Tuesday Hoopla

[billiam2005]

2-2 Last Night

Tonight...

Butler +2
Idaho St. +5.5
Pennsylvania -3.5
Middle Tennesee St. +10
Weber St. -16.5

Good luck


:toast:

 

[billiam2005]

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (23-7) vs. Butler (25-4)

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 11th, 7:00 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: U.S. Cellular Arena (12,700) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Television: ESPN. Home Record: UW-Milwaukee 12-0, Butler 12-0. Away Record:
UW-Milwaukee 8-6, Butler 9-4. Neutral Record: UW-Milwaukee 3-1, Butler 4-0.
Conference Record: UW-Milwaukee 13-3, Butler 14-2. Series Record: Butler
leads, 20-3.

GAME NOTES: The top-seeded Butler Bulldogs find themselves in the Horizon
League Tournament Championship game for the sixth time in the last seven
years, as this time they have to battle with the second-seeded Wisconsin-
Milwaukee Panthers from the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. The Panthers
have waited nearly 107 years for the chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament
and put themselves in position to do so with a thrilling 75-73 victory over
third-seeded Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. With the win the Panthers improved
to an impressive 13-0 in games played in Milwaukee this season, including 12-0
at home this season. UW-Milwaukee was rewarded with the second seed in the
tournament after going a school record 13-3 in the Horizon League this year,
which included winning nine of their last 11 league tilts in the regular
season. Butler will try to win its fifth league tournament crown tonight, as
it was able to advance to this game with a 58-55 victory over Detroit on
Saturday. It has now gone an unbeaten 4-0 from neutral site venues this season
and has improved to an impressive overall record of 25-4. The Bulldogs
captured the top seed for the fourth season in a row this year by going 14-2
in Horizon League action, while also putting up a mark of 9-4 when playing on
the road. Tonight marks the 24th meeting all-time between these two schools on
the hardwood, with the Bulldogs holding a commanding 20-3 series advantage.
Although Butler has been dominated over they years against the Panthers, the
two teams split their season series this year, with UW-Milwaukee winning the
first meeting of the season, 69-65. That victory was the first for the
Panthers against the Bulldogs since 1978, while Butler returned the favor in
the contest that decided the Horizon League regular season title, with a 76-74
win in Indianapolis.

Clay Tucker poured in 24 points on 14-of-17 shooting from the foul line, to
lead the Panthers in their win against Illinois-Chicago. Tucker also finished
the game with six rebounds and a team-high five assists, while also blocking a
three-point shot by the Flames in the final seconds of regulation, that would
have given UIC the victory instead of a trip home. Dylan Page added 22 points
on 10-of-10 shooting from the foul line and pulled down a team-best nine
boards. Page also had a game-high four blocks, while Ronnie Jones chipped in
16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc and Nate Mielke knocked in 10
points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field. The Panthers converted 29-
of-37 free throw attempts, helping them overcome just 40.8 percent shooting
from the floor and 28.6 percent shooting from three-point territory. UW-
Milwaukee did a very good job at the defensive end of the court, as they held
the Flames' leading scorers to just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the
field. UIC also shot just 39.7 percent from the floor and connected on only
16-of-24 shooting from the foul line.

Joel Cornette was one of only two Butler players in double figures in its win
against Detroit, finishing with 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from
the field. Cornette also pulled down eight rebounds, while Brandon Miller
chipped in 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line. Duane Lightfoot
did a solid job in a key reserve role, adding nine points and five rebounds
coming off the bench. Mike Monserez shot only 2-of-6 from the floor and 1-of-4
from behind the arc, but still finished with eight points and game-high 11
boards. Butler shot 42.2 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from three-
point range, while connecting on 15-of-19 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs held a very hot shooting Detroit team to 44.4 percent shooting
from the floor and sent it to the foul line only two times, although it did
convert both of the free throw attempts. Darnell Archey had just five points
on 1-of-6 shooting from the field and from three-point land against Detroit,
but he was instrumental in the Bulldog's last win against the Panthers,
scoring a team-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Avery
Sheets would end up winning that game at the buzzer for Butler, as he drained
a three-point shot with no time left in regulation.

The last four games between these two teams has been decided by a total of
only eight points and three of those four games came down to a last second
buzzer beater. This could end up being the most memorable game in Horizon
League history, as the two best and deepest teams in the league will do battle
for the ultimate prize, a berth in the Big Dance.

 

[billiam2005]

Idaho State (15-13) vs Eastern Washington (17-11)

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 11th, 7:00 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: Dee Events Center (12,000) -- Ogden, Utah.
Television: FSN. Home Record: Idaho St. 10-2, EWU 9-2. Away Record:
Idaho St. 3-9, EWU 7-6. Neutral Record: Idaho St. 2-2, EWU
1-3. Conference Record: Idaho St. 7-7, EWU 0-0. Series Record: EWU leads,
22-21.

GAME NOTES: The Eastern Washington Eagles and the Idaho State Bengals do
battle from the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, with the winner advancing
to the Big Sky Tournament Championship game. Idaho State finished an even 7-7
in the BSC standings, earning it the fourth-seed and a home contest against
the fifth-seeded Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in the quarterfinals. In that
contest on Saturday, the Bengals exploded on offense and cruised past the
Lumberjacks, 85-74. Idaho State has now won two straight games and four of its
last five overall, improving to 15-13 on the season. The Bengals also upped
their postseason mark to 13-15, and are shooting for their first tournament
title since 1987. As for EWU, it finished the regular season 17-11 and 9-5 in
the BSC, landing it the second-seed and a bye into tonight's semifinal
contest. However, the Eagles ended the season on a down note, losing two
straight games, including a 65-63 setback to Idaho State on March 1st. In
terms of the tournament, EWU has posted only a 3-6 record, but has made two
straight appearances in the championship game, were it was defeated both
times. The Eagles have a 22-21 all-time series advantage over the Bengals, but
were swept in the season series.

Idaho State shot a solid 46.4 percent from the floor and held Northern Arizona
to a dismal 37.4 percent of its shots in an 85-74 victory. The Bengals also
outshot the Lumberjacks from behind the arc, knocking in 50.0 percent of their
long range attempts. Both squads also paid frequent visits to the free-
throw line, with Idaho State converting 25-of-33 and Northern Arizona 15-
of-26. David Schroeder led the Bengals with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from
long range. Marquis Poole netted 19 points and dished out eight assists, while
knocking in 7-of-11 from the charity stripe. Rashad Kirkland added 14 points
and six boards coming off the bench, and Scott Henry ripped down a team-high
11 boards in the winning effort. Henry led the Bengals during the regular
season with 11.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg, and also knocked in a solid 56.7 percent
from the floor. Jeremy Brown was second on the team with 10.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg
while Schroeder added 10.4 ppg on a respectable 44.8 percent shooting from
long range. Poole chipped in 10.1 ppg for Idaho State, which averaged 71.3 ppg
on 45.0 percent shooting from the field during the regular season.

EWU was led during its regular season by the trio of Christ Hester, Alvin
Snow, and Brendon Merritt whom are main contributors to the squad's average of
70.9 ppg on a solid 47.3 percent shooting from the field. Hester leads the
team with 13.7 ppg on 55.3 percent shooting from the floor. Snow added 13.2
ppg and 3.7 apg, while Merritt chipped in 11.1 ppg. In the team's last
contest, EWU could not overcome the hot shooting of the Bengals, who knocked
in 53.3 percent from the floor, including a game-winning lay in by Kirkland
with 4.1 second remaining. The Eagles shot a modest 44.2 percent from the
floor, but converted a respectable 20-of-28 from the charity stripe. Axton and
Danny Pariseau paced the Eagles in defeat with 14 points a piece. T.J.
Williams added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and a team-leading
eight boards in the losing effort.

Idaho State is trying to complete a three-game sweep of EWU, which won't be an
easy task. The Eagles have been the second best team in the conference all
season long and should be able to redeem themselves in defeating a streaking
Bengal squad.

 

[billiam2005]

Pennsylvania (21-5) at Princeton (16-10)

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 11th, 7:30 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: Jadwin Gym (6,854) -- Princeton, New Jersey.
Television: Local. Home Record: Penn 11-1, Princeton 7-3. Away Record: Penn
9-4, Princeton 7-7. Neutral Record: Penn 1-0, Princeton 2-0. Conference
Record: Penn 13-0, Princeton 10-3. Series Record: Penn leads, 112-95.

GAME NOTES: With a 69-52 rout of Cornell on Saturday, the Penn Quakers picked
up their 22nd Ivy League Championship and their 19th outright title. With an
automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament already in hand, Fran Dunphy's Quakers
close out the regular season trying to go undefeated in conference play, as
they make the short trip to Princeton this evening, to battle the Tigers from
Jadwin Gym. The Quakers put away the league crown thanks to 14 straight wins
heading into this contest. The Tigers, who usually push Penn to the limit in
terms of the league title, finished three games back in the standings this
season, despite coming on strong down the stretch with six wins in their last
seven games. On Saturday, Princeton claimed its 10th league win for the 10th
straight season, knocking off Columbia in a defensive battle, 44-40. Penn has
won 23 consecutive Ivy League games (excluding playoff game), ranking as the
longest conference win streak in the nation. The Quakers posted a 10-point win
over the Tigers on February 11th in Philadelphia.

Forward Ugonna Onyekwe and guards Andrew Toole and Tim Begley each scored 13
points, as Penn won the Ivy League title and earned an automatic bid to the
NCAA tournament with a lopsided win over Cornell. It extended Penn's current
win streak to 14 games, as the Quakers won the Ivy League championship for a
second straight season. Ugonna just missed a double-double in the game, as he
grabbed nine rebounds. Penn shot a scorching 52 percent from the floor in the
first half and took an 11-point lead into the break, never looking back in the
second half. Despite averaging just 70.0 ppg this year, the kind of
suffocating defense the Quakers have played has made it quite easy for the
team to haul in the conference crown. Opponents are managing just 59.1 ppg
this year, on a mere .400 shooting percentage. There is plenty of depth for
Penn at the offensive end, with four players averaging double figures. Onyekwe
leads the way in both scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) and is
followed in the scoring column by Jeff Schiffner (11.6 ppg), Koko Archibong
(10.8 ppg) and Toole (10.6 ppg).

The Tigers shot a miserable .294 from the floor, including a worse .200 from
behind the arc (6-of-30), but still got the victory over Columbia, in a four-
point win, as the team posted its 10th conference win of the season. Sophomore
forward/center Judson Wallace was the only Tiger to finish in double figures
in the game, as he posted 13 points, while tying for team-high in rebounds
with seven. Forward Ray Robins added eight points and seven boards to the
cause, but it was career-reserve guard Pete Hegseth, who made the difference
in the game, hitting a pair of crucial three-pointers down the stretch to
secure the victory. The loss of talented guard Spencer Gloger (15.7 ppg) to
academics in mid-February certainly didn't aid a Princeton team that averages
just 66.5 ppg. Robins (10.7 ppg), Will Venable (10.7 ppg) and Wallace (10.5
ppg) have had to pick up the slack, but none of them are explosive scorers
that can carry a team to victory. Wallace has done a nice job on the glass for
the Tigers, leading the team with nearly six caroms per outing (5.8).

The Quakers are just one win shy of recording their seventh undefeated season
in the Ivy League. If they do so, Penn will be only the third team in the
nation to go undefeated in conference play this season (Kentucky, Weber
State). That is not only likely, but almost guaranteed, as Princeton just
lacks the offensive wherewithal to hang with Penn as the game wears down.

 

[billiam2005]

Middle Tennessee State (16-13) vs. Western Kentucky (23-8)


DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 11th, 9:00 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: E.A. Diddle Arena (8,331) -- Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Television: ESPN. Home Record: Mid. Tenn. St. 9-5, W. Kentucky 15-0. Away
Record: Mid. Tenn. St. 4-8, W. Kentucky 5-7. Neutral Record: Mid. Tenn. St.
3-0, W. Kentucky 3-1. Conference Record: Mid. Tenn. St. 9-5, W. Kentucky 12-2.
Series Record: Western Kentucky leads, 79-27.

GAME NOTES: The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will advance to the NCAA
Tournament for the third consecutive year with a victory in tonight's Sun Belt
Conference championship game. Standing in their way are the Middle Tennessee
State Blue Raiders, who are attempting to win this event for the first time.
The Blue Raiders are in the finals of a conference tournament for the first
time since 1991, and they are in search of their first trip to the "Big Dance"
in 14 years. Their 9-5 record against Sun Belt foes during the regular season
earned them the East Division's second seed and a first round bye. Middle
Tennessee State posted a narrow 72-69 victory over South Alabama in the
quarterfinals and then crushed Denver by a score of 83-59 in the semifinals.
The Blue Raiders were 4-8 on the road this season, and while tonight's game is
considered a neutral site affair, Western Kentucky is the host team of the
tournament. Speaking of the top-seeded Hilltoppers, they posted a 71-60
victory over Florida International in the quarterfinals and a 78-59 decision
over New Mexico State in the semifinals to earn their spot in tonight's
showdown. They have now won 11 straight games overall and 38 consecutively at
E.A. Diddle Arena, marking the nation's longest homecourt winning streak.
Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky split a pair of meetings during
the regular season, and the Hilltoppers own a commanding 79-27 lead in the
all-time series between these two teams.

A major reason that Middle Tennessee State had such a difficult time with
South Alabama in the quarterfinals is that First-Team All-Sun Belt performer
Tommy Gunn was held to nine points on 2-of-10 shooting from the floor in 40
minutes of action. Fortunately for the team, Gunn bounced back strong in the
semifinals against Denver with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 28 minutes of
play. John Humphrey added 15 points for the Blue Raiders in that tilt and
William Pippen finished with 11 points. They shot a stellar 60.7 percent from
the floor as a team and limited the Pioneers to 36.4 percent shooting on the
night. Rebounding also proved to be a major key to victory for Middle
Tennessee State, as it owned a solid 38-27 advantage on the boards. Many of
its points came on the interior, as it outscored Denver 48-14 in the paint.

Western Kentucky's Patrick Sparks has had many big games against New Mexico
State over the last couple years, but he was particularly impressive against
the Aggies in the semifinal round. In addition to scoring a career-high 28
points on 7-of-12 shooting from three-point range, Sparks also pulled down
seven rebounds and dished out six assists. Jamaal Brown added 12 points off
the bench in the win, and David Boyden chipped in 11 points. Although Sparks
shot the ball well on the night, the Hilltoppers connected on only 39.1
percent of their field goal attempts overall. They were able to overcome that
shaky effort by limiting New Mexico State to 35.7 percent shooting from the
field. Western Kentucky also held a 45-38 rebounding edge, including 18-13 on
the offensive glass, and turned the ball over only nine times in 40 minutes.

Middle Tennessee State proved earlier this season that it is capable of
beating Western Kentucky, but doing so tonight at E.A. Diddle Arena seems a
bit unlikely. The Hilltoppers are becoming regulars at the "Dance," and they
will earn another ticket tonight.

 

[billiam2005]

Sacramento State (12-16) vs. Weber State (24-5)


DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 11th, 9:30 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: Dee Events Center (12,000) -- Ogden, Utah.
Television: FSN. Home Record: Sacramento St. 6-6, Weber St. 11-0. Away Record:
Sacramento St. 6-10, Weber St. 9-4. Neutral Record: Sacramento St. 0-0, Weber
St. 4-1. Conference Record: Sacramento St. 5-9, Weber St. 14-0. Series Record:
Weber State leads, 16-0.

GAME NOTES: The Weber State Wildcats try to continue to keep their dream
season going tonight, when they play host to the Sacramento State Hornets in
the semifinals of the Big Sky Tournament from the Dee Events Center in Ogden,
Utah. The Hornets finished with a disappointing 5-9 record in the BSC, but
were able to pull out their first BSC playoff berth with a 72-52 victory over
Montana State in the final regular season game of the year. Sacramento State
was not done yet, as it upset the third-seeded and defending tournament
champion Montana Grizzlies, 88-75 in the quarterfinals on Saturday. With the
win, the Hornets improved to 12-16 on the season and 6-10 on the road. As for
Weber State, it finished the BSC undefeated at 14-0, and with that it earned
the top-seed and homecourt advantage throughout the tournament. It is only the
second time in BSC history that a team went undefeated during the regular
season, with the Wildcats team of 1968-69 being the other. The Wildcats also
finished a perfect 11-0 at the Dee Events Center and bring into the tournament
and the second longest winning streak in the nation at 15 games, which
includes an 83-73 victory over the Portland State Vikings in their season
finale on March 1st. Weber State has defeated Sacramento State all 16 times in
series history, including a pair of games this year.

Derek Lambeth scored a game-high 24 points and dished out five assists to lead
Sacramento State to an 88-75 victory over Montana. Lambeth finished the game
8-of-16 from the field with six boards, while DaShawn Freeman turned in 18
points and five boards. Brandon Guyton netted 13 points and Jimmy White added
10 points and six boards in the winning effort. The Hornets shot a solid 47.5
percent from the field and 41.2 percent from long rang, while holding the
Grizzlies to 39.0 percent of its total field goals attempts and a dismal
15.0 percent from long range. Both squads were busy at the free-throw line,
with Sacramento State converting just 23-of-39 and Montana 26-of-35. The
Hornets during the regular season were led by Lambeth, who turned in 13.2 ppg
on his total field goal attempts. Lambeth was the only player that averaged
double-digit points for Sacramento State, which netted 65.5 ppg on only
40.9 percent shooting from the field this year.

Weber State is led by the BSC Player of the Year in Jermaine Boyette, who
netted 20.1 ppg on 55.1 percent of his total field goal attempts. Slobodan
Ocokoljic was voted Newcomer of the Year in the BSC with his 15.0 ppg and
team-leading 8.0 rpg average. John Hamilton provided a spark off the bench
with 11.4 ppg, while Nic Sparrow chipped in 10.0 ppg. The Wildcats as team are
averaging 74.8 ppg on 47.3 percent shooting from the field. In the team's last
contest, Weber State knocked in 50.0 percent from the field and held a
decisive 38-23 rebounding advantage in a 10-point victory over Portland State.
The Vikings connected on 49.0 percent of its shots and hit on 21-of-27 from
the charity stripe. The Wildcats converted 18-of-24 from the stripe, while
both teams committed 15 turnovers. Boyette once again led Weber State with 21
point on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor. Ocokoljic turned in an all-around
performance with 14 points, nine boards, and seven assists, but did turn the
ball over five times. Pat Danley added 15 points and six boards coming off the
bench, while Hamilton chipped in 11 points in the winning effort.

Sacramento State surprised a lot of teams by just making it into the playoffs
and then went on to win its first ever BSC Tournament game. Weber State has
been here before, and should be able to defeat a less talented Hornets squad
to keep its winning streak and NCAA Tournament hopes alive.