This year’s Horizon League Tournament has shaped up to be one of the more open races in College Hoops, but it’s no secret that there is a heavy favorite to defeat to reach the top. 

Cleveland State is the reigning Horizon League champion but has not exactly hit its stride heading into the tournament. The Vikings have lost two games in a row, falling to Oakland (12-7 in conference play) and Detroit (10-7 in conference play.)

I do believe that the Quarterfinals being hosted at the campus sites of the highest seed is beneficial to Cleveland State, but the Semifinals is where I believe it will get interesting. 

In the Semifinals, I’ve got it down to Cleveland State (1), Purdue Fort Wayne (2), Youngstown State (7), and Wright State (4). The biggest upset in this year’s tournament could easily be the Youngstown State Penguins taking down No. 3 seeded Northern Kentucky at home. 

Northern Kentucky is 2-0 this season against Youngstown State, with one win coming at home and one on the road. Youngstown State put up a good fight in the first matchup, but struggled shooting in their most recent matchup on Feb. 26. Youngstown State knows what they need to do to take down the Norse and I believe they will. 

Keep an eye on the duo of Jarred Godfrey and Jalon Pipkins for IPFW heading into March this year. The two guards average 15.1 and 13.6 PPG, respectively, and provide the majority of the offense for the Mastodons. These two benefit from each other by essentially playing a two-man game setting picks and creating opportunities for one another. When one is hot, so is the other. 

In the championship matchup in Indianapolis, I’ve got the Mastodons of IPFW taking down the Cleveland State Vikings. The Mastodons started the season 0-2 against the Vikings but took them down in triple-overtime on Feb. 14. IPFW came into the tournament red-hot, winning nine games in a row, and I believe that momentum will carry them into “The Big Dance” with a win over Wright State in the championship.