|
Post by Willie on Aug 4, 2007 7:54:21 GMT -5
Ball State interviews Soderberg for basketball coach positionBy DOUG ZALESKI MUNCIE -- Ball State has interviewed veteran head coach Brad Soderberg for its vacant men's basketball coaching position. Soderberg's father, Don, confirmed for The Star Press that his son interviewed for the job with Cardinals athletic director Tom Collins. Brad Soderberg and Collins met Thursday at an undisclosed location in Indianapolis to discuss the position. The two men talked via the phone a week earlier in a preliminary interview before meeting face to face. Phone messages left for Soderberg and Collins were not returned Friday evening. Ball State is searching for a coach after Ronny Thompson resigned on July 12. The Cardinals were 9-22 in Thompson's lone season on the bench, and he was plagued by two NCAA violations. Collins is believed to be looking at candidates with previous head coaching experience for this hire. Thompson had no experience as a head coach. Soderberg most recently was head coach at St. Louis University, guiding the Billikens for five seasons. He was fired on April 17 despite producing a 20-13 record last year. He had an 80-74 career record at St. Louis, with four winning seasons and two NIT appearances. His only losing record was 9-21 in 2004-05, but the Billikens rebounded to go 16-13 the next year and 20-13 last year. Soderberg's firing this year by St. Louis president Rev. Lawrence Biondi came under strong criticism by St. Louis media and some of the Billiken fan base. Soderberg had a winning record in 12 of his 13 seasons as a head coach. He began his head coaching career by going 79-45 in five years at Division II Loras College. He was 36-18 in two years at Division II South Dakota State. After that, he joined Dick Bennett's staff as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin in the 1995-96 season. When Bennett unexpectedly resigned two games into the 2000-01 season, Soderberg became the interim head coach the rest of the year. He guided the Badgers to a 16-10 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament (a first-round loss), but the school bypassed him for the head coaching job after the season and hired Bo Ryan. Soderberg, who teamed with former NBA player Terry Porter as starting guards at Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the mid-1980s, has a career coaching record of 211-147 (.589). Soderberg's son, Kramer, is considered a Division I basketball prospect who will be a senior in high school in St. Charles, Mo., this year. The son has said he would like to play for his father in college, and he has drawn the interest of Iowa. Soderberg is the only coach known to have interviewed for the Ball State position. www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070804/SPORTS/708040330/1006
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jul 6, 2007 6:16:18 GMT -5
July 6, 2007 Ball State AD says Thompson is still Cardinals basketball coachby Doug Zaleski Muncie Star Press MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State athletic director Tom Collins was adamant Thursday that Ronny Thompson is the school's basketball coach now and in the future. In the wake of a recent incident involving racially harassing notes placed at the BSU basketball office, speculation has been building that Thompson has decided he no longer wishes to coach the Cardinals and is seeking a buyout of the final four years of his contract. Collins insists that is not the case. "He's taking a couple of days off, and I expect him to fully be back to work on Monday, and on the recruiting trail either Monday or Tuesday," Collins said. "He's the head basketball coach at Ball State University. We have confidence in Ronny Thompson, and we expect to have a good season." Collins said he last talked to Thompson on Monday or Tuesday, and the coach was in town while taking a week of vacation before the recruiting season begins. The summer recruiting period runs today through July 15 and again July 22-31. Thompson has not returned phone or e-mail messages. "He probably wants to be on vacation," said Collins, who said he has no idea what spawned the speculation. "I've had no conversations with him about leaving, and I don't know anything about the rumors that are swirling about him leaving," Collins said. "Somebody put something up on a message board or a chat board, and I have no idea where that started." Speculation that Thompson would leave Ball State began after racially harassing notes were placed under his office door and under the doors of his assistant coaches on June 24. Ball State police are investigating how the notes were delivered to the offices of Thompson and his staff. There was no sign of forced entry. Three weeks before the notes were delivered, Ball State submitted a report to the NCAA detailing a violation of rules by Thompson and his assistants. The coaches in May broke NCAA rules that ban them from being present at voluntary offseason player workouts. It was the second time it happened in a 12-month period. Ball State's investigation determined the coaches lied about their involvement in the violations. The violations this year and last year are considered minor infractions by the NCAA. BSU had a 9-22 record in 2006-07, Thompson's first year. www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/SPORTS06/707060468/1247/SPORTS
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Sept 10, 2007 9:30:53 GMT -5
Kock signs deal with Luxembourg teamBy PAUL SIEGFRIED Sports Editor Monday, September 10, 2007 9:44 AM EDT Alex Kock achieved a number of firsts during his time playing basketball at Huntington University. Now as an HU graduate, he's achieved one more. After a season in which he became the first Forester to be named NAIA Division II National Player of the Year, Kock becomes the first HU player to sign a professional basketball contract, completing a deal with the BC Mess team of a pro league in Luxembourg. "Pro basketball was always in the back of my mind, and then over my years at Huntington, I thought I'd be able to do it," said Kock. "Now I'm just going to go over there and give it my best shot. It's just a one-year contract, so I'll go and see how I play and if I like it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity." He signed the deal on Thursday, and left for Luxembourg Saturday. He will be playing for the team in the town of Esch-sur-alzette in the southern part of the small country, about nine miles from the nation's capital of Luxembourg City. The team's first practice was Saturday, so Kock expected to miss the first workout. The league begins play at the end of September. "To be honest, I don't know a whole lot about the league, but they've obviously seen film on me. I'm going over there not really knowing a whole lot about it," said Kock Friday. Soon after his senior season ended with an NAIA Tournament loss in Branson, Mo., Kock signed with an agent and began exploring professional opportunities. He focused primarily in Europe, but also kept options open in other parts of the world, including Australia. "My agent has connections over in Europe, so I've been working with him all summer trying to find a team," said Kock. "I did talk to a guy from Australia, but their season is just getting over now and doesn't start again until January, so I thought I would go over to Europe and play and then come back here in the summers." Each team in the Luxembourg league is allowed to have two American players, but Kock will be the lone player from the United States on the BC Mess squad. As part of the deal, the team will provide Kock with a car and an apartment. Kock got a taste of basketball overseas during the summer when he traveled to the Ukraine for a week and played in games against the Ukrainian National Team. He found that the European style of play suited his game. "It's more fundamental basketball over there. I'm not the most athletic guy, but I think I have pretty good fundamentals, so I think that might help me there," he said. Huntington University coach Steve Platt was drafted by the then-Baltimore Bullets following his All-America career at Huntington, but was the final player cut during training camp. Platt said Kock has the ability to continue his success in basketball. "He’s very deserving of the opportunity to play professionally because he’s worked so hard,” said Platt. “He is a very self-motivated individual. His legacy at Huntington University will run for many, many years. Lots of people appreciate what he’s stood for in the classroom and on the floor. Our returning players, especially, will remember what he taught them for years to come.” As a senior, Kock led the Foresters with an average of 23.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. He shot 55 percent from the field, 45 percent from behind the three-point line and 84 percent from the free-throw line. He finished his three-year career at HU as the school's fifth all-time leading scorer with 2,182 points. He also had 824 rebounds in his 104-game HU career. After playing his freshman season at Wright State, Kock transferred to Huntington, and was named Mid-Central Conference Player of the year in each of his next three seasons, also a first for an HU player. He was a second-team NAIA All-American as a sophomore and a first-team selection in his junior and senior campaigns. He led the Foresters to a runner-up finish in the NAIA tournament as a junior in 2006. www.h-ponline.com/articles/2007/09/10/sports/002kock.txt
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jun 23, 2007 8:32:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jun 23, 2007 8:37:54 GMT -5
I love when incoming players enroll early. They get an extra 2-3 months of practice time with their new teammates. It's another bonus to get these guys in the strength and conditioning program 2-3 months earlier.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Aug 16, 2007 22:10:37 GMT -5
They are both better than YSU's penguin.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jun 9, 2007 12:58:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jun 9, 2007 12:57:36 GMT -5
Butler Men's Basketball Season Tickets Now Available June 8, 2007 Season tickets for the 2007-08 Butler men's basketball season are now available. Fans can choose from several seating options at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and follow all 15 Butler home games, including a contest against 2006-07 NCAA runner-up Ohio State. Butler returns six of the top seven scorers from last year's successful team. The Bulldogs won a school-record 29 games (29-7), advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship for the second time in five years, won the 2006 NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden in New York, and captured a regular season co-championship in the Horizon League. Butler was ranked in the "Top 25" of Associated Press (A.P.) and ESPN/USA Today national polls for a school and Horizon League record 16 consecutive weeks! The 2007-08 Butler home schedule features a December match-up with former head coach Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes. It will be Ohio State's first visit to Hinkle Fieldhouse since 1978. The Bulldogs' home schedule also includes games against traditional rivals Indiana State and Bradley, a game in the ESPN BracketBusters event, a nine-game Horizon League slate and two exhibition contests. Season ticket plans start as low as $240 for an upper level adult ticket, a savings of $45 over the single game price. Lower level chair seats are $380 per ticket ($39 less than the single game price) and premium courtside seats are $950 ($100 less than the single game price). Upper level youth (age 3-12) tickets are available for $135, a savings of $75 over the single game price. Butler season ticket holders are given priority in purchasing tickets to the Bulldogs' game against Florida State in the 2007 Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse, as well as priority in purchasing post-season tickets and tickets for selected Butler road games. Season ticket holders also will be given a chance to purchase additional tickets to the Ohio State game, before they go on sale to the general public. In addition, Butler season ticket holders have the opportunity to purchase preferred parking passes for the Hinkle Fieldhouse main parking lot. Parking passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one parking pass per four season tickets ordered. Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling 317-940-DOGS (3647), by mail using a ticket order form available on Butler's athletic website (www.butlersports.com) or by visiting the Butler Athletic Ticket Office in Hinkle Fieldhouse weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting Tuesday, June 12. butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060807aaa.html
|
|
|
Post by Willie on May 29, 2007 17:43:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Willie on May 27, 2007 7:58:58 GMT -5
If you want to bitch about UD, grow a set and do it on their message board. No one cares over here.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on May 25, 2007 19:00:59 GMT -5
Does anyone think this will impact our offensive philosophy? We utilized three point shooting a great deal more in Brownell's system then we ever had in the past.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jun 11, 2007 7:28:10 GMT -5
WSU looks for way to keep rowdy spirit aliveBy Kyle Nagel Staff Writer Monday, June 11, 2007 There wasn't a lot of time to think in the moments after the Wright State basketball team won the Horizon League tournament championship in March. Partly because of the rushing students, partly because we were trying to meet deadlines, and partly because of the distraction caused by guard Reinaldo Smith jumping up and down on the media table, time and attention were short. But in brief moments, as fans mobbed the players on the Nutter Center court, you wondered if this amazing feeling of support for the Raiders would last. The school is working on it. Wright State this week is running a season ticket campaign that allows fans to choose what seats they would like this season and interact with athletic department employees. It's not out of the question to expect the Raiders to again be Horizon League contenders. So with success at hand, it would make sense that area sports fans would want to see championship basketball, right? Except, I don't think Wright State has quite singed itself into our brains as a perennial contender. Even with its unexpected success last season, it will probably again take ESPN cameras in the building for the students and non-season ticket holders to provide support like they did last spring. But with Brad Brownell still coaching this team and a bevy of new players this fall, we could certainly see the large crowds again by February and March. It might not be a bad idea to get some seats now. www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/06/11/ddn061107audible.html
|
|
|
Post by Willie on May 21, 2007 20:11:28 GMT -5
I'm across the way in section 219.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on May 21, 2007 10:14:12 GMT -5
Kentucky did take into consideration that Ford is a former Wildcat, but in the end didn't want to have five games away from Rupp. Wow! They are complaining about playing 5 whole games on the road next year. What a bunch of candy asses.
|
|
|
Post by Willie on Jul 1, 2007 7:59:56 GMT -5
It sounds like Summit League commissioner Tom Douple is either delusional or on crack or both.
|
|