Primarily a collection of news links about all 12 Horizon League teams on a daily basis, culled from online newspapers, school athletic websites, the conference website, and school newspapers, plus some other content from time to time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s never too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming year!
Check below for our list of 20 head coaches on the rise entering the 2023-24
college basketball season.
This list does not include coaches
from both the Atlantic 10 and Mountain West.
In no particular order:
Jerrod Calhoun, Youngstown State: Some people aren’t
overly flashy, but they just get the job done. That’s Calhoun in a nutshell.
After leading Fairmont State (Division II) to multiple NCAA Tournament
appearances, Calhoun has gradually built the Penguins into a quality program
in the Horizon League. Youngstown State has had four straight winning seasons
under Calhoun, highlighted by last year’s regular season title and Postseason
NIT appearance. If a higher level AD wants to rebuild a program with old
fashioned grit and toughness, they’d be wise to call Calhoun.
Bart Lundy, Milwaukee: Lundy cut his teeth as a Division II
head coach, but has quickly made an impact in Division I. The 51-year old
head coach led Milwaukee to 22 wins a year ago in first season with the
Panthers and should be firmly in the mix at the top of the Horizon League in
2023-24. Lundy also has a power conference background, as he was a part of
Buzz Williams’ staff at Marquette from 2009-12.
The Raiders are the pick out of the Horizon League after boomerang
transfer Tanner Holden was cleared for one last season. Holden, Trey
Calvin (HL preseason POY) and Brandon Noel clearly set up as the best
trio in that conference. Scott Nagy is an unassuming coach who
commands a lot of respect around the profession. If the Raiders avoid
injuries and other setbacks, he'll have his team into the NCAA tourney
for the third time since he got there in 2016.
