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Horizon League Basketball: Conference tournament preview and predictions

By John Parker

Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies forward Jalen Hayes (4) high fives guard Sherron Dorsey-Walker (30) during overtime against the Michigan State Spartans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Michigan State won 99-93 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies forward Jalen Hayes (4) high fives guard Sherron Dorsey-Walker (30) during overtime against the Michigan State Spartans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Michigan State won 99-93 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) and forward Isaiah Wilkins (21) knock the ball away from Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Kay Felder (20) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 71-58. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) and forward Isaiah Wilkins (21) knock the ball away from Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Kay Felder (20) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 71-58. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

1: Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Like Valparaiso, 2-seed Oakland will have the advantage of a double-bye directly into the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament.

Unlike Valparaiso, the Grizzlies will also be playing less than 40 minutes from campus. Oakland hasn’t been great at home this year, going just 5-4 at home in Horizon League play after posting an undefeated 8-0 record at the O’rena in league play last year.

But in the team’s one neutral site game in Michigan, the Golden Grizzlies took top-ranked Michigan State — which was admittedly playing without National Player of the Year candidate Denzel Valentine — to overtime before falling 99-93.

The Grizzlies are led by standout point guard Kahlil “Kay” Felder. Felder leads the nation in assists with 9.4 per game, and is fourth in scoring with 24.4 points per game. He’s an electrifying talent who has a tendency to show up biggest when the lights are brightest.

In Oakland’s three marquee non-conference games, Felder was phenomenal. The 5-foot-9 junior scored 38 points, dished out nine assists and got up for six rebounds in a 97-83 road beatdown of Washington. Three days later, his 37 points and nine assists were the catalyst for Oakland in its overtime loss to Michigan State. Eight days later, he dropped 30 on Virginia, though Oakland was far less competitive in that game and lost 71-58.

It’s very difficult to beat a good team three times in a season, and Oakland has proven over the course of the year that it’s definitely a good team.

More busting brackets: Summit League Conference Tournament preview

With the home court advantage that the league’s new neutral site home gives the Golden Grizzlies, it seems like Kay Felder‘s team is poised to go to the Big Dance this year.