College basketball players transfer in large numbersThe players started leaving in earnest during the spring of 2008, a trickle having turned into a stream that has seen 12 players transfer out of the basketball program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Although there is no way to play down the problem and its impact, SIUC athletics director Mario Moccia can at least take solace in one regard: The program has been mimicking a national trend.

Transfers in college basketball remain brisk, with about 40 percent of all players switching schools within their first two years, according to NCAA President Mark Emmert.
Read more: stltoday.com

LaVall Jordan’s phone flooded with text messages and emails Saturday when the Butler-Florida game went into overtime.

Jordan, an assistant basketball coach for Michigan, had seen this before. Here was Butler, the small school from the Horizon League, pushing higher-seeded Florida in the NCAA tournament.

In 2000, Jordan played for Butler, which lost to the Gators, 69-68, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In 2007, when Jordan was an assistant coach with Butler, Florida beat the Bulldogs in the Sweet 16.

Read more of “Connection between Final Four-bound Butler and the Michigan basketball program is strong” on AnnArbor.com
3.28.11

Brad Stevens loves Butler, but can it last forever?

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 6, 2042 — For Brad Stevens, one milestone down and one to go.

With Butler’s 82-59 victory over Cleveland State at the refurbished Hinkle Fieldhouse, the long-time Butler coach, who is now 65 years old but looks closer to 45, won his 900th game as a college coach. He will now begin closing in on former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s all-time record of 974 victories.

Stevens has led Butler to two national titles during his tenure and annually has his “mid-major” Bulldogs in the hunt come NCAA Tournament time.

indystar.com
3/26/11