On The Horizon

Men

Northern Kentucky 92, IUPUI 77: Drew McDonald had his seventh double-double of the season and Tyler Sharpe scored 16 points to help Northern Kentucky beat IUPUI in the Horizon League opener for both teams.

McDonald finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, making 6 of 9 from the field, including 3-of-4 3-pointers, and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line. Dantez Walton added 12 points and Jalen Tate and Adrian Nelson scored 10 apiece for Northern Kentucky (11-3).

McDonald hit a 3-pointer to spark a 20-4 run that made it 36-20 when Paul Djoko hit two foul shots with 3:41 left in the first half. IUPUI, which missed six consecutive shots and committed four turnovers during that stretch, trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

Jaylen Minnett led IUPUI (8-6) with 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Camron Justice added 12 points, nine below his season average.

NKU scored 26 points off 16 Jaguars turnovers.
...
Women
...
Wright State 78, IUPUI 75: IUPUI (6-6) dropped its fourth-straight game and second-straight overtime game with this loss to Wright State (9-4). Macee Williams led the Jaguars, who had five players score in double figures, with 16 points. This was the first Horizon League matchup for both teams.

JAGS DOWNED IN OVERTIME IN HORIZON LEAGUE OPENER BY WRIGHT STATE--iupuijags.com

UWGB women: Phoenix beats in-state rival to open league play--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Locks Down Milwaukee in Fourth to Seal Victory in League Opener, 76-62--Green Bay Press Gazette

Reit’s Hot Shooting Not Enough Friday--mkepanthers.com

Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball soars past IUPUI in Horizon League opener, 92-77--Cincinnati Enquirer
Don Owen: Given the unique circumstances, NKU’s 11-3 start is nothing short of remarkable--Northern Kentucky Tribune
Northern Kentucky Wins Big in Horizon League Opener--River City News
Norse defeat Jaguars 92-77 to open conference play--The Northerner
@NKUNorseMBB opens Horizon League play with 92-77 win over IUPUI--nkunorse.com

Women’s basketball defeats IUPUI 67-49--The Northerner
@NKUNorseWBB posts league-opening road win over UIC--nkunorse.com

Wright State falls on OT buzzer-beater in Horizon League opener--Dayton Daily News
Flames Edge @WSU_MBB in OT--wsuraiders.com

@WSUWBasketball Opens Horizon League Play With Overtime Win--wsuraiders.com

Ed Puskas: YSU must play better defense--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU men fall to Detroit--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins drop Horizon opener--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
YSU Men’s Basketball Falls Short in Horizon League Opener--The Jambar
Penguins Second-Half Rally Falls Short Against Detroit Mercy, 78-66--ysusports.com

First-Half Burst Leads Penguins to 85-59 Win at Detroit Mercy--ysusports.com

#HLMBB Daily Roundup – December 28--The Horizon League

#HLWBB Roundup - December 28--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

Titans Host Penguins in Horizon League Opener on Friday--detroittitans.com

GAME 14: OAKLAND OPENS HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY AT CLEVELAND STATE--goldengrizzlies.com

GAME 12 & 13: OAKLAND OPENS HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY AGAINST CLEVELAND STATE AND YOUNGSTOWN STATE--goldengrizzlies.com

UIC Opens Horizon League Play on ESPN2--uicflames.com

IUPUI TO OPEN #HLMBB PLAY AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY--iupuijags.com

IUPUI BEGINS CONFERENCE PLAY HOSTING WRIGHT STATE--iupuijags.com

Green Bay Opens Horizon League Play at Rival Milwaukee on Saturday Night--greenbayphoenix.com

Green Bay Visits Rival Milwaukee for League Opener Friday Night--greenbayphoenix.com

MKE Basketball Opens Conference Play Friday Against Green Bay--mkepanthers.com

@NKUNorseWBB kicks off Horizon League slate at UIC--nkunorse.com

Love questionable as Wright State starts Horizon League play--Dayton Daily News

Men's Basketball Hosts Detroit Mercy in Horizon League Opener Friday at 2 p.m.--ysusports.com

YSU basketball teams to begin HL play--Youngstown Vindicator

Women's Basketball Heads to Detroit to Start Conference Play--Youngstown Vindicator

Jim Squire

The Morning Dish – Thursday, December 27, 2018--Hoops HD

Horizon League: There may not be a clear favorite here, but leading the way would appear to be Green Bay, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky and Wright State. Only NKU has a great record, but they have all had some tests aside from the two non-Division I wins each one has.

KenPom: The most likely contenders in all 32 conference races--The Athletic

Horizon: Northern Kentucky, 55 percent; Wright St.*, 37; UIC, 11; IUPUI, 10

NKU is off to a 10-3 start and two of those losses are to potential tournament teams in Cincinnati and UCF. The Norse are in a position to repeat as Horizon regular-season champs.

Women's Basketball Opens #HLWBB Play At Oakland--csuvikings.com

@DetroitMBB Opens Up HL Play At Youngstown State In Friday Matinee--detroittitans.com

Getting back on track--Whoosh! Net

Flames Welcome NKU for #HLWBB Premiere--uicflames.com

Milwaukee Opens Horizon League Play Hosting Green Bay--mkepanthers.com

NKU (10-3) begins Horizon League Friday night by hosting IUPUI (8-5) at BB&T Arena--Northern Kentucky Tribune
#HLMBB action kicks off for @NKUNorseMBB with Friday-night tilt against IUPUI--nkunorse.com

UIC at Wright State: What to know about Friday’s Horizon League opener--Dayton Daily News

#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – December 26--The Horizon League

#HLWBB Weekly Notebook – December 27--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

Conference champion predictions: Picks to win every one of college basketball's 32 conferences--CBS Sports

Horizon League
Gary Parrish     N. Kentucky
Matt Norlander   N. Kentucky
Kyle Boone       N. Kentucky
Jerry Palm       N. Kentucky
Chip Patterson   Wright St.
Drew McDonald's quiet brilliance was rewarded last season when the Norse stole the Horizon from Wright State. Now, his expected excellence leaves them in the hunt once again. He's averaging 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for NKU as it barrels towards a potential second consecutive Horizon crown. It'd be an incredible achievement considering it just joined the league beginning in the 2015-16 season. -- KB

Wright State women’s basketball team gets boost from Miller, Baker--Dayton Daily News

Jim Squire

Who Will Be College Basketball's Breakout Stars in 2019?--Sports Illustrated

Antoine Davis, Detroit

The son of Detroit head coach Mike Davis has started his college career in stunning fashion, averaging 27.4 points through his first 10 games and shooting 44% from three-point range. While the Titans are not an expressly good team, Davis’ early-season performances are begging for your attention, and come in spite of the fact he stands just 6’1”, 170. Perhaps he’s due for regression…but perhaps not.