Wednesday, November 2, 2022

News On The Horizon 11/2/2022

Ranking Every Team in Men’s College Basketball, From UNC (No. 1) to Hartford (No. 363)--Sports Illustrated

155. Youngstown State (1st in Horizon)

162. Fort Wayne (2nd in Horizon)

173. Oakland (3rd in Horizon)

Youngstown State (No. 155) has never made the NCAA tournament, but that could change if its defense improves from last season. The Penguins are our pick in a crowded Horizon League.

At Oakland (No. 173), the backcourt duo of high-assist PG Jalen Moore and volume scorer Rocket Watts (who has had stops at Michigan State and Mississippi State) should be incredibly fun to watch.

178. Wright State (4th in Horizon)

183. Northern Kentucky (5th in Horizon)

249. Detroit Mercy (6th in Horizon)

263. Milwaukee (7th in Horizon)

273. Cleveland State (8th in Horizon)

Milwaukee (No. 263) made a savvy hire in Bart Lundy from D-II power Queens, where he won more than 78% of games in his tenure. A transfer-heavy roster could surprise in the Horizon League if the pieces can jell together.

307. Robert Morris (9th in Horizon)

336. Green Bay (10th in Horizon)

345. IUPUI (11th in Horizon)

After earning the dubious distinction of being KenPom’s worst-ranked team in 2021–22, IUPUI (No. 345) should show slight improvement thanks to 10 new scholarship players, including San Diego transfer PG Bryce Monroe.

11/7/2022 OPENING NIGHT MATCHUP NEWS AND NOTES--Staring At The Floorboards

KENT STATE @ NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Kent State was scored only .8 PPP in their zone offense last year, the second worst rate in the MAC and accordingly they saw the most zone in the league (essentially a three way tie atop the league in terms of zone offense rate per Synergy). That’s problematic against the uniquely morphing, extended NKU zone. The Norse zoned at the 5th highest rate nationally with a top 10 defensive efficiency among teams with over 300 zone possessions per Synergy. Both teams are reliant on their offensive glass work, but both are looking to replace key members of their frontcourt (although Senderoff always has high level athletes ready to plug into the frontcourt, and the Norse naturally struggle on the D glass out of their zone). Of concern for the Norse in this matchup? PG play. Sincere Carry is as good as it gets on the ball in the midmajor ranks, and while NKU has immense talent in the backcourt between Sam Vinson and Ques Warrick, they’re reliant on Xavier Rhodes making a substantial JUCO jump to be a true ballhandler, and he draws the MAC’s best perimeter in Malique Jacobs (2nd highest projected DBPR per EvanMiya).

YOUNGSTOWN ST @ CANISIUS

YSU absolutely smothered the Griffs in their meeting last season, holding Canisius to a ridiculous .61 PPP, the worst mark of the entire Reggie Witherspoon era (and the worst offensive game for the Griffs since 2007). The crazy thing is YSU didn’t even defend ball screens all that well last year, which is key against the Godfather of the Continuity Offense, but they held the Griffs to .74 PPP out of ball screens per ShotQuality. To make matters worse for the Griffs, Malek Green scored 19 of Canisius’ 43 points in that game, but now suits up for the Penguins. Not all hope is lost for the Griffs I guess, as Tahj Staveskie has reportedly been a dynamo on the ball this summer and is expected to revamp the offense, and point-center Jacco Fritz didn’t play in the meeting last season. Fritz has the 5th highest projected OBPR in the MAAC per EvanMiya, and was 7th in that rating last year (he is however a void defensively). YSU dominated the rim in their blowout win last year, and there’s little reason to think they can’t do that again this time around.

Starting 5: Biggest concern for Division I Indiana college basketball teams for 2022-23--Indy Star

IUPUI

Continuity. With only three returning players and only one (Boston Stanton III) who played last season, how can IUPUI bring together so many new players from several different places and programs to play winning basketball? I’d imagine it will be tough at first, but as the season progresses, players will play their way in or out of the rotation, and second-year coach Matt Crenshaw can continue to install and expand his system. — Akeem Glaspie, IndyStar

Purdue Fort Wayne

How will the Mastodons handle being chased? Purdue Fort Wayne was picked as co-favorites in the Horizon League heading into the season, coming off a campaign in which they tied for the top spot in the regular-season standings. The team lost just one player to graduation (Jalon Pipkins), so all signs point to another successful season. But the Mastodons figure to get everyone’s best shot on a nightly basis. — Matthew VanTryon, IndyStar



TIPOFF: NCAA records within reach for Detroit Mercy's Davis--Associated Press

'I believe': Achter embraces daunting task of reviving UDM women's hoops--Detroit News
Detroit Mercy Preps for 2022-23 Season with Exhibition Game against Davenport--detroittitans.com



Men's Basketball to Face Michigan Tech, Wrap Up Preseason Action--greenbayphoenix.com

Green Bay Set to Conclude Preseason Action With Michigan Tech--greenbayphoenix.com



Freshman point guard Kamy Peppler already turning heads for UWM women--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
UW-Milwaukee women's basketball 2022-23 season at a glance--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Host Wisconsin to Open 2022-23 Campaign--mkepanthers.com



Veteran squad aims to return to NCAA Tournament: 2022-23 NKU Norse basketball preview--Cincinnati Enquirer
Men’s Basketball selected 19th in opening CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll--nkunorse.com



Oakland men ready to run again in bid to end NCAA Tournament drought--Detroit News
Late Rally Holds off Rochester in Exhibition Bout--goldengrizzlies.com

Oakland women's coach back on job, eager to see what new faces bring--Detroit News



Men’s Basketball Earns No. 17 Spot in CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25--gomastodons.com



Kahliel Spear ready to take next step for Robert Morris basketball--Trib Live



Archdeacon: Wright State newcomer hopes to make an impact--Dayton Daily News

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