2025 Horizon League Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The Horizon League Tournament.

The Horizon League was exciting all year long, with seven of top 11 teams finishing with winning records in conference play, and difference between the first and fourth seed being just two games. Robert Morris earned the regular season crown, winning seven games in a row to close out the regular season, beating out Milwaukee and Cleveland State by one game.

Oakland won the regular season and conference tournaments last year before infamously knocking off Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

In the last ten tournaments, the one seed has won three times, the two seed three times, and the four seed four times. Do what you want with that information.

The Horizon League Tournament starts on Tuesday, Mar. 3, and ends March 11th. This is an interesting format, with reseeding occurring after each round and a four-day gap between the quarterfinal and semifinal, unlike what we typically see in those consecutive day tournaments.

2025 Horizon League Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Alvado Folgueiras, Robert Morris

Freshman of the Year: Je’Shawn Stevenson, Cleveland State

Transfer of the Year: Kam Woods, Robert Morris

Coach of the Year: Andy Toole, Robert Morris

First Team:

• G: Kam Woods, Robert Morris (14.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 SPG)
• G: Tevin Smith, Cleveland State (13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 41.7 APG, 1.2 SPG)
• G: Jalen Jackson, Purdue Fort-Wayne (19.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.6 SPG)
• F: Alvardo Folgueiras, Robert Morris (14.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG)
• F: Brandon Noel, Wright State (19.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG)

Second Team:

• G: Themus Fulks, Milwaukee (14.4 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG)
• G: EJ Farmer, Youngstown State (15.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG)
• G: Rasheed Bello, Purdue Fort-Wayne (16.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG)
• G: Trey Robinson, Northern Kentucky (15.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG)
• F: JaMichael Stillwell, Milwaukee (12.9 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.3 SPG)

2025 Horizon League Tournament Simulation

First Round – Tues., Mar. 6

7. Northern Kentucky (14-17, 8-12) vs. 10. Detroit Mercy (8-23, 4-16) – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Detroit Mercy enters this game on a seven-game losing streak and hasn’t won in over a month. Of those four wins, though, one was against Northern Kentucky in January. With that being said, this team just doesn’t have the talent to take down Trey Robinson and the Norse, who enter on a four-game win streak themselves.

Ariel’s pick: 7. Northern Kentucky

6. Oakland (14-17, 11-9) vs. 11. Green Bay (4-27, 2-18) – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Green Bay has been the biggest laughing stock in college basketball, led by Doug Gottileb. However, they started to build momentum heading into conference tournament play, finishing 2-3 after an 0-15 start to conference play. This included a three point home loss in overtime to Oakland.

Green Bay led by 10 with five minutes to go in this one, so they are very capable of winning this one. However, Greg Kampe has been here and knows how to win these games. He won’t let his Grizzlies slip up.

Ariel’s pick: 6. Oakland

8. Wright State (14-17, 8-12) vs. 9. IU Indy (10-21, 6-14) – 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+

These two teams also played each other to close out the season, and IU Indy came out on top, winning 91-84. The first time they played, though, it was a different story, with Wright State winning that one 91-73.

This will be a terrific matchup between two of the top scorers in the conference, Brandon Noel for Wright State and Paul Zilnskas for IU Indy. Whoever wins that battle wins the game, and that will be Noel.

Ariel’s pick: 8. Wright State

Quarterfinals – Thu., Mar. 6

4. Youngstown State (19-12, 13-7) vs. 5. Purdue Fort-Wayne (19-12, 12-8) – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+

This will be a really fun game against two of the top three scoring offenses in the country. Youngstown State dominated PFW in their last matchup, winning 93-71. The two teams split the season series, though. Can Youngstown State stop both Jalen Jackson and Rasheed Bello? Probably not, and with a 9-5 home record (fourth worst in the Horizon League), this Youngstown State team is prone to the loss.

Ariel’s pick: 5. Purdue Fort-Wayne

3. Milwaukee (21-10, 14-6) vs. 6. Oakland – 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+

It’s always funny when the best team analytically isn’t the best record-wise, which is the situation with Milwaukee. Milwaukee is 138th in Kenpom, 14 spots higher than Robert Morris and 61 higher than their opponent, Oakland. This team is 5-1 in their last six and is extremely balanced. Oakland will try to keep it close, but Milwaukee will get it done.

Ariel’s pick: 3. Milwaukee

1. Robert Morris (23-8, 15-5) vs. 8. Wright State – 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Robert Morris, who were picked to finish 9th in the conference preseason, continue to impress, winning their last seven to earn the sole regular season title. Their last loss, though? Wright State on February 1st.

Robert Morris went 15-2 at home this season and haven’t lost there since January 8th. Don’t expect that to change today.

Ariel’s pick: 1. Robert Morris

2. Cleveland State (20-11, 14-6) vs. 7. Northern Kentucky – 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Sorry for all the chalk so far, that will change here. Cleveland State started conference play 11-1, but are coming off a 2-5 February. Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky has won four straight to close the season. March is all about momentum, and you have to take the team with that in this one.

Ariel’s pick: 7. Northern Kentucky

Semifinals – Mon., Mar. 10

1. Robert Morris vs. 7. Northern Kentucky – 7 p.m ET on ESPNU/ESPN+

Robert Morris seeing their path to the final is a seven seed and eight seed has to bring a huge smile to their face. These two teams gave us one of the best games of the season, a triple overtime thriller that Robert Morris came out on top of. It’s hard to beat a team three times in one season, but RMU will do that and advance to their first final ever.

Ariel’s pick: 1. Robert Morris

3. Milwaukee vs. 5. Purdue Fort Wayne – 9:30 ET on ESPN2/ESPN+

Purdue Fort Wayne actually swept the season series, winning the two games by a combined six games. Expect this one to be close as well, but the way Milwaukee played to close the season, they get the slight nod this time around. Don’t be surprised if Jalen Jackson scores 35 and leads PFW to the final though.

Ariel’s pick: 3. Milwaukee

Championship – Tue., Mar. 11

1. Robert Morris vs. 3. Milwaukee – 7 p.m ET on ESPN+

What a game this will be. RMU swept the season series, including a 13-point home win on February 23rd. Kam Woods went for 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists, and player of the year Alvardo Folgueiras added 17 and 12. Milwaukee shot just 34.9% from the field and 26.9% from three.

Can Robert Morris do that again? As mentioned earlier, the three seed hasn’t won since 2013. However, Bart Lundy is a winner, and he’ll lead this team to its first tournament appearance since 2014.

Ariel’s pick: 3. Milwaukee