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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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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Sandy Cohen III played at Marquette before transferring to Green Bay
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Sandy Cohen III played at Marquette before transferring to Green Bay /

Horizon League Bracketology

The Horizon League is going to be a one bid league this year.  The conference is usually a one bid league as they are one of the lower ranking mid majors.  The bottom of the Horizon League is bad, and this league did not do well in their showing this year against the high major programs.  Northern Kentucky struggled to even stay in games against their high major competition.

In the latest edition of Busting Brackets Bracketology which was published on February 23rd.  The Wright State Raiders were listed as a 15 seed in the South Region.  The first-round match up would be slated to be against the Auburn Tigers.  Whichever teams makes the tournament, it appears it will be an uphill climb to try and win a game.

One thing that is certain is whichever one of these Horizon League teams makes the NCAA tournament, they will give whichever team they play a game.  Most high seeds are hoping that Northern Kentucky or Oakland are not on their seed line.  When in tournament play, playing a low major team who is a lower seed in the NCAA tournament, you don’t like to see the ones who can score like the two schools mentioned above.

The Norse with seemingly the same roster they had a year ago, took Kentucky to the brink.  Northern Kentucky learned from that game and has come back stronger.  If Northern Kentucky does not win the conference tournament they are headed to the NIT, likely as a lower seed in that tournament as well.  The NIT field does not want to see Northern Kentucky opposite them either.  These teams are going to be over matched in the NCAA tournament but, they could keep a game close for awhile and provide a team a scare.