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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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Nov 20, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Wright State Raiders guard Alan Vest (4) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Charles Matthews (4) battle for a loose ball in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Wright State 78-63. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Wright State Raiders guard Alan Vest (4) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Charles Matthews (4) battle for a loose ball in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Wright State 78-63. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

3: Wright State Raiders

If the bracket holds true to form, 3-seed Wright State will essentially be playing a road game against 6-seed Detroit in the Horizon League quarterfinals. While its last trip to Michigan didn’t end well — the Raiders got crushed 89-63 by Oakland and lost 75-68 to Detroit — the WSU is a good team that can’t easily be shut down defensively.

Wright State’s balanced offense makes it a tough team to defend. Nobody on the team averages more than Mark Alstork‘s 12.6 points per game, while sixth man and sixth leading scorer Biggie Minnis adds 7.1 points per game. The inability to key in on one player offensively is a large part of what made Wright State into a surprise title contender.

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If you need further evidence of that, look at the team’s pair of wins over Valparaiso. Joe Thomasson — a Horizon League All-Defensive Team member who averages 9.8 points per game — led the way for the Raiders in both games. Thomasson, who is fourth on the team in scoring, scored 21 points in a comfortable 73-62 home win and tallied a team-high 14 in a much less comfortable 61-59 win at Valparaiso.

Wright State’s balance was also reflected in the Horizon League’s postseason awards. Despite finishing tied for second in the league, the Raiders’ only honoree was Thomasson on the All-Defensive team. In total, seven of the 10 players who were named First or Second-Team All-Horizon League came from teams ranked lower than Billy Donlon’s team.

The Raiders are a tough team to figure out. With wins over Valparaiso and losses to teams in the bottom half of the league, anything could happen when the team takes the court. But the Raiders’ balance should be enough to help the team make a trip to the Horizon League semifinals and a matchup with Oakland.

Next: 2: Valparaiso