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Post by Sixth Man on Oct 18, 2008 6:49:34 GMT -5
Young Bulldogs begin their trainingBy David Woods October 18, 2008 A Butler's first day of formal practice resembled a college classroom more than it did a fan festival or basketball celebration. It's not that the Bulldogs are killjoys. It's that there is a lot to learn. Matt Howard could empathize with what his six freshman teammates are enduring. "Last year, I was one of the only guys who didn't know what I was doing," said Howard, who learned well enough to become the Horizon League's Newcomer of the Year. During Butler's two-hour practice Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the only audible sounds were that of shoes squeaking and the voices of coach Brad Stevens and assistant Matthew Graves. Some Ohio high school coaches watched attentively. Later, so did members of the Butler women's team before their practice. They saw Bulldogs who can't match last season's 30-4 team in experience, but probably exceeds that group in athleticism. Howard conceded the players' weightlifting numbers have increased. Stevens said they are strong and well conditioned. "You might say that we're faster, but sometimes it just comes down to knowing the game, and knowing where to be at the right time," Howard said. Howard is Butler's only returning starter, and the four other spots are indeterminate. "That right way to do it is to watch and see how it shakes out," Stevens said. "We get to see it every day. We'll be able to see who's performing and who's not." The practice featured plenty of shots clanging off the front rim from the new, longer 3-point line. Sophomore guard Grant Leiendecker was an exception, drilling successive 3s that helped his team win 12-3 in a four-minute scrimmage. www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081018/SPORTS0605/810180405/1073/SPORTS0605
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Post by Sixth Man on Oct 27, 2008 10:25:57 GMT -5
Waters gets new deal after coaching Vikings to postseasonAssociated Press October 27, 2008 CLEVELAND -- Gary Waters has a new five-year contract with Cleveland State after coaching the Vikings to their first postseason appearance in 20 years. Waters had three years left on his original deal, but the five-year rollover eliminates it. The 57-year-old Waters took over at Cleveland State in 2006 after spending five years at Rutgers. The Vikings went 10-21 in Waters' first season before going 21-13 and making the National Invitation Tournament last season. Cleveland State was just the 16th program in NCAA history to go from losing 20 games in one season to winning 20 the next. Waters, who also coached at Kent State, has four starters back from last year's team. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3666446
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Post by Sixth Man on Oct 27, 2008 14:51:37 GMT -5
Men's basketball: Phoenix prepares with backup planBy Rob Demovsky October 27, 2008 There's a new phrase in Tod Kowalczyk's collection — "play after the play." That's the catch phrase that will describe how Kowalczyk's team plans to operate on offense this season. What it means is this: The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will still run some of its set plays, but if that play breaks down, the Phoenix won't have to regroup. They'll instead wait for Kowalczyk to call another play and then begin the possession again from near midcourt. At that point, the offense will morph into a hybrid of set plays combined with motion that the seventh-year head coach hopes will mean better rhythm and higher production. "We're looking to just play a little more and not have as many established plays," senior guard Ryan Tillema said. "I think that will help us to just be creative and use our skill and athleticism to our advantage. And if something's not there, just take advantage of what the defense is giving you." The change was instituted almost immediately after last season, when the Phoenix led the Horizon League in field-goal percentage but was bogged down by ill-timed breakdowns and turnovers. En route to a 15-15 record, including a 9-9 league mark, UWGB shot a league-best 46 percent and averaged 69 points per game but had the worst turnover margin and the second-worst assist-to-turnover ratio. With largely the same team returning — plus the addition of junior college transfers Chop Tang and Jesse Childs and freshman Brent Eaton — Kowalczyk saw it as the right time to make the switch. "We're still going to run our sets," Kowalczyk said. "There's very few teams in the country that rely on pure motion just because I don't think you can rely on that to get you shots every time. We'll have a set play, but we'll run a play after the play, no standing around. That's where we're going to use more of our motion." Since he was hired in 2002, Kowalczyk's half-court offense has been based largely on a massive collection of set plays. It's a philosophy in which he was schooled while he was an assistant at Marquette under Tom Crean, who learned the system when he was an assistant at Michigan State under Tom Izzo. Nearly every team in the Horizon League runs predominately a set-play offense. "We're not just going to throw our set plays out the window," sophomore point guard Rahmon Fletcher said. "We're going to need those for special situations, but we would like to push the ball a lot more. That's why we've got a lot of defensive drills, because it starts with defense." Kowalczyk has made some changes defensively, too. "There's a lot more denying passing lanes," said senior guard Terry Evans, the reigning Horizon League defensive player of the year. "It's a more aggressive defense." Ideally, that would force more turnovers and lead to more transition opportunities. "I wouldn't call it a big change," Kowalczyk said, "but I'd call it a change." www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081027/GPG020101/810270533/1229
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Post by Glory Days on Oct 29, 2008 18:32:35 GMT -5
Men's basketball: Consistency keeps Kowalczyk off hotseatBy Rob Demovsky October 29, 2008 That the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team is about to begin its seventh season under Tod Kowalczyk, and he has yet to coach the Phoenix to a postseason tournament might leave some with the impression this is a make-or-break season. As in make one of college basketball's three tournaments — the NCAA, NIT or the fledgling College Basketball Invitational — or break the program up by making major changes. But that seemingly would be the wrong impression. Expectations for the Phoenix — picked fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll but projected as high as second by some preseason publications — to compete for the league title are there, but this is hardly an NCAA Tournament-or- bust season for Kowalczyk, who has been the mark of consistency the last five seasons. In that stretch, his teams have averaged 16.4 wins per season and have finished third, second, tied for third, tied for third and tied for fourth in that time. When he was hired in 2002, Kowalczyk inherited a team that had three straight losing seasons, including a 9-21 debacle the previous season. After going 10-20 in his first season, the Phoenix never has won fewer than 15 games since. However, the high-win mark has been 18. With the team Kowalczyk returns this season, anything less than 17 to 19 wins would seem unlikely. "I think that's a very good season, I really do," UWGB athletic director Ken Bothof said at the annual basketball media day on Tuesday. "With our schedule that we play every year and with the road games we play, I think that's a very good season." Kowalczyk's six-year record is 92-88 overall and 49-49 in league play, but that mark improves to 82-68 and 45-37 when throwing out the first year. "From the time Tod came here, every single aspect of this program has gotten better, every single part," Bothof said. "He's proud of that. I'm proud of that, and we all should be proud of that. With the overall evaluation, that's what we're looking at." Kowalczyk returns all five starters from a team that finished 15-15 overall and tied for fourth in the Horizon League with a 9-9 record. Three of the starters — guards Terry Evans and Ryan Tillema along with forward Mike Schachtner — are seniors who have started regularly since they were freshmen. The addition of junior college forward Chop Tang, junior college guard Jesse Childs and freshman guard Brent Eaton gives Kowalczyk perhaps the deepest — and most talented — team of his tenure. "It's a big year because we have three seniors who are four-year starters, and with that comes expectations," Kowalczyk said. "I'm very proud of how we've been consistently good every year, and now the next step is to get to the postseason." According to research done by the school's athletic department, UWGB is one of 25 teams out of the 341 in Division I that has finished among the top four in its conference each of the past five seasons. "I think every program gets to a point where they see all those good things, and now people are ready for that next step," Bothof said. "I would not say it needs to happen (this year), but I think there's finally a place where people say, you know what, they've done so many good things, they want that. It's an expectation that fans have." Eaton in, Barkley out: Eaton, once seen as a likely candidate to redshirt, could end up playing this season, while senior forward Cordero Barkley probably will not play due to a wrist injury. The 6-foot-5 Eaton, from Middlebury, Ind., has been impressive in preseason practices and could see some minutes as a backup shooting guard. "I think he can help us," Kowalczyk said. "He's a guy who has consistently gotten better over the course of practice. If you asked our players who the best pure shooter is, they'd probably say Brent Eaton." Barkley had surgery on his right wrist three weeks ago and was originally expected to be back in two months. Instead, it appears he will redshirt and return next season even though he is on schedule to graduate in the spring. "The surgery didn't go as well as we had hoped," Kowalczyk said. "I would venture to guess we'll redshirt him, and he'll come back next year and work on a master's degree." Also, Schachtner missed practice on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, but he is expected to play in Saturday's exhibition opener against Minnesota-Duluth. www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081029/GPG020101/810290670/1229
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Post by Raider Rowdies on Nov 5, 2008 20:31:40 GMT -5
CSU Insider: Waters' rotation yet to be determinedby Joe Maxse, Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday November 05, 2008 Cleveland State men's basketball coach Gary Waters is into blending. When the Vikings played a closed scrimmage at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, the CSU coach kept his returning players in a separate rotation from the nine newcomers. He wants to spend the next two weeks figuring out which new faces will round out the core of his club. "We're still in development with the younger guys," said Waters, whose club plays an exhibition against John Carroll at the Wolstein Center on Monday at 7 p.m. "We didn't involve them with the top eight. But now we're going to blend it together to see if we can add two or three players on a consistent basis." So how did the experienced players do up in Michigan? "The upperclassmen showed what they are capable of doing at times, but if they don't do the right things, they will struggle," said Waters. While the NCAA requires scores be kept confidential in scrimmages, a source said the Vikings handled Eastern Michigan pretty well. CSU opens the regular season at home against Oakland (Mich.) on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Recuperating: Freshman forward Charlie Woods is recovering from a nasty head injury. After smacking heads with freshman Trevon Harmon on Oct. 20, Woods suffered fractured bones above his right eye. He underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, with two plates inserted to heal the gash. He is expected back on the court in three weeks. Still waiting: CSU has not heard on the eligibility status of Harmon, who arrived at CSU last December after attending a junior college on a part-time basis for less than a semester. If the NCAA does not clear him, he will not be eligible to play until December. On the air: CSU's games will be broadcast live this season on WHKW AM/1220 and WHKZ AM/1440 in Warren, with a 30-minute pregame show. Al Pawlowski returns for his fourth season at the mike. Monday's exhibition will not air. The one-hour "Gary Waters Show" can be heard on WTAM AM/1100 beginning Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. Andre Knott will host. Eleven of the 14 scheduled shows will air on Mondays, most at 7 p.m. CSU is finalizing its television schedule with SportsTime Ohio. STO will also show the 30-minute "Viking Basketball Report." Mike Cairns will do the play-by-play for a second season, with former Viking Franklin Edwards handling commentary. Polling place: The Vikings got a lot of respect from the preseason pollsters. Besides being the top pick in the Horizon League's in-conference voting, they were picked by five other media sites to win the title, including The Sporting News, Athlon, Blue Ribbon, CollegeHoop.net and Rivals.com. Lindy's picked them to finish second, with Wright State the top choice. www.cleveland.com/sports/csu/index.ssf/2008/11/csu_insider_waters_rotation_ye.html
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Post by Raider Rowdies on Nov 6, 2008 20:30:15 GMT -5
VU's injury list growingNovember 6, 2008 BY MARK LAZERUS Post-Tribune sports editor VALPARAISO -- A bit of sobering news for the Valparaiso men's basketball team. The Horizon League opener -- on the road against heavily favored Cleveland State, no less -- is less than four weeks away. The alarmingly early start to conference play would be disconcerting for just about any team, especially one that lost two key non-seniors in the offseason. But things are even more worrisome now for the Crusaders, as their injury list is threatening to swallow up the entire roster. With the team's lone exhibition Saturday against Division-III Elmhurst, senior point guard Brandon McPherson is still recovering from knee surgery and hasn't yet practiced. He's scheduled to meet with a doctor early next week to see how much longer he'll need to sit. "He's still having trouble going side-to-side, and cutting and stopping," VU coach Homer Drew said. "He can move forward pretty well, but he's just not there yet. And we just don't know how long it'll take." McPherson's not alone. Freshman guard De'Andre Haskins is dealing with a high-ankle sprain that has kept him out of practice. Sophomore guard Howard Little started experiencing stomach pain during a team meeting on Wednesday and went to see a doctor -- Drew was worried it could be Little's appendix. Senior guard Jake Diebler is still slowed by offseason ankle surgery, though he is practicing, and senior forward Urule Igbavboa went down with what appeared to be a nasty ankle injury toward the end of Wednesday's practice. He limped off the court with the help of trainer Rod Moore and his status is uncertain. On top of that, redshirt freshman forward Benjamin Fumey missed much of last week's workouts with a sinus infection that he's still battling, and sophomore swingman Michael Rogers has been sick, too. "It's just been unbelievable," Drew said. The only thing Drew knows for sure is that McPherson won't play on Saturday. Everybody else is either probable or questionable for Saturday. The ailments are making it difficult for the Crusaders to figure out just what they have this season in the wake of the graduations of Shawn Huff and Jarryd Loyd, and the unexpected departures of Bryan Bouchie and Samuel Haanpaa. With four freshmen angling for significant playing time, there are a lot of things to work out -- for one, what kind of style the Crusaders will play. In a scrimmage against Northwestern last week, VU started four guards. Against Elmhurst, Drew plans to go big. "Hopefully we go both ways all year," Fumey said. "That way we can adjust to any team, and force them to adjust to us." Drew's excited about the talent he has on the roster this year. But he's concerned about the time he has to put it all together. And the injuries aren't helping. "It's true, there's not a lot of time before conference play," he said. "But we're working hard and everyone's doing very well and everyone has great chemistry with each other. We're excited to see what they can do in a real game." www.post-trib.com/sports/1264099,Valpo.article
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Post by Willie on Nov 6, 2008 22:54:45 GMT -5
Butler Basketball 2008-09
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Nov 7, 2008 8:49:30 GMT -5
Fumey loses redshirt, year of eligibilityNovember 7, 2008 BY MARK LAZERUS Post-Tribune sports editor Benjamin Fumey spent his entire freshman season on the bench while the NCAA sorted out his eligibility issues last year. His only solace was that he'd be granted a redshirt for his troubles. But it turns out he didn't even get that. Fumey -- and the three other German players on Division I teams last season -- lost a year of eligibility because the German club league they played in had some American players, whom the NCAA classified as professionals. So Fumey, who didn't play at all last season, is officially a sophomore with three years of eligibility. "The other three German players had the same ruling, so it was a very consistent decision," VU coach Homer Drew said. Drew said the ruling was made last spring. The other three German players -- Nebraska's Christopher Niemann, Washington State's Fabian Boeke and Iowa State's Lucca Staiger -- were on the same club team. Boeke and Staiger were ruled ineligible because their team included paid professionals. Niemann was held out all season by Nebraska to avoid any possible NCAA violations, as was Fumey at Valparaiso. Fumey was on a different team, the Bremen Roosters. "We petitioned against the ruling, because his scenario is different than the others," Drew said. "But they did not uphold our petition." Had Fumey played in any games, VU would have forfeited them, Drew said. www.post-trib.com/sports/1266228,vuside.article
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Nov 7, 2008 8:52:12 GMT -5
Fumey, Witt trying to crack starting fiveNovember 7, 2008 BY MARK LAZERUS Post-Tribune sports editor VALPARAISO -- The recruiting process is grueling for anyone, but imagine how tough it is when you're trying to pick a college more than 10,000 miles away. So Tasmanian forward Cameron Witt was pretty pleased when he settled on a college in Indiana. Evansville, that is. Then Bryan Bouchie decided to leave Valparaiso and changed everything. "I had sort of committed to Evansville and I was waiting for a phone call back from the coach," Witt said. "Then I went on the Internet and saw that Evansville had signed Bouchie. And then Valpo fell into my hands. In the end, I came out on top, I think." Indeed, Witt -- a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward -- essentially replaced Bryan Bouchie on the Valparaiso roster. Now he's hoping to do the same in the starting lineup. "This is a big opportunity for me," Witt said. "I've got the chance to play Division I college basketball straight away, and that's something I've dreamed of for a while now." But Witt's not alone in the power forward sweepstakes at VU. He's probably not even the favorite. That label goes to another big man who's been waiting for this opportunity for what seems like ages -- sophomore Benjamin Fumey. Fumey, a 6-8, 235-pound German import who sat out all of last season while VU sorted through his eligibility issues, has a year of practice under his belt and is angling for a regular spot in the low post. "I never feel like I have to replace Bryan or anyone else -- I'm trying to find my own spot on the team, whatever that's going to be," Fumey said. "I believe I would play even if Bryan were here. But it's obvious we have only three big guys -- we don't even have a (center), we have three power forwards. It's a big gap that has to be filled, and I'd like to be the guy to do it." The third big guy is senior Urule Igvavboa, who has been firmly entrenched in the starting lineup since his sophomore season. But an ankle injury he suffered near the end of Wednesday's practice could really open up the competition in Saturday's exhibition against Elmhurst College at the Athletics-Recreation Center. VU coach Homer Drew said Thursday the injury was not serious, and Igbavboa could practice as soon as today and might play Saturday. Regardless, there will be plenty of playing time for all of VU's first-year players -- especially Fumey and Witt. Elmhurst -- an 18-win Division III school coached by former VU assistant Mark Scherer -- has a solid senior big man in 6-9, 260-pound Brent Ruch. How Fumey and Witt fare against Ruch could determine who has a leg up in the competition -- one that must be decided relatively soon. After all, the Horizon League opener at Cleveland State is only 31�2 weeks away. Drew hasn't yet decided if he'll run a four-guard set with Igbavboa or stick to a more traditional lineup, with two big men, a swingman and two guards. But historically, Drew has favored two big men, and he's been dangling that carrot in front of Fumey and Witt. "They both know they have that opportunity in front of them," Drew said. "They know they've got to continue to improve, they've got to be able to run the floor and they've got to get a little quicker. They're both first-year players since Benny didn't didn't get a chance to play last season." Still, Fumey thinks his experience as a practice-only player last year helped immensely. "Last year, I would have needed some time, maybe eight or nine games into the season to get used to the college style," he said. "It's still going to be my first year playing, but I think I'm more prepared than last year. I know what to expect." Witt acknowledges the disadvantage he faces as a true newcomer -- not only to Valparaiso, but to North American-style basketball. Drew praised Witt for his ability to pick things up quickly, his offensive versatility and his defensive intensity. But he also said Witt needs to work on his mobility and ability to keep up with the up-tempo style Drew wants to employ, regardless of how many big men are on the court. "I think just getting used to the new style of play has been the biggest thing," said Witt, who's 30 pounds lighter than Fumey. "There are going to be some big bodies out there, and I'm certainly not that massive. But I think I fit in with this team really well." The only questions are where, and how soon. www.post-trib.com/sports/1266220,bkcvu.article
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Post by Raider Rowdies on Nov 17, 2008 14:31:59 GMT -5
Men's basketball: UWGB's Tillema out 3-4 weeks with knee injuryBY ROB DEMOVSKY November 17, 2008 The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball team will open its season without one of its best players. Ryan Tillema did not make the trip for Tuesday’s season opener at Utah because he was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today. Tillema, who was the Phoenix’s second-leading scorer last season (12.5 ppg), is expected to miss three to four weeks. The 6-foot-8 senior guard missed the Nov. 9 exhibition finale against UW-Eau Claire after he banged his knee in practice on Nov. 6. At the time, it was diagnosed as a bruise. However, the swelling did not subside. An MRI revealed that Tillema sustained damage behind his kneecap and has two bone chips. The surgery will remove the bone chips but will not correct the other damage. “If they fixed the damage behind the kneecap, he’s done for the season,” UWGB coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “So they’re just going to remove the bone chips.” Kowalczyk said Tillema could have played without having any surgery but would have been at further risk of injury. “Is it worth the gamble and play or take the seven-game hit now and have him healthy for 20 or 25 games?” Kowalczyk said. Kowalczyk said Tillema could return for Dec. 4 Horizon League opener against Wright State. Junior guard Troy Cotton is expected to start in Tillema’s place. Kowalczyk also said junior-college transfer Jesse Childs did not make the trip to Utah because he was suspended for a violation of team rules. Childs also won’t play in the three games later this week in Daytona Beach, Fla., against Rollins College, Marshall and Morgan State. www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081117/GPG020101/81117086/1225/GPG02
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Post by Sixth Man on Nov 28, 2008 21:30:03 GMT -5
UWM's Franklin arrested By Charles F. Gardner Nov. 28, 2008 Senior guard Ricky Franklin will not be in the UW-Milwaukee starting lineup today against Wisconsin, following his OWI arrest Thursday morning. The Panthers (3-3) play the 25th-ranked Badgers (4-1) at the Kohl Center in Madison. Franklin was stopped by police at 3:01 a.m. Thursday in the 1400 block of W. Hadley St. and arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Milwaukee police spokesman said. UWM coach Rob Jeter said Franklin would be suspended for today's game and would be out of the lineup for an indefinite period. "Obviously, there are student-athlete issues and some team-rule issues," Jeter said after his team's practice session at the Kohl Center on Friday. "There are consequences for violations when something like this happens. "But it's also a sign that a young person needs help. He will be removed from basketball (for an indefinite time) so he can concentrate on getting the help he needs and to get better." The 6-foot-1 Franklin had started in all six UWM games this season and was averaging 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. The former Milwaukee Riverside player was named to the all-tournament team in the Panthers' visit to the World Vision Classic in Ames, Iowa, to open the season. Franklin appeared in all 30 games for the Panthers last season, starting the final 26 games. Jeter said he was not sure who would replace Franklin in the starting lineup. Senior guard Avery Smith and senior guard Deion James both have played extensively off the bench, and Smith had 22 points against both Upper Iowa and Marquette. The Panthers are 1-24 all-time against UW and have lost 15 consecutive games to their in-state rival, including a 61-39 defeat to the Badgers in Milwaukee last season. UWM is 3-10 in its last 13 games against nationally ranked teams. The Panthers lost to 15th-ranked Marquette last weekend and also suffered an 82-69 home-court loss to Ball State on Tuesday night. "Every game is a teaching tool, and this one is a lot tougher than others," Jeter said. "It's a great game to help us with our discipline. "Do we have the patience, offensively, not to take a quick shot? And defensively, can we guard well for 25 to 30 seconds and not break down in the last 5 seconds? That's what was happening to us the other night (against Ball State)." www.jsonline.com/sports/panthers/35238974.html
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Post by Raider Alumni on Nov 28, 2008 23:09:22 GMT -5
This is very bad news for UWM. They have had a streak of players making bad off the court decisions the last few years. This has to put Jeters on the hot seat. He isn't winning games and his players are embarrassing the program and school.
On the positive side, this helps WSU since we play at UWM next week.
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Post by Raider Grad on Nov 29, 2008 8:53:03 GMT -5
UWGB update: This is the home opener after playing its first four games in the Glenn Wilkes Classic, and it's the first of four straight home games that includes the first two Horizon League games (against Wright State on Dec. 4 and Detroit on Dec. 6). UWGB has won five straight home openers and has a 31-8 record all-time in home openers. … A year after the Phoenix shot a Horizon League-best 73.8 percent from the free throw line, it has made 86-of-97 free throws (88.7 percent). Senior guard Terry Evans, who last season shot 49.5 percent from the line, has made 12-of-14 free throws this season. He also has made 5-of-8 3-pointers after hitting just 4-of-18 all of last season. … Senior guard Ryan Tillema, who had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right knee on Nov. 17, remains out. It's unlikely he will return in time for the first two conference games. Junior guard Jesse Childs remains suspended for a violation of team rules. www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081129/GPG020101/811290501/1229
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Post by Willie on Dec 4, 2008 1:36:35 GMT -5
Butler, perfect again, visits team-to-beat Cleveland State as Horizon League play beginsBy By Marc Katz Thursday, December 04, 2008 Because there aren't enough weeks in January and February to finish a complete home-and-home schedule, the Horizon League begins play this week. One league game has been played — Cleveland State beat Valparaiso 66-42 on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The rest of the league begins tonight. Here's a preview: Butler (5-0): Despite losing the bulk of its championship team, the Bulldogs are 5-0 for the third straight year and have held each opponent to fewer than 60 points. Tonight: at Cleveland State. Cleveland State (5-2, 1-0): J'Nathan Bullock scored 29 in Vikings' victory over Valparaiso, justifying CSU's early stature as the team to beat. Valparaiso (2-4, 0-1): Three true freshmen and a sophomore who didn't play last year have already had double-digit scoring games. Tonight: at Youngstown State. Youngstown State (1-4): Penguins made only two of their first 31 3-point attempts (.065) but are 25-of-58 (.431) since. Detroit (2-3): Under a new coach, the Titans are averaging 35.4 rebounds a game, but have scored as many as 62 points only three times. Tonight: at Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wisconsin-Milwaukee (3-4): Senior Ricky Franklin is out by team suspension, but eight different players have had double-figure scoring games. Wright State (0-4): Limping, and looking for a victory. Tonight: at Wisconsin-Green Bay Wisconsin-Green Bay (3-2): Four players are scoring in double figures, and seven are averaging more than 20 minutes per game. Loyola-Chicago (4-4): In victories, the Ramblers allow 54.5 points a game. In losses, the average shoots up to 78.8. Next: Saturday at Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago (3-2): The Flames played at Vanderbilt on Wednesday night with a two-game winning streak. Josh Mayo scored 20 vs. Central Michigan. www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/12/04/ddn120408sphorizon.html
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Post by Jazzfan on Dec 13, 2008 11:05:21 GMT -5
Cleveland State Insider: Vikings paying the price for wayward shooting aimby Joe Maxse December 11, 2008 The good news is that Cleveland State men's basketball has held opponents to an average of less than 50 points over the last three games. The bad news is that the Vikings have lost two of those games. It's enough to drive a coach over the edge. While Gary Waters has not hidden the frustration at his club's lack of consistent offense, he is confident the problem can be solved once the Vikings start connecting on their easy shots. "We have been averaging about six missed layups a game," said Waters, whose club (5-4, 1-1 Horizon League) will take a two-game losing streak into Saturday night's game at Marist. "That has to do with finishing." You certainly can't put the blame on CSU's defense. The Vikings have held their last three opponents to a combined 32.5 percent shooting, with only West Virginia managing to make at least one-third of its shots at 34.6 percent. CSU has only an impressive 66-42 win against Valparaiso, with the 50-48 loss to Butler still a tough one to take. CSU has made 35 percent of its shots over the past three outings. "We let them score on their last four possessions and that was on our defense," said Waters, referring to the Butler game. "We played well at West Virginia in the first half, then missed seven layups in the second half. I still believe we are going to be much better." Back to the court: After three days off to deal with final exams, the Vikings returned to practice on Wednesday. Freshman guard Trevon Harmon is expected to be eligible for his first action of the season Monday at Syracuse. The semester does not end until Saturday and grades have to be posted before playing status can be determined. Waters said he is hoping to add Harmon to the mix of sophomore Eric Schiele and freshmen Josh McCoy and Jeremy Montgomery, all guards, to get some contributions off the bench. He wants at least one of the four to become a defensive presence and another to add some offensive pop. Signed and sealed: After all their paperwork was completed, Waters was able to comment on his two fall signings in guard Anthony Wells of Shaker Heights and forward Kevin Anderson, attending TCI junior college in New York City. "There is a lot of upside to his future," said Waters, referring to Wells. "He can shoot, pass and defend. He's the kind of kid [in whom] you see a lot of potential." Waters said the 6-7 Anderson is an athletic shot-blocker. He plans to have him work on his upper body strength. This and that: Senior forward J'Nathan Bullock stands 10th on the CSU career charts with 1,362 points. Eric Mudd (1984-88) is ninth at 1,402. ... Senior point guard Cedric Jackson needs one more steal to reach 200. Eddie Bryant (1983-87) is sixth with 201, Kenny Robertson (1986-90) the CSU leader with 341. ... Saturday's game at Marist is the obligatory return game for last season's visit here in the ESPNU BracketBusters. ... Monday's visit to Syracuse will be CSU's first visit to the Carrier Dome since the 1986 NCAA Tournament. The Vikings have never played the Orangemen. www.cleveland.com/sports/csu/index.ssf/2008/12/cleveland_state_insider_viking_2.html
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