2008 Horizon Hoops Preview

When you have two of the best players in the league, chances are very good you will contend for the league title. Cleveland State boasts a pair of studs in J’Nathan Bullock and Cedric Jackson, either of whom could end up as Player of the Year. Bullock averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds from his forward slot, while Jackson produced 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists from the backcourt. Jackson was also ninth in the nation in steals at 2.6 per game, which earned the St. John’s transfer a spot on the Horizon All-Defensive team. Both players can create for themselves on offense, which is a big advantage in what has been a low-possession, low-scoring league. Gary Waters’ team claimed wins over Florida State, South Florida and Butler last year on the way to the NIT. With four starters returning, the Vikings have an excellent shot at bettering that effort.

2. Wright State (21–10, 12–6)

If the Horizon League has learned one thing about coach Brad Brownell in the two years since he arrived from UNC Wilmington (where he went to two NCAAs in four years), it is this: The guy can coach. In Year 1, Brownell put the Raiders into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993. Last year, Wright State won 21 games, including five against top-100 RPI teams, and compiled a remarkable 12–3 record in games decided by four points or fewer. Brownell lost his starting frontcourt from last year’s squad, but he does welcome back his best player — All-Horizon first-teamer Vaughn Duggins. The junior led the team with 13.8 points per game and won two games in the final seconds with one-on-one drives last year. Duggins will be complemented by guard Todd Brown (12.7 ppg), who has shown a knack for hitting big shots in big situations. 

3. Green Bay (15–15, 9–9)

All five starters return for a team that failed to live up to expectations last year with a 9–9 league mark. Forward Mike Schachtner headlines the bunch after scoring 15.8 points per game, and the senior is the league’s leading returning career scorer. Forward Terry Evans is one of the league’s leading returning rebounders (6.9), and senior guard Ryan Tillema really came on in the latter half of last season, especially from 3-point range. The Phoenix were 11–3 at home last season and led the league in field goal percentage and were second in scoring. If coach Tod Kowalczyk can improve the team’s defense, which tied for last in the league in points allowed, this group will challenge all season long.

4. Butler (30–4, 16–2)

No team in the league lost more (or better) starters than the Bulldogs, who return only one from last year’s team. Five key players who contributed to a phenomenal two-year stretch that produced 59 wins, including three in the NCAA Tournament, graduated last spring. Second-year coach Brad Stevens will start over, and the initial focus will be forward Matt Howard. The Horizon Newcomer of the Year played his way into the starting lineup as a freshman and averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. After that, there will be a lot of trial and error. Point guard Ronald Nored and 6'8" wing Gordon Hayward, who chose Butler over Purdue, are two newcomers to watch.

5. Illinois-Chicago (18–15, 9–9)

The Flames have a good chance to improve on last season’s .500 league mark. Josh Mayo is the league’s leading returning scorer at 17.1 points per game, and 7'0" senior Scott VanderMeer led the league in rebounding (7.5) and blocks (2.58). Jimmy Collins welcomes back his top three scorers from a year ago in Mayo, VanderMeer and sixth man Robert Kreps, who will likely move into the starting lineup. The league’s top 3-point shooting team a year ago will again be dangerous from long range.

6. Valparaiso (22–14, 9–9)

Valpo made a successful transition to the Horizon last year, but this season may be more difficult with the departure of its top two scorers, Shawn Huff and Jarryd Loyd. Still, veteran coach Homer Drew will be able to count on one of the best pure shooters in the league in Samuel Haanpaa, and forward Urule Igbavboa was very productive as a junior.

7. Loyola (12–19, 6–12)

The Ramblers welcome back four starters and six of their top seven scorers. Senior J.R. Blount is an all-league candidate (15.1 ppg), especially if the guard can improve his woeful 23.7 percent shooting from three. As a team, the Ramblers made just 27.8 percent from long distance — a weakness that must be shored up.

8. Milwaukee (14–16, 9–9)

If the Panthers are going to continue to climb back to the league’s elite, it will be on the shoulders of Ricky Franklin and Deonte Roberts, who was a Horizon All-Newcomer last season after scoring 7.0 points and handing out 2.4 assists per game as a freshman. Rob Jeter welcomes in a six-man recruiting class that includes three junior college players.

9. Youngstown State (9–21, 5–13)

Promising sophomore Vytas Sulskis and senior big man Jack Liles will spearhead a new-look Penguins squad that will feature five junior college transfers and two incoming freshmen. Youngstown State, which was won fewer than 10 games in six of the past seven years, lost its top two scorers from last year.

10. Detroit (7–23, 3–15)

Ray McCallum, an assistant with Kelvin Sampson at Oklahoma and Indiana and a former head coach at Ball State and Houston, takes over a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999. Three starters return, including Chris Hayes, who averaged 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds, but the team said farewell to Jon Goode, who led the Horizon in scoring last season.