The Horizon League has a big opportunity this week, but more importantly, arguably the top four teams in the league will go head-to-head on Tuesday night. In addition to the crazy upset opportunities and matchups of the conference’s elite, there are some mid-level matchups of higher quality.
Check out some of the best games of the week. Please note that there are no games on Monday or Thursday this week.
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Be sure to check out my recap of the past week.
Horizon League key games
Miami (Ohio) vs. Wright State (5-6, 1-1 Horizon League), Tuesday, Dec. 16 ET, ESPN+
Not only does Wright State have a chance to beat an in-state rival in the comfort of its home court at the Nutter Center, but it also has a chance to hand Miami (Ohio) its first loss. The Redhawks are the last undefeated Mid-League team in the country and are on a ten-game winning streak to start the season. Freshman Michael Cooper continues to lead Wright State in scoring. He struggled in the Horizon League opener against Youngstown State, but scored 23 points against Green Bay and 22 points against Marshall. If the Raiders want to end Miami’s winning streak, Cooper will need to have one more big game. Michael Imariagbe is also a solid frontcourt player for Wright State, averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game. He struggled against Marshall over the weekend, but if he returns to form and provides resistance down low, the Raiders’ chances will improve significantly.
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UC Santa Barbara vs. Green Bay (5-7, 1-2 Horizon League), Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The site details Green Bay’s improvement from last season and its first Horizon League victory over Indiana University-Indy before Christmas, surpassing its win total for the entire 2024-25 season. However, the game offers plenty of intrigue. It’s still early, but the Gauchos are once again among the top contenders in the Big West and there will be excitement throughout March. After leaving Saint Mary’s College for the University of Connecticut, Aidan Mahaney returned to the West and once again established himself at the University of California, Santa Barbara, averaging a team-leading 14.6 points per game and shooting 43.6% from the field. For Green Bay, Marcus Hall has returned from injury, but a few different faces have made strides as contributors in his absence. Doug Gottlieb’s team shouldn’t discount the opportunity to play a high-level mid-level league in a true home game.
Youngstown State (7-4, 2-0 Horizon League) vs. Robert Morris (8-4, 1-1 Horizon League), Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Youngstown State looked to be the best team in the conference early in the season, but then struggled. Led by Chris Carroll, the Penguins have found balance again and are off to a 2-0 start in the league. This road game against the defending champions will be Youngstown State’s first big test in the league. DeSean Goode has emerged on the Colonials, leading the team with 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Nikolaos Chitikoudis provided some big moments for Robert Morris early on, but in his second season in the league, Goode began to dominate. The Colonials are 1-1 in conference play, losing to Milwaukee at the buzzer on the road, but they are riding the momentum of their home win against Toledo. These two teams are by far the two best teams in the league, and fans could be in for a treat on Tuesday.
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Oakland (5-6, 1-0 Horizon League) vs. Northern Kentucky (9-3, 1-1 Horizon League), Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Oakland is still shaking things off record-wise, but still looks to be the top team in the league. Brodie Robinson has been playing like the league’s Player of the Year lately, and the return of Michael Hogg bolsters an already strong frontcourt. Greg Kemp will lead his team on the road against Northern Kentucky, along with a dynamic backcourt of Dan Galeziger and Donovan O’Dea setting the stage for a strong start to the season. The Norsemen lost to Purdue Fort Wayne in their last conference game and will look to decipher the Golden Grizzlies’ zone for a big conference win. Regardless of the brutal schedule Oakland faces, it now has a chance to play high-level Horizon League opponents early and see where it stands in the league, and that’s what really matters. The game is Wednesday’s can’t-miss Horizon League second game.
South Dakota State vs. Milwaukee (4-6, 1-0 Horizon League), Friday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. ET, B1G+
As part of the Feather Forum Milwaukee Basketball Showdown, Milwaukee gets a chance to take on South Dakota State, which is still regrouping following the departure of Eric Henderson. Despite losing their head coach, the Jackrabbits went into this week’s games with a 7-5 record and didn’t really suffer a serious loss. The Panthers — despite being the preseason favorites — haven’t quite settled in yet, but maybe a change of scenery without traveling is what Bart Lundy’s team needs. While Horizon League games are obviously important, this is the game Milwaukee needs to capitalize on if it really wants to dance in a few months.
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Horizon League has a chance to beat high-level opponents
Oakland vs. No. 9 Michigan State, Saturday, Dec. 20, 12 p.m. ET, BTN
Purdue University Fort Wayne at Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. ET, ACC Extra
most likely:
If you’re near a TV or streaming device, be sure to watch the coaches’ introduction to the game between Oakland and Michigan State. Greg Kemp and Tom Izzo will almost certainly be wearing festive attire on the sidelines at Little Caesars Arena.
However, Michigan State narrowly defeated Penn State over the weekend, and Izzo mentioned that since his players didn’t have classes, his team was able to practice twice a day, so it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a fun week for the Spartans. So, Oakland could be playing a very aggressive Michigan State team. Therefore, Purdue Fort Wayne may have a better chance of beating a high-level opponent this week. Notre Dame has improved a lot this season and has yet to lose at home, but it’s still not Michigan State. Corey Hadnot II leads the Horizon League in scoring, averaging over 20 points per game. In their last big chance, the Mastodons went down to the wire with Utah State, proving they could compete if everything goes right. Oakland looks better at this point and beat the Mastodons head-on, but it’s hard to argue it has a better chance against Michigan State. If Hudt can get hot and have another big day, something could happen for Purdue Fort Wayne in South Bend.
