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Horizon League Basketball: Wright State, NKU conference tournament favorites

By Bryan Mauro

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 17: Head coach John Brannen of the Northern Kentucky Norse reacts during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 17: Head coach John Brannen of the Northern Kentucky Norse reacts during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 15: Loudon Love #11 of the Wright State Raiders reacts in the second half while taking on the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 15: Loudon Love #11 of the Wright State Raiders reacts in the second half while taking on the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Key Players

Drew McDonald – Northern Kentucky

The Norse not only have one of the best teams in the league but also one of the best big men. The offense ends with McDonald. He can be a deadly scorer from all areas. The forward is a good shooter and finisher around the rim. Great rebounder and is a walking double-double. If you watch Northern Kentucky play the senior will stick out. He is all over the floor when his team plays.

Loudon Love – Wright State

Head coach Scott Nagy has a dynamic duo with Love and guard Bill Wampler. Love put himself on the map last year as a freshman. The center is a powerful big man who clogs up the lane. He is a tough guard because of his sheer size and ability to get easy baskets in the paint. The Wright State big man is not nearly as flashy of a player as his rival at Northern Kentucky, but the sophomore is more productive.

Sandy Cohen III – Green Bay

The Marquette transfer is one of the purest scorers in the league and has helped place his team in the conversation as team who can surprise and secure the NCAA tournament bid. Cohen leads the Phoenix in scoring and utilized the transfer year to hone his skills. Many of the high major transfers do not end up at Horizon league schools or any other mid major very often. The Phoenix are a dangerous team when the senior gets going.

Antoine Davis – Detroit Mercy

The Titans are led by former Indiana and Texas Southern head coach Mike Davis. Coach Davis and his son are trying to turn the Detroit Mercy program around. The younger Davis is taking the college basketball world by storm as he recently broke the single season freshman three-point record held by none other than Steph Curry.

The freshman guard has never seen a shot he does not like, the problem is the rest of this team does not have the skill needed to win this league. Davis has carried the Titans on his back this season. It will take a Herculean effort for Detroit to get to the NCAA tournament, but Davis has proven he can get on a run and beat some teams by himself.