On The Horizon

Jim Squire

#HLMBB Semifinals – Golden Grizzlies, Panthers advance--HoriZone Roundtable
3/11/24 MONDAY NEWS AND NOTES (FREE)--Staring at the Floorboards

The Horizon scene shifts to Indianapolis, where I should have personally gone to investigate whether or not Tristan Enaruna has been practicing for Cleveland State. His status vs Oakland is still to be determined, but the Vikings steamrolled YSU without him, and their regular season win in a series split with Oakland game with Enaruna posting his worst game of the year from an efficiency standpoint. CSU thrives on isolating their wing size on the offensive end, which naturally makes them a pretty poor zone offense (9th percentile in zone offense efficiency at a 91st percentile rate in the zone happy HL), and they score at just .85 PPP in over 100 zone offense possessions against Oakland this year. CSU won the first meeting against Oakland in the opening game of HL play by hitting an atypical 12-24 from 3 over Kampe’s zone with Enaruna not producing much offensively. The return game in Oakland saw the Vikings get blown out with Enaruna dominating the offense. His absence against YSU meant more minutes for Chase Robinson, who promptly knocked in 4 triples and forced the Penguins out of their own zone. Blasphemous to perhaps suggest CSU is better off without him in this particular matchup, but there is certainly some small sample evidence to give it a little backbone. Oakland is a very iso and post heavy offense, two areas CSU’s defense has struggled (although their pressure denies the post well), and the Grizzlies weren’t particularly affected by CSU offensive glass crashing (in fact Oakland out rebounded them on the O glass in both meetings) or their ball pressure.

Milwaukee scored at .93 PPP in over 100 zone offense possessions against Northern Kentucky this year in a season split, but Milwaukee cranked up their own zone pressure in their rematch at home after getting blown out in the first meeting at NKU (the Horizon is a league of extreme defenses). Two elite ball screen creators in BJ Freeman and Marques Warrick, and both have been two of the best offensive players in the entire country over the past month. Both defensive schemes however deny ball screens at the almost identical rates, but NKU’s infamous zone is the far better defensive unit overall in this matchup, especially with Itejere back from a wrist injury to battle against Fields and shore up the back end of the zone. The Norse have been here and done this before, and I trust Warrick vs pressure more than I do Milwaukee vs zone.

Championship Week Video Notebook: Day 9--Hoops HD

Five more automatic bids were given out tonight as Saint Mary’s beat their rivals Gonzaga in a thrilling WCC championship game, Oakland is back in the NCAAs after winning the Horizon League

Vikings stun Penguins, set for semifinal battle with Oakland--HoriZone Roundtable
No Tristan Enaruna? How did Cleveland State win its most important game of the year?--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State vs. Oakland men’s basketball: Vikings give top seed all it can handle, fall in Horizon semifinals--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Men’s Basketball Falls to Oakland in #HLMBB Semifinals--csuvikings.com

Vikings batter Wright State, advance to #HLWBB championship game--HoriZone Roundtable
The other side of the stands--HoriZone Roundtable
Cleveland State vs. Wright State women’s basketball: Top-seeded Vikings start fast, cruise into Horizon League championship game--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State women’s basketball offense left in shambles in Horizon League championship loss--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State women’s basketball: 2023-24 Horizon League champions--The Cauldron
Cleveland State women routed by Green Bay in Horizon League final--News-Herald
Cleveland State Women’s Basketball Notches 83-50 Victory Over Wright State In #HLWBB Semifinals--csuvikings.com
Cleveland State Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short In #HLWBB Championship Game--csuvikings.com
Perdue & Maples Named To #HLWBB All-Tournament Team--csuvikings.com

‘We did our job’: Detroit Mercy women’s coach Kate Achter staying through 2028-29--The Detroit News
Titans Announce Contract Extension for Head Women's Basketball Coach Kate Achter--detroittitans.com

Phoenix punch ticket to NCAA Tournament--HoriZone Roundtable
Women’s basketball Bracket Watch: Portland’s upset of Gonzaga opens and closes doors--The Athletic

How Green Bay clinched

Speaking of the bubble sandwich, the Horizon League gave bubble hopefuls some breathing room. As I wrote yesterday, the Phoenix weren’t as likely to be an at-large selection after recently losing to UW Milwaukee, but Green Bay had a resume worthy of garnering looks for the play-in or an outright No. 11 seed.

After eviscerating Cleveland State from start to finish Tuesday afternoon, the Phoenix took any sort of decision-making out of the committee’s hands while also playing one of their most complete games of the season.

One shining moment. ✨#RiseWithUs | #OurMoment pic.twitter.com/QMGVhXzJIX
— Green Bay Women’s Basketball (@gbphoenixwbb) March 12, 2024

Natalie McNeal set a career high with 32 points, all 2-pointers, comfortably pulling up from the midrange at will throughout the game.

Green Bay finished 15th nationally in adjusted defensive rating, per CBB Analytics, and it showed. The Phoenix generally play slower, but they play with intention. They finished first in Division I with a 1.74 assist-to-turnover ratio, taking great care of every possession.

They have a lot of players who can shoot the 3 and space the floor, but the paint is where they thrive, highly efficient and effective inside the arc. They’re balanced, they play with depth, playing nine players 10 or more minutes per game, and they’re experienced with juniors as their top six scorers. With wins over Creighton in Omaha and against Washington State before Charlisse Leger-Walker’s injury, this is a team to know before Selection Sunday

'There is a lot of pressure on us always': Veteran UWGB women's team shooting for first NCAA appearance since 2018--Green Bay Press-Gazette
UWGB women's basketball is one win away from an NCAA Tournament bid. Next up: A showdown with Cleveland State--Green Bay Press-Gazette
UWGB women's basketball is back in March Madness for the first time since 2018 after winning Horizon League Tournament championship--Green Bay Press-Gazette
Genke Ignites Phoenix to #HLWBB Championship Game--greenbayphoenix.com
HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! Phoenix Downs Cleveland State in Championship Game--greenbayphoenix.com

DAILY DIRT – 3/13/24--HoopDirt

IUPUI (which will become Indiana University Indianapolis on July 1st) started “intro” Zooms this week. Not sure on the exact amount of early calls, but sounds like a sizable number. Multiple sources are saying to keep an eye on D2 University of Indianapolis head coach Paul Corsaro. The Indianapolis native has gone 78-36 (.684) in his four seasons at UIndy. Should have some more solid names once we hit round 2. This search is being run by SP Athletics and former Horizon League Commish Jon LeCrone.