News On The Horizon 11/2/2021

United States of College Basketball 2021-22: Where every team ranks in each state, from top to bottom--CBS Sports

Illinois

10. UIC

Indiana

9. Purdue Fort Wayne

10. IUPUI

Kentucky

7. Northern Kentucky

Michigan

4. Detroit
5. Oakland 

State of the state: There's another star in the state: Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis, if he wants, could lead the nation in scoring and wind up close to 3,000 career points.

Ohio

5. Wright State

10. Cleveland State

13. Youngstown State

State of the state: Wright State could become the top team in the Horizon League.

Pennsylvania

13. Robert Morris

Wisconsin

3. Milwaukee

4. Green Bay

State of the state: Milwaukee will have a shooter's chance at winning the Horizon League because Patrick Baldwin Jr. -- a potential 2022 lottery pick -- decided to pass on Duke and instead is playing for his father. There's a realistic scenario in which the Badger State doesn't send any teams dancing this season.

Does the slipper fit? Tony Paul previews state's mid-major hoops, men and women--Detroit News

Plowcha’s Poll: Horizon League Women’s Basketball teams 7-9--Colonial Sports Network

Cleveland State Women’s Basketball To Host Ursuline In Exhibition Contest--csuvikings.prestosports.com

The waiting game is over at UDM: 'We're more talented than we've ever been'--Detroit News

Panthers defeat MSOE, Baldwin Shines in Limited Action--UWM Post

@NKUNorseWBB tops Pikeville in exhibition, 73-48--nkunorse.com

News On The Horizon 11/1/2021

Morrison’s Rankings: Horizon League middle of the pack--Colonial Sports Network

College basketball coaches to watch in 2021-22: Warming seats, mid-majors moving up, assistants on the cusp--The Athletic

Mid-majors primed to move

John Becker, Vermont. Catamounts faithful might not want to hear it, but at 53 years old, and after winning 82 percent of his games in the America East over 10 seasons, Becker will want to test himself at a higher level.

John Gallagher, Hartford. The 44-year-old built the Hawks into an NCAA Tournament outfit, and school officials responded by announcing plans to drop to Division III. There are no guarantees in any carousel, but it’s not hard to do the calculations in this situation.

Dennis Gates, Cleveland State. He was a hot commodity on coach-search Zooms last offseason. Success is tenuous at places like Cleveland State, but that’s also why the 41-year-old Chicago native won’t be there long if he keeps this up.

Dennis Gates was mentioned for a lot of coaching jobs in the offseason and will remain sought after if he keeps Cleveland State on the winning track. (Jordan Prather / USA Today)

Green Bay will look to prove preseason predictions wrong--Phear The Phoenix

NKU basketball: What to watch for in 2021-22 season--Cincinnati Enquirer

Wright State basketball: Finke finding success with physical style--Dayton Daily News

News On The Horizon 10/31/2021

Horizon League Media Day Recap and Response--Hoops HD

Cleveland State Men’s Basketball Earns 100-56 Victory Over CWRU In Exhibition Contest--csuvikings.prestosports.com

UWM 69, MSOE 63: Panthers have a long way to go, but Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the real deal--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Open 2021-22 Campaign With Exhibition Victory--mkepanthers.com

Archdeacon: Wright State transfer wants to make an impact, on and off the court--Dayton Daily News

News On The Horizon 10/29/2021

Plowcha’s Poll: Horizon League Women’s Basketball Preseason Rankings 10-12--Colonial Sports Network

Cleveland State Men’s Basketball To Host Case Western In Exhibition Contest--csuvikings.prestosports.com

Plenty of under-the-radar players bear watching this season--Associated Press

DETROIT MERCY: G Antoine Davis

Davis ranked among the nation’s top four Division I scorers each of the last three seasons. He ranked third in 2018-19 (26.1), fourth in 2019-20 (24.3) and third last season (24.0). The 6-1 guard ranked second nationally last year in minutes per game (38:34) and 3-pointers per game (3.77).

Five things to watch in Friday’s exhibition vs St. Norbert--Phear The Phoenix
Green Bay to Host St. Norbert in Exhibition, Regular--greenbayphoenix.com

5 Takeaways from the Oakland vs. Eastern Michigan Exhibition--HoriZone Roundtable
OAKLAND FALLS TO EMU 74-69 IN CHARITY GAME--goldengrizzlies.com

Raiders will have home-court advantage again with return of fans--Dayton Daily News

News On The Horizon 10/28/2021

OPENING NIGHT 11/9 NOTES--Staring At The Floorboards

MILWAUKEE @ NORTH DAKOTA

Pat Baldwin should absolutely eat here, as UND’s wing corps lost the only two guys who could possibly check him in Sims and Ihenacho. Sather’s D figures to struggle mightily across the board, and facing an extremely long team (shortest starter could be 6’4) with a potential lottery pick will expose that quickly.

INDIANA STATE @ GREEN BAY

The Trees are an intriguing team, as Josh Schertz will attempt to install a super uptempo, pace and space offense in the country’s biggest grinder conference, the Mo Valley. Schertz brought a slew of versatile, grab and go wings with him from Lincoln Memorial to form a rim attacking, drag screen kick out offense around dynamic guard Tyreke Key. Unfortunately, he’ll be facing a team in Green Bay that’s looking to slow the game to a crawl and work a methodical, swing based halfcourt offense. The good news for ISU is that Will Ryan’s squad allowed the 64th highest transition rate last year, an area I’m sure he’s looking to shore given his coaching pedigree. Really wonky game with mostly new rosters on both sides and contrasting styles. It should also be noted ISU is already battling a slew of injuries.

Green Bay Rallies in Second Half to Take Down Whitewater 63-41--greenbayphoenix.com

Wright State basketball: Calvin comfortable in role--Dayton Daily News

News On The Horizon 10/27/2021

Phoenix to Host UW-Whitewater in Exhibition Game--greenbayphoenix.com

Freshman phenom Baldwin savors chance to play for his dad--Associated Press
Ranking the Top 100 And 1 best college basketball players entering the 2021-22 season--CBS Sports

CBS Sports Top 100 And 1 college basketball players

27. Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | Freshman

Baldwin was the only top-10 recruit in the 2021 class to choose a mid-major, opting to play for Milwaukee -- and his father, who is the head coach -- over the likes of Duke and others. The 6-9 combo forward is a skilled shooter and one of the most talented prospects in the sport entering next season. Easily the best player in the Horizon League -- and on a Panthers team capable of making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years, too. --KB

75. Antoine Davis  | Detroit Mercy | Senior

Davis is the only player in the country who has been top-five among all college basketball players in points scored per game in each of the past three seasons. The sharpshooting guard averaged a career-low of 24.0 ppg last season and was still the second-leading scorer in the sport behind only Max Abmas. --KB

OAKLAND HOSTS EMU IN COVID-RELIEF CHARITY GAME--goldengrizzlies.com

News On The Horizon 10/26/2021

Morrison’s rankings: Breaking down teams 7-9 in the Horizon League--Colonial Sports Network

College basketball’s top 20 wings for the 2021-22 season, led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Patrick Baldwin Jr.--The Athletic

2. Patrick Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee

Baldwin is a towering wing with a pure stroke, deep range and the ability to create his own shot. Furthermore, how awesome is it that a top-five recruit turned down the likes of Duke and North Carolina to stay home and play at Milwaukee for his father, Patrick Sr., who still holds the all-time steals record at Northwestern? The highest-ranked recruit ever to sign with a Horizon League program picked a place where they’ve suffered through five straight losing seasons.

So is there zero pressure? Or all the pressure? When your dad’s job and your own NBA draft position both hinge on elevating a cellar-dwelling program, that feels more like the latter. But Baldwin, who Vecenie projects sixth overall in his 2022 mock, is good enough to deliver. He averaged 24 and 11 as a high school junior, saw his senior year cut short by an ankle injury, then won gold with Team USA at the U19 FIBA World Cup this summer. Now he’ll try to lead the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament since 2014 and second in 16 years.