Horizon League Men's Basketball: It's Up for Grabs

Horizon League Men's Basketball Weekly Release #1 (Nov. 8, 2013)

The closest preseason poll voting in Horizon League history made one thing clear about the 2013-14 campaign: it’s up for grabs.

The game doesn’t know. The game doesn’t know what team is supposed to win. The game doesn’t know player stats, win/loss records, previous matchup history, or noise level from the home fans. The game gives each team the same parameters the sport is expected to play within; it’s up to the execution of the game to determine the outcome.

That’s exactly why the Horizon League is up for grabs this season. There is no true favorite, no long-standing championship team; instead, a group of nine talented programs champing at the bit for their chance to be the team to make the most out of the opportunity given to them each time they step out on the court.

Quotes in the headlines from coaches and players will state they are taking it ‘one game at a time’ but the end goal is still the same for each team: to win the Horizon League regular season and tournament titles. For the team(s) that accomplishes the ultimate goal, March becomes a month of opportunity instead of a month of regret.

STRICTLY BUSINESS

Last March, Green Bay walked away with a sour taste in their mouths. In what was an otherwise successful 2012-13 season finishing third in the Horizon League; the team fell short of a berth to the Horizon League Championship after holding the lead over Valparaiso with 14 seconds left in the semifinals.

Those 14 seconds now drive the Phoenix each and every moment with the adoption of a ‘strictly business’ mindset by head coach Brian Wardle. This mindset will have to carry on into the season as Green Bay notched the No. 1 seed in the preseason poll for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

“You’re only as good as the players you put on the floor – you’ve got to have good players to make you look like a good coach,” Wardle said. “It’s my job to motivate them, give them a vision, teach them to play together and play unselfish and teach them the basics of the game and just put them in a position to succeed.”

With great expectations, comes great opportunity. The Phoenix are led by Keifer Sykes and Alec Brown with the duo combining for 2,092 points and three All-Horizon League honors in their careers. They are accompanied by Jordan Fouse who led the Horizon League in rebounding as a freshman and the explosive Greg Mays in the frontcourt.

Green Bay also debuts a trio of transfers this season: Alfonzo McKinnie from Eastern Illinois, Vince Garrett from Rutgers and Lamin Fulton a junior college transfer from Northwest Florida State College. All three are expected to contribute and add depth to the Phoenix lineup.

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE

In last year’s preseason poll the Wright State men’s basketball team was picked to finish last in the Horizon League. One year and 23 wins later, the Raiders and head coach Billy Donlon have proved one thing; it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

“Championships aren’t won on paper, and we can’t be any more concerned about what people are saying about us this year than we were last year,” Donlon said. “This team is not going to win because people think we are.”

Expectations are a lot easier to fulfill if the right pieces are in place. The Raiders return their top nine scorers from last year, including second-team All-League honoree Cole Darling. Darling averaged 11.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg to lead Wright State a year ago and will be joined by Reggie Arceneaux who was tops in assists and three-point field goals.

Other key returners include Kendall Griffin, Matt Vest and Tavares Sledge who each started 20 games for the Raiders. Jerran Young, Miles Dixon, J.T. Yoho, and A.J. Pacher are also back in action and expected to make big contributions to the lineup.

BETTER WATCH OUT, HERE WE COME

Entering his eighth year as the Cleveland State head coach, Gary Waters knows he has the right combination of talent to compete for a Horizon League regular season and tournament title.  A year after telling reporters “you’d better get us this year,” a total of eight letterwinners and four starters return for the Vikings setting the table to emerge back to the top of the conference rankings.

Cleveland State welcomes back Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, Bryn Forbes, who was 11th in the League in scoring a year ago averaging 12.7 ppg. After setting the Viking’s sophomore record with 153 assists, Charlie Lee returns to the backcourt along with Sebastian Douglas and Marlin Mason. Penn State transfer Trey Lewis is eligible to take the court after sitting out last season and eager to showcase his skills in a Viking’s uniform.

In the frontcourt for Cleveland State is the experienced duo of Devon Long and Ludovic Ndaye as well as junior college transfer Ismaila Duada and Miami (OH) transfer Jon Harris. After seeing the court in six games due to injury, Anton Grady is expected to make a big impact for the Vikings after earning preseason second-team All-Horizon League accolades.

A NEW KID IN TOWN

There is one way and one way only to win in basketball; to score more than the other team. That is exactly what Oakland does- score. Led by sharp-shooter Travis Bader, the Oakland men’s basketball team with head coach Greg Kampe at the helm makes their Horizon League debut coming off of a successful tenure in the Summit League and five consecutive appearances in the postseason.

Bader, rated as the top 3-point shooter in the country and on the brink of breaking NCAA records in 3-pointers made and attempted has received numerous preseason accolades including being mentioned as one of twelve players to watch in 2013-14 by ESPN.com. He will be accompanied by last year’s NCAA leader in steals, Duke Mondy as well as returning starters Corey Petros and Dante Williams.

Oakland will bring a breath of fresh air to the Horizon League this year but their quick tempo style of play will be tested in a conference known for its defensive prowess. The book Scorecasting by authors Tobias Moskowitz and  L. Jon Wertheim disproves that defense wins championships but only time will tell if Coach Kampe and his squad can prove that with their score first mentality will be successful in the League.

ON THE RISE

Youngstown State is coming off of their best season in more than a decade and earned their first Division I postseason berth in school history. The squad is returning three starters from a year ago led by Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Kendrick Perry.

Perry was second in the league in scoring and first for the Penguins with 17.3 ppg and is ranked 17th in school history with 1,309 career points. He will be joined by fellow returnees DJ Cole who averaged 6.9 ppg and 3.4 apg and Kamren Belin who averaged 11.1 ppg and connected on 40.7 percent of his shots from behind the arc.

Head coach Jerry Slocum doesn’t seem too concerned about losing a couple key players in Blake Allen and Damian Eargle from last year’s team and believes that their depth could be a key factor for the Penguins moving forward.

“I think we have more depth at more positions than we’ve had in the past,” Slocum said. “Do we have questions? Yes, we do, but I like our answers right now.”

NAMETAGS, PLEASE

Valparaiso captured its second straight regular season crown and first tournament title last season winning a school-record 26 games. Behind head coach Bryce Drew, the Crusaders look to reload to make a run at a third consecutive Horizon League regular season title.

Reloading is almost an understatement when it comes to the Valparaiso squad this season. The team lost all five of their starters and return only 22.8 percent of the scoring, 27.3 percent of the rebounding and 24.2 percent of the minutes played from a season ago. In addition, they return just 50 percent of their minutes played and less than 40 percent of their scoring.

Numbers aside, the Crusaders look to be led by new faces including Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year LaVonte Dority who averaged 8.6 ppg, third-most on the team. Also returning are Bobby Capobianco, Jordan Coleman and Vashil Fernandez. Capobianco averaged 5.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg, Coleman posted 4.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg and Fernandez scored 30 points and grabbed 38 rebounds.

YOUNG TALENT EAGER TO TAKE THE FLOOR

Detroit returns one starter from a team that won 20 games and made the postseason for the second-straight year. The incoming class of Titans look forward to the challenge and are eager to make an impact on a team that will be surely overlooked.

Evan Bruinsma and Juwan Howard, Jr. will be highly counted on for not only scoring but leadership for the Titans this year.

“Right now, we’ll rely on our experienced guys – Evan Bruinsma, Juwan Howard; guys that have been through the Horizon League,” head coach Ray McCallum said. “They have to do a lot. They have to play well, they have to be vocal, they have to lead and teach the younger players what this is all about. We’ll depend on our returning players to establish our identity for this season and play the way we like to play.”

Among the new faces for Detroit are Michigan transfer Carlton Brundidge joined by the incoming class of Patrick Ackerman, Paris Bass, Matthew Grant, Patrick Onwenu, and Jarod Williams.

BOUNCING BACK

The Milwaukee Panthers return seven players that made at least one start a year ago but welcome in 11 new faces to the team this year. After a difficult 2012-13 campaign, the team looks to bounce back and make improvements both individually and collectively.

Jordan Aaron highlights the list of returnees for the Panthers as he finished second in scoring for the team and averaged 14.4 ppg and dished out 128 assists. He will be surrounded by J.J. Panoske who averaged 5.0 ppg and 3.7 rpg and Austin Arians who made big contributions off the bench last year for the Titans finishing fourth on the team in scoring at 6.6 ppg.

Head coach Rob Jeter is hoping for more consistency and health this season after struggles with injuries and lineup changes throughout 2012-13.

“For us,” Jeter said, “it’s all about trying to get that respect back for Milwaukee basketball.”

WATCH OUT

The UIC men’s basketball team is on the rise after a stellar 2012-13 campaign where the Flames mounted the 12th best turnaround in the country, winning 10 more games than the previous year. In head coach Howard Moore’s fourth-year he anticipates great things for his team and the city of Chicago.

“Having a little bit of success should breed to desire to have even more success,” head coach Howard Moore said at the Horizon League men’s basketball media day. “We want to make that the standard: that we are playing in deep March, that we’re always in the chase for a conference championship [and] that we have a quality non-conference season that will get us ready for a strong conference run. Having some success last year just breeds a little bit of anticipation and expectation for more success.”

The Flames return starters Hayden Humes and Marc Brown while adding transfers Kelsey Barlow from Purdue and Jordan Harks from Central Arkansas. Humes averaged 10.3 ppg and 5.2 rpg and Brown averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.0 rpg last season.

MOVING FORWARD

The Horizon League posts one of the top 12 conference RPI’s in the nation and anticipates a season full of last-second shots, dominating individual performances and lively postgame press conferences. Let’s not forget, Loyola is no longer in the Horizon League. However, with the addition of Oakland and several teams with expectations of postseason play, including seven earning votes in the initial CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, it is safe to say that the League is going to be more competitive than ever.

With an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line, the Horizon League regular season and tournament will be here before we know it. Remember; the game doesn’t know. There is no predicting what the season might bring, but it sure won’t lack for entertainment.