Horizon League Basketball: Power rankings after 1st month of 2022-23 season

6. Milwaukee Panthers – 7-3 (2-0)

On one hand, I’d like to give Coach Bart Lundy and the Panthers for their clear improvements so far. Yet the two wins last week were over Green Bay and IUPUI, the clear worst teams in the Horizon League. They’re on a five-game win streak, including wins over UC Davis and Boston University.

Milwaukee doesn’t have a clear star on the team, with BJ Freeman leading them with 10.6 ppg. But there’s plenty of depth, with eight players averaging at least 7.0 ppg. Things will get tougher for them going forward, with four road games in league play against good teams. That will determine whether or not they can be in the mid-tier.

5. Detroit Mercy Titans – 4-5 (1-1)

The record may not show it but the Titans have been impressive in the first month, playing competitively against superior teams. That includes a road win over Purdue-Fort Wayne. Horizon League Player of the Year Antoine Davis is now the league’s all-time leading scorer and putting up 23.7 ppg so far.

What’s the biggest takeaway for Detroit is that there’s some legit help for Davis. Jayden Stone is averaging 14.4 ppg, while Alabama State transfer Gerald Liddell has recently been cleared to play and is producing a double-double in the first two games. If he ends up as a quality impact transfer throughout league play, the Titans will become a legit contender.

4. Cleveland State Vikings – 7-3 (2-0)

The Vikings are on a 6-game winning streak, including home wins over Detroit Mercy and Oakland. The past two games were easily the best offensive performances for them, though who they faced also played a part in it.

Iowa State transfer and former top-100 prospect Tristan Enaruna leads the way with 12.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg, with six others averaging at least 7.0 ppg. It currently may not have the firepower that the previous Cleveland State teams had but the balance and depth make them formidable going forward.