Horizon League Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 09: The Cleveland State Vikings celebrate winning the Horizon League Men's basketball championship after defeating the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 09, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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Horizon League Basketball Green Bay Phoenix forward Terrance Thompson Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Green Bay Phoenix

2020-21 season record: 8-17 (8-12 in Horizon)

Key losses – Amari Davis (17.3 ppg), PJ Pipes (14.5 ppg and 3.0 apg), Josh Jefferson (14.8 ppg)

After an 0-9 brutal start, Green Bay rebounded to be much more competitive in league play. However, losing their top three players and a lack of proven incoming talent has put the Phoenix into “rebuilding mode”. The loss of leading scorer and sophomore guard Amari Davis to Missouri hurts the most since both Pipes and Jefferson were already seniors on the roster.

The good news for the Phoenix is that they have plenty of building blocks to work with, having no true seniors on the roster. Junior forward Emmanuel Ansong is the lone double-digit scorer coming back (10.4 ppg), also leading Green Bay with 5.3 rpg. Despite being listed at 6’4, Ansong plays bigger than that, is capable of creating mismatches on the perimeter to drive to the basket, and is a solid offensive rebounder. He shot a team-leading 58% from the field on 7.4 attempts but look for that number to rise as he becomes a focal point in the offense.

Two other key returning players that got some starts last season include guards Japannah Kellogg and Lucas Stieber who led the Phoenix is passing (4.0 apg) and was All-Freshman in the Horizon League. There is also a bevy of D-I transfers (Mitch Listau, Nate Jenkins, and Donovan Moore), as well as a couple of Junior Colleg newcomers (Tutu Majok and Randy Tucker) that could potentially come out of nowhere into a leading role.

Until then, the roster depletion this offseason has left the Phoenix with Ansong and Stieber, along with a ton of unknowns. Green Bay could easily finish ahead of this spot but on paper, it’s hard to have them higher right now.