Horizon League Preview

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Not surprisingly, the Horizon League did not feature a semblance of a conference race last season. Butler ran through the conference undefeated, with 12 of the 18 Horizon wins coming by double-figures. There was quite a battle for second place, as Wright State shrugged off a 4-4 start to win eight of its final 10 league games and get a double-bye. Four other teams finished above .500 in the league, with a talented Detroit team going 9-9. Butler left no doubt in the conference tournament, destroying Wright State by 25 in the title game. We all know what happened in the NCAA Tournament: the Bulldogs made a run all the way to the championship game before losing to Duke when Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave at the buzzer rimmed out. Expect much of the same in the Horizon this season.

• 1. Butler: There won’t be much of a race in the conference this season, either. Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored are a great guard tandem, and Matt Howard bangs down low.
• 2. Detroit: With the addition of stud freshman Ray McCallum, the Titans have a big-time scorer to go with the inside-outside tandem of guard Chase Simon and big man Eli Holman.
• 3. Cleveland State: All five starters return from last season, including all-conference guard Norris Cole. Jeremy Montgomery and Trevon Harmon are also double-figure scorers.
• 4. Valparaiso: Valpo will be carried by its inside-outside duo of guard Brandon Wood and forward Cory Johnson. Both players are all-conference-caliber talents.
• 5. Wright State: Last year’s second-place team brings back guards Vaughn Duggins and N’Gai Evans, as well as sixth man Troy Tabler. They need frontcourt help, though.
• 6. Milwaukee: The return of Tone Boyle from injury will be the key for this team. JC transfer Keylon Williams and forward Anthony Hill could have breakout seasons.
• 7. Loyola-Chicago: All five starters return for the Ramblers, but this is a team that struggled last year. Terrance Hill and Walt Gibler are the two double-figure scorers.
• 8. Green Bay: The Phoenix are led by all-conference candidates Rahmon Fletcher and Bryquis Perine, who both can really fill it up from the perimeter.
• 9. Illinois-Chicago: New head coach Howard Moore is a big-time recruiter, but he will need to rebuild this team. He does have a solid backcourt in Rebo Kreps and Zavion Neely.
• 10. Youngstown State: The Penguins won just two games in the league last season, and they lose four starters. The lone returning starter is 6-foot-7 guard Vytas Sulskis.

Player of the Year: Shelvin Mack, G, Butler

All-Conference Team:

• G- Norris Cole, Cleveland State
• G- Ray McCallum, Detroit
• G- Shelvin Mack, Butler
• G- Ronald Nored, Butler
• F- Matt Howard, Butler

Second Team:

• G- Rahmon Fletcher, Green Bay
• G- Rebo Kreps, Illinois-Chicago
• G- Brandon Wood, Valparaiso
• G- Vaughn Duggins, Wright State
• F- Cory Johnson, Valparaiso