: No. 11 UWGB trounces Loyola--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: UWGB looks like it's back in high gear--Green Bay Press Gazette
No. 11/11 Green Bay Rolls over Ramblers with 85-56 Win--uwgbathletics.com

Panthers face tough Butler defense--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
We're Gonna Gitcha--PantherU
Milwaukee Closes the Season Against Butler--UWM Update
Video: Panthers Getting Ready For League Tourney Contest With Butler--uwmpanthers.com

Panthers go cold down the stretch--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Shorthanded Milwaukee Women Fall Late At UIC--uwmpanthers.com

Horizon League Tournament preview--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso looking to take advantage of top seed, do ‘something special’--The Post-Tribune
Horizon League tournament notes and quotes--Off The Mark
Michigan State gets to work for 'championship' weekend--The Detroit Free Press

Said Izzo: "No. 1, Trice is gonna give Keith (Appling) a little rest. And that is going to be important. No. 2, they are going to play together some. We went back and watched the first game (against Indiana), and we didn't realize how much Trice and Keith and Brandon Wood played together. (Trice) gives us versatility to do a lot of different things."

VU women hold on, keep hopes of hosting tourney game alive--The Post-Tribune
Valpo Opens Final Homestand with Win over Wright State--valpoathletics.com

Raiders failed to respond to surges--Dayton Daily News

Women Fall at Valparaiso--wsuraiders.com

Talent, chemistry help YSU take step forward--Youngstown Vindicator
Defense critical for YSU tonight--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Youngstown State Finishes Their 2011-2012 Season With Detroit--Guin Report
Men's Basketball Takes on Detroit in Horizon League Second-Round--ysusports.com

Tickets On Sale for Men's Basketball Championship--Horizon League Network

Top Six Seeds Locked In After Thursday Night Play in Women's Basketball--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 3/1/2012

The Joy of Halftime Adjustments--The Mid-Majority
Championship Week(s) Central--Hoopville

Day 2 of Championship Week 2012 was all about the Horizon League.

The league was the only conference with tournament action Tuesday, and we still did not witness any upsets, as all four favorites took care of business at home.

No. 3 Detroit 80, No. 10 Loyola-Illinois 71
No. 4 Milwaukee 68, No. 9 UIC 55
No. 5 Butler 70, No. 8 Wright State 52
No. 6 Youngstown State 77, No. 7 Green Bay 60

Championship Week recap: Day 2′s best game, top player--Beyond the Arc

Utah Jazz-Houston Rockets: Report card--Deseret News

GUARDS: Devin Harris had one of his best games of the season, and he helped turn the game's tide in the final minutes of the second quarter. Gordon Hayward was solid all-around. The Rockets' usual strong backcourt was off. Kyle Lowry spent too much time whining at the officials, and Kevin Martin shot 20 percent.

Grade: A

Cleveland State's Harmon, Brown and Grady Earn All-League Honors--Cleveland State Hoops

Women's basketball: Today's UWGB vs. Loyola Preview--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: UWGB looks like it's back in high gear--Green Bay Press Gazette


Controlled advancement--PantherU