Busting Brackets
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Horizon League Basketball: 2021-22 power rankings entering league play

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 9, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies forward Jamal Cain (1) is introduced prior to their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies forward Jamal Cain (1) is introduced prior to their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland State Vikings Horizon League Basketball (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Cleveland State Vikings Horizon League Basketball (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Horizon League Basketball has consistently been one of the top lower-tier mid-major conferences over the past few years. And last season saw two new additions in Purdue-Fort Wayne and Robert Morris, who although had their fair share of lumps, added more to the talent pool of the league. There were hopes that with Cleveland State and Wright State leading the way, the Horizon League would wreak havoc against everyone else in the non-conference this season.

However, it’s been a complete disaster collectively for the Horizon League, with the exception of one program. And that team isn’t Wright State or Cleveland State, who combined have lost numerous games that they were considered favorites at.

There also are two teams with high-profile individual players in Detroit Mercy and Milwaukee, who also have lost games that proved to be concerning. In fact, altogether, the conference only has one win in the top-200 according to KenPom. It’s been so bad that other analysts and observers have grouped them all together, and not in a good way.

But while non-conference play has been dreadful and nearly half of these teams have yet to get a Division I victory this season, everyone has a chance to start all over. League play is starting this week for all 12 teams, thanks in part to the Horizon League opting to play 20 games in league play. And considered that the preseason “favorites” have stumbled out the gate, it could very well be up for grabs for just about everyone to get in the mix for a top-4 seed.

Based on what has happened up to this point, here’s how I would rank the Horizon League Basketball teams.