Busting Brackets
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Horizon League basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament preview

By Bryan Mauro

LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 24: Malik Newman #14 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives past Kendrick Nunn #1 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on November 24, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 24: Malik Newman #14 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives past Kendrick Nunn #1 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on November 24, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 26: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats attempts to drive past Tarkus Ferguson #4 of the Illinois-Chicago Flames during the first half of the game at Rupp Arena on November 26, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 26: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats attempts to drive past Tarkus Ferguson #4 of the Illinois-Chicago Flames during the first half of the game at Rupp Arena on November 26, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Key teams for the tournament

Northern Kentucky enters the tournament with the target on their back and they are going to get every teams best shot.  The Norse should be prepared as they made a magical run to the championship in the Horizon League tournament last year.  The Norse are well coached and have the most talent in the conference.  If the Norse want to win the conference they will need to be at their best, because the Horizon League is the deepest it has been at the top for quite some time.

The UIC Flames are an interesting story going into this tournament.  They have a talented team who was just seeming to put it all together towards the end of the season.  After their game against Northern Kentucky the Flames star Dikembe Dixson announced that he was going to transfer at the end of the season.

The Flames season could now go one of two ways either they will all rally around each other and give Dixson an NCAA tournament berth to remember.  The Flames could also show the signs of internal turmoil and get bounced early in this tournament ending their season.  The Flames have the talent to make the finals of this tournament.  It will be interesting to see how they react to the news about Dixson.

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have the attention of the Horizon League due to the talent on their roster.  Oakland was a team that came into the year with all kind of expectations, especially with Kendrick Nunn coming in to pair with Martez Walker.  Things this year have not worked out as expected for the Grizzlies as they struggled all year in both the non-conference and the conference.  With the news of Martez Walker being sidelined for the rest of the season due to a foot injury could derail the Grizzlies season.

If the Grizzlies can catch a few teams sleeping, they have a chance to make the finals in this tournament.  They are the only team in the league that can rival Northern Kentucky talent wise from top to bottom.  Will the loss of Martez Walker be too much to overcome?