Post by stlvufan on Jan 30, 2006 11:31:50 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Western Illinois at Oakland women[/glow]--The Oakland Press
— CRYSTAL EVOLA
When: 7 tonight Where: Oakland Athletics Center, Rochester Records: Western Illinois 15-3 (7-1 Mid-Con); Oakland 8-11 (4-4)
Overview: Oakland hopes to extend its winning streak to three games tonight against the Mid-Continent Conference’s top team. … Oakland has won three straight games at home. … Western Illinois is coming off a 47-37 home loss to Oral Roberts on Saturday that ended the nation’s longest home-court winning streak for men or women at 46 games. … WIU eked out a 74-65 overtime win against OU earlier this month. … According to information gathered by St. Bonaventure SID Patrick Pierson, Jayme Wilson ranks 10th among active NCAA 3-point shooters with 220.
Up next: Oakland at IUPUI, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Indianapolis
Kangaroos ready for rival--Kansas City Star
Game Preview: Oral Roberts at UMKC--Kansas City Star
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Cameron f inds a home at IUPUI--Post Tribune
Jan. 30, 2006
By John Mutka / Post-Tribune senior correspondent
VALPARAISO — Brandon Cameron’s homecoming didn’t quite pan out. An injury limited him to just three minutes in IUPUI’s stunning 87-82 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday.
The former West Side star twisted his right ankle Thursday at Western Illinois, didn’t practice Friday and was scratched from the pre-game shootout.
“Yeah, I got a couple of pounds of tape on it,” said the disappointed junior. During his brief appearance, Cameron’s limited lateral movement hampered him.
Coach Ron Hunter would have benched him if this hadn’t been Cameron’s first Northwest Indiana appearance since he and Michigan’s Chris Hunter led West Side’s Cougars to a state championship in 2002.
“My head said no, but I went with my heart,” the IUPUI coach said after the Jaguars (13-7, 8-1) overcame a 60-39 deficit to win in overtime. “Brandon wants to be a tough guy and play through it, but he’s about 50 percent. What he needs is a week off to get him ready for the stretch run.”
An obliging schedule should speed up the healing process. The Jaguars don’t play again until Saturday.
Before the injury Cameron was well on his way to scraping off nearly two years of rust. He had not played since transferring from Penn State midway through his sophomore season. He said he left the Big Ten school because of the uncertainty of a coaching change.
In his first season with the Jaguars, he is sharing point guard duties with David Barlow. After a slow start, Cameron blossomed when Mid-Continent Conference play began. Through eight league games he was leading the Jaguars with 32 assists.
Call him Captain Clutch at the free throw line. In the last three minutes and in overtime he is 10-for-10. That includes game-winning shots in one-point victories over Oakland and Southern Utah.
“He’s been playing so well lately,” Hunter said. “It’s a shame because he’s been chomping at the bit ever since he transferred.”
In a relief role Cameron logged at least 20 minutes in eight of nine games before the injury. His high was 21 points against Oakland. He has hit double figures in three other games.
“I was like a step behind at first,” the 6-foot junior concedes. “I wasn’t getting to loose balls I would have had two years ago.”
Beating the Crusaders at the ARC for the third straight year was a major step for the Jaguars, who maintained a one-game lead over preseason favorite Oral Roberts. The Jaguars have never won the regular-season title, but did earn an automatic NCAA bid three years ago with a 66-64 tournament victory over VU.
Saturday’s setback was a staggering blow for VU’s title hopes. Now four games behind IUPUI and with three other teams to pass a 4-5 league record all but writes off the Crusaders. To become the third Valparaiso team to win regular season titles with five losses would require a nine-game winning streak. That seems highly unlikely with road games coming up at UMKC, IUPUI and Oral Roberts.
“This is a beautiful team,” said Cameron. “Everybody steps up on any given night.”
Everybody usually means George Hill, who scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half to trigger the comeback. Hill came in averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.
“He’s a future pro,” Cameron predicted. “I’m putting my stamp on him right now. He’s going to be in the NBA.”
Hunter also lavished praise on Hill.
“I love (Dan) Oppland,” he said, referring to VU’s leading scorer, “but I think Hill’s the best player in the conference.”
What Hunter also loves is recruiting Northwest Indiana, a knack which seems to elude Valparaiso.
His roster includes Valparaiso 7-footer Bill Van Senus and East Chicagoan Gary Patterson, a Butler transfer who played at Bishop Noll. Both have been placed on scholarship for next season. Michal Vavrek, who spent one year at Highland, is working on his second letter. A native of Slovakia he has missed four games because of an injury.
“I love coming back here to play,” said Van Senus, who walked on in 2003 and was redshirted last year. “It’s got the best atmosphere in the conference and it’s a great rivalry.”
Van Senus couldn’t resist a parting shot.
“I’m 3-and-0 here,” he said.
Others who have played for the Jaguars include Roosevelt grad Akeem Clark, who now toils for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels, and West Side’s James Booyer, who is playing pro ball in Bahrain.
Contact John Mutka at jandgmutka@msn.com
Block party back in the Region--NWI Times
Crusaders need to fast forward--NWI Times
Kangaroos To Battle Rival Oral Roberts On Monday Night--UMKC Kangaroos
Golden Grizzlies Take on Westerwinds Monday in the O'Rena--OUGrizzlies.com
ORU Visits Centenary on Monday Night--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles
VALPO HOSTS MID-CON CO-LEADER IUPUI AT THE ARC ON MONDAY EVENING--www.valpo.edu
Women's Basketball Takes on Oakland Monday Night--Western Illinois Athletics
— CRYSTAL EVOLA
When: 7 tonight Where: Oakland Athletics Center, Rochester Records: Western Illinois 15-3 (7-1 Mid-Con); Oakland 8-11 (4-4)
Overview: Oakland hopes to extend its winning streak to three games tonight against the Mid-Continent Conference’s top team. … Oakland has won three straight games at home. … Western Illinois is coming off a 47-37 home loss to Oral Roberts on Saturday that ended the nation’s longest home-court winning streak for men or women at 46 games. … WIU eked out a 74-65 overtime win against OU earlier this month. … According to information gathered by St. Bonaventure SID Patrick Pierson, Jayme Wilson ranks 10th among active NCAA 3-point shooters with 220.
Up next: Oakland at IUPUI, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Indianapolis
Kangaroos ready for rival--Kansas City Star
Game Preview: Oral Roberts at UMKC--Kansas City Star
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Cameron f inds a home at IUPUI--Post Tribune
Jan. 30, 2006
By John Mutka / Post-Tribune senior correspondent
VALPARAISO — Brandon Cameron’s homecoming didn’t quite pan out. An injury limited him to just three minutes in IUPUI’s stunning 87-82 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday.
The former West Side star twisted his right ankle Thursday at Western Illinois, didn’t practice Friday and was scratched from the pre-game shootout.
“Yeah, I got a couple of pounds of tape on it,” said the disappointed junior. During his brief appearance, Cameron’s limited lateral movement hampered him.
Coach Ron Hunter would have benched him if this hadn’t been Cameron’s first Northwest Indiana appearance since he and Michigan’s Chris Hunter led West Side’s Cougars to a state championship in 2002.
“My head said no, but I went with my heart,” the IUPUI coach said after the Jaguars (13-7, 8-1) overcame a 60-39 deficit to win in overtime. “Brandon wants to be a tough guy and play through it, but he’s about 50 percent. What he needs is a week off to get him ready for the stretch run.”
An obliging schedule should speed up the healing process. The Jaguars don’t play again until Saturday.
Before the injury Cameron was well on his way to scraping off nearly two years of rust. He had not played since transferring from Penn State midway through his sophomore season. He said he left the Big Ten school because of the uncertainty of a coaching change.
In his first season with the Jaguars, he is sharing point guard duties with David Barlow. After a slow start, Cameron blossomed when Mid-Continent Conference play began. Through eight league games he was leading the Jaguars with 32 assists.
Call him Captain Clutch at the free throw line. In the last three minutes and in overtime he is 10-for-10. That includes game-winning shots in one-point victories over Oakland and Southern Utah.
“He’s been playing so well lately,” Hunter said. “It’s a shame because he’s been chomping at the bit ever since he transferred.”
In a relief role Cameron logged at least 20 minutes in eight of nine games before the injury. His high was 21 points against Oakland. He has hit double figures in three other games.
“I was like a step behind at first,” the 6-foot junior concedes. “I wasn’t getting to loose balls I would have had two years ago.”
Beating the Crusaders at the ARC for the third straight year was a major step for the Jaguars, who maintained a one-game lead over preseason favorite Oral Roberts. The Jaguars have never won the regular-season title, but did earn an automatic NCAA bid three years ago with a 66-64 tournament victory over VU.
Saturday’s setback was a staggering blow for VU’s title hopes. Now four games behind IUPUI and with three other teams to pass a 4-5 league record all but writes off the Crusaders. To become the third Valparaiso team to win regular season titles with five losses would require a nine-game winning streak. That seems highly unlikely with road games coming up at UMKC, IUPUI and Oral Roberts.
“This is a beautiful team,” said Cameron. “Everybody steps up on any given night.”
Everybody usually means George Hill, who scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half to trigger the comeback. Hill came in averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.
“He’s a future pro,” Cameron predicted. “I’m putting my stamp on him right now. He’s going to be in the NBA.”
Hunter also lavished praise on Hill.
“I love (Dan) Oppland,” he said, referring to VU’s leading scorer, “but I think Hill’s the best player in the conference.”
What Hunter also loves is recruiting Northwest Indiana, a knack which seems to elude Valparaiso.
His roster includes Valparaiso 7-footer Bill Van Senus and East Chicagoan Gary Patterson, a Butler transfer who played at Bishop Noll. Both have been placed on scholarship for next season. Michal Vavrek, who spent one year at Highland, is working on his second letter. A native of Slovakia he has missed four games because of an injury.
“I love coming back here to play,” said Van Senus, who walked on in 2003 and was redshirted last year. “It’s got the best atmosphere in the conference and it’s a great rivalry.”
Van Senus couldn’t resist a parting shot.
“I’m 3-and-0 here,” he said.
Others who have played for the Jaguars include Roosevelt grad Akeem Clark, who now toils for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels, and West Side’s James Booyer, who is playing pro ball in Bahrain.
Contact John Mutka at jandgmutka@msn.com
Block party back in the Region--NWI Times
Crusaders need to fast forward--NWI Times
Kangaroos To Battle Rival Oral Roberts On Monday Night--UMKC Kangaroos
Golden Grizzlies Take on Westerwinds Monday in the O'Rena--OUGrizzlies.com
ORU Visits Centenary on Monday Night--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles
VALPO HOSTS MID-CON CO-LEADER IUPUI AT THE ARC ON MONDAY EVENING--www.valpo.edu
Women's Basketball Takes on Oakland Monday Night--Western Illinois Athletics