Horizon League Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview, predictions
By Ryan Kay
QuarterFinals
No. 5 Detroit Mercy at No. 4 Northern Kentucky
Winner: Detroit Mercy
After a four-game losing streak, Northern Kentucky has won eight of their last ten games. Both Detroit Mercy and the Norse have played very well of late and this is a very intriguing quarterfinals match-up. These two teams have not played one another this season so this will be potentially the first time that these two teams face off against one another.
Faulkner is Northern Kentucky’s best all-around player but he has help from Warrick and Bryson Langdon which makes the Norse backcourt one of the top four units in the conference as all three guards can produce. However, Detroit Mercy is just continuing to get better and better. They are tall and lengthy and will pose problems for a Northern Kentucky team that may not be able to handle the Titans frontcourt.
This game will come down to the wire but look for Detroit Mercy’s star player Davis to sink some last-second free throws to clinch the victory.
Prediction: Detroit Mercy 81, Northern Kentucky 78
No. 6 Youngstown State at No. 3 Oakland
Winner: Oakland
Oakland defeated Youngstown State twice at home earlier this season. The Golden Grizzlies however defeated the Penguins without one of their star players at the time who was injured. This game really benefits Oakland due to it being played on their home court.
The Golden Grizzlies have only played eight out of their 27 games on their home court. Head Coach Greg Kampe will have his team prepared and Oakland will win a very hard-fought and physical game to advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
Prediction: Oakland 78, Youngstown State 73
No.7 Green Bay at No. 2 Wright State
Winner: Wright State
Unfourtantly for the Phoenix, this is possibly the worst possible match-up for them. Wright State when they played Green Bay earlier this season, beat them by 13 and 14 points. Granted it was on the Raider’s home court where both losses occurred for the Phoenix but this game is also on Wright State’s home court and the Raiders have too much size and experience to lose this game. Look for head coach Scott Nagy and Wright State to easily win this game and advance.
Prediction: Wright State 89 Green Bay 71
No. 9 seed IUPUI at No. 1 Cleveland State
Winner: Cleveland State
IUPUI may make a run like the 1999 Illinois team did when they were the No. 11 seed and made it to the Big Ten tournament finals. Cleveland State has exceeded any preseason expectations and has played extremely well earning them a share of the league regular-season title. The Vikings on the road beat the Jaguars twice once by only three points and the other time by 10 points.
However, those games were played back in early January. IUPUI is playing much better now while Cleveland State has not looked dominant of late. If this game was on the Jaguar’s home court, an upset more than likely would happen. However, this game is on the Vikings’ home court and they look to prevail and move on to the semifinals.