Busting Brackets
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Horizon League Basketball Youngstown State Penguins guard Tevin Olison Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Horizon League Basketball Youngstown State Penguins guard Tevin Olison Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Wright State Raiders (1-5)

This was the hardest team to judge because considering that the rest of the Horizon League has struggled, it’s not that Wright State still doesn’t look on paper, as one of the three best teams overall. However, there’s no excuse for them to still not have a single D-I win weeks into the season. And while Purdue and even Marshall on the road were fine, this team should’ve found a way to beat either James Madison, George Washington, or Cal State Long Beach in neutral site matchups.

The good news is that they’ve been able to replace former Conference Player of the Year Loudon Love, with both Tanner Holden (21.8 ppg and 3.3 apg) and Grant Basile (18.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg) each in the top-5 in scoring. Both Trey Calvin and Tim Finke are averaging just under double figures but the Raiders have been poor defensively overall. That needs to change for them to win the Horizon League but at least they can start the slate clean, with everyone at 0-0 in league play.

5. Youngstown State Penguins (2-3)

It’s early but the Penguins may have been the second biggest surprise so far. Not only do they have two D-I wins on the season, but the other three losses were also fairly close throughout. Senior Michael Akuchie has been a star so far, averaging a team-leading 16.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg through five games and both Shemar Rathan-Mayes and Tevin Olison are averaging double figures.

Unfortunately for Youngstown State, they’ll be without key player Garrett Covington, who is out for the season due to an ACL tear. He and Akuchie figured to the team’s two best players so how the team looks going forward will be interesting. But with how down the conference has looked overall, at least the Penguins look on par with just about everyone else in the league.