Horizon League Championship

Tonight live from the couch in stately Rueff Manor it's me watching the Horizon League championship game between my Dawgs and the evil UW-Milwaukee Panthers.

The Dawgs looking avenge two losses to the Panthers this season - a blowout at US Cellular Arena where tonight's game is being played.

A win in the Dawgs in for sure and I still believe even if they lose as long as not a blowout the Dawgs will be as an at-large game as well.

OK, 9 p.m. tip - it's 9:06 get Geno off the tube the Indiana girl playing for UCONN (Kelly Faris) won another Big East tournament blah blah blah - GO TO MILWAUKEE NOW!

Oh so they held the tip and where's the crowd in Milwaukee unless it's a late arriving crowd I am seeing a lot of red seats posing as spectators.

Good golly those shoes from Adidas for UW-Milwaukee - I had to go out to my car and get my Oakleys.

good start going into Mr. Reliable Mr. Howard. Like it

Hey Howard finally hit a front end of a two-shot foul - got 'em both

I don't think that's the defense Brad wanted and again coach going with the Professor look

YIKES; Get set on the shot

WE CAN'T STOP HILL! Smith coming out; and it's Butcher coming in and it's a  free-throw shooting contest so far

settling for the first shot again as they did in some case the other night

that's going to be there all night Matt

if we are going to collapse helpside we have to be able to rotate over on the perimeter

MACK!!!

Mack got the notebook and stop the defender in his tracks

Butcher showing good hands; rotating over - it's been an issue all season long we just aren't that quick to get over

see what happens when you get set under your feet - 3s go in

there's the defense and coming over helpside - traveling at the first media timeout

yeah right Bob Wischusen rode a Harley to Milwaukee and I drove my Ferrari tonight

that shot of the Milwaukee players the one with the dreads looks so disinterested right now

Howard again I think he's got 10 already

hand in the face - RoboNored with the defensive stop

Hahn is in right now if he gets a 3 to go I will feel really comfortable

Shelvin - don't get cocky - ah - 2-for-3

hey we got over on a defensive rotation

Ah the Marshall plan is in

Nored hits both

Keep the pedal down!

Great hustle and getting on top of the ball for the timeout! Although I wasn't really sure we had possession

Smith just got his second; not up to how he played the other night

I like how we are contesting each shot

Butcher with the leaner off the mid-range

Vanzant needs to shake it off; we'll need him in the second half

'Nova just put themselves on the bubble!

Butcher slid right in there and got it

Vanzant taking the charge - if I was the coach that would be worth an extra large monster shake from Musalami's in Columbus!

I like the fact that we are hustling and being aggressive; but I think we need to settle down a little bit the last couple of possessions we're all over the place offensively

Marshall is going to be a very good Bulldog for four years;

I think the glare of those shoes distracted the officials view

Milwaukee only one field goal in the 11 minutes that have been played

now make it two with the as the kids say now days "and 1"

the roll for Howard with the turnaround - that's going to be there ALL NIGHT!

Stigall with a foul under 8:00 media timeout we gotta keep up and not let them get an ounce of confidence from here on out

Panthers 0-for-6 from 3

uh OH! Don't let them get back into this; Let's sustain here

Now Smith comes back with two fouls; here's where we find out what he's made of in clutch situations

Hahn! We need that tonight more than any he needs to regain the title "Sniper of New Castle" just like Archey before him

We've let 'em back in it

this is the best I have seen us get over on helpside all season and look at the dividends of it

silly foul but at least he missed the first and now Howard picks up his second

Smith has to come up big here;

We have to stop Boyle - put Nored or Vanzant on him NOW!

We've went cold...brrrrr....

single digits! get a good set here; Stigall for 3 and the New Castle boys at it again

contest everything

Get big down low Marshall - I think he missed it because he was so wide open on the cut to the basket

Again we are just outhustling Milwaukee; nice look inside great possession for the Dawgs and it took some time off the clock

grab the ball!

great stop to end the half - thought we did a great job getting over on rotations defensively; Is Jeter getting desperate putting Carter in there on offense and moving Hill to the top of the key for a high-low? Hill doesn't look good up top;

Shadow Boyle - Vanzant or Nored on him; I don't want him to have a 3 attempt in the second half

being aggressive and outhustling and I really like how the Dawgs have stepped it up defensively.

OK next Diet Mountain - SuperNova brought to you by Erin Andrews or Voltage by Kenny Mayne. Fabulous Rueff Boy Andrew and I tasted them both at the test taste at Hinkle about a month ago. It's one thing for VillaNova's bubble to burst, but I won't mind have bubbles of SuperNova bursting in my cup here soon.

OK before we begin the second half, I must now go and reload with a Diet Mountain Dew

one field goal for Hill that needs to continue;

collapse down and Andrew stay STRAIGHT UP!

Nice entry pass and lil hook for Andrew

Boyle got a 3 off

Meier called for displacement

Get it in and look opposite - swish

Meier gotta get on him! No more looks from deep for him or Boyle!

make sure you have the ball!

it's going to be six - we are heading into a dangerous part of the game of letting them back into it

it stinks that we could not wait until the under 16:00 media timeout and had to waste one here;

Milwaukee has picked up the intensity; What did I say - defend the 3s to begin the half! Hate it when I am right!

11-0 run by the Panthers that has to stop on this possession

nice alley-oop now let's get a stop here Dawgs!

Vanzant and Mack both with three and the under 16:00; gotta keep up the defense

hat is now on backwards

must win this four-minute stretch; nice awareness of the 10-second count Williams

Mack with the floater - please don't compare Mack with Jordan over Ehlo! Had it been a last second shot - then I can see the analogy

held ball? we have got to grab control of the ball before we throw the outlet; that's two for Boyle attempts from 3; oohh I think Howard was there

need a bucket there; empty possession and then we let Hill get an offensive rebound;

we did not win that four-minute stretch!

nice steal on the in bounds and tipped by Howard;

good call and great conference to make sure by the officials

the Big East tournament - I heard it began at Christmas time as a holiday tournament this year

Boyle actually missed a free throw;

had to get that foul it was touchy but it was 7-1 on fouls until that one; need a basket here

Give it to the Warrior and he'll score

Vanzant with the change of pace and explodes to goal; nice 2-on-2 by Mack and Howard and now some breathing room; we are winning this four-minute stretch

Smart move Matt on the bench getting rest and we will becoming up on the under 8:00 media timeout

Boyle as long as it's not a 3 that's a good thing

FYI - I am a Callaway golf fan and just got a Diablo 3-wood for my bag this summer. LOVE IT

OK back to the game - yes we won that four-minute stretch now we just need to win two more;

Yes to win a championship it's about heart! People used to laugh when I coached and I said it to my players all the time

Boyle misses! That's two in a row! Ok made the second

keep taking it to Boyle; he can't handle Vanzant

Hill got the ball but Smith held position; just stay straight up and move your feet

Stigall! ahh...much needed in a clutch situation; NOW A STOP! Called it!

OK a couple of misses tonight but how important has Chase Stigall stepped up here recently?

work the clock, get the ball into a money players hands and let him do the work now another stop here

Boyle that's three attempts and three misses another stop!

Smart timeout; regroup and get composure and set up a play to not only increase the lead but also work the clock and shorten this game - worked the clock but came up empty

Smith with the tap; work the clock and Vanzant just began cramping up - OUCH!

won that stretch too - one more to go!

Can I tell you I can't wait for Tiger Woods 2012: The Masters? I pre-ordered at it Best Buy the other day

What are you doing putting the ball on the floor! Drop step and DUNK THE BALL!

Milwaukee shooting 28 percent from the field!

Hill 1-for-3 from the field and now the moving screen; who called the double team on Hill? Yeah that's right - this guy you're reading right now

Slip in and score - Hill just now scored his second field goal of the game; great defense tonight

Just stand there Shelvin and dribble the ball;

Withstood the run and

HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!