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Horizon League Basketball: Youngstown State rises in latest power rankings

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 22, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Youngstown State Penguins players talk during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Youngstown State Penguins players talk during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wright State forward Grant Basile Horizon League Basketball Bkc Purdue Vs Wright State
Wright State forward Grant Basile Horizon League Basketball Bkc Purdue Vs Wright State /

4. Wright State Raiders – 4-7 (1-1)

The Raiders have been arguably the most disappointing team so far, starting off with a 2-7 record. However, wins over Tennessee Tech and NC State on the road may have helped them turn the page as league play arrives. Grant Basile (23 points and 14 rebounds) and Tanner Holden (17 points) played well as expected but getting 19 points from Trey Calvin was most notable.

On the season, Calvin is third on the team with 13.3 ppg, behind Basile (18.0 ppg and 9.6 rpg) and Holden (19.0 ppg and 2.5 apg). The defense may not get to be good enough where Wright State would like it to be but they have the best trio of players in the Horizon League and when all three are on, they’ll be hard to beat in what will be plenty of high-scoring matchups.

3. Youngstown State Penguins – 7-4 (2-0)

The Penguins suffered the biggest departure of any Horizon League Basketball team to this point in the season-ending injury Garrett Covington, a double-digit scoring guard that was third in scoring last year. And this team can’t afford to lose much offense, as their current lead scorer is  Michael Akuchie at 13.2 ppg and 6.8 rpg. The good news is that they have a good amount of depth while being solid on both ends of the court, something most teams in the Horizon League can’t say.

Even with the injury, Youngstown State still has a pair of road wins to start off league play over Green Bay and Milwaukee. They’ve had time to get used to not having Covington but it’s still a big loss going forward. Their ceiling falls down a bit but the floor could remain in a solid spot.