Horizon League Basketball: 2020 Conference Tournament preview

By Ryan Kay | Mar 2, 2020

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) /

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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives past Trevon Faulkner #12 of the Northern Kentucky Norse (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Even though Wright State is the favorite to win the tournament, the Horizon League Basketball Championship is still up for grabs. Which team gets the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament?

Wright State ended up winning the Horizon League Basketball regular-season title as they finished two games ahead of 2nd place Northern Kentucky. No team from the Horizon was part of any major upsets in non-conference play. However, the Raiders have a good Net Ranking for a mid-major but no team in the Horizon would make it as an at large for the NCAA tournament. Wright State or any other Horizon team needs to win the conference tournament in order to make the conference tournament.

Before the tournament, news broke that Detroit Mercy would not be allowed to participate in this year’s conference tournament. The Horizon League tournament nine-team team tournament this year and it is not a guarantee that Wright State the favorite, will capture the title and earn a berth int he NCAA tournament.

The tournament format is different from last year and it is unique in compared to other conference tournaments. If you look at the first round matchups below, you will see that three teams get first round byes.

No. 9 seed IUPUI at No. 4 seed UIC
No. 8 Milwaukee at No. 5 Youngstown State
No. 7 Cleveland State at No. 6 Oakland

Wright State the No. 1 seed, Northern Kentucky the No. 2 seed get two byes in the tournament. Due to Detroit Mercy not participating in the tournament, Green Bay gets a first round bye and they will play the lowest remaining seed from the three winners of the first round games. Let’s take a look at each of the nine teams vying for the conference tournament title.