Another Season Is Upon Us!--HoriZone Roundtable
COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON OPENER!!! News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Monday, Nov 6th--Hoops HD
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-SPALDING (nonD1) AT IUPUI. This game will almost assuredly end up
meaning nothing. It is one of the worst teams in the Horizon playing
against a nonD1 opponent. But, the single distinction it has is that it
is the first official game to involve a D1 team!
-CLEVELAND STATE AT DUQUESNE. This may seem like an odd game to
highlight, but I think Duquesne is a dark horse to win the Atlantic 10.
They were actually my preseason pick to win the A10. Cleveland State
is a team they should beat, but it’s also a team that can do some damage
in the Horizon League this year. On a day where most of the games are
absolute garbage, this one is actually decent!
-NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE. This is a winnable road game
for what looks to be a very good NKU team this year. I don’t know if
they’ll land inside the bubble, but starting off with a road win is
certainly a very good first step.
Indiana college basketball preview of NCAA Division I teams--Indianapolis Star
We will have weekly rankings and updates from all
the programs, including items you may have missed. Here's what we know
heading into this week's openers:
∎ Five Indiana programs had winning records last season (Ball State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indiana State, Purdue. IU and Purdue played in the NCAA tournament, and ISU in the College Basketball Invitational.
∎
Scholarship newcomers make up more than half the roster at eight
programs. Purdue, Indiana and IUPUI have the most continuity from last
season.Here's a more detailed breakdown of this season's roster. Averages are from the 2022-23 season.
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
Jon Coffman enters his 10th season as coach with a lot of turnover from a 17-15 team.
KenPom ranking: 298th, 8th in 11-team Horizon League
Newcomers (10):
Rasheed Bello (6-0 junior from Div. III Wisconsin-Parkside, 17.9 ppg);
Jalen Jackson (6-2 sophomore, 7.1 ppg at Illinois-Chicago); Destin
Whitaker (6-5 senior, 2.2 ppg at Fresno State); Chris Morgan (6-2
freshman); Corey Hadnot II (6-3 freshman); Maximus Neslon (6-8
sophomore, 4.6 ppg at Valparaiso); Jermaine Coleman (6-7 freshman from
Park Tudor School); Deangelo Elisee (6-9 junior via Triton College);
Khoi Thurmon (6-1 freshman); Keyon Miller (6-2 freshman from Southport).
Returners (5):
Anthony Roberts (6-4 fifth year, 7.3 ppg); Quinton Morton-Robertson
(5-8 fifth year, 6.7 ppg, 38.2% 3FG); Eric Mulder (6-8 sophomore, 2.8
ppg); Johnathan DeJurnett (6-8 senior, 2.1 ppg); Keaton Dukes (6-3
sophomore).
Key departures: Jarred Godfrey (graduation); Bobby Planutis (graduation); Damian Chong Qui (graduation); Deonte Billups (graduation).
IUPUI Jaguars
Coach Matt Crenshaw enters his third season with a relatively stable roster as the Jaguars try to improve from 5-27.
KenPom ranking: 320th, 10th in 11-team Horizon League
Newcomers (4):
Qwanzi Samuels (6-9 graduate student, 1.6 ppg at George Washington);
Abdou Samb (6-8 sophomore, 3.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg at Rhode Island); Braden
Allen (6-3 freshman); Yves Nkomba (6-11 senior, appeared in nine games
at Kennesaw State).
Returners (10):
Vincent Brady (6-4 sophomore from Cathedral High School, 10.9 ppg, 3.9
rpg); Jlynn Counter (6-3 junior, 14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg); Cooper
Dewitt (6-6 senior, 1.2 ppg); John Egbuta (6-6 senior, 6.2 ppg, 40% 3FG,
3.2 rpg); Daylan Hamilton (6-3 senior, 4.8 ppg); D.J. Jackson (6-4
sophomore, 9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Amhad Jarrard (6-4 sophomore from Mt.
Vernon High School, 4.5 ppg); Armon Jarrard (6-3 sophomore from Mt.
Vernon High School, 5.3 ppg); Bryce Monroe (5-11 senior, appeared in
four games); Derek Peterson (6-2 senior from Greenwood Christian High
School, appeared in 15 games).
--
csuvikings.comCleveland State Women's Basketball Set To Open 2023-24 Campaign At Bowling Green--csuvikings.com
Handing out the Hardware: Exhibition players of 2023--
Hoops HDMid-major:
G: Jayden Stone, Detroit Mercy: 34 PTS/11 REB in 10-PT loss to Wayne State
Game 1: Detroit Mercy Opens 2023-24 Campaign at Instate Rival Eastern Michigan--detroittitans.com
'You don't overreact, you don't underreact, you just prepare': New coach Sundance Wicks ready as UWGB men tip off--
Green Bay Press-Gazette
Phoenix Tip Off 2023-24 Season on the Road at Iowa State--
greenbayphoenix.comPhoenix Readies to Battle Northern Iowa in Regular Season Opener--greenbayphoenix.com
JAGUARS KNOCK OFF SPALDING ON ANNUAL 'READERS BECOME LEADERS' GAME--
iupuijags.comENTERING YEAR TWO--iupuijags.com
Men’s Basketball Team Lean on Athleticism and Synchronicity to Carry Them to New Heights--
UWM PostMilwaukee Opens 2023-24 Season with In-State Battle at Wisconsin--mkepanthers.com
'He's just too ... good': Oakland's Greg Kampe, dean of college hoops, enters 40th season--
The Detroit News
Men's Basketball Officially Kicks Off Their Season at Ohio State--
goldengrizzlies.comWomen's Basketball Takes on Akron in First Action of the Season--goldengrizzlies.com
Men's Hoops Opens 2023-24 Season at DePaul on FS2--
gomastodons.com
RMU Basketball: 3 keys to season-opening matchup with Xavier--
Busting Brackets
Robert Morris aims to continue ascending in Horizon League--
Trib Live
2023-24 college basketball preview: Outlooks for Penn State, West Virginia and more--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Robert Morris men
Intro: The Colonials finished the regular season winning four of
their last five games. Their one loss during that stretch was against
IUPUI. The Colonials had to face IUPUI again in the first round of the
Horizon League tournament and won. The Colonials had their season ended
when they lost in the next round to No. 3 Cleveland State 75-70 in
overtime. Robert Morris showed they were better at home last season with
a 11-4 record compared to their 5-10 record on the road.
Coach: Andy Toole (14th year)
2022-23 record: 16-17, lost in second round of Horizon League tournament
Key players: Josh Corbin is the only returning player on the team
that averaged over 10-plus points from a season ago. Corbin also led the
team last season in 3-pointers made (93). The rising senior should
expect to get more touches while also having a more leadership role. ...
Junior guard Jackson Last should also have more minutes, as he was one
of only two players last season to start all 33 games. Sophomore forward
Stephaun Walker started 30 of 31 games that he played from a year ago
and should be expected to have a bigger role, as well. ... The Colonials
welcome graduate student Markeese Hastings from the transfer portal out
of Western Michigan, where he started 29 of 31 games while also leading
the team in rebounds per game, which was second in the Mid-American
Conference.
Outlook: Last season, Kahliel Spear and Enoch Cheeks were the star
players on the team. Spear graduated while Cheeks transferred to Dayton.
Spear led the team in points per game (15.5), rebounds (273), blocks
(46) and total minutes played. Cheeks averaged 15.4 points per game and
led the team in steals (56). For the Colonials to be as efficient as
they were last season, they need to have a 1-2 punch like they did with
Spear and Cheeks. Michael Green III, the team leader in assists last
season, also transferred to James Madison. While Corbin was the most
efficient point scorer to return, having Hastings helping out should be a
huge contribution Another transfer, junior forward Justice Williams,
started seven games at LSU. He played 23 games and made a contribution
in the team’s SEC first round matchup against Georgia, which he scored
five points and dished out five assists. His ability to cut to the
basket and shoot from long range when need be are some of his strengths.
The team will travel to Xavier on Monday night in the season opener
before hosting Point Park in the home opener on Thursday night.
— Brentaro Yamane
Robert Morris women
Last season, the Colonials were young — and they remain that way, as
they do not have a senior on the team. The Colonials finished with a 9-7
record at home while only winning two games on the road last season
with 12 losses. Despite struggling all year, the Colonials were
competitive in their Horizon League tournament game, only losing by six
points to No. 7 Milwaukee.
Coach: Charlie Buscaglia (8th year)
2022-23 record: 11-19, lost in first round of Horizon League tournament
Key players: Simone Morris is the only returning
starter that started all 30 games from last year. Last season, she led
the team in blocks with 16 and was ranked in the top 20 in the Horizon
League. ... Rebecca Dwomoh returns after tying for first on the team in
3-points made with 34. Mackenzie Amalia also had 34 3-pointersa season
ago and was a huge part of the team from the last three seasons, but she
transferred to Canisus. With that in mind, Dwomoh should have more
opportunities to shoot the long ball.
Outlook: Last season, Phoenix Gedeon was the only
Colonial to average in double-figures in points per game (13.5), but she
transferred to St. John’s. The biggest thing the Colonials need to
improve is winning conference games. They finished last season with a
5-15 record in-conference, and 13 of those losses were by double-digits.
The team will travel to Saint Francis on Monday night in the season
opener, while they will start conference play at Cleveland State on Nov.
29.
2023-24 women's basketball preview: Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris aim to contend--Trib Live
Robert Morris
Coach: Charlie Buscaglia, eighth season (96-50)
2022-23 record: 11-19 (5-15 in Horizon League)
Returning starters: Simone Morris, jr. G (7.7 ppg); Rebecca Dwomoh, jr., G (7.1 ppg); Alejandra Mastral, jr., G (7.0 ppg)
Top newcomers: Naomi Barnwell, jr., G; Camila
Bozan, fr., C; Tuana Coskun, fr., SF; Hattie McGraw, fr., G; Eden Monka,
fr., G/F; Madison O’Dell, fr., G; Micah O’Dell, fr., G; Stephanie
Theodossakos, jr., G
Notable: Robert Morris was picked to finish last
in the Horizon League in a preseason poll after finishing 5-15 in
conference play last season and falling in the first round of the
Horizon League tournament. They were 10th in the 11-team league a year
ago. … Morris started all 30 games last season, averaging 7.7 points and
5.0 rebounds. … Dwomoh was a 3-point threat for the Colonials who
averaged 7.1 points and hit 34 3-pointers. … Mastral was seventh in the
Horizon League in steals last season at 1.5 per game. … Junior
center Danielle Vuletich (7.8 ppg) also returns, along with sophomores
Louella Allana, Natalie Johnson and Paris Kirk. … Barnwell, a France native, joins RMU after averaging 10.5 points over two seasons at Monroe College. … Theodossakos spent the past two seasons at Tampa, which reached the NCAA Elite Eight last season. … Six freshmen joined the RMU roster in the offseason. Coskun,
from Rabun Gap in Georgia, was a two-time all-state player who averaged
12.4 points in winning a second straight state title last year. Bozan
is another international recruit, hailing from Santiago, Chile. Monka
hails from Montreal, Quebec. … Sisters Madison and Micah O’Dell led
their team to the Mississippi 6A quarterfinals. … McGraw hit 164 3-pointers during a decorated career at Knoch. …
Graduate Mackenzie Amalia, a Blackhawk grad, will be missed after she
capped her RMU career with 370 points, 125 assists, 61 steals and 85
three-pointers.
Quotable: “It’s always a big focus to set a
schedule full of challenges. One of which is to compete against great
competition, and if you look at the level of conferences we are matching
up against, you will see we accomplished that. We match up against a
Power 5 and a number of top mid-major conferences.” —Coach Charlie
Buscaglia on the team’s nonconference schedule. Tip-off: Robert Morris starts the season at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Francis (Pa.).
Colonials Open 2023-24 Campaign at Saint Francis--rmucolonials.com
Wright State basketball: Raiders poised for another year of prolific offense--
Dayton Daily NewsArchdeacon: At Wright State, Jada Tate seeks to keep adding to family’s legacy--Dayton Daily News
11/6/23 OPENING NIGHT--
Staring at the Floorboards
Subscriber Content
YOUNGSTOWN STATE @ LOUISIANA
Bob Marlin’s squad went undefeated at the Cajundome last year, but
are retooling back to open post, uptempo offense without Jordan Brown
commanding the ball in the middle. This is likely music to Calhoun’s
ears for this opening night tilt, as this iteration of the Penguins is
very much built for Calhoun’s preferred pace...
Fresh off first league title, YSU looks to confound expectations with new roster--Warren Tribune Chronicle
#HLMBB Notebook – Season Preview--
The Horizon League#HLWBB Notebook – Season Preview--The Horizon League
