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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Oakland guard Jalen Moore Horizon League Basketball Bkc Purdue Vs Oakland /

7. Oakland Grizzlies

2020-21 season record: 12-18 (10-10 in Horizon League)

Key losses – Rashad Williams (13.6 ppg), Daniel Oladapo (12.9 ppg and 8.8 rpg)

We’re reaching the point in the rankings with teams that didn’t lose their best players, giving them a chance this upcoming season to finish in the top-tier. That includes Oakland who returns one of the best mid-major players in the country in Jalen Moore, who averaged 17.9 ppg and 8.4 apg, which was No. 1 in the entire country.

Moore, who came from Olney Central College (JUCO), played nearly every minute of the second half of the season. The 5’11 point guard had a 33-point effort in an overtime game against Green Bay, and a triple-double (18-14-11) versus Detroit. It was one of 12 different games of double-digit assists last season for the star guard.

There’s no question as to what Moore provides for the Grizzlies but they still were in the middle of the Horizon League last season. And they’re without the two other double-digit contributors from the roster after Rashad Williams and Daniel Oladapo transferred to Saint Louis and Pittsburgh respectively. It’s one of the youngest rosters in the conference this season, with six freshmen and eight underclassmen to account for.

The good news is that Oakland was able to land a potential star in Marquette transfer Jamal Cain, who in his lone year as a starter averaged 9.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg. The 6’7 combo forward looked impressive in a recent exhibition game versus Eastern Michigan, scoring a game-high 27 points. If he can become another go-to option this season, Moore won’t have to do so much.

The rest of the roster as mentioned is young but look out for sophomores, Micah Parrish and Trey Townsend. They both started in the frontcourt last season and combined to average 17.2 ppg and 11.9 rpg. Zion Young, the team’s 6th Man last season and leading returning three-point shooter, put up 8.3 ppg off the bench.

Moore will do everything in his grasp to keep Oakland in contention and he will singlehandedly win a few Horizon League Basketball games. But they will need more than just him and Cain to win the rest of them. It wouldn’t be shocking to see another campaign that ends around 10-10 again.