2023 Horizon League Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday. Up next: The Horizon League Tournament.

The Horizon League will be a one-bid league in 2023, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a conference tournament worth paying attention to. Antoine Davis of Detroit Mercy is only 63 points behind Pete Maravich as the all-time leading scorer in college basketball. He has averaged 28 points per game this season, so he will likely need at least two games to get that record. Youngstown State comes in as the best team in the conference.

2023 Horizon League Awards

Player of the Year: Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy

Freshman of the Year: Brandon Noel, Wright State

Transfer of the Year: Tristan Enaruna, Cleveland State

Coach of the Year: Bart Lundy, Milwaukee

First Team:

• G: Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy (28.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 41.7 3P%)
• G: Trey Calvin, Wright State (20.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 38.4 3P%)
• G: Dwayne Cohill, Youngstown State (17.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 46.2 3P%)
• G: Marques Warrick, Northern Kentucky (19.0 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 38.7 3P%)
• F: Jarred Godfrey, Purdue Fort Wayne (18.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG)

Second Team:

• G: Jalen Moore, Oakland (19.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG)
• G: BJ Freeman, Milwaukee (17.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG)
• F: Tristan Enaruna, Cleveland State (15.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 BPG)
• F: Adrian Nelson, Youngstown State (13.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.5 SPG)
• F: Kahliel Spear, Robert Morris (15.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 BPG)

Horizon League Tournament Simulation

*Note* Horizon League reseeds after each round of the tournament so that the highest seed remaining is playing the lowest seed remaining, the second highest seed is playing the second lowest seed, etc.

First Round – Tuesday, Feb. 28

6. Robert Morris (15-16, 10-10) vs. 11. IUPUI (5-26, 2-18) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Robert Morris has struggled some with IUPUI this season, beating them by seven at home and losing by six on the road. It would not be a big deal except that IUPUI has been one of the worst teams in college basketball. Robert Morris shot only 20% from three in their loss, while IUPUI shot 41.7%. Hard to see that being replicated.

Joe’s pick: 6. Robert Morris

7. Wright State (17-14, 10-10) vs. 10. Green Bay (3-28, 2-18) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

In the matchup between Robert Morris and IUPUI, I mentioned how IUPUI was one of the worst teams in college basketball. Green Bay has given them a run for their money, however, only getting three wins on the season. Wright State won both of the previous matchups this season by 30+ points, and there is no reason to believe that a similar outcome will not happen again.

Joe’s pick: 7. Wright State

8. Detroit Mercy (13-18, 9-11) vs. 9. Purdue Fort Wayne (17-14, 9-11) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

All eyes will be on Antoine Davis as he chases Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring record. He will be the key to this game. Detroit Mercy won the two matchups in the season, and I think they will have more to play for in trying to get Davis another game to which he could possibly break the scoring record. If he has an off night though, Purdue Fort Wayne could definitely win this.

Joe’s pick: 8. Detroit Mercy

Quarterfinals – Thursday, Mar. 2

4. Northern Kentucky (19-12, 14-6) vs. 5. Oakland (13-18, 11-9) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Oakland really turned it around once the calendar flipped to 2023, going 11-7 over their last 18 games. This is going to be a very fun matchup as the teams split their season meetings, and both were close games. This game might come down to who has the better game within the Jalen Moore (Oakland) and Marques Warrick (Northern Kentucky) matchup, as they are two of the top guards in the Horizon League Tournament.

Joe’s pick: 4. Northern Kentucky

1. Youngstown State (23-8, 15-5) vs. 8. Detroit Mercy – 8 p.m. on ESPN+

Youngstown State comes in as the best team in the conference and the number one overall seed. They won both matchups against Detroit Mercy in the season, and they even held Antoine Davis to only 15 points in one of the matchups. As great as Davis is, this could be the last game for him as I don’t think Detroit Mercy will have the defense to be able to slow down the best offense in the conference.

Joe’s pick: 1. Youngstown State

3. Cleveland State (19-12, 14-6) vs. 6. Robert Morris (15-16, 10-10) – 8 p.m. on ESPN+

These were two of the top three defenses in the Horizon League, so this could be a low-scoring game. Robert Morris is legit, but I think that Tristan Enaruna will be able to do enough to lift Cleveland State.

Joe’s pick: 3. Cleveland State

2. Milwaukee (20-10, 14-6) vs. 7. Wright State – 8 p.m. on ESPN+

Bart Lundy took Milwaukee from toward the bottom of the conference to the #2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament in just his first season. One thing they have not done well is limit turnovers, and I think it could cost them here. This is another matchup of elite guards in BJ Freeman and Trey Calvin. Whoever plays better probably leads their team to victory.

Joe’s pick: 7. Wright State

Semifinals – Monday, Mar. 6

1. Youngstown State vs. 7. Wright State – 7 p.m. on ESPNU

This would be a rematch of the triple OT thriller that happened a month ago, in which Youngstown State won 91-89. Youngstown State’s offense might just be a bit too much to handle for Wright State, and I could see Dwayne Cohill having a very big night.

Joe’s pick: 1. Youngstown State

3. Cleveland State vs. 4. Northern Kentucky – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2

This is going to be a fun one. These teams split their regular season meetings, and the home team won each game by a single point. Cleveland State has more size, but Northern Kentucky has the better guard play. I will be rooting for this matchup to happen because I think that this would be a super fun matchup. In the end, the slight edge would go to Northern Kentucky as they rely on their defense to get them into the championship.

Joe’s pick: 4. Northern Kentucky

Championship – Tuesday, Mar. 7

1. Youngstown State vs. 4. Northern Kentucky – 7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2

This would be arguably a matchup of the two best teams in the Horizon League. The best offense in Youngstown State against the best defense in Northern Kentucky. A clash of styles that could lead to a super fun matchup. They split their in-season matchups, including a double OT game back in December. In the end, Youngstown State has one of the best offenses in the entire country, let alone the Horizon, and I think it will propel them to a win.

Joe’s pick: 1. Youngstown State