On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Ranking Every Men’s College Basketball Team, From No. 1 Kansas to No. 362 VMI--Sports Illustrated

134. Wright State (1st in Horizon)
149. Northern Kentucky (2nd in Horizon)

Also worth watching in mid-major land is Wright State (No. 134), which adds former WSU star wing Tanner Holden to a strong returning core after he spent the 2022–23 season at Ohio State.

157. Youngstown State (3rd in Horizon)
164. Milwaukee (4th in Horizon)
172. Cleveland State (5th in Horizon)

And one rising star in the coaching profession to watch is Jerrod Calhoun at Youngstown State (No. 157). He set the program’s Division I wins record a season ago, and another good season could earn him consideration for the vacant West Virginia job.

243. Oakland (6th in Horizon)

292. Robert Morris (7th in Horizon)

Reeling in former top-60 recruit Justice Williams was a major win for Robert Morris (No. 292) after a failed stint at LSU. He should get plenty of opportunities on a team that loses three of its top four scorers from last season.

313. Green Bay (8th in Horizon)
315. Detroit Mercy (9th in Horizon)
325. Fort Wayne (10th in Horizon)

Green Bay (No. 313) hired perhaps the most interesting coach of the cycle in former Wyoming assistant Sundance Wicks. His energy is contagious, though some growing pains taking over a program that is 8–54 in the past two seasons should be expected.

Detroit Mercy (No. 315) seems likely to struggle in the post-Antoine Davis era, which could spell trouble for his father Mike’s job security as the coach.

348. IUPUI (11th in Horizon)

NCAA Basketball: Power Ranking every team (362-1) for 2023-24 season--Busting Brackets

353. Green Bay Phoenix – Last Season Ranking: 348

Conference: Horizon League

Green Bay is going to have to be fully dedicated to the rebuild though to reach their full potential under Wicks. It did not seem like the Athletic Department was fully committed to the last staff and head coach Will Ryan, but in their defense, there was not much to get excited about. Green Bay is likely bad again this year with a new young roster. Clarence Cummings III returns from an offense that scored under 60 points per game last year and was second to last in the country. Coach Wicks kept him around for a reason, so he has the confidence of the coaching staff already.

324. IUPUI Jaguars – Last Season Ranking: 358

Conference: Horizon League

It was hard to watch IUPUI last year and not think they were the worst team in the country. This year IUPUI could be building something as they have almost their entire roster back including their top three players. Bryce Monroe is the player who got hurt 4 games into the season last year. He is the point guard and the emotional leader for the Jaguars and now that he is healthy the Jaguars should be better. Do they have enough to climb out of the Horizon League basement?

305. Fort Wayne Mastodons – Last Season Ranking: 80

Conference: Horizon League

The 2023-2024 season is going to be one with little expectations for Fort Wayne. They have a rebuilt roster and go from being one of the oldest teams in the Horizon League to one of the youngest. It is going to be a struggle this year and they are a bottom tier Horizon team. Rasheed Bello is a transfer from Wisconsin-Parkside where he had a fantastic year. The guard was named the conference player of the year and found himself on the all-defensive team. Bello stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 17 points per game, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.5 steals. Those numbers will be hard to replicate in the Horizon League but if he can come close to that the Mastodons will finish higher in the standings. Bello has the ability to record multiple triple doubles but it may take him a season to become fully acclimated in the Horizon League.

301. Detroit Mercy Titans – Last Season Ranking: 219

Conference: Horizon League

There are just too many questions on the roster. Jayden Stone was fantastic a year ago but in limited games played. He battled an illness and eligibility issues that resulted in Stone only being able to play 13 games. In those 13 games the Australian point guard scored 14 points on very impressive shooting numbers. He shot just under 50% from the floor, over 50% from three, and 87% from the line. He is going to turn into the player who gets the majority of the looks in the offense this year and if he maintains his shooting numbers, the Titans will have another player who leads the league in scoring.

294. Robert Morris Colonials – Last Season Ranking: 299

Conference: Horizon League

The Colonials will be a middle of the pack Horizon League team. They do however have a ceiling of a top tier team in the Horizon league. Markeese Hastings heads to Robert Morris after 4 seasons with Western Michigan. The big man earned a reputation as an elite rebounder and is going to be one of the better shot blockers in the Horizon League. The Colonials play slow and force teams inside where they love to get blocked shots and lock down the paint. Those things are a specialty for Hastings, and he is going to clean up the rebound. The big man’s offensive game has gotten a lot better over his time in college and he is a legitimate double double threat.

264. Oakland Golden Grizzlies – Last Season Ranking: 225

Conference: Horizon League

Trey Townsend was a one man wrecking crew in the paint for Oakland a season ago. He shot well over 50% from the floor and had multiple 20 point games. The big man is also a fantastic rebounder and was able to haul in a shade under 3 offensive rebounds per game last year and in addition to that he averaged 1 block per game. Townsend cannot do it himself and Kampe knows that which is why he went out to get defensive reinforcements. The big man looks like the next in a long line of Oakland players to be honored with all-conference honors.

224. Milwaukee Panthers – Last Season Ranking: 328

Conference: Horizon League

=4 out of 5 starters return for Lundy this season but none are more important than BJ Freeman. Freeman is a bucket, and he can score from anywhere on the floor and when the guard has the ball good things happen for Milwaukee. The Panthers look like a tournament team this year. I can guarantee that no power five coach is going to want to see Milwaukee on their schedule this year.

196. Northern Kentucky Norse – Last Season Ranking: 157

Conference: Horizon League

The Norse are one of the best defensive teams in the country they slow teams way down on defense and Marques Warrick has already had a decorated career at Northern Kentucky. He was a freshman all American, and the Horizon league freshman of the year two seasons ago. Last season, Warrick led Northern Kentucky in scoring with just over 18 per game and he shot 38% from deep. The guard got fouled a ton and made 81% of his foul shots. That led to him being named to the All conference team. The guard picked up his play in the Horizon League tournament and earned tournament MVP. Warrick is an all time great for Northern Kentucky and if he can lead them to another NCAA tournament this year and win a game, he should have his name in the rafters forever.

181. Cleveland State Vikings – Last Season Ranking: 275

Conference: Horizon League

The Vikings are going to be a team who is going to compete for another postseason bid out of the Horizon League. The Vikings hope it is the NCAA tournament. Tristan Enaruna is a former top 100 player who is now in his second season for the Vikings. The former Kansas and Iowa State player had a great year in the Horizon League. He was a first team all conference selection who led Cleveland State in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. Enaruna has played in the NCAA tournament at his two previous stops and when watching Cleveland State, you can see how much the rest of the team looks to him to lead. He knows what it takes to get to the tournament, and he leads by example.

157. Youngstown State Penguins – Last Season Ranking: 213

Conference: Horizon League

While Youngstown State may not put up 81 points per game again, they are still one of the favorites in the Horizon League. Brandon Rush was a huge part of the team a year ago. He was a starter who scored 14 points per game and shot 60% from inside the three point arc. Rush took the most three point attempts on the team and shot 38% from deep. I think he can be better from deep. Rush is going to get every opportunity to lead this offense again and won’t disappoint.

134. Wright State Raiders – Last Season Ranking: 194

Conference: Horizon League

The 2023-2024 season is going to be another one for the Raiders that sees them compete at the top of the league, light up scoreboards, and have numerous members on the all-conference team. Tanner Holden is back where he belongs ready to dominate the league again. The last view we all got of the Raiders superstar was when he scored 30 points in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. It was one of the better performances the tournament has seen in a long time. Holden is a natural scorer, and it is going to be like he never left coach Nagy.

Preseason Other Top 25: Final Four participants lead the pack to start--Mid-Major Madness

Preseason Other Top 25

Others Receiving Votes:
James Madison – 15; Princeton – 15; UNC Asheville – 14; Youngstown St. – 14; Vermont – 13; Santa Clara – 12; Belmont – 11; North Texas – 10; UNLV – 10; Utah St. – 9; Bradley – 9; Northern Kentucky – 8; Ohio – 8; San Francisco – 7; Southern Miss – 7; Eastern Kentucky – 6; South Dakota St. – 6; Colgate – 5; Wright St. – 5

NCAA Basketball: Rauf Report gives bold predictions for all 32 conferences--Heat Check CBB

Horizon

YOUNGSTOWN STATE WINS THE LEAGUE AGAIN

The Penguins surprised many last season by winning their first-ever league title behind an elite offense and dynamic perimeter play. They’re projected to take a step back, but this coaching staff has proven itself. Moreover, the incoming transfers fit head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s playstyle incredibly well. The formula is in place for Youngstown to emerge as the team to beat in the Horizon again.

Cleveland State Men’s Basketball Cruises to Exhibition Victory Over Baldwin Wallace--csuvikings.com

What’s UConn’s ceiling this season? Answering women’s college basketball preseason questions--The Athletic

9. What mid-major teams will make the most noise this season?
More mid-major programs are making noise every season. Princeton, FGCU and Gonzaga are always in the conversation. South Dakota State, Cleveland State, Middle Tennessee and UNLV have deservedly been in the mix. I also liked what I saw last season in Columbia, Toledo and Drake.

Cleveland State Women's Basketball Earns Exhibition Win Against Malone--csuvikings.com
Kielsmeier Named To Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach Of The Year Watch List--csuvikings.com

Titans Finish Preseason With DPS Benefit Game, Raising Over $4,000--detroittitans.com

Detroit Mercy Welcomes Lake Erie College for Field Trip Day Exhibition Game--detroittitans.com

The good, the bad, and the ugly from Green Bay’s exhibition win over St. Norbert--Phear The Phoenix

'I think we've got a very competitive squad': Breaking down the 2023-24 UWGB women's basketball roster--Green Bay Press-Gazette
Green Bay Picked Sixth in College Insider Preseason Poll--greenbayphoenix.com

What to know about UW-Milwaukee men's basketball and players to watch in 2023-24--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
After a terrific first year, the pressure is on for coach Bart Lundy, UWM Panthers--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

What to know and five players to watch for the UW-Milwaukee women's basketball season--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
No youth movement here: UWM women returning plenty of talent, coach Kyle Rechlicz says--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Successful exhibition match for the Horizon League champions--The Northerner

New-look NKU women’s basketball will sport new offense, new coaches and mostly new roster--NKy Tribune

"This is going to be a really special place to play college basketball": Purdue Fort Wayne women embrace expectations--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Purdue Fort Wayne Women's Basketball Announces Foreign Tour to Italy--gomastodons.com

RMU’s greatest advantage isn’t a player, it’s head coach Andy Toole--Chronicling The Colonials

Robert Morris men picked 7th, women last in Horizon League preseason basketball polls--Trib Live