HL Tournament
Mar 4, 2007 10:50:20 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 4, 2007 10:50:20 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/03/04/ddn030407horizonnotes.html
Loyola makes case for tourney invite
By Marc Katz and Kyle Nagel
Staff Writers
Sunday, March 04, 2007
FAIRBORN — The Wright State men's basketball team had already secured a postseason berth, at least in the National Invitation Tournament. Most assume that Butler, with a No. 18 national ranking and a 27-5 record, will get an at-large NCAA tournament berth even if it loses the title game Tuesday.
But, what about Loyola of Chicago?
After losing its semifinal game Saturday evening, 67-66, to Butler in overtime, the Ramblers — the tournament's No. 3 seed — are 21-11. Coach Jim Whitesell hopes that's good enough for a postseason berth.
"We're playing good basketball," Whitesell said. "If anyone watched this game tonight, they would see we deserve to play another game."
After its loss to Butler — against whom Loyola went 1-2 this season with both losses coming in overtime — the Ramblers have won eight of their past 10 games after recovering from key injuries earlier in the season. They also have one of the league's most well-rounded players in 6-foot-7 guard Blake Schilb, who scored 60 points in his team's two tournament games at the Nutter Center.
Butler coach Todd Lickliter would like to see at least another game for his league-mate.
"I think Loyola is as good as anybody we played," he said.
Three-way winners
Unlike leagues that play at neutral sites, the Horizon League has built-in advantages for its better teams and plays very few "neutral" site games in its tournament.
Commissioner Jon LeCrone believes it works and gives three reasons.
"One, we wanted to reward teams for having a good season, so we gave the top two teams byes into the semifinals and the No. 3 team a bye in the first round," LeCrone said. "We also gave first-round home games to the next three teams.
"Two, we wanted to have fans show up for our games. In 2002, we had a terrific championship game (Illinois-Chicago beat Loyola, 76-75 in overtime) at Cleveland, and only about 1,500 people were there to see it. That's not fair to the kids."
"And three, we wanted to have our best teams rested and ready to go into the NCAA tournament. What has happened? We had two teams make it to the NCAA one year (Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Butler in 2003) and two teams make it to the Sweet 16 (Butler in 2003 and Milwaukee in 2005)."
Graves 0-for-9, 12 points
Butler guard A.J. Graves, an All-Horizon League first-teamer, didn't make a field goal in Butler's semifinal win Saturday. He still scored 12 points (by going 12-for-12 from the free-throw line), but he missed all nine of his shots, including all four 3-point attempts.
"He struggled a little bit, but we still played really well," said Butler forward Pete Campbell, who led the Bulldogs with 18 points. "Even though he wasn't hitting, he still draws plenty of attention.
Ring shines brightest
Former WSU coach Ralph Underhill was in the crowd and still wearing his 1983 Division II National Championship ring. Underhill lives in Erlanger, Ky., and recently completed a coaching stint in the American Basketball Association. He has also had inquires to coach in Europe, but at age 65, isn't certain he'll coach anymore.
Loyola makes case for tourney invite
By Marc Katz and Kyle Nagel
Staff Writers
Sunday, March 04, 2007
FAIRBORN — The Wright State men's basketball team had already secured a postseason berth, at least in the National Invitation Tournament. Most assume that Butler, with a No. 18 national ranking and a 27-5 record, will get an at-large NCAA tournament berth even if it loses the title game Tuesday.
But, what about Loyola of Chicago?
After losing its semifinal game Saturday evening, 67-66, to Butler in overtime, the Ramblers — the tournament's No. 3 seed — are 21-11. Coach Jim Whitesell hopes that's good enough for a postseason berth.
"We're playing good basketball," Whitesell said. "If anyone watched this game tonight, they would see we deserve to play another game."
After its loss to Butler — against whom Loyola went 1-2 this season with both losses coming in overtime — the Ramblers have won eight of their past 10 games after recovering from key injuries earlier in the season. They also have one of the league's most well-rounded players in 6-foot-7 guard Blake Schilb, who scored 60 points in his team's two tournament games at the Nutter Center.
Butler coach Todd Lickliter would like to see at least another game for his league-mate.
"I think Loyola is as good as anybody we played," he said.
Three-way winners
Unlike leagues that play at neutral sites, the Horizon League has built-in advantages for its better teams and plays very few "neutral" site games in its tournament.
Commissioner Jon LeCrone believes it works and gives three reasons.
"One, we wanted to reward teams for having a good season, so we gave the top two teams byes into the semifinals and the No. 3 team a bye in the first round," LeCrone said. "We also gave first-round home games to the next three teams.
"Two, we wanted to have fans show up for our games. In 2002, we had a terrific championship game (Illinois-Chicago beat Loyola, 76-75 in overtime) at Cleveland, and only about 1,500 people were there to see it. That's not fair to the kids."
"And three, we wanted to have our best teams rested and ready to go into the NCAA tournament. What has happened? We had two teams make it to the NCAA one year (Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Butler in 2003) and two teams make it to the Sweet 16 (Butler in 2003 and Milwaukee in 2005)."
Graves 0-for-9, 12 points
Butler guard A.J. Graves, an All-Horizon League first-teamer, didn't make a field goal in Butler's semifinal win Saturday. He still scored 12 points (by going 12-for-12 from the free-throw line), but he missed all nine of his shots, including all four 3-point attempts.
"He struggled a little bit, but we still played really well," said Butler forward Pete Campbell, who led the Bulldogs with 18 points. "Even though he wasn't hitting, he still draws plenty of attention.
Ring shines brightest
Former WSU coach Ralph Underhill was in the crowd and still wearing his 1983 Division II National Championship ring. Underhill lives in Erlanger, Ky., and recently completed a coaching stint in the American Basketball Association. He has also had inquires to coach in Europe, but at age 65, isn't certain he'll coach anymore.