On The Horizon

Jim Squire

The Morning Dish – Friday, January 29, 2016--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu:
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The Horizon League has three games, including the in-state showdown with Wisconsin-Green Bay at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, plus surprising Wright State and its defense taking on the freewheeling offense of Oakland.

PREGAME SHOOTAROUND: VCU looks to retain grip on A-10’s top spot--CollegeBasketballTalk

THIS ONE’S GOOD TOO: Wright State at Oakland, 8:00 p.m.

Valparaiso has company atop the Horizon League standings, as Billy Donlon’s Raiders are 7-1 in conference games and have won ten of their last 11 games. Friday night they visit one of the nation’s most electrifying guards in junior Kay Felder, whose ability to both score and distribute the basketball makes him a tough matchup for any opponent the Golden Grizzlies encounter. But the key for Oakland will likely be their ability to defend, as Wright State has four players averaging at least 9.6 points per game led by sophomore guard Mark Alstork (12.2 ppg). The Raiders aren’t a prolific scoring team, but their ability to defend makes it imperative that Oakland get stops at a higher rate than it has thus far.
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FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR
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3. Another key matchup in the Horizon League is Green Bay’s game at rival Milwaukee, with both sporting 5-3 records in league play. The Panthers, who have been the Horizon League’s most efficient offensive team in league play, have five players averaging double figures led by senior forward Matt Tiby (14.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg).

Northern Kentucky defeats Detroit 91-83 behind Murray's 25--CBS Sports
Felder scores 33, Oakland beats Wright State 89-63--CBS Sports
Milwaukee rallies past Green Bay 95-94 on unlikely finish--CBS Sports
Week in Review, 1/22-1/28--Kenpom.com

Highest-scoring game: #144 Green Bay 115, #176 Detroit 108 (OT) [98], Monday. Whatever you want to call Green Bay’s system - RP40 or HyperLinc or Screaming Pronghorns - it lived up to its billing last week. Thanks to a 33-point overtime, this game got crowned as the highest-scoring in the land. But the runner-up with Oakland’s 111-95 win over Green Bay that occurred in regulation. The Phoenix is now 5-3 in the Horizon so they’re not just some joke, people. In fact, in conference play, their defense is ranked better than their offense on a per-possession basis.

Sloppy play has Izzo upset after Michigan State blowout--The Detroit News