News On The Horizon 10/26/2026

MEN'S BASKETBALL TO FACE AUSTIN PEAY IN EXHIBITION CONTEST--iuindyjags.com

UC Bearcats face Oakland University in final basketball tune-up--Cincinnati Enquirer

News On The Horizon 10/25/2026

Juuuust a Bit Outside--HoriZone Roundtable

Let's Have a Season! College Basketball Team Rankings 365-300 for 2026-27 Season--Busting Brackets

334.Northern Illinois Huskies- Last Season Ranking: 317

Conference: Horizon League

Head Coach: Matt Majkrzak (1st season)

Player to know: Uzziah Buntyn

The Huskies definitely needed a change. The Rashon Burno era was one Northern Illinois wanted to forget. Never fear, though, because the Huskies have a new coach in Majkrzak, who had a lot of success at Northern Michigan. The hope is that the program gets turned around; how quickly is another story. The Huskies don't have much this year and will struggle in their first Horizon League go-around.

317. IU Indianapolis Jaguars- Last Season Ranking: 354

Conference: Horizon League

Head Coach: Ben Howlett (2nd season)

Player to know: Gus Etchison

The offense is high-powered (84 PPG), and the defense is nonexistent (88 PPG). That leads to high-scoring games that IU Indy found themselves on the wrong side of in 2025. Coach Howlett teams will get their threes off, and this year the talent upgrade means more of them should go in. If the defense improves, the Jaguars will win quickly.

Five Phoenix Score in Double Figures as Green Bay Downs Illinois State--greenbayphoenix.com

Huskies Top Toledo in Second Exhibition--niuhuskies.com

Men's Basketball Drops to Tennessee State in Exhibition--goldengrizzlies.com

Fort Wayne Coach Jon Coffman Credits Matt Painter For Taking Boilers on the Road--Sports Illustrated

News On The Horizon 10/24/2026

Where each Horizon League Basketball head coach ranks nationally for 2026-27 season--Busting Brackets

Seven Years Wiser, Corcoran Returns Home for Final Chapter--HoriZone Roundtable

Men's Basketball Set For Second Preseason Test On Saturday--detroittitans.com

Huskies Head to Toledo Sunday for Final Exhibition--niuhuskies.com

Oakland to Play Tennessee State in Hoops and Culture Exhibition--goldengrizzlies.com

How to Watch Purdue Basketball's Second Exhibition Game vs. Purdue-Fort Wayne--Sports Illustrated
10,000 see Purdue top PFW in hoops exhibition at Coliseum--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Mastodons Host Boilermakers in Front of Over 10,000 Fans--gomastodons.com

Mastodons Host Taylor for Exhibition--gomastodons.com

Men’s Basketball Visits Akron in Exhibition Game Tuesday Night--ysusports.com

News On The Horizon 10/21/2026

Gottlieb rips Green Bay’s effort after Marquette loss: ‘They think they’ve made it. They have not.’--WFRV Local 5 

Media Day Helps Panthers Set Stage For 2026-27 Season--mkepanthers.com

Meet the NIU women’s basketball newest members--Northern Star

Bear market: Golden Grizzlies maul GVSU Lakers in 103-74 blowout--The Oakland Post

"A perennial power": PFW set to host Purdue for hoops exhibition at Coliseum--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Purdue Fort Wayne Set to Host Boilermakers in Men's Basketball Exhibition--gomastodons.com

YSU looks to return to fast-paced identity--Tribune Chronicle

News On The Horizon 10/20/2026

Phoenix Falls to Marquette, 87-60--greenbayphoenix.com

UWM Panthers rebuild with a chip on the shoulder and some familiar players--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

News On The Horizon 10/19/2026

10 forgotten NCAA Tournament runs that deserve a place in college basketball history--Busting Brackets

4. Cleveland State's unforgettable 1986 Sweet 16

Cleveland State's 1986 NCAA Tournament appearance helped establish the modern reputation of Cinderella teams.

The Vikings entered the tournament as a No. 14 seed under coach Kevin Mackey. Their opening opponent was third-seeded Indiana, led by legendary coach Bob Knight.

Cleveland State stunned the Hoosiers 83-79, becoming the first No. 14 seed to defeat a No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament history.

The Vikings weren't finished.

Cleveland State defeated Saint Joseph's 75-69 in the second round, advancing to the Sweet 16 and capturing national attention.

The team's run finally ended against Navy and future NBA star David Robinson. Cleveland State lost a heartbreaking 71-70 decision after nearly completing another remarkable upset.

The Vikings' aggressive playing style earned the nickname Run 'N Stun, and their tournament performance remains one of the most important achievements in school history.

Forty years later, Cleveland State celebrated the anniversary of that memorable team during the 2025-26 season.

New faces, new results as Huskies win big during debut--Northern Star

Ben Walker Named To Silver Waves Media Most Impactful/Influential List--mkepanthers.com

Naubert Named to Silver Waves Media Top Mid-Major Assistants/Most Impactful Assistant Coaches List--goldengrizzlies.com

Purdue Fort Wayne Set to Host Boilermakers in Men's Basketball Exhibition--gomastodons.com

News On The Horizon 10/18/2026

Way-Too-Early Impressions of Wright State Following Exhibition Win over Bellarmine--HoriZone Roundtable
Get a Glimpse Into the Future--HoriZone Roundtable
Five college basketball coaches whose remarkable journeys to Division I deserve more attention--Busting Brackets

3. Jerrod Calhoun, Cincinnati: A coaching journey that started and ended with the Bearcats

During his Cincinnati introductory press conference, Calhoun explained that accepting the Fairmont State job required taking a substantial pay cut. He wanted the opportunity to lead his own program, even if that meant sacrificing financial security.

The decision helped launch a successful head coaching career that eventually included stops at Youngstown State and Utah State.

When Cincinnati hired him in 2026, Calhoun returned to the same program where he had first learned the coaching profession. His career had taken him through multiple universities, different competitive levels and numerous professional challenges before bringing him back to the Bearcats.

For Cincinnati fans, the homecoming offers an opportunity to reconnect with a coach who understands the program's history and traditions.

5. Matt Majkrzak, Northern Illinois: Facing his former program in his first exhibition

Matt Majkrzak enters the 2026-27 season with an unusual opportunity to begin his Northern Illinois coaching career.

Before accepting the NIU position, Majkrzak spent seven seasons leading Northern Michigan at the Division II level. His success there helped him earn the opportunity to become a Division I head coach.

His first exhibition opponent at Northern Illinois is none other than Northern Michigan.

The Huskies host the Wildcats on October 17, creating a remarkable reunion for Majkrzak and several players who followed him to DeKalb. Northern Illinois confirmed that four members of its roster played at Northern Michigan during the previous season.

The circumstances make the exhibition particularly interesting. Majkrzak will be coaching against the program he helped develop while evaluating players who are familiar with his system and expectations.

The transition also represents an important opportunity for Northern Illinois. The Huskies are attempting to establish a new identity under their first-year head coach, and Majkrzak brings experience building a successful program at a smaller school.

His story might not include the national championships associated with some other coaches on this list, but the opportunity to move from Division II to Division I remains a significant professional achievement.

Different paths, similar opportunities

These five coaches demonstrate that there isn't one established route to becoming a successful Division I head coach.

Majkrzak represents another coach attempting to translate success at a smaller school into a new opportunity.

Their careers also offer an important reminder about college basketball. Some of the most interesting coaching stories develop far from the national television spotlight.

As the 2026-27 season approaches, these five coaches have opportunities to add new chapters to already fascinating careers.

UWGB basketball stars return amid NCAA legal fight--Green Bay Press-Gazette

Huskies Race to Exhibition Victory Over Northern Michigan--niuhuskies.com