We’re just a few weeks from the start of conference tournaments, with the Horizon League being one of the first conferences to get going. That means we have just a few weeks left of the regular season, around 5-6 games for each team.
With plenty of positioning to still be decided, here are the latest power rankings for the Horizon League.
11. Green Bay Phoenix - 2-23 (0-14)
The Phoenix have now lost 20 straight games, with only seven coming within single digits. Without leading scorer Anthony Roy (25.7 ppg), Green Bay’s only consistent offensive sources have been Marcus Hall (12.5 ppg) and Jeremiah Johnson. At some point, you have to think the team can finally win a league game, but time is running out for them.
10. IU Indy Jaguars - 8-18 (4-14)
The Jaguars are clearly better in Coach Paul Corsaro’s first year, and thanks to a barrage of threes, they’ve shown they can be competitive. But that also leads to inconsistent results, including losing by 53 points at RMU. But a recent road win over Youngstown has given them positive momentum as of late.
9. Detroit Mercy Titans - 8-18 (4-14)
Injuries have decimated the Titans all year, but they can also be a threat when they're somewhat healthy. They got back-to-back wins over Northern Kentucky and Green Bay to end a six-game skid. Orlando Lovejoy (16.3 ppg and 3.8 apg) has played at an all-league level this season.
8. Northern Kentucky - 11-14 (6-8)
The Norse have been a disappointment to this point, suffering a six-game losing skid in the middle of league play. They’ve rebounded to beat Oakland and Cleveland State in the past week and nearly beat RMU last weekend. They have the talent to be a darkhorse team in the conference, but they now have three straight road games to contend with, including Milwaukee and Wright State.
7. Wright State Raiders - 13-13 (7-8)
Wright State has alternated wins and losses for the past month, never getting too much momentum. They’ve beaten the teams below them and lost to those above, the the exception of a comeback win over RMU last week. Brandon Noel (18.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg), has made a case to be on the first-team all-league roster at the end.
6. Oakland Golden Grizzlies - 10-15 (7-7)
Oakland’s frontcourt duo of Allen David Mukeba and Tuburu Naivalura (13+ ppg and 7+ rpg) is one of the best in the conference. But the inconsistent shooting and overall guard play have been issues for them, leaving them right in the middle. But with three games left against the bottom three teams in the Horizon League, the Grizzlies can move up the ladder.
5. Youngstown State Penguins - 16-10 (10-5)
There’s a group of four teams that are interchangeable at this rate. But the one who lost at home to IU Indy falls to the lower end. But when healthy, the Penguins can beat anyone. EJ Farmer (15.6 ppg) missed a couple of weeks but is back and coming off four straight 20+ point performances. Massive matchups against Cleveland State and Purdue-Fort Wayne are coming up with a chance to either move up or down the rankings.
4. Milwaukee Panthers - 16-9 (9-5)
The Panthers have five double-digit scorers on the team, led by Jamichael Stillwell (13.4 ppg and 10.9 rpg), one of the nation’s top rebounders. They have four home games left against the bottom half of the Horizon League, so they can make a push up the ladder. However, the two road games are at RMU and Youngstown State, which is highly important for them.
3. Robert Morris - 18-8 (10-5)
The big surprise of the Horizon League has been RMU, who won eight of its last nine games to overcome a slow start. Alvaro Folguerias (13.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg) and elite shot-blocker Amarion Dickerson are an elite frontcourt tandem, while Kam Woods (14.6 ppg and 4.8 apg) has won them several games of late. A win away from the most conference wins in program history (in the Horizon), the Colonials take on Cleveland State and Purdue-Fort Wayne next.
2. Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons - 18-8 (11-4)
The Mastodons are the top offense in the conference, led by 20-ppg scoring guard Jalen Jackson. They’ve won three straight games to be second in the standings but have three tough road games to end league play, including RMU, YSU, and Cleveland State.
1. Cleveland State Vikings - 18-7 (12-2)
While the Mastodons have been the top offense in the league, Cleveland State has been the best defense. They pulled off 13 straight wins, including at Purdue-Fort Wayne, before a loss at Northern Kentucky last week. The three toughest games left on the Vikings schedule (RMU, YSU, PFW) are all at home, giving them a great chance to soon lock up a one-seed in the upcoming conference tournament.