On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Whac-A-Mole Scheduling--HoriZone Roundtable
Horizon League Power Rankings – Week 2--HoriZone Roundtable
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 5th--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-UIC AT BALL STATE. A win for UIC gets them to 4-0 as well as gives them their second road win.

-NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT CHATTANOOGA. Both teams 2-0

Vikings Fall to Bobcats on Sunday Afternoon--csuvikings.prestosports.com

12/4 Big Ten Recap: Wisconsin Falls In Thriller--BT Powerhouse

The Rest:
-No. 8 Michigan State Spartans 83, Detroit Mercy Titans 76

This ended up being much closer than many thought heading in, but Michigan State was eventually able to do enough to walk away with a win. Rocket Watts again led the way with 23 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Gabe Brown also had a nice night with 16 points. In particular, Michigan State’s defense struggled throughout, giving up 1.00 points per possession to what projects to be an underwhelming Detroit squad. Michigan State will now prepare for a matchup against Western Michigan at home on Sunday.

Hubb scores 18 as Notre Dame holds off Detroit Mercy 78-70--Associated Press
Detroit Mercy Basketball: Takeaways from close loss to Michigan State--Busting Brackets
Postgame Notes & Quotes: After the win over Detroit Mercy, Tom Izzo says: “We have a lot of work and a long way to go”--The Only Colors

Defending Antione [sic] Davis

On of the main reasons Detroit Mercy was able to pose such as challenge to the Spartans was due to the outstanding play of guard Antione Davis, son of head coach Mike Davis. Davis led all scorers with 24 points and made several tough and contested shots down the stretch which kept the pressure on the Spartans until the final minute.

MSU’s coaches and players were asked about the play of Davis, and they were also clearly impressed. Coach Izzo said that he was, “a hell of a player.” Foster Loyer said, “he can score with the best of them and he’s going to be a nightmare for the other teams that he is playing.” Gabe Brown agreed. “He is a very great player. He is going to make great things happen in the future. I am blessed enough that I got to play against him, because later on he’s going to shock the world.”

But, perhaps the highest praise came from Aaron Henry who said, “He’s a competitor. You can’t teach those types of things...He’s that guy that wants that last shot and that wants that big matchup...That is somebody that I want to go to war with if I was on the team with him.”

Kuol Nets Career High As Titans Fall At Notre Dame--detroittitans.com

Another Career-High for Webb, Scoring 29 in Comeback Attempt at Toledo--detroittitans.com

UWGB men lose double OT heartbreaker at the buzzer--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Comes Up Short in Double Overtime Thriller--greenbayphoenix.com

UWGB women go winless in weekend series against North Dakota State--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Makes Comeback Before Falling at NDSU in First Game of Weekend Doubleheader--greenbayphoenix.com
Phoenix Falls [sic] in Nonconference Finale at North Dakota State--greenbayphoenix.com

HOOPS ROOTS RUN DEEP IN DePERSIA FAMILY--iupuijags.com

12/7 Women's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Horizon Macee Williams C IUPUI

Notre Dame Earns Comeback Victory Over IUPUI--Sports Illustrated
JAGS FALL JUST SHORT IN LOSS AT NOTRE DAME--iupuijags.com

MKE Drops Heartbreaker at Bowling Green--mkepanthers.com

Turnovers doom NKU during 79-72 loss at unbeaten Chattanooga; Mocs use 13-0 run in second half--Northern Kentucky Tribune
Turnovers loom large as @NKUNorseMBB drops 79-72 decision at Chattanooga--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseMBB adds road nonconference matchup versus Dayton on Dec. 8--nkunorse.com

NKU Men to Play at Dayton; Women Fall to #19 Ohio State--River City News

No. 19 Ohio State women place five in double figures, cruise to 96-63 win over NKU on Sunday afternoon--Northern Kentucky Tribune
@NKUNorseWBB battled No. 19 Buckeyes early, but falls 96-63--nkunorse.com

OKLAHOMA STATE PULLS AWAY LATE TO TOP GOLDEN GRIZZLIES--goldengrizzlies.com

Riley Ott Scores 20 Points in Loss at Evansville--gomastodons.com

Robert Morris women’s basketball looks ahead to new season opener--Trib Live
Colonial notebook: What to watch for as the season tips off--Chronicling The Colonials
PREVIEW: RMU to open 2020-21 campaign against Point Park--Colonial Sports Network
Men’s basketball wins season opener vs. Point Park 75-57--Colonial Sports Network
RMU Triumphant In 2020-21 Season Opener--rmucolonials.com

Preview: Women’s basketball to host Norfolk State in season opener--Colonial Sports Network
RMU Season Opener Against Norfolk State Canceled--rmucolonials.com

UIC’s Bid for 4-0 Falls Just Short at Ball State, 68-66--uicflames.com

Flames Announce Game Times for Horizon League Play--uicflames.com

Flames Come up Short in Non-Conference Finale--uicflames.com
Jaida McCloud Named #HLWBB Freshman of the Week--uicflames.com

Raiders bounce back, thrash Miami (OH)--HoriZone Roundtable
Big second half leads Wright State past Miami--Dayton Daily News
‘Locked in’ Wright State bounces back with big win--Dayton Daily News
Four finish in double digits as Raiders notch first win--wsuraiders.com

Basketball Coaches Show Returns Next Week for 20-21--wsuraiders.com

Wright State falls to Michigan Sunday afternoon--wsuraiders.com

YSU men to host first game Wednesday--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Men's Basketball to Open 2020-21 Season Against Bluefield Wednesday Night--ysu.prestosports.com
Limited Basketball Single Game Tickets are on Sale Now--ysu.prestosports.com

Nike #HLMBB Players of the Week (December 7)--The Horizon League

Nike #HLWBB Players of the Week (December 7)--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

Vikings Head to Ohio U on Sunday for Matinee Match Against the Bobcats--csuvikings.prestosports.com

12/4 Big Ten Preview: Wisconsin Faces Marquette--BT Powerhouse

The Rest:
-Detroit Titans at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans

Time/TV: 5:00 PM ET (BTN)
KenPom Spread: Michigan State by 23

After beating Duke on the road on Tuesday, Spartan fans probably couldn’t be riding any higher going into a matchup with Detroit on Friday. Michigan State is playing great basketball and looks like it could be in position to contend for another Big Ten title.

As to the game on Friday, there isn’t a ton to be intrigued about here. Michigan State is a significant favorite and should walk away with a victory. Perhaps the lone question here is how Detroit performs. The Titans will open their season in East Lansing, so nobody’s quite sure what to expect. Not a fun spot for Tom Izzo to be in.

Pick: Detroit

No. 8 Michigan St survives scare, beats Detroit Mercy 83-76--Associated Press
Postgame Notes & Quotes: After the win over Detroit Mercy, Tom Izzo says: “We have a lot of work and a long way to go”--The Only Colors
How Rocket Watts helped Michigan State basketball avoid 'trap game' loss to Detroit Mercy--Detroit Free Press
Michigan State basketball survives Detroit Mercy, 83-76, with second-half surge--Detroit Free Press
'Best ever' performance from Rocket Watts helps Michigan State rally past Detroit Mercy--Detroit News
Titans Upset Bid Comes Up Just Short at #8 Michigan State, 83-76--detroittitans.com
Detroit Mercy Visits Notre Dame On Sunday--detroittitans.com

Titans Close Out Non-League Slate Saturday at Toledo--detroittitans.com

Green Bay Heads to North Dakota State for Games Saturday, Sunday--greenbayphoenix.com

JAGS TRAVEL TO NOTRE DAME FOR MATCHUP ON SUNDAY--iupuijags.com

Horizon League Breakout Candidate: C.J. Wilbourn--HoriZone Roundtable
Schedule Changes Announced For Milwaukee Men’s Basketball--mkepanthers.com

MKE Closes Out Non-Conference Schedule at BGSU--mkepanthers.com

Balanced effort leads Northern Kentucky victory--Cincinnati Enquirer
Rescheduled matchup at Chattanooga next up for @NKUNorseMBB--nkunorse.com
19th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes next up for @NKUNorseWBB--nkunorse.com

GAME 6: OAKLAND TAKES ON OKLAHOMA STATE IN SIXTH-STRAIGHT ROAD GAME--goldengrizzlies.com

Mastodons Meet Purple Aces in Evansville on Saturday--gomastodons.com

RMU to take on Point Park University Saturday in rescheduled game--Colonial Sports Network
RMU-Norfolk State Postponed to Sunday--rmucolonials.com

Flames Look to Continue Hot Start at Ball State--uicflames.com
UIC, Loyola Extend Longstanding Rivalry with New Four-Year Series--uicflames.com

Archdeacon: Longtime athletic trainer is Raiders’ go-to man during pandemic’s full-court press--Dayton Daily News
Raiders back in action on Saturday afternoon against Miami (OH)--wsuraiders.com

Raiders face first road contest of 2020-21 season--wsuraiders.com

Horizon League Reveals #FRIDAYisHLMBB Television Schedule--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

Kentucky reschedules matchup with Detroit--A Sea Of Blue
Detroit Mercy basketball's game at Kentucky rescheduled for Dec. 15--Detroit Free Press
Michigan State basketball vs. Detroit Mercy: Scouting report, prediction--Detroit Free Press
'Get the check and get the win': Detroit finally has another crack at MSU after '90s dominance--Detroit News
Detroit Mercy-Kentucky back on for Dec. 15; Titans also eyeing Notre Dame this weekend--Detroit News
Third Time's The Charm As Titans Reschedule Game With Kentucky To Dec. 15--detroittitans.com
Titans Add Game At Notre Dame On Sunday--detroittitans.com

Women's Basketball Inks Taylor Blunt to National Letter of Intent--detroittitans.com

E. Illinois goes up against Green Bay--Associated Press
Green Bay Welcomes Eastern Illinois for Home Opener Saturday--greenbayphoenix.com

MINNETT LOOKING TO IMPROVE AS A LEADER HEADING INTO SENIOR SEASON--iupuijags.com

Langdon lifts Northern Kentucky over Tennessee Tech 74-65--Associated Press
Faulkner stuffs stat sheet, drains clutch 3-pointer as NKU posts 74-65 win over Tennessee Tech--Northern Kentucky Tribune
@NKUNorseMBB showdown at Chattanooga rescheduled for Dec. 5--nkunorse.com
@NKUNorseMBB remains unbeaten, defeats Tennessee Tech, 74-65--nkunorse.com

Juniors lead the way as NKU MBB defeats Tennessee Tech to improve to 2-0 on the season; WBB falls to 0-3--The Northerner

From Buzzer Beaten to Gone: The Story of the 2018-2019 Golden Grizzlies--HoriZone Roundtable

RMU To Host Point Park Saturday at UPMC Events Center--rmucolonials.com
Colonials Welcome Point Park For 2020-21 Opener--rmucolonials.com

@UIC_WBB Travels to Western Michigan for Non-Conference Finale--uicflames.com

Kinsey scores 31 to carry Marshall past Wright St. 80-64--Associated Press
Wright State drops season opener to Marshall, 80-64--HoriZone Roundtable
Under The Radar Game of the Day: Thursday, December 3rd--Hoops HD
Wright State basketball: Raiders fall at home in season opener--Dayton Daily News
Wright State basketball: 5 takeaways from season-opening loss to Marshall--Dayton Daily News
Miami at Wright State: What to know about Saturday’s game--Dayton Daily News
Hot start not enough for Wright State on Thursday night--wsuraiders.com

Jim Squire

Heart, Determination, Defense Was The Titan Way In Little Brother Upsets--detroittitans.com

Starks Scores Game-High 18 in Road Setback at Michigan State--detroittitans.com

WILLIAMS LOOKING TO BUILD ON HISTORIC CAREER--iupuijags.com

A Marquette Women’s Basketball Recap/Preview Combo--Anonymous Eagle
UWM women 64, Marquette 55: Panthers improve to 3-0 with victory over Golden Eagles--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Knock off Marquette to Remain Undefeated--mkepanthers.com

NKU men play host to Tennessee Tech on Thursday night; Norse women meet Bowling Green at noon--Northern Kentucky Tribune

@NKUNorseWBB falls to Bowling Green State University in season home-opener, 49-63--nkunorse.com

OAKLAND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST CHICAGO STATE HAS BEEN CANCELED--goldengrizzlies.com

PFW men's basketball pauses activities--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
PFW men's hoops on hold--Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Purdue Fort Wayne Pauses Men's Basketball Activities--gomastodons.com

Colonials Clash with Spartans to Begin 2020-21 Campaign--rmucolonials.com

Sources: Loyola Chicago, UIC Set to Play Dec. 13--Off The Inbound

Women’s Basketball Schedule Update--uicflames.com

Horizon League Breakout Candidate: Grant Basile--HoriZone Roundtable
Wright State vs. Marshall: What you need to know about today’s game--Dayton Daily News
Wright State basketball: ‘Bizarre’ preseason behind them, Raiders set to finally open campaign--Dayton Daily News

Wright State women fall short in opener after late comeback--Dayton Daily News
Raiders fall in season opener--wsuraiders.com

#HLMBB Weekly Notebook – December 3--The Horizon League

Jim Squire

1 game from every mid-major conference that could determine the race--Mid-Major Madness

Horizon League

Jan. 29-30: Robert Morris at Wright State

A big gut-check game for one of the newest members of the Horizon League in the Robert Morris Colonials. Going up against the top team in the conference isn’t easy for anyone, but going there and playing two games on consecutive days is even worse. The Wright State Raiders don’t back down to anyone in the conference, and they definitely won’t back down to the newest team in the conference coming on their home court. Robert Morris comes to the Horizon League off a good final season in the NEC, racking up a 13-5 record in conference, although in a noticeably weaker conference. They’ll have to rely on Horizon League preseason second team guard A.J. Brahma if they want to pass their first true test in the new conference.

Hoops HD Merit Rankings (and Bracket Projections) – Nov 30th--Hoops HD

Before you read any further, understand what it is that you are looking at. This is simply a measurement of CURRENT MERIT. Nothing more. I am making no attempt whatsoever to rank teams based on how good I actually believe them to be, and I’m certainly not trying to make any predictions of what the NCAA Tournament will look like in March. If that is what you’re looking for, then look elsewhere.

I am asking myself one question. How difficult is it to win the games that teams have won? I am not asking myself at all how good I think any teams are at the moment. Do I believe that Montana State is better than Duke? Of course not. Do I think winning at UNLV is more difficult than beating Coppin State home? Yes. That’s why when looking at current merit, Montana State is ahead.

I do it this way because that I feel that as an exercise, it gets me in the habit of objectively looking at teams and not ranking teams based on assumption. I also do it this way because…well…this is simply how I like to do it…

So, here is how it looks. It is admittedly ridiculous. It also only reflects games played prior to today. When I do this next week after the number of games that have been played have doubled, it will look a lot different.
36. UIC – 2-0, road win @ Northern Illinois, buy game win
131. Northern Kentucky – 1-0, buy game win

Horizon League Women’s Basketball Power Rankings – Week 1--HoriZone Roundtable