It’s March, the start of spring, the flowers are blooming, and college basketball is at its finest. Conference tournaments are in full swing, and it all starts with the Horizon League. Starting on March 2nd, this band of exciting schools in America’s north will compete in a four round tournament culminating in a championship game on March 10th. Let me introduce you to the teams.
The Contenders
Wright State – Led by second-year coach Clint Sargent, the Raiders are the top seed headed into the tournament. They posted a 15-5 standing in conference play and a 20-11 overall record being led by two standout players, Michal Cooper and Michael Imariagabe. Cooper is a standout freshman and the team’s leading scorer. Imariagabe is a physical 6’7 forward from Texas, who is a force in the paint. The Raiders have played as a unit all year, averaging 80.2 points per game, and are the favorite to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Robert Morris – The Colonials are led by 16th year coach Andrew Toole, and are the hottest team in the league. They enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed on a seven-game winning streak. They finished 13-7 in conference play and 21-10 overall. This is arguably Toole’s best squad since joining the Horizon League, defined by a gritty defense and the leadership of veteran guard Justice Williams. With their momentum, they on paper will be the biggest threat to Wright State’s title hopes.
Detroit Mercy – Led by second-year coach Mark Montgomery, the Titans are the “Cinderella” story of the regular season, jumping from last place to the No. 3 seed with a 12-8 league record. After a winless conference run two years ago, Montgomery has completely revitalized the program. They play a physical brand of basketball with an emphasis on defense that has frustrated the league’s top offenses with 6 steals and 3.0 blocks per game and 0.335 opposing 3pt percentage. If they can maintain their composure on a neutral floor in Indy, they have the defensive teeth to win it all.
Oakland – It’s Greg Kampe’s 42nd year, and the Golden Grizzlies enter as the No. 4 seed with a 12-8 league record. As always, Kampe’s team is a nightmare to prepare for due to his signature matchup zone. Brody Robinson has stepped up as the primary scoring threat averaging 17 points a game, while Tuburu Naivalurua anchors the interior. Oakland has a history of peaking in March, with a standout year in 2023, and after a solid 16-15 overall regular season, they remain the team no one wants to see on their side of the bracket.
Green Bay – In his second year, coach Doug Gottlieb and the Green Bay Phoenix secured the No. 5 seed with a 12-8 conference record (17-14 overall). Gottlieb has brought a national spotlight to Green Bay with his high-IQ offensive system. The Phoenix lead the league in free-throw percentage and rank near the top in three-point accuracy, making them dangerous in close games. With standout shooter Foster Wonders spacing the floor, Green Bay can beat anyone if they get hot from deep.
The Middle Pack
Purdue Fort Wayne – Led by 12th-year coach Jon Coffman, the Mastodons finished as the No. 6 seed with a 11-9 league record. They are a veteran group that thrives on a fast-paced “5-out” offense. Quinton Morton-Robertson remains one of the elite deep-range shooters in the conference. While they’ve been inconsistent in February, their ability to spread the floor makes them a very difficult out in a single-elimination setting.
Northern Kentucky – Led by seventh-year coach Darrin Horn, the Norse enter as the No. 7 seed with a 10-10 league record. It has been a defensive-minded year for NKU, led by the return of Sam Vinson. While they struggled with scoring droughts during the regular season, Horn’s teams are notoriously tough in the tournament. They will rely on their “Norse Up” defensive intensity to try and grind out low-scoring upsets.
Milwaukee – Led by fourth-year coach Bart Lundy, the Panthers are the No. 8 seed with an 8-12 league record. Milwaukee is the fastest pace team in the league and relies on Kentrell Pullian to generate offense in transition. They are a high-variance team when they are hitting shots, they look like a top-3 seed, but defensive lapses have cost them in close conference games.
Youngstown State – Led by second-year coach Ethan Faulkner, the Penguins enter as the No. 9 seed (8-12 league). Following the departure of several key veterans last year, Nico Galette has shouldered the scoring load. They are a dangerous lower seed because they play a “nothing to lose” style of basketball and can score in bunches.
The Opening Round Matchup
Cleveland State – Led by first-year coach Rob Summers, the Vikings are the No.10 seed (6-14 league). It has been a rebuilding year for Summers, focusing on installing a high-pressure defensive system. They face IU Indy in the opening play-in game today. Tevin Smith is the player to watch. If he can dominate the paint, the Vikings could advance to face Wright State.
IU Indy – It’s a lot of firsts for first-year head coach Ben Howlett, as the Jaguars are the No.11 seed in their first year under the new IU Indy branding (3-17 league). Howlett has focused on culture-building. While they have struggled to find wins, they play a frantic, up-tempo “system” that can catch opponents off guard. Jarvis Walker leads the way for a young squad looking to pull off a massive opening-night upset.
My Prediction
With an introduction to the teams, it’s time to pin who will be the winner of the 2026 Horizon League basketball tournament. The best team and the clear favorite is Wright State, but I believe their hopes will be spoiled at the hands of Robert Morris. The difference between a 2nd-year and a 16th-year head coach in experience, along with them coming off a seven-game win streak headed into the tournament, will propel this team past everyone else in the field and be the 2026 Horizon League champions.