It’s not like you’re doing anything else tonight
And we’re back!
…with a special edition of the Horizon League Weekend Tip(sy)-off that’s taking place in the middle of the week. For a non-league game. That isn’t nationally televised. Between two of the five lowest rated teams on KenPom.
It’s been a rough year to cover the Horizon League, okay? We’re leaning into it.
Tonight at 7 PM EST on ESPN+, an IUPUI team that many Horizon League fans wish hadn’t been brought into the league takes on a Chicago State team that Horizon League fans are desperately hoping is never invited into the league. Chicago State is 3-7 with all three wins coming against Division I opponents, meanwhile IUPUI is 1-8 and still searching for its first Division I win. Despite that, the Jaguars are currently a spot higher on KenPom, ranked 354 (out of 358) compared to CSU’s 355. This is going to be…something!
Because we’re a Horizon League site, most of the rules will be focused on IUPUI and the Horizon League, but we’d like to give a shout-out to Cougar Pride on Twitter for helping us with some Chicago State rules.
Be sure to follow HoriZone Roundtable on Twitter to keep up with the rules and (barring tech issues) join our Space for the game.
Apologies in advance if I went a little overboard with this one, I’ve missed this!
The Rules:
Take one drink if Boston Stanton makes a 3-pointer.
- The 6-foot-5 freshman from Denver joined IUPUI known for his 3-point shooting, but hasn’t quite found his rhythm yet in college. Stanton is hitting an average of one 3-pointer per game, but is shooting just 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Take one drink when either team reaches the bonus in a half
- Both IUPUI and Chicago State are in the Top 30 in terms of fouls committed per game. IUPUI is 28th with 19.7 per game while Chicago State is 12th with 20.9.
(Double) Bonus: Take two drinks when either team reaches the double bonus.
- The (Double) Bonus rule has never actually been about the Double Bonus, but today it fits!
Take one drink if Teddy Bayi Ba Mandeng misses a free throw.
- Chicago State’s 6-foot-9 junior forward from Paris is shooting 38.75% from the free throw line this season.
Take two drinks if an IUPUI player other than B.J. Maxwell scores 10 points.
- Maxwell leads the Jaguars with 12.5 points per game, and he’s been the team’s leading scorer in seven of its eight games against Division I competition. Second leading scorer K.J. Pruitt averages just 5.0 points per game.
Take one drink if Noah Bigirumwami attempts a 3-pointer.
- Despite his 6-foot-10 frame the reserve forward from Santa Clarita, CA typically attempts about a 3-pointer a night for the Cougars.
Finish your drink if the broadcast speculates about Chicago State moving to the Horizon League:
- The Missouri Valley Conference was in the process of adding schools when Loyola announced its departure for the Atlantic 10, leaving the MVC without a presence in the Chicago market. That led to UIC emerging as a top candidate to join the MVC, with presentations set for December 19. With the Horizon League potentially losing its Chicago market, don’t be surprised if the Cougars are linked to the league…much to the chagrin of Horizon League fans.
Take one drink if any of B.J. Maxwell’s former schools is mentioned.
- IUPUI’s go-to guy is very well traveled. He’s had stops at Detroit Mercy and Abilene Christian, current conference rivals of each of the teams in today’s game. He spent last season at Division II St. Edward’s University.
Take one drink if announcers mention that Tommy Strine has coached at both schools.
- Strine — currently an IUPUI assistant — spent last season at Chicago State.
Take one drink if Tracy Dildy is mentioned
- The former Chicago State Head Coach and interim Athletic Director has extensive Horizon League experience, now in his fourth year as an assistant at Detroit Mercy after previously spending three seasons at UIC.
Finish your drink if IUPUI loses.
- The Horizon League currently has three losses to teams that have lost to the perennial Division I bottomfeeder Chicago State: IUPUI against Tennessee State and both Purdue Fort Wayne and Youngstown State against Southern Illinois-Edwardsvile. Needless to say that the Cougars seem to be a bit better than they have been in recent years where a single Division I win was the norm, but a loss to Chicago State itself would still be a tough pill for Horizon League fans to swallow.
And as always, HoriZone Roundtable editorial staff (or whoever is in charge of the Twitter account) reserves the right to assign drinks based on amazing things that happen in-game that aren’t written into the rules. In this case, I feel the need to specify that things that are so bad they’re good also count.
