For a while, the Horizon League had a clear No. 1 team and favorite to win its conference tournament. After this past week, it’s as wide open as ever, with several teams making the case to claim the No. 1 spot. Check out the last power rankings, with just a few games to go in the regular season.
11. Green Bay Phoenix - 3-14 (1-15)
After 21 straight losses, Green Bay finally got a win, 79-68 over Wright State at home. Ben Tweedy, who averages fewer than five points a game, went for a career-high 27 points in the breakthrough victory. Although they’re locked into the 11th spot, they can still play spoiler in the Horizon League Tournament seeding. They have road games at YSU and RMU, a team they were up by 17 points at their place a month ago.
10. IU Indy Jaguars - 8-19 (4-12)
Ever since they got blown out by 53 points at RMU, IU Indy has been much more competitive. They beat Youngstown State on the road and took Milwaukee to OT before falling in the end. They have a chance to get revenge on the Colonials to end league play, hosting them next Thursday at home.
9. Detroit Mercy Titans - 8-19 (4-12)
In between nine other losses are back-to-back wins over Green Bay and NKU. In the recent OT loss to Oakland, Orlando Lovejoy had 20 points and is the team’s best bet to make an all-league team. Detroit hosts IU Indy this week, looking to avoid a season sweep and try to get the 9 seed in the HL Tournament.
8. Wright State Raiders - 13-15 (7-10)
In the logjam in the middle, Wright State made it easy by being the first team to lose to Green Bay in league play. But this is also the same Raiders team that is the only one to beat RMU in the past 1.5 months while also nearly beating Milwaukee and Youngstown State. This team can compete with anyone but also lose to anyone, based on how poot the defense can be at times.
7. Northern Kentucky Norse - 12-15 (7-9)
The Norse were the first team to start Cleveland State’s rough patch recently while also beating Oakland on the road. Trey Robinson has emerged as the star of the team late, averaging 20 ppg in the last three games. NKU has a big road game at Wright State coming up, which will likely decide who the 7/8 seeds will be in the tournament.
6. Oakland Golden Grizzlies - 12-15 (9-7)
Back-to-back wins over Detroit and IU Indy have Oakland in a sweat spot by itself in the standings. Forwards Tuburu Naivalura and Allen David Mukeba have been the stars, but they may have found their lead shooter on the perimeter in Nassim Mashhour, who scored 42 points in the two wins last week on six made three-pointers. They take on three of the top five teams to finish the schedule, but if they can beat either Milwaukee or Purdue Fort Wayne, Oakland could still have a shot at a bye.
5. Milwaukee Panthers - 18-9 (11-5)
The Panthers have been part of several close calls in the past couple of weeks, falling by two at home to Purdue-Fort Wayne but getting a pair of OT wins over IU Indy and Wright State. Milwaukee now goes to play suddenly the toughest road trip in Horizon League play this week, facing YSU and RMU in major matchups that could push them down the standings if they get swept.
4. Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons - 18-10 (11-6)
It was a rough past week for PFW, losing at Youngstown State and RMU by 29 points to fall down multiple spots in the standings. They still completed the season sweep over Milwaukee earlier, which may benefit them in seeding. The Mastodons have home games against NKU and Oakland before a road battle at Cleveland State to end the regular season.
3. Cleveland State Vikings - 18-9 (12-4)
At one point, the Vikings had won 13 straight games total and were close to locking up the 1 seed. They’ve now lost three of its last four games, including getting swept by home to YSU and RMU. Making matters worse, they have three straight road games coming up, including at Wright State, before a pivotal home battle with Purdue Fort-Wayne that could determine who wins the regular season title.
2. Youngstown State Penguins - 18-10 (12-5)
After a shocking home loss to IU Indy, the Penguins have since won four straight games, including beating both Cleveland State and Purdue-Fort Wayne. Nico Galette scored a combined 40 points and 17 rebounds in the sweep to earn Co-Horizon League Player of the Week. YSU now faces Green Bay and Milwaukee at home, followed by a road game at NKU to round out the regular season.
1. Robert Morris Colonials - 20-8 (12-5)
It’s been a season of firsts for the Colonials since joining the Horizon League, already with its most wins ever in league play. They’ve now won 10 of the last 11 games, including a sweep over Cleveland State and Purdue-Fort Wayne in the last week. Alvaro Folgueiras combined for 40 points in those two wins and had 35 points in the win at NKU prior. Robert Morris has a big home game against Milwaukee in the middle of matchups against Green Bay and IU Indy, looking to win at least a share of the regular-season title potentially.