News On The Horizon 7/30/2012

Green Bay Freshman Earns Spot on U18 Junior National Team--GreenBayPhoenix.com

News On The Horizon 7/27/2012

Miami Heat’s summer league team finishes 3-2--Miami Herald
Heat end summer league at 3-2 with 81-55 loss to Blazers--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Cleveland State's Marlin Mason Drops 47 in Summer League game--Cleveland State Hoops
Norris Cole plays well in NBA Summer League--Cleveland State Hoops
Report: Cleveland State to face NC State--Cleveland State Hoops

Titan Signing Day Brings Excitement For Basketball Season--detroittitans.com

Knowing the Newcomers 2012: Gabe Snider--uicflames.com

'Game of Change' honored--ESPN Chicago
Loyola Men's Basketball To Host Mississippi State December 15--LoyolaRamblers.com
Getting To Know The Newcomers: Cully Payne--LoyolaRamblers.com

#108 Green Bay Men's Basketball 2012-13 Preview--College Sports Madness

Women's basketball: UWGB will return to Cancun tourney--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix Invites Fans in Return to Cancun Challenge--GreenBayPhoenix.com
SummerTimeOut Featuring Megan Lukan--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Rollin' with Ritchie...at Volleyball Camp--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Panthers Have Olympic Fever--uwmpanthers.com

Last year it was Lehigh and Norfolk State, Which Cinderella’s should we watch in 2012-13?--The Sports Headquarters
Morning Mashup: Injury and Twitter Friendly Edition--Mid-Major Madness

On the scheduling side, the Northwest Indiana Times' Paul Oren looks at the schedule that Valparaiso has this season and why it is a good thing that the Crusaders don't have their best opponents at home.

Scheduling is one of those things that is very hard to predict from season to season, but we have to agree with Oren that it looks like Bryce Drew did the right thing, especially as it will pertain to getting RPI boosts, and credit from the committee at Tournament time.

2012-13 schedule on the way--Grizzlies Den

The rekindled series with Valparaiso continues, as the Grizzlies season ticket brochure includes the Crusaders as well as a return visit by Illinois State Feb. 23 for ESPN's Bracketbusters.

Drew scheduling smart--Inside VU Sports
Ex-Michigan State hoopster Brandon Wood signs with MZT Skopje in Macedonia--The Detroit Free Press
College Basketball: Top Ten High-Efficiency Scorers in 2012-13 CBB--Bleacher Report
Having a Ball: Five Men’s Basketball Players Take Charge on their Summer--valpoathletics.com

Wright State’s Cooper Land to play in Germany--Wright State University Sports
Assistant AD Chris Grant leaving Wright State--Wright State University Sports

Women's Basketball Adds Transfers Wendi Mitchell and Janae Jackson--ysusports.com

Eight Men's Basketball Alums Compete in NBA Summer League--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 7/21/2012

Schedule announced for 2012 24-hour hoops marathon--CollegeBasketballTalk

Here is the full slate:
...
8 a.m.: Northern Illinois at Valparaiso
...
2 p.m.: Detroit at St. John’s
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Other games that should catch some attention: Steve Lavin leads another big group of St. John’s youth against Ray McCallum and Detroit.

Ranking the ESPN 2012 Tip-Off Marathon games--Run The Floor

4. Detroit at St. John's (2 p.m.): One of the best small-school players in the nation (Ray McCallum Jr.) versus a beatable Big East team on the rise, in a rematch from last year (Detroit won)? Yes, I think I will.
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9. Northern Illinois at Valparaiso (8 a.m.): Northern Illinois won four games against Division I opponents last season. Valparaiso should be the favorite in the Horizon. This game should not be competitive, but it will be worth watching to get an early read on Valpo.

ESPN releases schedule for 24-hour marathon of college hoops--Eye On College Basketball

8 a.m.: Northern Illinois at Valparaiso. Bryce Drew's team will look to bring in a regular-season Horizon title for the second straight year. And now there's no Butler to deal with. Again, this is a game for the nutjobs who get passionately invested in college hoops in early November. We're thankful.
...
2 p.m.: Detroit at St. John's. No one has any idea of what St. John's is anymore. Steve Lavin's come back to coach full-time but has lost his premier assistant, Mike Dunlap, who took the lead job with the Charlotte Bobcats. Ray McCallum Jr. should have a pretty big -- from a national standpoint -- type of year with Detroit. I could see him putting up 30 in this spot and starting the Horizon POY campaign.

Horizon League Expansion: Why Oakland and Others Make Sense--Mid-Major Madness
Tip-Off Marathon Gives Some Chance to Shine, But Could Leave Fans Wanting--Mid-Major Madness

At first glance, the schedule isn't terrible. Gonzaga begins with a game that should pose both a challenge and pump up its profile for the NCAA committee. Harvard and UMass will light up the morning in Boston, and Detroit has a chance to showcase Ray McCallum, Jr. later in the day.
...
And it is hard to forget that Northern Illinois was one of the bottom 20 teams last season, and will be facing a stacked Valparaiso team that should contend in the Butler-less Horizon.

While the Crusaders offer the best chance to cover one of the marathon contests live, it isn't going to be breaking the box office.
...
There is a chance that Murray State could land a game with the Crusaders, a game that offers a myriad of reasons to favor it over a game with the Huskies, not the least of which is Ed Daniel's hair. Couldn't ESPN exert a little of its influence to make that happen?

This isn't implying that scheduling this type of thing is easy, nor that everything can work perfectly all the time, but the games with the mid-major teams do leave a little to be desired, with only Detroit and Gonzaga scoring contests that should truly push them forward come March.

Then again, I will still be watching.

ESPN Tip-Off Marathon schedule is here--College Basketball Nation Blog

First things first. The games are as follows (all times ET):
...
8 a.m.: Northern Illinois at Valparaiso
...
2 p.m.: Detroit at St. John’s
...
Davidson at New Mexico might not do anything for you. Harvard at UMass might not tickle your fancy. I get that. But for the college hoops fan -- the kind who knows how cool it will be to see a midnight game at New Mexico's Pit, the kind who recognizes UMass as a sleeper A-10 contender in 2012-13, the kind who knows how good Detroit guard Ray McCallum Jr. is, the kind who realizes what a tough early road test Kent State will be for Temple -- then that schedule has a little bit of everything.

Cole's quest: 'Destroy whoever he plays'--Miami Heat Index
Dwyane Wade ‘doing fine’ after surgery; Miami Heat awaits Rashard Lewis decision--Miami Herald

This And That
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• Fizdale, on point guard Norris Cole: “We’re breeding Norris a different way. Norris is a hunter. We’re developing him to be an attacker. He’s going out to Vegas with the intent to destroy whoever he’s playing against. I don’t want him to ever think he has arrived to the point where he’s now being hunted. He has to stay hungry and play this summer like a guy that did not win a title.”

Lots at stake for Miami Heat trio in Summer League--Miami Herald
Terrel Harris leads Miami Heat’s Summer League team to victory--Miami Herald
Norris Cole leads Heat to summer-league win over Lakers--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Double-standard with Nash, Allen?--South Florida Sun Sentinel

ALMOST HERE: Upon his introduction with the New York Knicks, who acquired him in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Houston Rockets, center Marcus Camby said he was sincere in his free-agency overtures with the Heat. "I was going on a plane," Camby said of his planned visit to South Florida last weekend that was cancelled only after the Heat instead extended their taxpayer mid-level exception to Ray Allen. "Of course, with a sign-and-trade, the team that signs you and trades you wants to have different pieces in return. So I guess things didn't work out in that aspect and I guess the Knicks put together a nice package." The latter thought, at least from this perspective, remains debatable, considering the Knicks yielded Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan and 2014 and 2015 second-round picks in the transaction. More than anything, what it says is the Heat were willing to part with neither the lottery-protected 2013 first-round pick they obtained from the Philadelphia 76ers at last month's NBA Draft or 2011-12 rookie point guard Norris Cole.

Heat formally bypass amnesty on Mike Miller, bank provision--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Because Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Shane Battier, James Jones, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis were signed after the 2011 NBA CBA was reached, they are not eligible for the amnesty provision. Dexter Pittman's contract expires following the coming season, so he no longer is in the amnesty equation going forward.

Heat fall to Golden State 65-62 in summer league--South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Heat, led by Norris Cole's 15 points, fell to 2-1.

Terrel Harris scores 25 to lead Heat past Spurs in summer league--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Harris was joined in double-figures by rookie Justin Hamilton (15 points) and guard Norris Cole (11). It was the first extensive action for Hamilton, who missed the first two games of the summer league because of a hamstring injury.

Cole, Jackson to play in NBA summer league--Cleveland State Hoops
Cole Scores 13 in Summer League Opener--Cleveland State Hoops
2012 NBA Summer League: update #2--Cleveland State Hoops

St. John's to open season vs. Detroit as part of ESPN 24-Hour Tip-Off Marathon--Rumble In The Garden
Michigan State, Detroit Featured On ESPN's 2012 Tip-Off Marathon--SB Nation Detroit
Schedule update: Red Storm announce 2012-13 nonconference opponents and dates--Rumble In The Garden

The season will begin on November 13th, when St. John's welcomes Detroit to Carnesecca Arena for a weekday afternoon slate as part of ESPN's 24-Hour Tip-Off Marathon. The Johnnies lost to the Titans in Detroit last year when the school dedicated its home court to Dick Vitale.

UDM Assistant Coach Derek Thomas On National Division I Ethics Coalition, Tabbed No. 5 Assistant Coach In The Nation--detroittitans.com
Holman To Play For Houston Rockets NBA Summer League Team--detroittitans.com
Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation To Honor Coach McCallum--detroittitans.com

Defending HL Champion Titans To Face St. John's In ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon--detroittitans.com
Coach McCallum Receives Award At 30th Annual Metro Detroit Youth Day--detroittitans.com
Simon Inks With Chicago Bulls' NBA Summer League Squad--detroittitans.com
Joel Machota Tabbed Titans New Graduate Assistant Coach--detroittitans.com
Titans Place 73 On Spring Horizon League Academic Honor Roll--detroittitans.com

Northwestern Basketball Non-Conference Schedule Analysis: Now With Monte Carlo Simulations!--Sippin' On Purple

Ill.-Chicago Flames

Conference: Horizon

2011-12 record: 8-22, (3-15)

2011-12 KenPom ranking: 290th

UIC used to have a strong program, even sweeping a home and home series over two years against NU early in Carmody's NU tenure, but they've fallen to the bottom of the Horizon League. NU should roll.

NU win probability: 95%

Paul Carter Named to Atlanta Hawks Summer League Roster--uicflames.com
Hayden Humes Named to NABC's "Honors Court"--uicflames.com
Men's Basketball Advanced Skills Camp Open for Registration--uicflames.com
Knowing the Newcomers 2012: Joey Miller--uicflames.com

Coach Fro Journeys to Hungary for the U16 European Championships--uicflames.com
Regina Miller to Appear on MeTV's CPS Sports Edition--uicflames.com

Trio Of Ramblers Selected To NABC Honors Court--LoyolaRamblers.com
Getting To Know The Newcomers: Jeremy King--LoyolaRamblers.com
Getting To Know The Newcomers: Nick Osborne--LoyolaRamblers.com

The Countdown to Badger Hate Week Begins--Anonymous Eagle

And the GoMarquette.com preview:

The Golden Eagles will travel to Green Bay on Wednesday, Dec. 19 to play a road game against Green Bay for the first time in program history. The Phoenix is led by Marquette’s seventh all-time leading scorer Brian Wardle, who returns All-Horizon League First Team performer Alec Brown and a squad which won eight of its last 10 regular season contests in 2011-12.

Not only did they win eight of their last 10 games, they also went 10-2 against Division 1 opponents at home last year. The Golden Eagles will have to have everything rolling in the right direction in the Resch Center to be able to come away with a victory. While I expect the Phoenix to provide a quality mark on Marquette's non-conference strength of schedule, it might not be as strong as last year with Butler departing the Horizon League for the Atlantic 10 this season.

Women's basketball: Hoewisch, now Ratka, joins Bollant at illinois--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB women's basketball tops nation in academics--Green Bay Press Gazette
SummerTimeOut Featuring Jenny Gilbertson--GreenBayPhoenix.com
SummerTimeOut Featuring Breannah Ranger--GreenBayPhoenix.com
SummerTimeOut Featuring Sam Zastrow--GreenBayPhoenix.com
The Phoenix Tops the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Green Bay Men's Basketball Golf Outing Set for Aug. 6--GreenBayPhoenix.com

From Street to Seat--PantherU
Panther Standouts Take The Court This Summer--uwmpanthers.com
Meier, Wolf Earn Spots On NABC Honor Court--uwmpanthers.com
Video: Summer Shootaround - Catching Up With Panther Men's Basketball--uwmpanthers.com

WNBL gig for import Lindsay--The Mercury
Brunson Sidelined With Left Calf Strain--wnba.com
Laur Set To Continue Professional Career In Australia--uwmpanthers.com

Valparaiso May Not Be A Good Fit For Pitt's Basketball Schedule--Cardiac Hill
Small forwards with big expectations--FoxNews.com/Sports

Philadelphia, PA – Next season's crop of small forwards does not have any over-hyped stars like in years past. However, there are a handful of talented three men who could become household names by next March. The following is an early list of small forwards to keep an eye on during the 2012-13 season:
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RYAN BROEKHOFF - Valparaiso might not be in the limelight of college basketball coverage, but that did not stop Broekhoff from relentlessly competing night in and night out last year. The Australian import is as efficient and well-rounded on the hardwood as you're going to find. As a junior in 2011-12, he finished fourth in the Horizon League in scoring with 14.9 ppg and first in rebounding with 8.5 rpg. His outstanding season earned him Horizon Player of the Year honors and a spot on the league's First Team with his teammate Kevin Van Wijk. The Crusaders finished the regular season at the top of the league standings, but could not get past Ray McCallum and Detroit in the Horizon League Tournament. The Aussie three man will be a player to watch as he looks for redemption as a senior.

Mavs to play at Ralston arena 13 times next season--Mavericks Today

The UNO schedule:

Nov.: 9: Northern Illinois, 7 p.m. 11: St. Mary (Kan.), 6 p.m. 16: at Tulane, TBD. 18: at Nebraska, TBD. 23: vs. Bethune-Cookman, at Valparaiso, Ind., TBD. 24: vs. Valparaiso or Chicago State, at Valparaiso, Ind., TBD. 29: at North Dakota State, 7 p.m.

7/11 Bidwell's Blog: Murray State schedule update--WPSD Local

What may be happening is Valparaiso. Prohm said he is working on a deal to bring Valpo in next season, although nothing is finalized yet. Valpo is coming off a 22-12 season and their first ever regular-season Horizon League title. The Crusaders lost in the opening round of the NIT to Miami, FL.

Assuming Valpo gets done, don't be surprised if landing that elusive 29th game doesn't happen until next month. In the end, a lot of teams, just like Murray State, are holding out for home games. Eventually, someone will get desperate enough to say they'll open a series on the road. That's what Prohm and the Racers are waiting on to happen. It will happen, but it will take time.

Valparaiso to host Northern Illinois on ESPN at 7 a.m.--The NWI Times
Notes on Valparaiso Men's Basketball 2012-13 Schedule--Inside VU Sports
Four Crusaders Named to NABC Honors Court--valpoathletics.com

Freeman stays in the Horizon League--The NWI Times
Crusaders Hosting Game as Part of ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon--valpoathletics.com

Wright State signs Miles Dixon, guard from Texas--Wright State University Sports
Hollins to Make Appearance at WSU--wsuraiders.com
Dixon Officially Signs with Raiders--wsuraiders.com
New York Trip with The Raiders-Deadline July 23--wsuraiders.com

Freeman Named WBB Assistant Coach--wsuraiders.com

The dozens: 12 stats you should know entering the 2012-13 season--Run The Floor

15.4: Percentage of minutes played by the Youngstown State bench, which was fewest in the nation. All five starters averaged at least 30 minutes a game, and none of the bench players even averaged 10. The same starting lineup was used in every game. The team did lose two seniors, so expect a bigger role for this year's bench, at least for the front court. In the back court the Penguins return what is likely the best guard tandem in the Horizon with Kendrick Perry and Blake Allen.

YSU Women’s Basketball Ranks Sixth in Academic Top 25--ysusports.com
Women's Basketball Golf Outing Reaches Capacity--ysusports.com

12 Horizon League Men's Basketball Student-Athletes Named to NABC Honors Court--Horizon League Network
Valpo, Detroit Tabbed to Play in ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon--Horizon League Network
McCallum Receives Award at 30th Annual Metro Detroit Youth Day--Horizon League Network

Green Bay and Youngstown State Women's Basketball Teams Rank in Top 10 of WBCA Academic Team Honor Roll--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 7/3/2012

#130 Cleveland State Men's Basketball 2012-13 Preview--College Sports Madness
London headed to JUCO--Cleveland State Hoops

Houston Rockets add Scott Machado, Zoran Dragic to Summer League Roster--SLAMONLINE.COM

Temple’s Dionte Christmas, Ariziona’s Kyle Fogg, Clemson’s Jerai Grant and Detroit’s Eli Holman will also be a part of the team.

Phoenix Gives Back to the Community, Builds Relationships--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Rollin' With Ritchie: Episode 2--GreenBayPhoenix.com

2012-13 Green Bay Men's Basketball Summer Prospectus--GreenBayPhoenix.com

VIDEO: Celebrating Sandy - Reflections From Former Coaches And Players--uwmpanthers.com

Catching up on verbal commits as July approaches--Hoopniks

Undersized power forward Jubril Adekoya is set for Valparaiso. Coach Bryce Drew has wasted no time with locking down a 2013 class, as Adekoya is the fourth pledge in the group. A grinder on the interior, Adekoya has been solid as a supporting player in the loaded Mean Streets grassroots program from the Chicago area.

Ex-WSU star’s book a behind-the-scenes look--Dayton Daily News

News On The Horizon 6/30/2012

Miami Heat might be thinking small in NBA Draft--Miami Herald

Miami has the 27th pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Last year, the Heat moved up a few spots to draft Norris Cole, a seasoned collegiate point guard who made an instant impact during the first half of the season and provided a spark in the postseason. The team will use that same template this year, only at a different position.
...
The summer league runs from July 13 to July 22. Cole will participate in the summer league along with the Heat’s new draft pick.

Miami Heat trades out of first round, drafts LSU’s Justin Hamilton--Miami Herald

In the end, the Heat went with the 7-0, 260-pound Hamilton, who will join the Heat’s summer-league team July 13 in Las Vegas and attempt to make the team. Joining Hamilton in Las Vegas will be Norris Cole, 2010 second-round pick Justin Varnado and most likely Terrel Harris and Dexter Pittman.

Riley dishes: He's not quitting; Pittman staying; no amnesty plans--South Florida Sun Sentinel

He indicated he is content with the tandem of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at point guard moving forward.

"We feel good with our point guard position," he said, "because we don't need a really, prototypical point guard that needs the ball 80 percent of the time."

Cleveland State's Brown Invited to Cavaliers' mini-camp--Cleveland State Hoops

Titan Club Hosts Successful Basketball Camp For Special Needs Players--detroittitans.com
Titans Ink Heralded Guard Anton Wilson--detroittitans.com
McCallum One Of 32 Active NCAA Division I Head Basketball Coaches To Be Drafted By The NBA--detroittitans.com

Knowing the Newcomers 2012: Jay Parker--uicflames.com

Saint Louis promotes assistant Jim Whitesell to associate head coach--CollegeBasketballTalk

Loyola adds Aguirre's cousin to roster--The Chicago Tribune
Loyola basketball adds guard Kody Williams--Daily Herald
Kody Williams Added to Loyola Men's Basketball Roster--LoyolaRamblers.com
Walt Gibler Earns Coleman Medal Of Honor--LoyolaRamblers.com

Alec Brown NBA Draft Profile--College Sports Madness
Men's basketball: UWM moves games back to campus--Green Bay Press Gazette

Former UWGB, WNBA player Johnson debuts camp for girls--Green Bay Press Gazette
SummerTimeOut Featuring Stephanie Sension--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Wojta Earns League's Highest Honor--GreenBayPhoenix.com

UWM returns basketball to campus; arena official upset--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The False wall of Title IX--PantherU
Chancellor Lovell On The Dennis Krause Show--Panther Blog Zone
Coming Home: Men's Basketball To Play Home Games At On-Campus Klotsche Center--uwmpanthers.com
Allen's NBA Workouts Have Him Focused On Getting Better--uwmpanthers.com
Coming Home: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About The Move Back To Klotsche--uwmpanthers.com

NCAA Basketball: 10 Teams Poised to Be Next Year's Tourney Cinderella--Bleacher Report
Lazerus: Valparaiso’s Ryan Broekhoff dreaming big--The Post-Tribune
Brandon Wood frustrated by lack of workouts as NBA draft approaches--The NWI Times

WSU looking for new rivalry without Miami--Dayton Daily News
Junior guard from Indiana picks WSU--Dayton Daily News
Former Wright State player Cuffee now at Cedarville--Wright State University Sports
Indiana junior verbally commits to Wright State--Wright State University Sports

Gibler, Wojta Named 2011-12 Cecil N. Coleman Award Winners--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 6/25/2012

Cleveland State once had the inside track on Davis--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Detroit's Ray McCallum, U-M's Trey Burke attend Deron Williams Skills Academy--The Oakland Press
McCallum Attends Deron Williams Skills Academy--detroittitans.com

Men's basketball: Newcomers Love, Fouse fill holes in UWGB's returning core--Green Bay Press Gazette

UWM's Rechlicz names staff--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Women's Basketball Names Coaching Staff--uwmpanthers.com

McCallum Adds to Busy Summer at Deron Williams Camp--Horizon League Network

News On The Horizon 6/24/2012

Karrington Ward A Hot Recruiting Target--ChicagoHoops.com

Florida State, Nebraska, Illinois, SMU, Texas Tech, Kentucky, Valparaiso and Detroit are just a few of the schools that are actively looking to get involved.

Strengthened Miami Heat puts the rest of America on high alert--Miami Herald

What you saw in that final game, when James told his teammates in a pregame huddle that Oklahoma City had no earthly idea what the Heat was about to unleash, was James making Mike Miller and Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole into his Paxson and Kerr. What James just did, this season, this postseason, compares favorably to even the best year on Jordan’s résumé.

Role players help Miami Heat roll to NBA Finals victory--Miami Herald

Chalmers and rookie Norris Cole took the baton from Battier in Game 4.

In the series’ pivotal game, Chalmers scored 25 points and earned a lasting nickname from Wade that isn’t exactly fit to print. The fearless Alaskan had 12 points in the fourth quarter and carried the team late in the game when James went down with a leg cramp.

Cole, sporting a new haircut for Game 4 — his signature high-top fade from his collegiate days — had his series-defining run in the first half. With the Heat trailing by 17 points, Cole came off the bench to lead the rally, scoring eight points in a seven-minute span.

Sprinkled throughout the series were contributions from other reserves. James Jones and Udonis Haslem, Miami’s native sons, each had six important points off the bench in Game 3.

“Everybody stepped up — Shane, Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller … Udonis Haslem,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

What's next? Heat to turn to NBA Draft, free agency--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Among those who expected to participate are the team's first-round pick, 2012 first-round pick Cole, Harris, Pittman, possibly former Heat draft picks Jarvis Varnado and Robert Dozier, plus other young players who either go undrafted or are free agents.

Roster review: 15 players, 15 rings, their moments--South Florida Sun Sentinel

Norris Cole

Age: 23.

2012-13 contract status: Under contract for $1,082,520, with Heat holding options for two additional seasons under rookie scale.

Championship heights: For most of three rounds of the playoffs, he bought time for Erik Spoelstra to rest his starters, largely without getting in the way. And then, in the NBA Finals, there were subtle reminders of what had made him such a promising prospect at the start of the season. He finished with a flourish.

Next step: Honestly, little more than typical rookie maturation. To a degree, Cole is the type of player you don't want to inhibit. His free-spirited style is what makes him such a wonderful contrast on this roster.

Moment to remember: One a night when it came down to two or three big plays, Cole's two 3-pointers in the 104-98 Game 4 victory in the Finals provided a needed bench boost when there wasn't much of a bench boost otherwise.

Championship bonus: Heat clarity at center, point guard--South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Heat's point guard of the moment? The very point guard who over these past two seasons had lost his starting job to the likes of Carlos Arroyo, Mike Bibby and, almost, Norris Cole: Mario Chalmers.

Norris Cole 2nd Viking to win NBA title--Cleveland State Hoops

July 24 -- Signing Day – A Chance For Season Ticketholders And Donors To Shine!--detroittitans.com

Powell Emerging As Recruiting Force At Valpo--ChicagoHoops.com