|
Post by Jazzfan on May 11, 2009 18:09:03 GMT -5
Beas Hamga: Will he stay or will he go?By Mark Lazerus May 8, 2009 Beas Hamga is still a student at Valparaiso. The big question in Valparaiso circles these days is, will be still be one in the fall? The rumor mill -- online and on campus -- has been put into overdrive in recent weeks as chatter builds about Hamga being unhappy at VU and looking to transfer. Given his history -- several high schools and a brief stint at UNLV before coming to Valparaiso -- it hardly would be shocking. Homer Drew wasn't tipping his hand, but will be meeting with Hamga after his last final exam to discuss his future. "I'll be visiting with him after finals week, and I'll know more at that time," Drew said. "It's not appropriate to talk about anyone until I visit with them." After the jarring offseason VU went through last year, with Bryan Bouchie and Samuel Haanpaa leaving unexpectedly, Drew is keeping closer tabs on his players and their situations, adding a post-finals meeting to the usual postseason exit interview. "After what happened last year when things changed so quickly, we want to make sure everything's set after finals week," Drew said. "We want to make sure everything's on track, with the direction we want to go in and the direction they want to go in." Should Hamga leave, VU suddenly would be short one scholarship player after nearly five months of speculation of how the team would handle having two too many scholarship players. The departures of Logan Jones and Benjamin Fumey (who could have played an integral role if Hamga were to leave) weren't so devastating. Hamga, however, could be a different story -- at least, in the eyes of fans and maybe even coaches who have made him out to be the next Hakeem Olajuwon. Hamga is very much an unknown commodity, and is as likely to be a monster bust as he is to be a monster star. But as a seven-footer and a five-star recruit, VU obviously has a large role in mind for him next year. Even if he leaves, though, fans shouldn't despair. With Brandon McPherson, Cory Johnson, Howard Little, Michael Rogers and a slew of young guards/swingmen in the mix, the Crusaders still will be very competitive next year and will have one of the Horizon League's more impressive starting units. Their depth is taking quite a hit, however. Suddenly, Cameron Witt is the only big man behind Johnson, with a bunch of inexperienced swingmen and shooting guards jockeying for playing time. Let's and wait and see what Hamga does, however, before digging too deeply into next season's lineup situation. blogs.post-trib.com/lazerus/2009/05/beas-hamga-will-he-stay-or-wil.html
|
|
|
Post by OG Raiderfan on May 12, 2009 20:50:25 GMT -5
Horizon League outlook, 2009-10By Mark Lazerus The Horizon League season has been over for nearly a full day already. So I felt it was high time to put the 2008-09 season behind us and take a look ahead to next season (a pleasant thought for Valparaiso fans, that's for sure). So here are my very premature predictions for how the Horizon League will shake out next season. Keep in mind, when I did this same column last year, I had Valparaiso finishing fourth because Bryan Bouchie and Samuel Haanpaa hadn't left yet. So, as is always the case with mid-major teams, everything is subject to change. But for now, here's my look at next season's Horizon League, with teams listed in predicted order of finish. Here's hoping I do half as well as I did with my tournament predictions, because aside from 1 and maybe 2, this is a monstrous crapshoot. 1. Butler Key losses: None Key returnees: Matt Howard (14.6 ppg), Gordon Hayward (13.4 ppg), Shelvin Mack (11.5 ppg), Willie Veasley (9.1 ppg) Outlook: The Bulldogs return their entire team -- a team that was nationally ranked most of the year. And inexperience won't be an issue next year, as it likely was when the young Bulldogs stumbled down the stretch this season. Throw in a top-50 national recruit in 6-9 Covenant Christian center Andrew Smith -- who, if he pans out, could significantly free up Howard and Hayward -- and Butler looks awfully scary. About the only thing that could really muck up the works at Hinkle Fieldhouse is if head coach Brad Stevens gets lured away by a bigger program, as Todd Lickliter and Thad Matta did before him. Stevens surely will be one of the most sought-after coaches in the nation, and if/when he leaves, others on the roster could follow. A hypothetical, nothing more, but it's pretty much the only scenario that prevents Butler from dominating the league for the next couple years -- Howard, Hayward and Mack will be back in 2010, also. 2. Wright State Key losses: Will Graham Key returnees: Todd Brown (11.7 ppg), Vaughn Duggins (N/A), Cory Cooperwood (9.5 ppg) Outlook: If there's a contender to Butler's throne next year, it's the rival Raiders -- a rivalry fueled by one side's hatred for and inferiority complex to the other's. Wright State lost all three times to Butler this season, but bring back all but one key component from this year's team (point guard Graham) and one huge component that was missing this year (Duggins, who redshirted with a broken finger). Adding Duggins will give a much-needed offensive boost to a team that already has one of the nation's stingiest defenses. Duggins and Brown formed one of the league's best backcourts as sophomores, and there's no reason to think they won't be even more productive next year. 3. Valparaiso Key losses: Urule Igbavboa, Jake Diebler Key returnees: Brandon McPherson (N/A), Cory Johnson (N/A), Michael Rogers (9.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Howard Little (9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) Outlook: There's a lot of optimism around Valparaiso for next season, and it has to do with who's joining the roster, not who's coming back. While Little and Rogers had solid seasons and will play big roles, it's the return of McPherson from knee surgery and the addition of Iowa State transfer Johnson, UNLV transfer Beas Hamga and junior college transfer Brandon Wood that has the Crusaders thinking big. The talent is there, and McPherson's a sure thing. Johnson seems to be, too. Wood appears to be a serious offensive weapon, and while Hamga could prove to be a project, the shot-blocking 7-footer will see time right away. It's possible not one starter from this year's team will start next year, though Little and Rogers certainly will -- and should -- get first shot. The influx of Division-I-ready talent could make the dreadful 2008-09 season just a bump in the road, rather than the start of a lengthy rebuilding process. 4. Youngstown State Key losses: Jack Liles Key returnees: Kelvin Bright (11.4 ppg), DeAndre Mays (10.7 ppg, 3.5 apg), Vytas Sulskis (10.3 ppg), Sirlester Martin (9.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) Outlook: This might be a bit of a reach, but what the hell. For the first time in who knows who long, there's cause for optimism at Youngstown. The Penguins developed into a solid team by the end of the season, and bring back everybody but the steady-if-unspectacular Liles at center. Martin, Bright and Mays will all be seniors, so this will be a talented, veteran and therefore dangerous group. 5. Cleveland State Key losses: J'Nathan Bullock, Cedric Jackson, George Tandy, Chris Moore Key returnees: Norris Cole (13.2 ppg, 2.4 apg), D'Aundray Brown (7.4 ppg, 2.5 apg), Trevon Harmon (5.2 ppg), Aaron Pogue (DNP) Outlook: The Vikings lose two of the best players in the league in Bullock and Jackson, but bring back some young talent. Pogue is the X-factor -- a 6-9, 280-pound junior-college transfer who will be a nearly impossible matchup for every Horizon League team. He was a top-50 recruit coming out of high school in Dayton, where he averaged 14 points and 14 rebounds per game. 6. Green Bay Key losses: Ryan Tillema, Mike Schachtner, Terry Evans Key returnees: Troy Cotton (12.5 ppg, Rahmon Fletcher (10.6 ppg, 4.3 apg), Randy Berry (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) Outlook: The Phoenix were the highest-scoring team in the league for three reasons, and those three guys are graduating. Without Tillema and Schachtner bombing away from the arc, it will be interesting to see how productive a distributor Fletcher will be, and how Cotton will fare as a go-to scorer. This year was Green Bay's big chance, with a talented, senior-laden team. Next year will be much tougher. 7. Milwaukee Key losses: Avery Smith, Ricky Franklin Key returnees: Tone Boyle (13.2 ppg), James Eayrs (11.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) Outlook: Smith was the key to the Panthers' attack on both ends of the court and will be sorely missed. The Panthers bring back some size and scoring, but will need to find someone to take over the point guard spot -- Smith and Franklin were the only real assist-men on the team. Junior-to-be Deonte Roberts is the likely candidate. His success could determine Milwaukee's success. 8. Detroit Key losses: Chris Hayes, Michael Harrington Key returnees: Xavier Keeling (12.4 ppg), Thomas Kennedy (11.6 ppg), Woody Payne (8.3 ppg, 3.5 apg), Eulis Stephens (8.1 ppg) Outlook: It's a safe guess that Kennedy and Payne will start next season, but they'll have a whole different team around them. The Titans have a verbal commitment from four-star guard Jason Calliste, who was a 24-ppg player in high school. More significantly, former Indiana player Xavier Keeling will be available for the whole season -- he averaged 12.4 ppg once he joined the lineup for the final seven games. Fellow IU transfer Eli Holman and Central Michigan transfer Chase Simon, a 6-5 guard, also will be eligible in the fall. Detroit, like Valparaiso, is a huge X-factor entering next season. 9. UIC Key losses: Josh Mayo, Scott VanderMeer Key returnees: Robo Kreps (12.3 ppg), Tori Boyd (9.4 ppg), Spencer Stewart (4.4 ppg) Outlook: Kreps is a fine shooter, but he won't sneak up on anyone next year. And without Mayo and VanderMeer to draw away defenders, it's highly unlikely Kreps will be open enough to hit 41 percent from behind the arc again. Boyd, Jeremy Buttell and Rob Eppinger will need to fill the massive void in the middle left by VanderMeer. 10. Loyola Key losses: J.R. Blount, Justin Cerasoli, Darrin Williams, Leon Young Key returnees: Andy Polka (7.5 ppg), Marcus Thomas (5.6 ppg), Aric Van Weelden (3.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) Outlook: This was essentially a two-man team this year, and those two men -- Blount and Cerasoli -- are both gone. That doesn't bode well for the Ramblers, who had a respectable season but likely will slip back toward the bottom of the league again. blogs.post-trib.com/lazerus/2009/03/horizon-league-outlook-2009-10.html
|
|
|
Post by wolf41 on May 13, 2009 7:53:12 GMT -5
I think your analysis is very good. I also think it points up an important point for the Raiders. You talk about Butler and Valpo adding a potential big man threat to their line up. That is something many of us feel is the most pressing need for the Raiders. WSU will have a very fine team next season, especially if the 3 freshmen are ready to contribute by the time January rolls around. But what we don't have is that proven, solid man at center. Someone who can defend the post, make an impact on the boards, and score occasionally. Any team that wants to be considered an NCAA contender has to have some strong big men, and we lack that in spades.
This is not a knock on Ronnie and Cooper. They both bring their talents to the floor and do a good job for us, but right now either one of them plays center because we don't have a big, strong body to put in the line up. In essence, they are there by default NOT because they are centers.
Can we play next season without a true center. Yes, of course we can. But I'd love to have one of the big men mentioned in your articles about Butler and Valpo. Let's hope that our train hasn't left the station yet, and we are able to land a solid JC prospect.
|
|
|
Post by Big D on May 13, 2009 18:42:46 GMT -5
It's official: Beas Hamga is transferringBy Mark Lazeruson May 13, 2009 The Beas Hamga Era at Valparaiso is over. Of course, it never really began. Hamga, the 7-foot UNLV transfer and five-star recruit, told Homer Drew on Wednesday that he's looking to continue his nomadic career elsewhere, likely at a junior college. Drew said the two have been talking about it for weeks now, so it's not a surpise and the coaching staff has been working hard on the recruiting trail to replace him. Hamga is the third player (so far) to leave the team this year, following Logan Jones and Benjamin Fumey. I'll update more in a bit, and for the full story and my thoughts on the current state of VU basketball, check out Thursday's Post-Tribune. blogs.post-trib.com/lazerus/
|
|
|
Post by Raider4Life on May 20, 2009 18:35:31 GMT -5
Haskins out, 6-7 "beast" Milos Milosevic inBy Mark Lazeruson May 20, 2009 Valparaiso's roster overhaul continues, as sophomore-to-be De'Andre Haskins is leaving the program, and 6-7, 235-pound power forward Milos Milosevic has signed a national letter of intent. First, Haskins. His departure -- which follows that of Logan Jones, Benjamin Fumey and Beas Hamga -- is not terribly surprising, but it is significant. The dynamic shooting guard out of LaPorte's LaLumiere prep school averaged 6.2 points per game last season, but came on late in the year, reaching double-digits in three of the last four games. VU coach Homer Drew said Haskins wanted to move closer to his Southern California home, and already has offers from several junior colleges and interest from some Division I schools. As with the transfers of Jones and Hamga, Drew said it was about "finding a better fit." "He's really improved and we really enjoyed having him," Drew said. "We saw great improvement from him on and off the floor. But this will be much better for DeAndre." Now, as for the incoming Milosevic. The Montenegro native is "built like an ox," according to VU assistant Chris Sparks. While he was recruited solely based on film, Drew said he's "thicker" than even Cory Johnson and Fumey. He's got that basketball pedigree that Drew loves, too: Milosevic's dad, Nebojsa, was 6-9 and played nearly two decades of pro ball in Europe. Milosevic's oldest brother is 7-0 and plays in Germany, and the middle brother, Nemanja, is a 6-8 center at Western Kentucky. Milos has spent the past two years in the United States, averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds in his one year at Oakmont High School near Sacramento, then missing most of last season at Yuba College after rupturing his appendix. Even though he played only 18 games, he was second-team all-conference, averaging about 9.5 points and 7 rebounds per game, according to his coach, Doug Cornelius. Milosevic will have three years of eligibility, starting immediately. "He's a beast, he's an absolute beast," said Yuba coach Doug Cornelius. "He's going to be a manchild for Valpo. He's 6-7, 240 pounds of solid muscle. He's probably 6.5 or 7 percent body fat at that weight. He's just a manchild. Big, broad shoulders, tough as nails, real physical -- but what I love about him is he's got a very European style to his game; he can shoot the 3, he can pass, he can handle a little bit. But when he gets on the block, he'll punch you in the mouth to get to the basket. So he plays that European style, but he's got a very American physicality to him." And if you're worried that Milosevic is yet another recruit that doesn't "fit" at Valparaiso (a fair concern these days), well, Drew said he's an electrical engineering major. Not exactly underwater basket-weaving. And he had a 4.0 GPA at Yuba this past season. "When he's on the basketball court, he's so overly competitive and physical and intense, but off the court, he's one of the best kids you can ever be around," Cornelius said. "I'm gonna be devastated when he leaves. He's a 4.0 student, he's very responsible -- just a great kid." Haskins' departure means VU still has one open scholarship, but Drew said he hopes to hang on to it in case there's a late transfer or other opportunity. blogs.post-trib.com/lazerus/2009/05/haskins-out-6-7-milos-milosevi.html
|
|
|
Post by Glory Days on May 23, 2009 17:04:31 GMT -5
Butler's Brad Stevens Appointed To Newly Created NCAA Ethics Coalition May 22, 2009 INDIANAPOLIS --- Butler University men's basketball coach Brad Stevens has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Ethics Coalition, an independent committee of current and former basketball coaches. The group will be charged with promoting ethical conduct through leadership, education and mentoring. The newly established NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Ethics Coalition held its first meeting in Indianapolis in early May. The coalition board will consist of 14 members, including 11 head men's basketball coaches, two assistant coaches and one former head coach. "Coaches have as large a role in improving the men's basketball environment as anyone and it's important to hold each other accountable," said John Beilein, University of Michigan head men's basketball coach and chair of the coalition. "The majority of coaches want to make the right decisions and stay competitive in an ethical manner. This new coalition provides a needed opportunity for us to examine ethical issues and provide a forum for discussion to make so many areas of our great game even better." The coalition board will identify key rules and issues that challenge the coaching community in making ethical decisions. The board will provide guidance about those types of issues and serve as mentors and as a resource for the men's basketball community. Stevens is heading into his third season as Butler's head coach. He also served as an assistant coach at Butler for six seasons and spent one season as the Bulldogs' Director of Basketball Operations. Other members of the coalition board are: John Beilein, Michigan (chair); Jeff Capel, Oklahoma; Johnny Dawkins, Stanford; Phil Martelli, St. Joseph's; Dave Odom, University of South Carolina (former head coach); Al Skinner, Boston College; Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt; Gary Stewart, UC Davis; and Doug Wojcik, Tulsa. Two assistant coaches, a current head coach, and a former head coach will be added to the coalition in the near future. The NCAA has worked to positively influence the men's basketball environment through a number of initiatives. These include the oversight provided by the Division I Men's Basketball Issues Committee, the focus on youth basketball through the partnership with the NBA, as well as the work to enhance the enforcement of NCAA rules through the Basketball Focus Group. www.horizonleague.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/052209aaa.html
|
|
|
Post by Raider Alumni on May 27, 2009 6:21:04 GMT -5
Men's basketball: Walsh leaves Phoenix staff for Idaho StateBy Rob Demovsky May 27, 2009 Tod Kowalczyk will be operating a man down on his coaching staff for a few weeks because assistant coach Tim Walsh has left the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball program to take a similar position at Idaho State. Walsh, a long-time junior college coach, spent only one season with the Phoenix. At Idaho State, he'll be reunited with head coach Joe O'Brien, for whom Walsh previously worked at Southeastern (Iowa) Community College. "I'm grateful I had the opportunity to work with Tim," Kowalczyk said. "This was an opportunity for him to work with Joe again, and he'll do a great job at Idaho State." Walsh came to UWGB last spring shortly after Kowalczyk signed one of Walsh's former junior college players, Chop Tang, who later left the program in December. The leading candidate to replace Walsh appears to be Jason Kalsow, UWGB's director of basketball operations last season and a former standout player at UW-Stevens Point. Kowalczyk spoke highly of Kalsow's contributions to the coaching staff throughout last season. But because UWGB is a public school, the job must be posted before any candidates can be considered. Kowalczyk said he expects to have Walsh's position filled before the July recruiting period. Odds and ends: Two of the Phoenix's incoming freshmen were scheduled to arrive on campus this week to begin working out and taking summer classes. Guard Seth Evans of Seneca, Ill., is already on campus, while guard Rian Pearson of Rayton, Mo., is scheduled to arrive today. The rest of the incoming recruits are scheduled to arrive on June 21. … Carol Nelson, mother of Phoenix forward Pat Nelson, lost her battle with lung cancer and died on May 20. www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090527/GPG020101/905270587/1229/Men+s+basketball++Walsh+leaves+Phoenix+staff+for+Idaho+State
|
|
|
Post by Jazzfan on May 28, 2009 18:15:15 GMT -5
May 27, 2009 Good for Hayward, but what about Mack and Howard?It is another Butler breakthrough for Gordon Hayward to be invited to USA Basketball's trials for the under-19 World Championship. Butler players have been on national teams before, but not for a half-century or so. The trials will be June 16-18 at Colorado Springs, Colo. Twelve of the 17 candidates will make the team coached by Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh. Assistant coaches are Matt Painter of Purdue and Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois. The roster will be announced before the team's departure for New Zealand. If Hayward makes the team -- his multiple skills make that a probability -- he will take the first of two summer trips overseas. He is to join his Butler teammates for August games in Italy. But as good as this is for Hayward, what about Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard? Mack, who turned 19 on April 22, is age eligible for the under-19 team and was certainly more productive than some other invited players -- notably Kentucky freshman Darius Miller. Miller beat Mack in voting for Kentucky's 2008 Mr. Basketball award. Miller must be a gifted player, too, but USA Basketball is perhaps suffering from the same problems inherent in ranking recruits. That is, players acquire labels that stick for years, irrespective of production. Maybe Mack would not make the team, but he is good enough to be at the tryouts. Likewise, Howard could easily have been part of the World University Games trials. Don't think so? He scored 22 points in 25 minutes against LSU in the NCAA Tournament, for one thing. At 6-8, Howard might be small for an international post player, but ask NBA center Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves about that. In summer AAU age-group play, Howard matched up favorably against Love. The point is this: Hayward, Mack and Howard are key players on a Top 25 college team, and the fact Butler is not in a BCS league is irrelevant. The process is affected by the same politics influencing the NCAA Tournament selection committee. It is revealing that only Hayward and UTEP's Arnett Moultrie are invitees who aren't from BCS schools. Another, Duke transfer Seth Curry, played at mid-major Liberty last season. The 17 invitees include 15 players who recently completed their freshman season at NCAA Division I schools, plus two high school players. Four invitees are USA Basketball veterans. Connecticut's Kemba Walker was MVP of the 2008 Americas Championship that qualified the United States for this year's World Championship, while Villanova's Dominic Cheek was a member of the 2008 U. S. squad. Al-Farouq Aminu of Wake Forest and Drew Gordon of UCLA played together on the 2007 youth developmental festival Red Team and the 2008 USA Junior Select Team. Also invited to the trials were Kenny Boynton of Florida, Darryl Bryant of West Virginia, DeAngelo Casto of Washington State, Ralph Sampson III of Minnesota, John Shurna of Northwestern, Tyshawn Taylor of Kansas, Howard Thompkins of Georgia, Klay Thompson of Washington State and Terrico White of Mississippi. Boynton and Cheek were 2009 McDonald's high school All-Americans. In New Zealand, Team USA will play Iran on July 2, France on July 3 and Egypt on July 4. The second round will be played July 6-8, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship July 10-12. blogs.indystar.com/butler/2009/05/good_for_hayward_but_what_abou.html
|
|
|
Post by Raider Fanatic on Jun 1, 2009 16:29:30 GMT -5
UWM's Jeter named assistant coach for World University GamesBy CHARLES GARDNER Posted: Jun. 1, 2009 1:43 p.m. UW-Milwaukee men's basketball coach Rob Jeter has been selected to assist Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan with the USA Under-23 team in the World University Games this summer in Belgrade, Serbia. Jeter and University of Miami coach Frank Haith will assist Ryan in the tournament, to be held July 2-12. It will be a familiar role for Jeter, who served four years as an assistant under Ryan at Wisconsin, in addition to two years at UWM and four years at UW-Platteville. Jeter also played for Ryan at Platteville and was captain of the Pioneers team that won the 1991 NCAA Division III title. "Having coach Jeter will help me because he knows me probably better than anyone," Ryan said. "He's coached some really good players at UWM and some really good non-scholarship players at Platteville, who could have played at the Division I level." A training camp will be held June 16-25 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to select the U.S. roster for the World University Games. Among the players competing for a spot will be Marquette forward Lazar Hayward and Purdue forward Robbie Hummel. Others in the camp include Evan Turner of Ohio State; Talor Battle of Penn State; James Anderson of Oklahoma State; Craig Brackins of Iowa State; Trevor Booker of Clemson; Da'Sean Butler of West Virginia; Sherron Collins of Kansas; Mike Davis of Illinois; Corey Fisher of Villanova; JaJuan Johnson of Purdue; Dominique Jones of South Florida; Quincy Pondexter of Washington; Deon Thompson of North Carolina and Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State. Following the selection of the final roster, the team will continue to train in Colorado Springs before departing for Serbia. The U.S. has earned 13 gold medals in 18 World University Games appearances. The Americans did not play in the tournament two years ago but the 2005 squad won gold and compiled an 8-0 record in Turkey. uwmfreak.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Games&action=display&thread=4688
|
|
|
Post by Raider Grad on Jun 6, 2009 7:42:07 GMT -5
Men's basketball: UWGB recruits begin big transitionBy Rob Demovsky June 2, 2009 It will be another three weeks before the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team's full contingent of incoming recruits arrives on campus, but this much is known: Rian Pearson is athletic and strong if a bit unrefined, and Seth Evans is scrappy and tough if a bit undersized. Pearson and Evans have been on campus for less than a week, but they've taken part in several open gyms with the players returning from last season's team. They are the first two incoming recruits for next season to arrive on campus. The other five are scheduled to arrive in about three weeks. While playing for about 90 minutes Monday on campus, neither newcomer had much trouble making plays against the veterans, which also included graduated senior Mike Schachtner (who is hoping to play in Europe next season) and former UWGB forward Wayne Walker. "I'm impressed with both of them," said point guard Rahmon Fletcher, who will be a junior next season. "They have a good work ethic, and they didn't come in here thinking it's going to be mentally hard, so they're ready to play mentally." Pearson made plays all over the court on Monday. He crashed the boards on both ends of the floor, was able to get to the rim and finish and caused havoc on the defensive end. He ended one of the games by stripping the ball from guard Troy Cotton and scoring the game winner on a breakaway layup. "I like that he gets out and runs," said guard Bryquis Perine, who will be a junior next season. "He's an athlete, which we lost in Terry Evans. Rian's not the athlete that Terry was, but with some time, he can be more skilled." Pearson's adjustment to college has been eased because he knows Fletcher, a fellow Kansas City native. But that doesn't mean it's been easy. "It's not high school; you've got to work a lot harder to score," Pearson said. "I've been working a lot harder, and they've changed my shot, so I'm coming in and shooting a lot of extra shots, plus I'm taking a class and doing a lot of work." Coaches can't give hands-on instruction to players during the summer, but the staff has asked Pearson to change some of the mechanics of his shot. The 6-foot-3 lefty came to campus shooting the ball with his right hand cupped under the ball, but he has since moved it to the side of the ball. When he's not playing pick-up games, he's shooting with a foam pad on his right hand that doesn't allow him to grip the ball. He said he's receptive to the change. "It's a big adjustment," Pearson said. "Like when I'm playing in the open gym and I miss shots, I get frustrated. It's going to take time and repetitions." As for Evans, a 6-0 guard from Seneca, Ill., he played point guard Monday on a team (that also included Pearson) that won the first two games while going against a team that included Fletcher and Cotton, the two returning starters from last season. In one game, Evans showed off his point-guard skills when he drove the left side of the lane and found Pearson cutting down the baseline for a layup. Evans could spell Fletcher at the point while also allowing Perine to play the off guard spot, which might let him score more. "I'm just hoping to contribute a lot of energy and hoping to be able to guard guys and then just set up people with good drives," Evans said. "Right now, it's just getting used to the speed of the game, and I feel better about that every time I play." www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090602/GPG020101/906020519/1229/Men+s+basketball++UWGB+recruits+begin+big+transition
|
|
|
Post by Raider Fanatic on Jun 10, 2009 18:42:44 GMT -5
2008 Madison grad one of six transfering from Valparaiso6/10/09 David Campbell Courier Sportswriter Logan Jones has decided to continue his college basketball career in Idaho, announcing his decision to play at North Idaho College in the fall. Jones, a 2008 Madison graduate, spent his freshman year at Valparaiso University where he averaged 2.9 points and 1.4 assists per game. He decided to transfer after a rocky season which saw him suspended for one game and his minutes slide dramatically toward the end of the season. Jones is one of six players to transfer from Valpo this off-season and the eighth in the past two seasons. There are also indications that Erik Buggs, Jones' former roommate, may also transfer. On Tuesday, Jones was happy to move on and was looking forward to restarting his career at North Idaho. "There have been a lot of transfers and it makes you wonder why," said Jones. "I'm not going to dog Valpo. I liked the school and I liked the coaches. It just wasn't the right place for me." Jones picked North Idaho for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that because the school is a junior college, he won't have to sit out a year as a Division 1 transfer. But North Idaho is also one of the top juco schools in the nation, finishing the season ranked in the top 15 twice in the past four years. This past season, the Cardinals were 27-4 and made it to the Region 18 Final Four. The region winner, Salt Lake Community College, went on to win the NJCAA Division I National Championship. Even more importantly, North Idaho turns out NCAA Division I players annually with three earning D-I scholarships this past season alone. "I thought I would get away a little," said Jones of his decision to matriculate to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. "(The school) is about 20 minutes from Gonzaga and the team was ranked in the top 10 last year. They play in a very good conference and there are a ton of guys that have gone Division I." Jones will enter North Idaho as a sophomore and will instantly be one of the Cardinals more experienced players. The team lost most of its backcourt this past season and Jones will have a chance to make an immediate impact." "They don't have much experience at the guard position and I have a chance to play both the one and the two, to be sort of a combo guard," said Jones, who averaged 19.2 points per game his senior season at Madison and finished as the school's fifth all-time leading scorer. "I'll pretty much get to choose which position I want to play." Jones will fly to Coeur d' Alene later this summer and will enroll in classes for the fall session. Then, it is back into the classroom and onto the hardwoods. "I'm looking forward to it. I like to fish and hike and all that," Jones said of the school located in the Bitterroot Mountains. "I'll like it a lot better than Valpo where it snows all the time." madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=289&ArticleID=51311
|
|
|
Post by Big D on Jun 10, 2009 21:23:56 GMT -5
Man, what the hell is going on at Valpo? Eight transfers in two years? That makes the Ed Schilling era look like the benchmark of stability. I guess that blogger above that picked 1. Butler, 2. Wright State and 3. Valpo might want to re-assess his third-place prediction. Valpo will suck again. He's including walk ons in his total of 8.
|
|
|
Post by riceownz2 on Jun 10, 2009 23:08:05 GMT -5
sort of on and off topic. Big D seriously love the info. Logan Jones. OMG that guy sucked. Transfering seems to be the new thing in college. My question is how many transfers actually benefit from transfering?
|
|
|
Post by Raider Fanatic on Jun 15, 2009 13:13:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by BasketBallJones on Jun 18, 2009 14:07:06 GMT -5
|
|