#HLMBB Power Rankings 2/16

Hey, everyone. I’m back.

Thanks to Griffin Beers for holding down the fort in my absence. In fact, thanks to him for making the Power Rankings far less complicated than I was doing. In any event, we’re getting closer to the end of the season, and things are still pretty tight in the conference. That, of course, means that the Power Rankings get interesting.

So, without further ado, here’s how those shake out this week.

1. Wright State

The fun thing about the Horizon League this season is that a team like Wright State can lose a game but somehow gain steam in snagging the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament. That’s exactly what happened to the Raiders this week, because even though they lost to Detroit Mercy, Oakland had a horrendous week, while Wright State bounced back with a convincing win over Cleveland State. The Raiders continue to mix it up with scoring options, as TJ Burch, normally known for his defensive skills, practically couldn’t miss against the Vikings, and neither could Alex Bruskotter, who has emerged as a more prominent piece of the rotation as of late. Wright State has a chance to sew up the top seed and at least a share of the regular season crown with wins against IU Indy and Robert Morris.

2. Oakland 

If not for the cushion they made for themselves so far this season, the Golden Grizzlies would be lower, especially with the loss to Youngstown State at home and the drubbing they received on the road at Robert Morris. As it stands, Oakland will need help keeping up with Wright State at the top of the standings and can’t afford any miscues–a tough task indeed, considering the Grizz host the Wisconsin teams next week.

3. Robert Morris (+2)

The Colonials may not be in the hunt for the regular season crown at this point, but they certainly made a couple of statements that they’re not a team to be trifled with, especially on the glass. Nikos Chitikoudos and DeSean Goode menaced both Cleveland State and Oakland this past week and were key to helping Robert Morris snag a pair of decisive wins.  A tough road matchup against Wright State, a team the Colonials beat at home, is on the docket.

4. Detroit Mercy (+2)

When you beat the best, you get a bump in the Power Rankings. Those are the rules. And that’s exactly what the Titans did when they went into the Nutter Center and snatched a win away from Wright State. Youngstown State gave Detroit Mercy a fight at Calihan Hall, but in the end, the Titans came away with yet another victory and remain poised to host a first round game. However, like Oakland, the Wisconsin trip looms, and any slip could put their homecourt chances in jeopardy.

5. Green Bay (-2)

The Phoenix probably would be higher if not for two things: 1. Robert Morris and Detroit Mercy sweeping their respective games this week, and 2. Milwaukee sneaking by Green Bay at the last second. The Phoenix still have a chance to make some noise and keep themselves in the hunt for a home tourney game, with Detroit Mercy and Oakland coming to town.

6. Purdue Fort Wayne (-1)

Like Green Bay, the Mastodons suffer from the indignity of splitting their games this week to end up in this spot. IU Indy also gave PFW a run for its money this week, though they won in the end. The Phoenix, of course, put a hurting on the Mastodons on national television, and while the win over the Jags helps, Purdue Fort Wayne will have to keep climbing by beating Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State this week. 

7. Northern Kentucky (+1)

As the Power Rankings go, sometimes you don’t have to do all that much during the week to move up. For the Norse, beating IU Indy was all they needed to do, although the Jags didn’t make it easy for them. Purdue Fort Wayne and Youngstown State are up next, and NKU will need wins to stay in the hunt for a home court tourney spot.

8. Milwaukee (+3)

If there was a week when Milwaukee needed some good fortune, it was this one. And given how the injury bug has made the Panthers’ season one to forget, close wins over IU Indy and in-state rival Green Bay will at least bring some good memories and possibly some momentum going into the conference tournament.

9. Youngstown State (+1)

The Penguins are eager to write their way out of the possibility of having a play-in game as one of the two lowest seeds in the Horizon League tourney. Beating Oakland certainly helped with that, but losing to Detroit Mercy didn’t help at all. This week, the most important contest will be at home against Cleveland State, with the loser more than likely having to play that unenviable Monday tilt to kick off the tournament.  

10. Cleveland State (-4)

The Vikings could use whatever mojo they had to rattle off five games in a row, because this past week, they were running on empty. Robert Morris crushed them on the boards, and Wright State crushed them on offense, leaving Cleveland State with nothing left but to wonder where things went wrong. Their season essentially hangs in the balance this week, with Youngstown State and Purdue Fort Wayne on tap.

11. IU Indy (-1)

The Jaguars still can’t figure out how to win consistently. They were given three chances for a W this week against Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky and Purdue Fort Wayne, and IU Indy still came up empty. The 11 seed and play-in game in the tournament are all but inevitable. However, there’s still a chance to play spoiler, as Wright State, another team the Jags had a chance to beat, comes to town.

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