Messages

Wright State fan here. I enjoy reading your board occasionally. To the NKU fan. I thought NKU was a great addition to the league. It made sense geographically and maybe gives Wright State a bit of a rival. I was a Cincy Bearcats fan as well growing up and remember several times NKU taking a beating as D2 team from the Bearcats. But it's no surprise that they are going to be a good program being in the basketball rich area of Cincinnati/Kentucky. A few other thoughts from a non Valpo fan!...

-Jon Lecrone mentioned possibly having the tournament in Chicago or Indy in the future. I like the Indy idea a little better. I think the league gets lost in the shuffle in Chicago. There's too much going on in Chicago for people to notice the Horizon League tournament. They may not notice it much in Detroit, but I'd say there is a little better chance.

-I understand the frustration of some of you Valpo fans, but the bigger question is how do the top 3 teams in the league lose to 3 of the bottom teams in the league? And Valpo and Oakland both losing in the first game two years in a row? For Oakland I think it's more embarrassing and makes you question the makeup of their team (not talent wise but maybe mentally, leadership wise)

-The most exciting game I have been to probably in my life was Wright State hosting Butler in the horizon league championship game and winning it in 2007. Hard to duplicate an on campus championship game with so much on the line.

-Personally I wish Wright State was in the MAC. To be with all those schools in Ohio makes sense to me, with lots of rivalries.
-The MAC has a pretty good thing going in Cleveland, MVC in St. Louis...If Horizon sticks to it maybe that happens. The problem might be putting hope in Detroit and Oakland being good tourney teams.

-The basketball in the Horizon is pretty decent overall I'd say. Hopefully next year the league is better as a whole and the top teams actually do well in the Horizon League tournament in the new stadium. We'll see!

Wright state fan here.  First, sorry to hear of Alec Peters injury. Hoping it's not serious! I agree with much of what was said about how it's not feasible for fans to go to the whole tournament staying in Detroit till Tuesday evening and then driving home.

Thoughts on why Detroit was chosen.
1. Large market with 2 horizon league teams in it.
2. New stadium being built that tourney moves into next year. I think this was the main reason.
3. Detroit having somewhat of a renaissance as a city on the comeback. Maybe being a part of that.
4. Fairly central location for the league.

Now my personal opinion on future potential locations...Columbus Ohio, Cincinnati, Indy?

No team is in Columbus but maybe its a town that would support it more than Detroit.
Cincinnati loves college hoops...maybe too much Xavier UC connection there?

Would have to be a weekend tourney to make sense in say Columbus. What's the need for ESPN hosting the championship game anymore? Why not nbc sports, CBS sports, American sports network?

Horizon league has had a hard time really building tradition. Butler did that but then left. There's no great rivalries, great fan bases, consistent ncaa tourney winner (after butler). I think the basketball is enjoyable and the action good enough but the league just lacks identity.

Valpo has a good brand and identity. I think your hoops facility lacks but just my Opinion!

When Milwaukee and Butler were really good I think the league was at its most exciting. Milwaukee being good would help the league. Just having even 2 consistent ncaa level temas yearly would help.

I think Wright state has dropped the ball in that regard. They have a good program but just have never been able to take that next step like a Belmont, valpo, etc. I think the hope is Nagy will take them to that level.