Midconfans News 10/31/2006

Senior Showcase Leads White Squad To 68-65 Win In Annual Blue-White Scrimmage--UMKC Kangaroos

Green Named Preseason Mid-Major All-American--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Thunderbirds Host Lakehead U, Mesa State In Exhibition Games--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Women's basketball gets set for first exhibition game of the 2006-07 season--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/29/2006

Crusaders molding into one unit--The Post-Tribune

Notebook: Building plans--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Midconfans News 10/27/2006

T-Bird teams show off skills--The Spectrum

Midconfans News 10/26/2006

Bryce Drew promoted--The Indy Star

IUPUI spells happiness--The NWI Times

Learning on the go--The Spectrum

Who will step forward for the Thunderbirds?--The Spectrum

ORU's Green Named to Wooden Award Preseason Team--www.mid-con.com

Men's: Media Day: Transfer liberated from bench--The Tulsa World

ORU Notebook: Preseason hype--The Tulsa World

Caleb Green Named to Wooden Award Preseason List--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Midconfans News 10/25/2006

Diebler breaks nose in first practice--The NWI Times

Single Game Hoops Tickets On Sale Friday--www.valpo.edu

Women’s basketball starts hunt for fifth straight Mid-Continent Conference title--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/24/2006

Bryce Drew Named Associate Head Coach--www.valpo.edu

Derek Thomas readies men's basketball squad for 2006-07 season--Western Illinois Athletics

Hundreds attend basketball tip-off event at Western Hall--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/23/2006

Women’s Basketball to Hold Open Scrimmage--GoCentenary.Com

MIdconfans News 10/21/2006

Valpo squads put on a show--The NWI Times

MIdconfans News 10/19/2006

Campus notes--deseretnews.com

Southern Utah

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Southern Utah's women's basketball team was voted to finish seventh in the Mid-Continent Conference by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media in the annual preseason poll released Wednesday by the conference office. The Thunderbirds, who return three starters and nine letterwinners along with one redshirt freshman from last season's 11-17 squad, tallied 65 points in the poll. Oral Roberts was tabbed as the preseason favorite as the Golden Eagles received 12 out of a possible 22 first place votes to finish with 237 points, while Valparaiso, which is in its final year of Mid-Con competition, placed second with five first place nods and 213 points.

Crusader basketball teams picked in upper half--The Post-Tribune

Basketball Season Tickets on Sale--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Midconfans News 10/19/2006

Let the Mayhem begin for Crusaders--The NWI Times

ORU men favored - again--The Spectrum

Poll: expectations not high for Thunderbird women--The Spectrum

Oral Roberts Chosen First in Mid-Con Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll; ORU’s Elisha Turek Picked as Preseason Player of the Year--www.mid-con.com

Oral Roberts Picked First in Mid-Con Preseason Men's Basketball Poll--www.mid-con.com

ORU men tabbed No. 1--The Tulsa World

Wilkins Named to Preseason All-Mid-Con Team--GoCentenary.Com

Hamilton Earns Preseason Accolade--GoCentenary.Com

IUPUI BASKETBALL TEAM TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON MID-CON POLLS--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM PICKED THIRD IN MID-CON PRESEASON POLL--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

Three Kangaroos Garner Mid-Con Preseason all-Conference Honors--UMKC Kangaroos

Brown and Picconi Named Mid-Con Preseason all-Conference Selections--UMKC Kangaroos

Oakland Men’s Basketball Picked Fifth in Mid-Con Preseason Poll--OUGrizzlies.com

Golden Grizzlies Ranked Sixth in Mid-Con Preseason Poll--OUGrizzlies.com

New Basketball Commercials Airing Exclusively on ORUGoldenEagles.com--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Oral Roberts Picked First in Mid-Con Preseason Poll; Green Tabbed a Player of the Year--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Women's Hoops Named Pre-Season Favorite, Turek Player of the Year--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

T-BIRDS PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN MID-CON PRESEASON POLL--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Crusaders Tabbed Fourth in Mid-Con Preseason Poll--www.valpo.edu

Crusader Women Tabbed Second in Mid-Con Race; Three Crusaders Earn Preseason All-Conference Honors--www.valpo.edu

Leatherneck basketball tabbed to finish sixth in the Mid-Continent Conference--Western Illinois Athletics

Women’s basketball picked fourth in Mid-Con pre-season poll--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/18/2006

Golden Grizzlies will rely on balanced offense to carry them through schedule--The Oakland Press/span>

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
OU coach Greg Kampe thinks tough schedule will benefit team
By CRYSTAL EVOLA Of The Oakland Press


ROCHESTER — Ambitious is one way to describe Greg Kampe’s thought process when he put together this season’s men’s basketball schedule.
Foolish might be another.
The longtime Oakland University coach has concocted a schedule for the 2006-07 campaign that makes a Big Ten campaign look like a cakewalk.
In Kampe’s attempt to gain respect among the “big boys” and to get some attention from future recruits, he has drawn up what is by far Oakland’s toughest challenge so far as a Division I program.
The list of opponents looks even more daunting considering the Grizzlies will learn to adjust to life without last season’s leading scorer, Calvin Wooten.
Wooten fell short of the credit requirements as a senior and was ruled academically ineligible to compete this season.
Wooten led the team with 33.2 minutes and 19.2 points per game. He also had a team high 49 steals and 65 assists last season as a transfer player from Rutgers University.
This uphill battle is designed with one thing in mind: To win the Mid-Continent Conference tournament to get that automatic bid into the NCAA dance.
“This is harder than any schedule we’ve had,” Kampe said. “Is it too hard? It might be. Do I recognize that? Yes, but the reality of it is our kids want to play those teams.
“Did I go overboard? I would sit here in October and say, ‘Yes, I went overboard.’ Will we regret this? I don’t know. I hope not. I think my biggest fear is making these guys understand how difficult the first few months will be and the bottom line is the goal is to win those three days in March.”
Oakland’s non-conference schedule includes road games against teams including UMass, Pitt, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Arkansas, UCLA and Marquette.
UCLA made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament championship game. Arkansas, Pitt and MSU were tournament teams.
The Grizzlies went 11-18 last season and the nonconference schedule only included teams like St. Louis, Marquette, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Missouri.
“We have to be very mentally tough,” Kampe said. “Hopefully, we’re going to win that battle and everything’s going to be good. The other thing is, I think we’ve got enough talent that we might be able to win one or two of those games.”
Kampe is confident that returning players like center Shawn Hopes, guard Rick Billings, forward Vova Severovas and guard Brandon Cassise and newcomers like Keith Benson and Jonathon Jones will get a chance to spread around the minutes and offense that Wooten once contributed.
“This is going to be an old-fashioned, Greg Kampe Oakland team,” Kampe said. “We’re going to have the ability to shoot the 3, and we’re going to have a lot of different guys that we’re going to depend on. The last couple years it’s been if Mike (Helms) doesn’t score tonight we could lose or if Rawle (Marshall) doesn’t do this or if Cortney (Scott) doesn’t do that and Cal doesn’t do that we’re going to lose this game.
“If Shawn doesn’t score then Vova will. If Vova doesn’t score Rick will. If Rick doesn’t score than (Erik) Kangas is going to make some shots and Cassise’s going to score. ... We’ve got multiple people. ... It reminds me of what we were in the late Division II days and those early Division I teams.”
Oakland started its first full-squad team practices this week.
On the bright side, it’s almost like a bulk of the basic fundamental work is already done considering the Grizzlies competed in a Canada trip in September.
“We’re really now reviewing all our defensive (changes) and working on our offense,” Kampe said. “It was great for that.”
They need all the help they can get at this point.

Midconfans News 10/17/2006

Piggott, new faces must step up if OU women are going to repeat--The Oakland Press

Golden Grizzlies defend Mid-Con title minus Hafeli and Wilson
By CRYSTAL EVOLA Of The Oakland Press


ROCHESTER — The Oakland University women’s basketball team had the thrill of capping the 2005-06 season with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Repeating that accomplishment this season will likely be a bigger challenge than the typical uphill battle any team faces.
The Golden Grizzlies have officially started team practices for the 2006-07 campaign minus the services of 3-point shooters Anne Hafeli and Jayme Wilson for the first time in four years.
Hafeli (Bloomfield Hills Lahser) finished her career ranked eighth in OU’s record books with 1,469 career points and second all-time with 235 career 3-pointers.
Wilson finished with 1,785 career points to rank sixth alltime in school history.
How does a team try to build upon last season’s great finish without the benefit of having a pair of offensive scoring leaders?
“It obviously hurts not having Jayme and Anne and Lakeshia (White) back,” said senior Nicole Piggott. “They were a big part of our team, but I think that we have some fresh new talent and instead of just shooters, we have more penetrators. I think our game might be geared a little differently this year. I don’t see it being too much of a problem in the end.”
Piggott, senior Bonnie Baker and sophomore Rikka Terava are the returning starters from last season’s squad.
However, it is unknown when Terava will be ready to return to her point guard position because of a stress fracture in a weight-bearing bone in her leg.
Piggott, who averaged 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds last season, is ready to increase her workload.
“I kind of like it, personally,” Piggott said of being one of the few returning players, “because it makes me take the lead and now I don’t mind taking that role on and trying to help (the newcomers) come along.
“We’ve got great talent, so I’m really excited about this year.”
Sophomore Jessica Knurick, a 6-foot-2 letterwinner, will also be sidelined indefi nitely because of personal health problems.
Overall, six newcomers will be looking to adjust to life at the Division I level.
“They work hard,” OU coach Beckie Francis said. “That’s a good sign because they have a good work ethic. They’re also competitive with the returners. I’m not saying necessarily with ability, but they’re competitive where they want to beat them and they’re going after them really hard.
“Our returners have kind of a swagger, so it’s really fun to watch and really fun to coach right now.”
The adjustment period could be slightly shorter for some of the new faces.
Dominique Booker (Miami University), Elizabeth Sowers (Hesston, Kan., College), Rachel Bryer (St. Clair Community College) and Charlese Greer (Schoolcraft College) are transfer players.
“We have to see,” Francis said. “It’s still too early.”
Greer, a Pontiac Northern graduate, averaged 20 points and 8.1 rebounds to earn first team National Junior College Athletic Association honors in 2006 with Schoolcraft.
The 6-foot-4 Bryer could give the Grizzlies some much needed post presence. She reached double-digits in blocks three times last season and finished with 123 total with St. Clair.
Booker is expected to be eligible to return after sitting out the necessary NCAA transfer period in mid December.
OU finished 15-16 last season. The Grizzlies lost to topseeded Ohio State 68-45 in an NCAA tournament first-round game.
The attempt to return is made even more difficult considering what OU’s preseason schedule looks like.
The Grizzlies will travel to places including West Virginia, Auburn and UConn.
OU opens the season against Marygrove College at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Oakland Athletics Center.

UMKC hoping for inside jobThe Kansas City Star

Big Game Packs On Sale for Valpo Hoops--www.valpo.edu

Women’s basketball team announces walk-on try-out date for October 24--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/15/2006

Update: Learning the system--The Tulsa World

Midconfans News 10/14/2006

VU basketball team visits a different court--The Post-Tribune

Kirby 'graduates' to Valpo U--The NWI Times

Court is in session--The NWI Times

Women’s Basketball Begins Practice Friday--GoCentenary.Com

Gents Set to Run the Hardwood Again--GoCentenary.Com

Let It All Begin!--UMKC Kangaroos

Back Into Action!

Men’s Basketball Opens Practice on Friday--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Golden Eagles Set for First Practice--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Thunderbirds Open 2006-07 Workouts--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

T-BIRDS OPEN 2006-07 SEASON WITH FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE FRIDAY NIGHT--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Western Illinois men's and women's basketball tips-off practice Friday--Western Illinois Athletics

Women's basketball ready to start 2006-07 season--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/12/2006

Oakland to host Hoops Madness--The Oakland Press

BRIEFS


Oakland will kick its men’s and women’s basketball seasons by hosting Hoops Madness on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Athletics Center O’Rena.
A full schedule of activities is planned, including free tuition for one semester for one male and female student.
The OU Pep Band, Images and Intrigue dance teams and the OU cheerleaders will perform.

Young Crusaders are eager to get started--The Post-Tribune

VU women get fifth in-state verbal--The NWI Times

OU to Host Hoops Madness on Friday--OUGrizzlies.com

Midnight Mayhem Set for October 20 at Valpo--www.valpo.edu

Midconfans News 10/11/2006

Diebler has MRI on neck--The NWI Times

Harlan Named Executive Producer of the Valpo Sports Radio Network--www.valpo.edu

Midconfans News 10/7/2006

2 commit to IUPUI--The Indy Star

Five UMKC Women's Basketball Games To Be Televised in 2006-07--UMKC Kangaroos

Midconfans News 10/6/2006

Crenshaw on Jags' staff--The Indy Star

Roosevelt's Latice Jones commits to VU--The Post-Tribune

Centenary Athletic Director Taylor Moore Announces Resignation; Glenn Evans to Serve as Interim A.D.--www.mid-con.com

Thomas family to be featured on national television--Western Illinois Athletics

Midconfans News 10/5/2006

OU lands St. Clair’s Carnago--The Oakland Press

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

By CRYSTAL EVOLA Of The Oakland Press

The Oakland University women’s basketball team does not open its season until next month, but the Golden Grizzlies already have a big win under their belt. St. Clair High School senior Brittany Carnago has given her verbal commitment to attend OU beginning in the fall of 2007. Carnago will continue her playing career on the hardcourt with St. Clair guard Stacey Farrell. Why OU? “I really like (coach) Beckie Francis,” Carnago said. “She’s a good coach. I like her off the court too because she’s a nice person. Plus, one of my teammates I’ve played with since the seventh grade is going to go there next year too. I’ll be neat to play with the same point guard for another four years too.”
Carnago had also received a full-scholarship offer from Central Michigan, but the Grizzlies won out.
Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, and Dayton had also expressed interest in the 6-foot-3 center.
Pretty impressive considering Carnago didn’t even pick up a basketball until her mother signed her up in the sixth grade.
Carnago did everything from soccer to track and from tennis to cheerleading prior to focusing only on her basketball career in the seventh grade.
“I did not like (basketball),” Carnago said. “It just kind of grew on me more the more involved I got into it. I did not even imagine playing college basketball at all so now it’s pretty cool.”
Carnago had 12 points, eight rebounds and fi ve blocks in the Class B semifi nals last season.
One source said Carnago has the capability of reaching the star power of OU grads Sarah Judd, an All-American, and Katie Wolfe, a four-year starter and top Mid-Continent Conference player.

IUPUI ADDS MATT CRENSHAW TO BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

Men's Basketball Open Tryouts Moved--OUGrizzlies.com

Women’s Basketball Tryout Moved to Next Thurdsay--OUGrizzlies.com

Midconfans News 10/4/2006

Nike ending camp at IUPUI--The Indy Star

Moore resigns as Centenary AD--The Shreveport Times

Centenary Athletic Director Taylor Moore Announces Resignation; Glenn Evans to Serve as Interim A.D.--GoCentenary.Com

Women’s Basketball to Hold Open Tryout Thurdsay--OUGrizzlies.com