CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The Horizon League Tournament.
In a Horizon League Tournament filled with upsets and lower seeds making runs, it was the one-seed Oakland Golden Grizzlies who came out on top.
The two, three, and four seeds all went out in the quarterfinals, leaving the five, six, and seven seeds in the semifinal. It was Oakland versus Milwaukee, and in an exciting final, the Grizz was too much for BJ Freeman and co., and Oakland is dancing for the first time as members of the Horizon.
CBB Review Horizon League Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Trey Townsend, Oakland
The regular season player of the year did it once again, scoring 38 points in the final on 12-22 shooting. He added 11 rebounds and 5 assists to that total and ensured that Milwaukee never put themselves in a position to build a lead. He wasn’t terrific in the first two games, scoring 6 and 15, but when you put those numbers up in a final, you deserve the honor of most outstanding player.
While the loser never earns the honor, BJ Freeman could have easily won this award. He was incredible all tournament and willed his team to be in a position to dance, and for that, he should get his flowers.
CBB Review All-Horizon League Tournament First Team
- G: BJ Freeman, Milwaukee – 4 GP (22.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.3 APG)
- G: Trey Robinson, Northern Kentucky – 2 GP (25.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG)
- G: Jack Gohlke, Oakland – 2 GP (15 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 14 3PM)
- G: Marques Warrick, Northern Kentucky – 2 GP (19.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2 APG, 3 SPG)
- F: Trey Townsend, Oakland – 3 GP (19.7 PPG, 10 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2 SPG, 1 BPG)
Oakland’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
Oakland has had their fair share of tournament matchups this year, taking on future tournament teams Illinois, Drake, Michigan State, and Dayton in the regular season. They went 0-4 in those games. They did beat Xavier though, and lost to Ohio State by only six, so there’s a chance on a neutral court. The key will be just how hot can Gohlke get. If he knocks down five or six threes, and Townsend adds 20, then that can be enough for a shocking upset and get them a tournament win.
[…] first game of the season, he scored 33 points and added 10 rebounds against Providence, and in the Horizon League Tournament, he averaged 29.7 PPG in the first three games to put his team in a position to make the NCAA […]