HoriZone Roundtable

HoriZone Roundtable

@horizoneroundtable.com

Podcast and content all about the Horizon League. All socials: http://horizoneroundtable.com/subscribe. Sign up for notifications on the site to get the latest content! And stop using your Twitter burners to click on our posts.

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HoriZone Roundtable
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Our goals here, as they've been on Twitter and FB, are the same: 1. Get you to warmly embrace the Horizon League 2. Encourage the liberal use of the #HLMBB and #HLWBB tags 3. Be okay with Wright, Cleveland and Youngstown not being states 4. Reinforce that Jack Gohlke is a damned folk hero

HoriZone Roundtable
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The new episode is up! Listen here or where podcasts are available! https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/25/juuuust-a-bit-outside/

horizoneroundtable.comJuuuust a Bit OutsideWith the regular season looming, Bob and Jim talk about the crush of games that will constitute the first day, starting with the 3am ET tilt between Northern Illinois and Grambling. They also discuss the exhibitions from the week, including a tie, as well as the ongoing discussion about radio broadcasts (or, for certain teams, a lack thereof for this season. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our partner, Basket Under Review: ⁠⁠⁠⁠
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First game's a tie. You read that right. Final score: Detroit Mercy 70, Alabama A&M 70

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We've got a #HLMBB preseason double-header on tap at Wayne State today! Detroit Mercy plays Alabama A&M at 4:30pm ET Oakland plays Tennessee State ay 7pm ET. Watch live: www.youtube.com/@HWFoundatio...

youtube.comThe Horatio Williams FoundationThe Horatio Williams Foundation is dedicated to helping local youth realize personal success and achievement through a series of developmental leadership programs that will engage students in educatio...
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Cleveland State's Annika Corcoran is set to conclude her college career in her hometown during the 2026-27 season. Some might call that a storybook ending, but Corcoran's experience is a lot thicker than a storybook. Kyle Rossi has the…

horizoneroundtable.comSeven Years Wiser, Corcoran Returns Home for Final ChapterIf nothing else, it can certainly be said that Annika Corcoran knows how to persist until a job is finished. The guard from Chardon, OH is set to enter the 2026-27 season, her eighth in college basketball, as a clear leader on Cleveland State’s re-constituted roster, even among several other veteran players. “Ani is our vocal leader on the team,” head coach Bob Dunn confirmed. “She shares her experience with the staff and with her teammates to help drive our program forward.” “She's like having another coach on the court.”
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The new episode is up! Listen here or where podcasts are available! https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/18/get-a-glimpse-into-the-future/

horizoneroundtable.comGet a Glimpse Into the FutureExhibitions games are here, and Bob and Jim talk about what went down during the Green Bay, Oakland, Northern Kentucky, Wright State and Northern Illinois tune-ups. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our partner, Basket Under Review: ⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Wright State's exhibition against Bellarmine highlighted more than an easy win, and Blake Schumaker broke down what he observed during the victory. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/17/way-too-early-impressions-of-wright-state-following-exhibition-win-over-bellarmine/

horizoneroundtable.comWay-Too-Early Impressions of Wright State Following Exhibition Win over BellarmineTo start the season, the Wright State Raiders brought in the Bellarmine Knights for an exhibition matchup in front of the Raider faithful. After previously taking a win in a secret scrimmage against Ball State, and with another scrimmage on the horizon before the season's start, the Raiders would give their home crowd the first opportunity to see the squad in action before the highly anticipated Stars and Stripes Classic on November 2nd, where undoubtedly the Raider bouncy house will make an appearance. Wright State used this opportunity to show their intensity on the court, smothering the Bellarmine Knights 76-54 and taking full advantage of an early defensive shut out to make sure the outcome was never in doubt.
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Throughout a surprising first season under Keisha Newell, Oakland built a culture that helped retain players like HL Freshman of the Year Makenzie Luehring. Now, as Kyle Rossi explains, the Golden Grizzlies hope that continuing to lean on that culture can take them to the next level in…

horizoneroundtable.comLuehring, Golden Grizzlies Prepare for Unlikely EncoreNobody who witnessed Makenzie Luehring’s most recent public endeavor on a basketball court will soon forget it. For those who weren’t lucky enough, the Oakland guard nearly willed her team to a shocking upset at Cleveland State back on March 4th with a Horizon League Tournament record 39 points – more than the likes of Caitlin Clark, Maddy Siegrist, and Jaloni Cambridge have managed against the Vikings in recent years – on a 14-for-30 shooting effort, while adding five rebounds and four assists. Her twisting, buzzer-beating three to end the third quarter was just one of several signature moments that the freshman offered up, before the Golden Grizzlies fell on a pair of last-second free throws in overtime.
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Green Bay fought Wisconsin until the Badgers pulled away to close out the exhibition at the Resch Center. Eric Fischer has a few takeaways from the tune-up match. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/16/exhibition-takeaways-green-bay-falls-to-wisconsin/

horizoneroundtable.comExhibition takeaways: Green Bay falls to WisconsinIt may not count in the record books, but an in state rivalry was renewed for about 5,000 fans on Thursday night, as the Green Bay Phoenix hosted the Wisconsin Badgers in an exhibition game, which saw Wisconsin pull away late to a 96 to 77 win over the Phoenix. The fans in the Resch Center were split, as the crowd looked like a Christmas party, with red, green, and white spread throughout the arena. As Green Bay kept with the Badgers for 30 minutes, even those in the visiting cardinal and white rallied to support the hometown team.

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Sickos Committee
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I deleted that post about the 7-5 Texas graphic. I’m not gonna get sucked into that stuff and take the bait. Here’s Penny the Penguin bowling for Youngstown State instead.

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Kyle Rossi took on the fool's errand of picking preseason winners for each of the Horizon League's major #HLWBB individual awards, beyond Player of the Year. Find out what he's thinking and why, right…

horizoneroundtable.com2026-27 HoriZone Roundtable #HLWBB Preseason Award WinnersWhat fun is it to limit preseason awards picks to the Horizon League Player of the Year and two or three all-league teams? Why not take a shot at every HL award, including those that are flat-out absurd to project at this stage? Don't worry, you're in luck:
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Part 3 of our Post-Preview Week recap is up! Listen here or where podcasts are available! https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/11/2026-post-preview-week-recap-part-3/

horizoneroundtable.com2026 Post-Preview Week Recap, Part 3Bob, Jim and Kyle, as they have done in recent years, recap the HoriZone Roundtable's preseason poll for both men's and women's basketball. This episode covers: Oakland MBB Cleveland State WBB Robert Morris MBB Robert Morris WBB Green Bay MBB Youngstown State WBB Wright State MBB Green Bay WBB Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our partner, Basket Under Review: ⁠⁠⁠
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Part 2 of our Post-Preview Week recap is up! Listen here or where podcasts are available! https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/11/2026-post-preview-week-recap-part-2/

horizoneroundtable.com2026 Post-Preview Week Recap, Part 2Bob, Jim and Kyle, as they have done in recent years, recap the HoriZone Roundtable's preseason poll for both men's and women's basketball. This episode covers: Northern Illinois MBB Northern Kentucky WBB Northern Kentucky MBB Purdue Fort Wayne WBB Detroit Mercy MBB IU Indy WBB Milwaukee MBB Oakland WBB Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠ Join our partner, Basket Under Review: ⁠⁠
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Part 1 of our Post-Preview Week recap is up! Listen here or where podcasts are available! https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/11/2026-post-preview-week-recap-part-1/

horizoneroundtable.com2026 Post-Preview Week Recap, Part 1Bob, Jim and Kyle, as they have done in recent years, recap the HoriZone Roundtable's preseason poll for both men's and women's basketball. This episode covers: IU Indy MBB Wright State WBB Cleveland State MBB Detroit Mercy WBB Purdue Fort Wayne MBB Milwaukee WBB Youngstown State MBB Northern Illinois WBB Patreon: ⁠⁠ Subscribe: ⁠⁠ Join our partner, Basket Under Review: ⁠
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What does Wright State do for an encore to an #HLMBB championship and NCAA Tournament appearance? Try and do it all over again this season. Blake Schumaker has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/wright-state-raiders-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comWright State Raiders MBB 2026-27 PreviewFor the Wright State Raiders, last season could not have gone any better. While holding a dominant lead for the title of conference champions going into the championship, the Raiders were also able to capitalize on that success by clinching the Horizon’s bid to the dance, a feat they have not accomplished since 2007 when they defeated Butler as the 1 seed. In addition, the Raiders put Virginia on notice during the tournament, staying on their heels throughout the matchup until the final minutes. Now, third-year head coach Clint Sargent is looking to repeat for the title and another shot at the dance.
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The championship train kept rolling last year for Green Bay, and the expectation is that the Phoenix will be stay on top of #HLWBB this year. Eric Fischer has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/green-bay-phoenix-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comGreen Bay Phoenix WBB 2026-27 PreviewWhether you're a fan of the Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball team or not, it's no secret that the program is in rarefied air. For one, Green Bay is one of just three programs that has not had an outgoing transfer over the last three years. Then you take the on court results: the Phoenix are looking for a 4th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. While it's not quite the run the program had pre-2018 yet, head coach Kayla Karius says the program's reputation continues to grow. “It's a privilege to have people talking about your team in the preseason and talking about high expectations.”
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Court cases notwithstanding, Green Bay, led by Marcus Hall, is still a force to be reckoned with this season. Eric Fischer has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/green-bay-phoenix-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comGreen Bay Phoenix MBB 2026-27 PreviewNavigating the ups and downs of a college basketball offseason can be a rollercoaster ride, especially at the mid-major level. Unlike the Green Bay women's program, which hasn't had a transfer out in three consecutive offseasons, the men's program has been much more typical to the current state of college hoops. After a much improved 18-15 record, including a 12-8 mark in Horizon League play, coach Doug Gottlieb looked to build on the upward trend of the program. It wouldn't be easy. Green Bay graduated two of its top players from the 2025-26 campaign, Justin Allen and Preston Ruedinger.
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Youngstown State is once again loaded to bear, and the Penguins have a real shot at making it to the top of the #HLWBB mountain. James Moon has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/youngstown-state-penguins-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comYoungstown State Penguins WBB 2026-27 PreviewYoungstown State is coming off their best season since 2021-22. They recorded an impressive 25-10 overall record, finished in second place in the Horizon League, and were one win shy of making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000. They eventually made the WNIT Super Sixteen before bowing out to Marshall. YSU also doubled its win total from the season before and was just one win short of matching the win total from the program's previous two seasons combined (26). The good news is that head coach Melissa Jackson feels that her team will not miss a beat in the upcoming 2026-27 season, despite losing the sharpshooting Casey Santoro to exhaustion of eligibility and Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Sophia Gregory to the transfer portal.
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As has been the case since joining #HLMBB, Robert Morris added some firepower this off-season. But the Colonials can also bank on multiple returnees to make an impact as well. Adam Pietrzak has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/robert-morris-colonials-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comRobert Morris Colonials MBB 2026-27 PreviewAfter failing to win consecutive Horizon League titles, Robert Morris is back for more. However, as Andy Toole enters Year 17 at the helm, things are going to look a lot different for his Colonials squad. RMU’s three leading scorers from last season, Ryan Prather Jr., DeSean Goode, and Nikolaos Chitikoudis all departed via the transfer portal. Speaking of the portal, Robert Morris did have success landing transfers, four of them to be exact. That class is headlined by UMBC’s Ace Valentine and Nicholls’ Jalik Dunkley. “I think the transfers that we got really fit what we needed,” said Toole.
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Shooting, specifically beyond the arc, will be essential for Robert Morris to improve on last season. Adam Pietrzak has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/09/robert-morris-colonials-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comRobert Morris Colonials WBB 2026-27 PreviewYear one under Chandler McCabe saw the Colonials finish 10-10 in the conference and end the season with a sub-.500 record. Last season, Robert Morris improved to positive records in both conference play and as a whole, going 11-9 in conference play and 18-12 overall. As McCabe enters year three as the program’s head coach, improvement continues to be the goal. RMU will be without two of their three leading scorers from last season, as Aislin Malcolm and Bailey Kuhns both graduated. Last year’s second-leading scorer is back, though, as Myriam Traore looks to build off her stellar sophomore campaign.
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Oakland WBB: horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/o... Oakland MBB: horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/o... Cleveland State WBB: horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/c... One more day of team previews left! Don't miss them tomorrow!

horizoneroundtable.comOakland Golden Grizzlies WBB 2026-27 PreviewLast season marked the beginning of a new era for Oakland women’s basketball. Under first-year head coach Keisha Newell, the Golden Grizzlies exceeded preseason expectations, finishing eighth in th…
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There's been a changing of the guard at Cleveland State, but with a handful of holdovers, the mission for the Vikings remains the same: compete at the top of the #HLWBB standings. Kyle Rossi has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/cleveland-state-vikings-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comCleveland State Vikings WBB 2026-27 PreviewWhat Cleveland State accomplished over the offseason, in terms of continuity, is quite stunning, particularly at the mid-major level in the present era of college sports. The broad strokes of the story are that former head coach Chris Kielsmeier departed for Texas State after eight years, a pair of Horizon League championships, and six consecutive postseason appearances. An expansive search for his replacement led down numerous roads – one of which included his predecessor, Kate Peterson Abiad, who ultimately ended up at Purdue Fort Wayne – before athletic director Kelsie Gory Harkey and CSU’s search committee landed on Bob Dunn.
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Much has already been said about Oakland's daunting non-conference schedule. But given the roster, it may serve as a means to battle-test the Grizz going into the #HLMBB slate. Griffin Beers has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/oakland-golden-grizzlies-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comOakland Golden Grizzlies MBB 2026-27 PreviewWhat lies ahead for Oakland is not for the weak. Road trips to Alabama, Houston, Purdue, Arkansas, Michigan State, Arizona State, Boise State, Stanford and UC Santa Barbara await, all before Christmas. Not to mention where it starts, at defending national champion Michigan. There may not be many wins. There will be tired legs. But the potential payoff? Peaking at the right time. Last season, the Golden Grizzlies played well early in the year. That extended into conference play, with Oakland getting out to a 10-3 start in Horizon League play.
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Paced by #HLWBB Freshman of the Year Makenzie Leuhring, Oakland is eager to climb even higher in the standings this season. Kurt Szymanski has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/oakland-golden-grizzlies-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comOakland Golden Grizzlies WBB 2026-27 PreviewLast season marked the beginning of a new era for Oakland women’s basketball. Under first-year head coach Keisha Newell, the Golden Grizzlies exceeded preseason expectations, finishing eighth in the Horizon League standings. Although there isn’t anything glamorous about an eighth-place finish, what was expected to be a rebuilding year quickly turned into one in which Oakland showed flashes of being a formidable team. “We didn’t have to really do much to exceed the expectations that were given to us, but I think we proved that whether it’s good or bad, other people’s opinions don’t define us,” Newell said.
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After an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign, Milwaukee starts this season healthier and in a position to make some noise. Bob McDonald has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/milwaukee-panthers-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comMilwaukee Panthers MBB 2026-27 PreviewIn nearly every respect, the 2025-26 season was one that the Milwaukee Panthers would like to forget. Losing John Lovelace, Jr. before the campaign was bad enough, but subsequent losses due to injury stacked up as the year went on, leaving a team that was poised to compete for the top spot in the Horizon League mired near the bottom of the standings. That's not to say that there weren't any bright spots at all for Milwaukee. Sweeping Youngstown State and a critical late-season win over in-state rival Green Bay helped the Panthers stay out of the conference cellar.
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Coming off the best season in the Kate Bruce era, IU Indy brings most of that roster back and aims to level up from last year. Citlali Sanchez has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/iu-indy-jaguars-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comIU Indy Jaguars WBB 2026-27 PreviewThe 2025-2026 season marked the IU Indianapolis Jaguars’ return to double-digit wins, the first time since the 2022-2023 season, when the team competed under the name IUPUI. The team finished 14–17 overall and 9–11 in conference play. They also reached the quarterfinal round for the first time under head coach Kate Bruce, and it was the first since winning the Horizon League Championship in 2022. Offensively the team averaged 66.3 points per game, placing sixth of 11 teams, an improvement from the 2024-2025 season. The Jaguars were among the league’s better offensive-rebounding teams, ranking fourth with 341 rebounds.
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Detroit Mercy returns a strong roster, and will be dangerous in spite of being banned from post-season play. Cole Hostetler has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/08/detroit-mercy-titans-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comDetroit Mercy Titans MBB 2026-27 PreviewNine minutes and 52 seconds. That’s how much time stood between the Detroit Mercy men’s basketball team and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. They had just taken their largest lead in the Horizon League men’s title game at 49-37 over Wright State, and they had all the momentum inside the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis on their side. Becoming an automatic qualifier for the Big Dance was well within reach. Until it wasn’t. Thanks to a comeback 66-63 win, it was the Raiders that went on to represent the Horizon League in the tournament instead, giving Virginia all they could handle in the first round.

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Northern Kentucky hit 20 wins again last season, and this year, the Norse will have a little bit more international flavor that head coach Darrin Horn hopes will translate into success. Ben Miller has the preview.…

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Kentucky Norse MBB 2026-27 PreviewNorthern Kentucky enters the 2026–27 season in full rebuild mode after finishing 20–14 overall and 10–10 in the Horizon League last year. The Norse graduated their top five scorers from the 2025–26 roster, leaving head coach Darrin Horn with one of the most dramatic roster overhauls of his tenure. Only one starter returns — sophomore point guard Ethan Elliott — while the rest of the rotation will be built around international additions, transfers, and developing pieces already in the program. Returning Players Ethan Elliott, 6-3, G, Sophomore, Perth, Australia Last season, Elliott made 31 starts in 32 appearances for the Norse.

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A familiar face to #HLWBB circles, Kate Peterson Abiad, takes the helm of a Purdue Fort Wayne program with the goal of keeping the good times over the past few years rolling. Isaac Wendel has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/purdue-fort-wayne-mastodons-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comPurdue Fort Wayne Mastodons WBB 2026-27 PreviewOn March 27 last year, Purdue Fort Wayne fans probably had a sour taste in their mouth after watching Arkansas State go ballistic from the three-point line and make 20 deep balls to end the WNIT run for the Mastodons. On the flip side, many fans could be optimistic. After a third straight 20-win season, Maria Marchesano’s second consecutive contract extension through the 2030 season proved that the ‘Dons were here to stay and compete in the Horizon League. Then April 6 came. Butler University mutually parted ways with women’s basketball head coach Austin Parkinson.

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Northern Illinois starts new all over, with a new conference, a new coach and entirely new roster. John Ostapowicz has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-illinois-huskies-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Illinois Huskies MBB 2026-27 PreviewTransitioning to a new conference can be challenging for a program as it begins to adjust to new teams, players and coaches from around the league. For Northern Illinois University, it’s more than just a leap to another conference within the NCAA — it's a culture change. A new coach, an overhauled roster and a new conference affiliation outside of the Mid-American Conference headline the start of NIU men’s basketball’s 2026-27 season. Although NIU was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference during the 1994-95 season, the Horizon League has changed drastically since its inception in 2001.

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While a late-season surge boosted Northern Kentucky last year, losing 10 players in the off-season puts the Norse in a tough, but not impossible, spot to improve on that. Alex Perez has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-kentucky-norse-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Kentucky Norse WBB 2026-27 PreviewThe NKU women’s basketball team truly was a tale of two seasons: there were the struggles before Christmas and the triumph after it. Before the holiday, the Norse were 4-11. They then ripped off seven straight wins, all in conference play. That stretch propelled them to a top four seed in the Horizon League tournament. Northern Kentucky’s draw in the opening round of the conference tournament was IU Indy. It was a back and forth game where no team led by more than six points the entire game. NKU would lose this game in heartbreaking fashion by just two points.

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A slew of new faces join sole returnee Jaiden Haynes at Youngstown State this season, all with the goal of making last year's setback a faded memory. James Moon has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/youngstown-state-penguins-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comYoungstown State Penguins MBB 2026-27 PreviewThe 2025-26 season proved to be a sophomore slump for head coach Ethan Faulkner in his second go-around as the head coach for YSU, going from a solid 21-13 record in 2024-25 to a tough 15-17 record last year. It was a surprise to many fans and critics alike since the Penguins had a group full of seniors and grad students on the squad, but Faulkner wants his group to turn things around as he enters his third season as the man in charge at Youngstown. However, one good thing from last season was YSU's stifling defense, which allowed them to be second in the Horizon League behind Robert Morris in opponent points per game (73.1).

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Northern Illinois head coach Jacey Brooks begins her second year in a brand-new conference and a opportunity to make an impact in their new home. Kyle Rossi has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-illinois-huskies-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Illinois Huskies WBB 2026-27 PreviewBecoming a college basketball coach, then being charged with building a program that can emerge from years, or even decades, of doldrums is one of the toughest jobs in the world. More fail than succeed, and every step along the way (whatever the eventual outcome) is chronicled on scoreboards and message boards, facilitating everyone from athletic directors to casual fans in forming often-loud opinions of their work. It’s a lot of why coaches tend to be chronic workaholics, as they look for that last little bit of film that will give them an advantage on a game-deciding play, or that under-the-radar prospect that can immediately change a team’s fortunes.
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Northern Kentucky hit 20 wins again last season, and this year, the Norse will have a little bit more international flavor that head coach Darrin Horn hopes will translate into success. Ben Miller has the preview.…

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Kentucky Norse MBB 2026-27 PreviewNorthern Kentucky enters the 2026–27 season in full rebuild mode after finishing 20–14 overall and 10–10 in the Horizon League last year. The Norse graduated their top five scorers from the 2025–26 roster, leaving head coach Darrin Horn with one of the most dramatic roster overhauls of his tenure. Only one starter returns — sophomore point guard Ethan Elliott — while the rest of the rotation will be built around international additions, transfers, and developing pieces already in the program. Returning Players Ethan Elliott, 6-3, G, Sophomore, Perth, Australia Last season, Elliott made 31 starts in 32 appearances for the Norse.
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A familiar face to #HLWBB circles, Kate Peterson Abiad, takes the helm of a Purdue Fort Wayne program with the goal of keeping the good times over the past few years rolling. Isaac Wendel has the preview. https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/purdue-fort-wayne-mastodons-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comPurdue Fort Wayne Mastodons WBB 2026-27 PreviewOn March 27 last year, Purdue Fort Wayne fans probably had a sour taste in their mouth after watching Arkansas State go ballistic from the three-point line and make 20 deep balls to end the WNIT run for the Mastodons. On the flip side, many fans could be optimistic. After a third straight 20-win season, Maria Marchesano’s second consecutive contract extension through the 2030 season proved that the ‘Dons were here to stay and compete in the Horizon League. Then April 6 came. Butler University mutually parted ways with women’s basketball head coach Austin Parkinson.
HoriZone Roundtable
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Northern Illinois starts new all over, with a new conference, a new coach and entirely new roster. John Ostapowicz has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-illinois-huskies-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Illinois Huskies MBB 2026-27 PreviewTransitioning to a new conference can be challenging for a program as it begins to adjust to new teams, players and coaches from around the league. For Northern Illinois University, it’s more than just a leap to another conference within the NCAA — it's a culture change. A new coach, an overhauled roster and a new conference affiliation outside of the Mid-American Conference headline the start of NIU men’s basketball’s 2026-27 season. Although NIU was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference during the 1994-95 season, the Horizon League has changed drastically since its inception in 2001.
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While a late-season surge boosted Northern Kentucky last year, losing 10 players in the off-season puts the Norse in a tough, but not impossible, spot to improve on that. Alex Perez has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-kentucky-norse-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Kentucky Norse WBB 2026-27 PreviewThe NKU women’s basketball team truly was a tale of two seasons: there were the struggles before Christmas and the triumph after it. Before the holiday, the Norse were 4-11. They then ripped off seven straight wins, all in conference play. That stretch propelled them to a top four seed in the Horizon League tournament. Northern Kentucky’s draw in the opening round of the conference tournament was IU Indy. It was a back and forth game where no team led by more than six points the entire game. NKU would lose this game in heartbreaking fashion by just two points.
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A slew of new faces join sole returnee Jaiden Haynes at Youngstown State this season, all with the goal of making last year's setback a faded memory. James Moon has the preview. #HLMBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/youngstown-state-penguins-mbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comYoungstown State Penguins MBB 2026-27 PreviewThe 2025-26 season proved to be a sophomore slump for head coach Ethan Faulkner in his second go-around as the head coach for YSU, going from a solid 21-13 record in 2024-25 to a tough 15-17 record last year. It was a surprise to many fans and critics alike since the Penguins had a group full of seniors and grad students on the squad, but Faulkner wants his group to turn things around as he enters his third season as the man in charge at Youngstown. However, one good thing from last season was YSU's stifling defense, which allowed them to be second in the Horizon League behind Robert Morris in opponent points per game (73.1).
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Northern Illinois head coach Jacey Brooks begins her second year in a brand-new conference and a opportunity to make an impact in their new home. Kyle Rossi has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/07/northern-illinois-huskies-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comNorthern Illinois Huskies WBB 2026-27 PreviewBecoming a college basketball coach, then being charged with building a program that can emerge from years, or even decades, of doldrums is one of the toughest jobs in the world. More fail than succeed, and every step along the way (whatever the eventual outcome) is chronicled on scoreboards and message boards, facilitating everyone from athletic directors to casual fans in forming often-loud opinions of their work. It’s a lot of why coaches tend to be chronic workaholics, as they look for that last little bit of film that will give them an advantage on a game-deciding play, or that under-the-radar prospect that can immediately change a team’s fortunes.

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A significant number of returning players, coupled with a change in strategy, are on the docket to turn things around for Milwaukee this season. Jack Laude has the preview. #HLWBB https://horizoneroundtable.com/2026/10/06/milwaukee-panthers-wbb-2026-27-preview/

horizoneroundtable.comMilwaukee Panthers WBB 2026-27 PreviewBy Jack Laude, Special to the HoriZone Roundtable The past two seasons have been a far cry from what the Milwaukee Panthers women’s basketball program was for most of the 2010s and early 2020s: a competitive team near the top of the Horizon League. Milwaukee has only garnered eight wins in each of the past two seasons, with a 5-15 Horizon League record in 2024-25, which placed them last in the conference, followed by a 4-16 ledger in 2025-26 where they finished second to last in the HL. Last year saw Milwaukee overhaul its approach on offense, going from a primarily on-ball focused attack with a lot of actions featuring its lead guard to an offense that ran much more off-ball actions and screens to generate points.