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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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 21: Head coach Greg Kampe of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Quarterfinals Predictions

No. 6 Oakland at No. 3 Green Bay

Winner: Oakland

The first upset in terms of the lower seed defeating the higher seed occurs as the Golden Grizzlies defeats Green Bay in a very closely contested game. Oakland defeated the Phoenixes last time they meet as the Golden Grizzlies defeated them in double overtime.

At Green Bay back in mid-January, the Phoenixes overcame a halftime deficit and defeated Oakland by a score of 73-69. This game may go into overtime by the Golden Grizzlies big men are the difference giving Oakland the surprise victory to move on to the semifinals.

Prediction: Oakland 84 Green Bay 81 in OT

No. 5 seed Youngstown State at No. 4 seed UIC

Winner: UIC

This may be the toughest game to predict up to this point of the tournament as arguments can be made for both teams as to why either team will win this game to go to the semifinals. Youngstown State won at UIC by six by that was back in late December.

The Flames won the last meeting over the Penguins in a high scoring affair that went into overtime as UIC won on Youngstown’s home court by a score of 90-83. Both teams can score and both teams have a star player to lean on in the final moments of the game but at home, the slight edge goes to the Flames.

Prediction: UIC 89 Youngstown State 87 in 2 OT