Bracketology 2024: Eastern Kentucky, Colgate, and James Madison among favorites at the start of Champ Week

Horizon League March 5, 7, 11-12

The Horizon League tournament begins Tuesday and whoever wins the auto bid will be looking for the league's 2nd tournament win in the last 11 attempts, with Wright State's win in the first four in 2022 betting the only one. Unlike the A-Sun who has had seven different representatives in the Big Dance since 2013, the Horizon League has had six with Northern Kentucky winning two of the last three titles. Even though the league hasn’t had much success lately, the league is best known for arguably the best mid-major run in the NCAA Tournament in the 21st century with Butler’s back-to-back title game appearances in 2010 and 2011.

This season’s Horizon League tournament could be as unpredictable as ever with five teams within two games of first place including the Northern Kentucky Norse. Oakland, Youngstown State, the surprise of the league Green Bay and Wright State are all still trying to lay claim to the top spot. Oakland and Youngstown State have the best NET ranking in the league but Wright State joins them as being inside the top 150 entering the regular season finales.

If any of these three win the tournament, they could jump as high as the 13-seed line, but if anyone else takes home the title, the bottom two lines are where they are likely to end up depending on other results.