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IUPUI Basketball: Jaguars have reportedly been invited to Horizon League

By Lukas Harkins

Nov 13, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; IUPUI Jaguars guard T.J. Henderson (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during the second half at Crisler Center. Michigan won 77-65. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; IUPUI Jaguars guard T.J. Henderson (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during the second half at Crisler Center. Michigan won 77-65. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; IUPUI Jaguars guard T.J. Henderson (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during the second half at Crisler Center. Michigan won 77-65. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; IUPUI Jaguars guard T.J. Henderson (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during the second half at Crisler Center. Michigan won 77-65. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

After Valparaiso left for the Missouri Valley Conference, the Horizon League was in need for a new team. IUPUI basketball has reportedly been offered an invitation.

As reported by Detroit News, the IUPUI Jaguars have reportedly been offered a spot in the Horizon League. They are currently a member of the Summit League, and this would be an overall step up for the team. The Jaguars have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2003, even though they have one regular season conference championship in 2006 also on their resume.

Although IUPUI has not formally accepted their invitation or been formally accepted, negotiations are underway for the Jaguars to join the conference.

Over the past several years, there have been five major candidates to possibly join the Horizon League: IUPUI, Robert Morris, Fort Wayne, Grand Canyon, and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

IUPUI is coming off of a poor season of 14-18, but that does not mean that they cannot improve from year to year, and their recruiting could take a step up when joining the Horizon League. The conference would benefit from replacing Valparaiso as soon as possible, and this would be a good choice.

As far as the Summit League goes, they already have North Dakota lined up to the join the league in 2018, so they do not need to search for another team to join anytime soon.

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The Horizon League has had some awesome teams in recent years, but ever since Butler left a few years back, they have been unable to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Will IUPUI bring a level of competition that the conference can use to boost its overall resume and make that next step towards making a run? Maybe not right now, but down the road adding a new program to shake things up could help recruiting and versatility as a conference.