On The Horizon

Jim Squire

The Morning Dish – Saturday, November 5, 2016--Hoopville

Continuing our look at conferences:
...
Valparaiso and Oakland have been the teams to beat in the Horizon League of late, and despite the departure of Bryce Drew from the former, the Crusaders will remain the team to beat this season. They return star forward Alec Peters and more winning experience for first-year head coach Matt Lottich. Oakland has three starters back and will always be well-tested, while Green Bay is an intriguing team with six seniors but also having lost two all-league players.

SITTING DOWN WITH JC--goldengrizzlies.com
GETTING TO KNOW BRAD BRECHTING--goldengrizzlies.com

UIC holds off Judson in preseason exhibition--The Catch and Shoot
UIC Knocks Out Judson, 95-78--uicflames.com

Jordan Debuts With Victory As Panthers Top Falcons--mkepanthers.com

The Morning Dish – Sunday, November 6, 2016--Hoopville

Side Dishes

Notable exhibition results from Saturday: Butler handled Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) 77-50, the same team that played Michigan State within 10 points. Indiana took care of Bellarmine (Ky.) 73-49, Gonzaga rolled up a 122-76 win over West Georgia, Xavier topped Ferris State (Mich.) 80-56, St. Bonaventure ran over Alfred (N.Y.) 99-72, Houston defeated N.C.-Pembroke 94-67 and Valparaiso got by Hillsdale (Mich.) 78-63.

Crusaders Down Hillsdale In Exhibition Action Saturday--valpoathletics.com

Jim Squire

What-If Projections: How draft decisions, transfers & commits impacted '16–17--Sports Illustrated

What if Valparaiso’s Alec Peters had up-transferred?
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This is a scenario fit for Seth Davis’s Jigsaw Man column, and there did seem like a possibility that Peters, the nation’s top mid-major stretch-four, would consider grad-transferring away from Valpo after coach Bryce Drew bolted for Vanderbilt. If Peters hadn’t chosen to stay, one of his best fits for his senior season would’ve been Iowa State, where he could’ve stepped into the role vacated by Georges Niang and become a lethal pick-and-pop weapon for point guard Monte Morris. Peters would’ve been a major upgrade over the Cyclones’ current leading options at the 4-5 spots, transfers Merril Holden and Darrell Bowie, and made a big impact on Iowa State’s ranking.

Here are the Cyclones’ projections with and without Peters:
                        Off     Def     PWP     National Rank
Iowa St. with Peters  118.5  97.2  0.9069  9th
Iowa St. current roster 115.6   99.9    0.8422  39th
Peters is clearly good enough to elevate a team into the Top 10, and his projected stat line in that situation would’ve made him Iowa State’s second most important player after Morris:
Name            Pos.    PPG     RPG     APG     ORtg    Volume  Mins
Alec Peters     PF      13.8    7.2     1.6     114.7   19%     80%
Instead, Peters will obliterate those numbers as the star of the Horizon League, where he could easily average more than 20 points per game this season. With Valparaiso returning just half its minutes from last year and breaking in a rookie coach, Peters will have less of a chance to get national recognition, but pay attention to him: His production could very well be All-America worthy.

WBB aims to surpass expectations--The Torch

@NKUNorseMBB cruises to exhibition win over Wilmington

2016-2017 MAC Basketball Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas--Hustle Belt

Marcus Keene, a 5-foot-9, 175 lb. guard from San Antonio, Texas, who averaged 15.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game with the Youngstown State Penguins in 2014-2015 in a stacked Horizon League leads the list of new faces in Mount Pleasant.

Penguins Hit 17 3s in 100-61 Exhibition Win Over Penn St.-Behrend--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

2016-17 College Basketball Round-Robin Exempt Tournaments--Blogging The Bracket

Red Diamond Roundball Classic
FIU
FIU Panthers (C-USA)
JU
Jacksonville Dolphins (A-Sun)
USA
South Alabama Jaguars (Sun Belt)
YSU
Youngstown State Penguins (Horizon)

The Jaguars host this event over the weekend before Thanksgiving, but Jacksonville is the only squad of the four that finished with a record of .500 or better last season—at 16-16.

This is another event that serves as a conference reunion of sorts. South Alabama and JU were both charter Sun Belt members, though the Dolphins left for the A-Sun in 1998, with FIU arguably taking their place. The Panthers eventually left for C-USA 15 years later.
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Tarkett Sports Classic
APSU
Austin Peay Governors (OVC)
Delaware
Delaware Blue Hens (CAA)
Miami U
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (MAC)
NKU
Northern Kentucky Norse (Horizon)

Of the four teams headed to Oxford, Ohio for the weekend before Thanksgiving, only OVC Tournament champion Austin Peay finished .500 or better, and the 18-18 Governors had to claim their conference's auto bid to do that. Even though NKU has participated in its previous two conference tournaments (one in the Horizon, one in the A-Sun), 2017 will be the first March in which they'll be eligible for the Big Dance.
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Bill Frack Tournament
BGSU
Bowling Green Falcons (MAC)
GB
Green Bay Phoenix (Horizon)
Murray St
Murray State Racers (OVC)
UMKC

UMKC Kangaroos (WAC)

This event is named in memory of one of Falcon basketball's most vocal supporters, so vocal in fact that the court at the Stroh Center bears his name. The hosts can make Frack proud by punching above their weight in this pre-Thanksgiving round-robin that features a 2016 NCAA squad, Green Bay, and perennial OVC contender Murray State. On the other hand, UMKC, like Bowling Green, finished last season under .500.
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Men vs. Cancer Classic
CSUB
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (WAC)
North Dakota
North Dakota Fighting Hawks (Big Sky)
UNF
North Florida Ospreys (A-Sun)
Wright St
Wright State Raiders (Horizon)

While just one 2016 NCAA squad—Cal State Bakersfield—is headed to Dayton for this event, A-Sun regular season champ UNF and the hosts, who fell to Green Bay in the Horizon final, both had chances to join the Roadrunners in the field of 68. All three, and the Fighting Hawks, a team on the rise in the Big Sky, will aim to use their three games at the Nutter Center to get on the right track for 2017.

NIU Showcase
Cal Poly
Cal Poly Mustangs (Big West)
Elon
Elon Phoenix (CAA)
NIU
Northern Illinois Huskies (MAC)
UIC
UIC Flames (Horizon)

For the second season in a row, the Huskies will look to sweep through their own round-robin tournament, as NIU took down the South Dakota Coyotes, CSUN Matadors, and Wright State Raiders to open the 2016-17 season—one that ended with 21 wins and a Vegas 16 berth. Mark Montgomery's team will be favored to go 3-0 again, as none of their rivals managed to be even remotely competitive in their respective league races last season.
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Sanford Pentagon Showcase
ETSU
ETSU Buccaneers (SoCon)
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Panthers (Horizon)
SD State
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Summit)
UCI
UC Irvine Anteaters (Big West)

Even with Milwaukee and SDSU welcoming new coaches this November, this tournament in Sioux Falls should be one of the more competitive ones of this type. The Jackrabbits are coming off an NCAA bid, and they should compete for another, while UC Irvine will tussle with the Long Beach State 49ers in the Big West, even if Mamadou Ndiaye is now a pro, while ETSU should be the Chattanooga Mocs' most serious challengers in the SoCon. Note that South Dakota State won all four of its Cancun Challenge games last season, as a team in the visitors' bracket.

Will Cleveland State’s Student Outreach Pay Off?--Campus Pressbox
Vikings Host Tiffin on Monday Night in Exhibition Game--csuvikings.com

Grand Rapids Drive gives Ray McCallum best chance to excel--Detroit Free Press
Whipped by Wayne State--Varsity News
One On One With DeShawndre Black--detroittitans.com
Monday’s Exhibition Against Ferris State FREE For All Fans--detroittitans.com

Men’s Basketball Hosts Judson in Exhibition Action--uicflames.com

UIC Breezes Past North Park, 84-51--uicflames.com

Men's Basketball Opens 2016-17 Campaign Saturday With Exhibition Game--valpoathletics.com

Women’s Basketball Team Tops Indianapolis in Exhibition Opener--valpoathletics.com

Testimony raises questions about NKU's handling of 'sexual incident' involving hoop players--Cincinnati Enquirer

Jim Squire

Key Assistant Coaching Hires--College Basketball Talk

2. Saddi Washington and Billy Donlon, Michigan: Head coach John Beilein lost two talented assistants to head jobs as LaVall Jordan (Milwaukee) and Bacari Alexander (Detroit) are moving on to the Horizon League. Saddi Washington (Oakland) comes to the Wolverines from that same conference as he’s helped land and develop program changers like Kay Felder and Travis Bader. Billy Donlon is also a Horizon veteran as he most recently was the head coach as Wright State. He gives Beilein another experienced assistant with Midwest ties.

Ranking every team in college basketball from Florida A&M (351) to Duke (1)--Sports Illustrated

Rank    Team    Proj.   Off.    Proj.  Def.    Proj.  Proj.  Proj.
                Off.            Def.    Rank    Pyth.   Conf.   NCAAs
                Eff.            Eff.            Win%    Rank    seed
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86      Valpo   103.2   209     94.8    21      0.7258  1st in  13 seed
                                                        Horz
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125     Oakland 113.6   34      108.5   273     0.6290  2nd in
                                                        Horz
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128     Green   108.2   104     103.8   183     0.6164  3rd in
        Bay                                             Horz
...
218     Detroit 106.4   137     109.1   290     0.4279  4th in
                                                        Horz
...
221     YSU     106.5   135     109.6   300     0.4180  5th in
                                                        Horz   
222     WSU     98.1    303     101.0   114     0.4171  6th in
                                                        Horz
...
229     NKU     102.2   235     105.5   227     0.4082  7th in
                                                        Horz
...
264     CSU     95.6    326     101.9   133     0.3246  8th in
                                                        Horz
...
285     Milw.   100.7   269     108.7   279     0.2938  9th in
                                                        Horz
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304     UIC     94.9    331     104.6   205     0.2457  10th in
                                                        Horz

Horizon League: Three players to watch--Mid-Major Madness
Mid-Major Madness Preseason Top 25--Mid-Major Madness

8. Valparaiso
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Others receiving votes (in order): College of Charleston, Middle Tennessee, Ohio, Long Beach State, Siena, UAB, William & Mary, Florida Gulf Coast, Fort Wayne, Iona, Yale, Eastern Michigan, Oakland, North Florida, Vermont, Winthrop, Georgia State, Texas Southern, Little Rock

MARK ADAMS SPOTLIGHTS THE ALL-ENTHUSIADAMS TEAM--American Sportsnet
HLeagueHoops: Top 21 Players Countdown (#’s 21-16)--HLeagueHoops.com

Vikings Defeat Ursuline In Exhibition Contest--csuvikings.com
Kevin McManaman Joins Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff--csuvikings.com
Abshaw Named To Horizon League Preseason First Team--csuvikings.com

Kearney, McCallum Join NBDL Teams--detroittitans.com

Titans Picked Second, Reynolds Voted Preseason Player of the Year--detroittitans.com

Army vet Isaiah Brock ready for new tour of duty with Oakland U.--Detroit Free Press
Grizzlies feel disrespected with lack of Top 25 votes--Detroit Free Press
Pat Caputo - Oakland will be different without Kay Felder, but doesn’t mean it can’t be better--Oakland Press
Golden Grizzlies driven to prove they’re still pretty good, even without Kay Felder--Oakland Press
Basketball kicks off with breakfast--Oakland Post
GETTING TO KNOW NEELY--goldengrizzlies.com
SITTING DOWN WITH CP--goldengrizzlies.com
GETTING TO KNOW ISAIAH BROCK--goldengrizzlies.com
OAKLAND WELCOMES MEDIA TO O'RENA FOR ANNUAL MEDIA DAY--goldengrizzlies.com

Talented Oakland women will need to grow into contender status in stacked Horizon--Oakland Press
OAKLAND PICKED SEVENTH IN HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL--goldengrizzlies.com
THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES HOST ANNUAL MEDIA DAY INSIDE O'RENA--goldengrizzlies.com

Flames Welcome North Park For Preseason Tune-up--uicflames.com

Phoenix by position - Center--Phear The Phoenix
Phoenix by position - Power forward--Phear The Phoenix
Green Bay Explodes in Second Half as RP40 Returns for 2016-17--greenbayphoenix.com

Strong 2nd half propels Phoenix in exhibition--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB women picked to finish first in Horizon--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix women roll in exhibition finale--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Picked as Preseason Favorite for Ninth-Straight Year--greenbayphoenix.com
Green Bay Ready for Regular Season with 76-34 Exhibition Win--greenbayphoenix.com

Tickets For Veterans: Come On Out To The Game!--mkepanthers.com
Jedlicka Joins Milwaukee Athletic Training Staff--mkepanthers.com
Jordan Era Begins Saturday Against Concordia Wisconsin--mkepanthers.com

Panther Freshman Sits Down With espnW--Milwaukee Panthers Blog Zone
Kostowicz Named Preseason All-League First Team--mkepanthers.com

2016-17 Mid-Major All-Americans--College Basketball Talk

MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM

ALEC PETERS, VALPARAISO

Alec Peters could have not appeared on this list. He initially declared for the NBA Draft before withdrawing his name. After Bryce Drew left for Vanderbilt, it would have been understandable if Peters elected to enroll in a high-major school as a graduate transfer. But the 6-foot-9 big man decided to stay at Valparaiso for his final year. In many eyes, he’s the best mid-major player in the country this season, ranked the highest by NBC Sports.

29. Alec Peters, Valparaiso: @petersalec could've transferred anywhere. He decided to return to @ValpoBasketball https://t.co/SOR6H2kYCR pic.twitter.com/Jb4GeIA5T4
— CollegeBasketbllTalk (@CBTonNBC) October 27, 2016

A well-rounded forward, Peters averaged 18.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, shooting better than 44 percent from three (and that percentage was down from his sophomore season). He also led the Crusaders to the NIT championship game.

2016-17 Mid-Major Power Rankings--College Basketball Talk

https://nbccollegebasketballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/467075670-e1470155127975.jpg?w=1448&h=916
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 20: Alec Peters #25 of the Valparaiso Crusaders reacts after losing to the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 20, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Valparaiso’s Alec Peters (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

11. Valparaiso

Alec Peters is the best mid-major player in the country. He was named a third-team NBCSports.com Preseason All-American and is on the radar of every NBA team. The Crusaders, in the first season of the post-Bryce Drew era, will go as far the 6-foot-9 Peters can take them. That isn’t to say the cabinet is bare outside of Peters. Valpo also returns starting guard Tevonn Walker and Shane Hammink.

2016-17 College Basketball Preseason All-American Team--College Basketball Talk

THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICA
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Alec Peters, Valparaiso: Peters is the best player at the mid-major level in the country, a kid that graduated from school in three years and had the chance to leave for literally any other program in the country. He didn’t. He opted to stay at Valpo, where he’ll be the centerpiece of new head coach Matt Lottich’s offense. It’s not crazy to think he could average 23 points.

New Faces in New Places: Ranking new head coaching hires--College Basketball Talk

4. Bryce Drew, Vanderbilt: In five seasons at his alma mater, Drew proved he was more than just the guy who hit one of the NCAA tournament’s most iconic shots or a legacy hire, going to two NCAA tournaments and winning 20 games, including 30 last year, in all but one season. He’s charged with reinvigorating a program fans felt stagnated at the end of Kevin Stallings’ 17-year tenure.

Horizon League Releases Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll--valpoathletics.com

Update on Victor E. Viking--nkunorse.com
Exhibition tilt with Wilmington awaits @NKUNorseMBB--nkunorse.com

@NKUNorseWBB tabbed sixth in Horizon League preseason poll--nkunorse.com

College Basketball: Wright State races to easy exhibition win--Dayton Daily News
New era Raiders rout Cedarville in exhibition play--Raider Roundball
Men Defeat Cedarville in Exhibition 88-62--wsuraiders.com

Women's Basketball Picked Fifth in HL Preseason Poll--wsuraiders.com

YSU Men’s Basketball Confident as Season Approaches--The Jambar
YSU Basketball Teams to Host Exhibition Games on Saturday--ysusports.com

Men's and Women's Basketball Individual Game Tickets On Sale Now--ysusports.com

YSU Basketball Teams to Host Exhibition Games on Saturday--ysusports.com
Penguins Tabbed Fourth; Cash, Benjamin Earn Preseason Honors--ysusports.com

Jim Squire

Brother of Pistons’ Ellenson, Oakland’s Hooper, CMU’s Fowler selected in D-League draft--Oakland Press

Former Oakland University sharpshooter Max Hooper was taken by the Westchester Knicks with pick No. 16 in the first round. A transfer from Harvard and St. John’s, Hooper averaged 10.7 points per game with the Grizzlies last year, making 202 of his 479 career 3-point attempts, and 6-for-11 from 2-point range (he didn’t attempt a single 2-pointer as a senior).

Max Hooper selected 16th overall in D-League draft--The Catch and Shoot

Women Roll to 110-60 Exhibition Win Over Urbana--wsuraiders.com