Horizon League Weekly Release (Weekend Edition)
Horizon League TV Listing for Saturday, Dec. 18 (all times Eastern):
#12/14 Illinois at UIC, 2 p.m. -- Big Ten Network
Loyola at DePaul, 2 p.m. -- ESPN3.com
Stanford at Butler, 2 p.m. -- CBS
#ARV/ARV Cleveland State at #ARV/ARV West Virginia, 2 p.m. -- ESPN3.com
Detroit at Central Michigan, 7 p.m. -- ESPNU
Miami at Wright State, 7 p.m. -- Horizon League Network
Bowling Green at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. -- Horizon League Network
IPFW at Valparaiso, 8:05 p.m. -- Horizon League Network
INDIANAPOLIS -- Horizon League teams will be featured across five different platforms on Saturday, with all eight games featuring League institutions available to fans live and free.
UIC (4-7) gets the day started when they host Illinois at the United Center. While the Flames enter the game having dropped four straight contests, three of those losses have come by two points, including Tuesday's 80-78 defeat at Northern Illinois. Both Paul Carter and Robo Kreps continue to lead UIC, as Carter has posted three double-doubles this year and Kreps is averaging 15.5 points and 4.0 assists per contest.
In an intra-city showdown, Loyola (8-3) seeks Chicagoland bragging rights when they meet DePaul. After having the week off for finals, the Ramblers will attempt to bounce back after a tough 68-60 loss to then-#5/5 Kansas State a week ago. Loyola is the second straight Horizon League team to take a shot at the Blue Demons after Milwaukee dropped a 61-47 decision on Tuesday.
CBS makes its first-ever trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, bringing regional coverage for Butler's (5-4) battle against the Pac-10's Stanford. Like most teams in the Horizon League, the Bulldogs played no games this week due to finals. The game is one of four on Saturday between Horizon League institutions and "Big 6" conference members and is the third for Butler in 10 games this season.
#ARV/ARV Cleveland State (12-0) takes its undefeated record to one of the most inhospitable venues in the BIG EAST on Saturday, as the Vikings look for a marquee win over #ARV/ARV West Virginia. Having already defeated five postseason teams from a year ago, including two NCAA Tournament squads, Cleveland State seeks a sixth against the 2010 Final Four participant Mountaineers.
Along with ESPN3.com coverage, the game is available regionally as part of the BIG EAST Network.
The Horizon League's final over-the-air national broadcast of the night will feature two of the country's most ballyhooed recruits who chose to stay home and play for their fathers. Detroit's Ray McCallum leads the Titans (6-5) into Mount Pleasant, Mich., to face Trey Zeigler and Central Michigan at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The duo formed the highest-rated recruits to matriculate to Horizon League and Mid-American Conference schools, respectively.
The Horizon League Network will continue its season-long streaming of contests, bringing fans three games on Saturday night.
Wright State (6-5) puts its 11-game home winning streak on the line on Saturday, hosting regional rival Miami at 7 p.m. ET. The Raiders have won three straight games, including a 53-49 road win at Central Michigan earlier in the week.
At 8 p.m. ET, Milwaukee (5-7) looks to bounce from a disappointing loss on Tuesday when they host Bowling Green. The game is one of three matchups between Horizon League and MAC institutions on Saturday, with the Horizon League holding a 12-10 edge entering the weekend.
Buried under nearly two feet of snow, Valparaiso (6-4) will try to heat up the Athletics Recreation Center on Saturday, when in-state foe IPFW visits for an 8:05 p.m. ET tip. The Crusaders will seek to snap a two-game losing skid in their first game in a week and will be looking to halt a two-game losing streak against the Mastodons as well.
