Great Lakes Sports Conference Tournament Preview #1

Welcome to another exciting Conference Tournament Year, and we at Great Lakes Sports will give you the contenders in each of the Conference Tournaments, and will get you ready for the big dance. We here at Great Lakes Sports would like to wish you luck this upcoming Conference Tournament season.

             Horizon Tournament Preview:

Butler- The Bulldogs who returned 3 starters have opened up a lot of people’s eyes as they have a 25-5 record this year, and are currently ranked number 15 in the country as of this writing, and Butler is number two in the conference behind Wright State with a 12-3 record. Butler is led by a strong perimeter game especially behind the arc which the Bulldogs are led by A.J. Graves (17.4ppg), and Mike Green (14.5ppg). We at Great Lakes Sports will take Butler to win the Horizon League Championship with a very solid guard play which will also open up the game for the Butler Big men. The Bulldogs will represent the Horizon conference in the Big Dance.

Wright State- The Raiders has had a very good year even though they only have one starter back from last year team. Wright State is 21-9 overall, and number one in the conference with a 13-3 record, and should have the number #1 seed in this year Horizon League Tournament. The Raider are on a roll winning nine out of their last ten games, and are led by one of the toughest guards in the Horizon conference in Dashaun Wood (19.4ppg). With Wright State athletic ability, and depth on their bench we look for the Wright State Raiders to make a strong push for the conference Championship.

Loyola Chicago- The Ramblers could make a lot of noise when it comes tournament time with Loyola Chicago lost every starter last year due to graduation, and they stand in third place in the conference with a 21-9 record Are led by senior guard Blake Schilb (16.1ppg), and (5.1rpg). The Ramblers have won seven in a row including coming off a win against #15 Butler. We look for the Ramblers tough defense, and solid shooting to create some match-up problems against teams in the conference. So don’t count Loyola Chicago out as they will be a major force in the Horizon tournament.

Youngstown State- The Penguins is our dark horse in this Horizon tournament with only one starter back from last year squad the Penguins have had one of their best years in quite sometime with a 13-15 record Youngstown State has won three in a row, and four out of their last five games including a big win against Wright State. The Penguins are led by a pair of solid guards in Senior Quin Humphrey (19.5ppg) with (7.1rpg) which leads the team in both categories, and they also have Senior guard Keston
Roberts (16.2ppg). If Youngstown State can use their head, and limit their mistakes they could make some noise in the Horizon Tournament.

         Ohio Valley Tournament Preview:

Austin Peay- The Governors returned 2 starters this year, and was picked by many experts to struggle this year, but they have had a Great year going 19-9 this year, and going 13-3 their last 19 games. The first place Governors are led by a pair of 6’5” Forwards in Sophomore Drake Reed (15.8ppg), and Fernandez Lockett (11.4ppg), and (7.7rpg). We look for the strong inside play of Austin Peay will carry the Governors all the way to the Ohio Valley Championship. 

Eastern Kentucky- With the Colonels returning 2 starters from last year squad, and the depth of Eastern Kentucky this will be a strong club in the Ohio Valley Tournament. Eastern Kentucky is 17-11 this year but have one seven out of their last nine games, and are led by sophomore guard Mike Rose (15.1ppg). If the Colonels can turn up the intensity on defense the have a chance to win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Tennessee Tech- Here is a team that is really on a roll going into tournament action with a 18-12 record as of this writing, the Golden Eagles have won 12 out of their last 15 games, and a big part of their success has been the play of 6’4” Senior guard Belton Rivers (18.0ppg), and his side kick 6’2” Junior guard Anthony Fisher (17.3ppg). The Golden eagles can score from anywhere on the court which will create match-up problems as they have the speed, and athletic ability to blow out teams. We look for Tennessee Tech to carry this momentum into the tournament, and will be one of the favorites.

Samford- This is our dark horse as they return only one starter back from last year team from a team that went 20-11 last year, and had a lot of depth this year. The Bulldogs did not have the year they expected as they are only 14-15 this year. Samford is led by 6’1|” Senior guard Randall Gulina (17.8ppg), and if they can cut down on their turnovers they have a chance to make a splash in this years tournament. The other thing that Samford will need to improve is their free throw shooting as a team as they have only three guys shooting above 70% this season. We do look for the Bulldogs to be running on all cylinders, and be competitive in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament this year.

This is a look at the first two Conference tournaments this year, and check back with Great Lakes Sports for all of your College Basketball Conference Tournaments, and Big Dance Preview, and always good luck from Great Lakes Sports.

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