Preview Capsules for Today's Men's and Women's College Basketball Games

Preview capsules for today’s men’s and women’s college basketball... http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=...

Preview capsules for today's men's and women's college basketball games

Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 1:33 AM Updated: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 1:40 AM

Plain Dealer staff By

Men

No. 6 OSU at Iowa

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

TV/radio: Big Ten Network; WKNR AM/850.

Notable: The Buckeyes (14-2, 2-1 Big Ten), coming off a 31-point win over Nebraska, know they have to cut down the turnovers against the Hawkeyes (10-6, 2-1), who have View full size Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer won two straight after starting Big Ten play Cleveland State's men's basketball team faces Loyola today at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland. with a loss at Purdue. Iowa is led by 6-5 Matt Gatens, averaging 13.6 points per game, but the Hawkeyes managed an upset win at Wisconsin a week ago when Gatens scored just six points. Guard Bryce Cartwright had 17 off the bench in that one. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, obviously, is concerned with OSU big man Jared Sullinger. "He's arguably the best passing big man in the game," McCaffery said. "He's fabulous. He's seen [double-teams] a lot, so he's gotten really good at it. He's worked on it. They spread you. But they got shooters. You can double-team anybody and get the ball out of his hands, but the question then becomes: What do you do from there?"

Next for OSU: Tuesday, at Illinois, 9 p.m.

Prediction: Ohio State 68, Iowa 61.

-- Doug Lesmerises

Cleveland State vs. Loyola

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at the Wolstein Center.

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Radio: WHK AM/1220.

Notable: For CSU (13-3, 3-1 Horizon League), an infusion of youth into the lineup has offset the temporary loss of guard Trevon Harmon (concussion) and the season-long loss of guard Sebastian Douglas (knee). Freshman point guard Charlie Lee played well in his first start, and freshman swingman Marlin Mason was solid in his first action of the season. Now it must continue. Loyola (5-10, 0-5) is the only team winless in HL play. The Vikings end this three-game homestand with surging league power Butler and Valparaiso next up, both on the road.

Next for CSU: Friday, at Butler, 7 p.m.

Akron at Miami of Ohio

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at Millett Hall, Oxford, Ohio.

TV/radio: ONN; WARF AM/1350.

Notable: Of all the Mid-American Conference contenders, Akron (8-6) gets the easiest road to open league play, first at Miami (4-8) then at Bowling Green (6-7), the only two teams with losing records in the division. Zips must take instant advantage. Akron has won five of its past six, including an upset at Marshall. The Zips are a veteran team with Nik Cvetinovic, Brett McClanahan, Zeke Marshall, Alex Abreu and Quincy Diggs all key to last season's NCAA Tournament appearance. That experience should not be wasted. Akron's mission will be to slow Miami's Julian Mavunga (10.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg).

Next for Akron: Wednesday, at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.

Kent State at Buffalo

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at Alumni Hall, Buffalo, N.Y.

Radio: WNIR FM/100.1.

Notable: KSU (10-3) gets a very tough road test to open MAC play at Buffalo (7-4), a team that features three of the league's top seven scorers: Javon McCrea, 16.8 ppg; Mitchell Watt, 15.8; and Zach Filzen, 14.7. They will test a KSU defense that has held teams to 60.9 ppg. Offensively, reigning MAC Player of the Year Justin Greene (11.3 ppg) has not been as dominant as in the past, forcing Kent to rely on the hot-and-cold shooting from its perimeter players. Point guard Mike Porrini is expected to play after missing the most recent game with a toe injury.

Next for KSU: Wednesday, vs. Miami of Ohio, 7 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

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Case Western Reserve vs. Carnegie Mellon

Tipoff: 5 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium, Cleveland.

Notable: CWRU (8-3) opens its University Athletic Association season after having a seven-game win streak snapped against John Carroll last week. Junior forward Austin Fowler is Case's top scorer at 15.3 ppg, while sophomore C David Thompson checks in at 13.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg, with three double doubles in the past five games. Senior forward Tom Summers also has produced double doubles in three of the past four contests and averages 9.6 points and 8.5 rebounds. Forward Dane McLoughlin leads four freshmen in the main rotation at 12.5 ppg with a team-high 22 3-pointers.

Next for CWRU: Jan. 13, at Washington University in St. Louis, 8 p.m.

-- Compiled using info provided by schools

Women

Cleveland State at Butler

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Hinkle Field House, Indianapolis.

Notable: CSU (6-7, 1-1 HL) plays its third straight on the road, taking on the Bulldogs (5-9, 1-2).

Next for CSU: Thursday, vs. Illinois-Chicago, 7 p.m.

Akron at Bowling Green

Tipoff: Noon, Stroh Center.

TV: SportsTime Ohio.

Notable: Akron (6-9, 0-1 MAC) has lost five of its past six. BG (11-3, 1-0) has won 11 of its past 12 games.

Next for Akron: Wednesday, at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Kent State vs. Ohio

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at M.A.C. Center.

Notable: Kent (1-10, 0-1 MAC) has lost eight straight. The Bobcats (8-7, 1-0) are looking for a third straight win for coach Semeka Randall.

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Next for KSU: Wednesday, at Miami of Ohio, 7 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

Baldwin-Wallace vs. Capital

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at the Lou Higgins Center, Berea.

Radio: WBWC FM/88.3.

Notable: B-W is 8-5, 3-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Capital is 8-4, 3-2. This is one of the best women's basketball rivalries in Division III. In the past two decades, B-W and Capital have combined to win 19 OAC regular-season titles and 14 OAC Tournament titles. B-W coach Cheri Harrer (441 wins) and Capital's Sixie Jeffers (596) have combined for 1,037 victories. B-W is led by sophomore guard Jessica Lairson at 12.1 ppg and a team-leading 20 steals. B-W has won 21 of the past 32 meetings, including a 64-61 triumph in the most recent contest.

Next for B-W: Wednesday, at Mount Union, 7:30 p.m.

Case Western Reserve vs. Carnegie Mellon

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium, Cleveland.

Notable: The Spartans (7-4) have won five of their past six, including a 75-74 victory over 24th-ranked Otterbein on Dec. 29. CWRU is limiting opponents to 55.6 ppg and .357 shooting from the field. With her 20 points at Otterbein, senior forward Erin Hollinger (Chardon) has scored 1,228 points in her career, moving into second place in CWRU history. Hollinger now trails only CWRU Spartan Club Hall of Famer and 2001 graduate Erin Rogalski's record of 1,659 career points.

Next for CWRU: Jan. 13, at Washington University in St. Louis, 6 p.m.

John Carroll vs. Wilmington

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at the DeCarlo Varsity Center, University Heights.

Notable: JCU (4-8, 1-5 OAC) has just one victory in the past five weeks. Wilmington is 9-4. JCU will continue to rely on two sophomores: Allison Lustig, who leads the OAC in assists per game (5.08), and Missy Spahar, who is fourth in the league in scoring with a 15.3 average, and leads the OAC in rebounding at a 9.8 clip.

Next for JCU: Wednesday, vs. Muskingum, 7:30 p.m.

-- Compiled using info provided by schools

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