An A-to-Z basketball guide for "Motor City Madness," which tips off in Detroit on Friday evening - NKyTribune

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

A big-city rumble will take place in Detroit this weekend as the Horizon League Tournament — called “Motor City Madness” — begins inside Little Caesars Arena.

The men’s games begin Friday evening with No. 7 seed Green Bay taking on No. 10 seed Detroit Mercy at 5:30 p.m. In the nightcap, No. 8 seed Cleveland State meets No. 9 seed Youngstown State at 8 p.m.

NKU’s Drew McDonald (left) and Wright State’s Loudon Love (right) are the top two rebounders in the Horizon League. They will both be players to watch at Motor City Madness, which begins Friday in Detroit. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)

The winner of that Cleveland State/Youngstown State game will meet top-seeded Northern Kentucky University on Saturday night. The Norse (22-8 overall record) won the Horizon League regular-season championship with a 15-3 record and are seeking a repeat trip to the NCAA Tournament.

So, who wins Motor City Madness? Can NKU complete the grueling double-double of a regular-season and tournament championship in the same season? Will Oakland ride the scoring of Horizon League Player of the Year Kendrick Nunn and the proximity of Detroit to its campus for a legitimate home-crowd advantage? Or will Wright State be hoisting the championship trophy Tuesday night, as several national publications have predicted?

Here’s an A-to-Z guide for Motor City Madness, with plenty of notes and a few predictions about the Horizon League winners in the opening round.

A — That’s for assists, and no one in the Horizon League does it better than Illinois-Chicago guard Tarkus Ferguson. He averages 5.3 assists per game and owns a turnover-to-assist ratio of 2.3 entering Motor City Madness. Now, can Ferguson assist in helping the Flames overcome a two-game losing streak heading into the postseason? And can he assist in soothing any potential discord caused by the timing of sophomore forward Dikembe Dixson’s announcement that he is leaving Illinois-Chicago at the end of the season?

B — Benzinger is a famous name around the Cincinnati area, and Wright State has the most current star from that family in senior guard Grant Benzinger (14.6 points per game). The Moeller High School graduate can shoot it (82-for-221 from 3-point range), pass the ball, and no one plays with more intensity. He also leads the Horizon League in free-throw shooting at 89.1 percent, so you better not foul him. If Wright State does win the Horizon League Tournament, it will mean Benzinger had a very productive weekend in Detroit.

C — Cleveland State is 9-22 overall entering Motor City Madness, and the Vikings earned the No. 8 seed by outlasting Youngstown State in double overtime in the regular-season finale, 99-94. That’s the good news for Cleveland State fans. The bad news? The Vikings must face that same Youngstown State team in the opening round of Motor City Madness. It’s never a comfortable feeling having to play a team a few days after beating them. Unless the Vikings are knocking down 3-pointers at a prolific rate, they might be gone in a hurry — like Friday night.

Detroit Mercy’s Kameron Chatman (left) is defended by NKU’s Jalen Tate earlier this season at BB&T Arena. Chatman averages 17.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)

D — This stands for Detroit Mercy, the No. 10 seed and the most likely choice to exit Motor City Madness first. The Titans are last in the Horizon League in defense (84.8 points per game allowed) and are 8-23 going into Friday’s contest with Green Bay. While the other nine teams at Motor City Madness have compelling reasons to think they can advance to the finals next Tuesday night, Detroit Mercy is just playing for fun. And for next year.

E — As in ESPN. The Horizon League championship game on Tuesday night will be televised by ESPN, the mammoth television network on everyone’s cable lineup. With some occasional games televised on ESPNU or ESPN2, the Horizon League is usually limited to ESPN3 (internet) coverage. Not so on Tuesday night, when the Horizon League will be on center stage for a national audience.

F — This is for Faulkner, as in NKU sophomore guard Mason Faulkner. The Caverna High School graduate averages 5.9 points per game and could be a key if the Norse are to win Motor City Madness. And this time next year, there will be two Faulkners at Motor City Madness because NKU has signed Mercer County standout Trevon Faulkner — the leading candidate to be named this season’s Mr. Basketball in Kentucky.

G — Green Bay is a dangerous team, and one of the squads that could make a run to the title game. The Phoenix feature a dynamic backcourt in All-Horizon League guard Khalil Small (17.7 points per game) and Sandy Cohen III (16.9 ppg). Don’t overlook the fact Cohen, a transfer from Marquette who became eligible in December, averaged 33.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and five assists last week in leading Green Bay to a pair of wins. Keep an eye on this team.

H — Hayes is his last name, and production is the calling card for Oakland’s Jalen Hayes. Hayes leads the Horizon League in shooting from the field (.544), is second in scoring (19.3 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (8.0 rpg). What makes his scoring output even more impressive is the fact he plays on a team that features the nation’s second-leading scorer. More on that later.

I — As in Isaiah Brock, the Oakland shot-blocking specialist who is second in the Horizon League in rejections with 63. Brock, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, also averages 8.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 71.7 percent from the field. The problem is, Brock has attempted just 92 shots the entire season.

Milwaukee’s Jeremiah Bell

J — As in Jeremiah Bell, the ultra-quick Milwaukee guard who averages a team-leading 13.9 points and 1.2 steals per game. Bell has also buried 65 shots from 3-point range this season and combines with teammate Brock Stull to give the Panthers a solid backcourt. Milwaukee advanced to the championship game of last season’s Horizon League Tournament as the No. 10 seed, so just imagine what the Panthers can do as the sixth seed, which they are for this weekend.

K — Kameron Chatman has been a bright spot for Detroit Mercy this season, averaging 17.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 47.6 percent form the field and has collected 35 steals.

L — There will be plenty of Love at Motor City Madness, like in 6-foot-9, 275-pound Loudon Love. Named the Horizon League’s Freshman of the Year, Love is a mountain inside the paint. He leads the Horizon League in rebounding (9.7 rpg) and is No. 2 in shooting percentage (.533). Love also averages 12.4 points and is skilled at using both hands when he gets the ball inside.

M — Drew McDonald led NKU to the Horizon League regular-season title and is a double-double machine. The junior forward posted 16 double-doubles in 30 games, leading the Horizon League and ranking 11th in the nation in the category. He also averages 16.7 points and 9.4 rebounds. McDonald can hurt the opposition in a variety of ways, from posting up to draining 3-pointers.

Oakland’s Kendrick Nunn was named the Horizon League Player of the Year. He averages 26.4 points per game, which is No. 2 nationally.

N — Then there was Nunn. Like in Oakland backcourt dynamo Kendrick Nunn, the Horizon League Player of the Year. A transfer from Illinois, where he scored more than 1,000 points in three seasons, Nunn is the second-leading scorer in the nation at 26.4 points per game. Down two starters because of season-ending injuries, Oakland will need Nunn to continue scoring points in bunches to have a shot at winning Motor City Madness. The positive for Oakland? The tournament is being held very close to home, and the Golden Grizzlies were the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League championship.

O — Like in Tai Odiase, the Horizon League’s all-time blocks leader. Odiase was named Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday and helped Illinois-Chicago finish third in the regular-season standings. The 6-foot-9 Odiase is also solid on the glass, averaging 5.7 rebounds per contest.

P — Points are synonymous with Detroit Mercy, which is No. 1 in the Horizon League in scoring (78.8 ppg) and No. 10 in defense (84.8 ppg). The scoreboard operator is probably going to be busy Friday when the Titans meet Green Bay.

Q — Quickness vs. quickness. That sums up Cleveland State’s tournament opener against Youngstown State. The Vikings feature guards Tyree Appleby (1.3 steals per game) and Kenny Carpenter (1.1 spg), while the Penguins counter with backcourt ace Cameron Morse (15.5 ppg, 1.1 spg) and Braun Hartfield (Horizon League-best 1.7 spg).

R — Rebounding margin. NKU leads the Horizon League in that category with a +3.4 margin. Youngstown State is the league’s top offensive rebounding team, hauling in 14.3 of its missed shots per game. The Penguins have grabbed 444 offensive boards this season, the most in the Horizon League.

S — As is Khalil Small, Green Bay’s All-Horizon League guard. Small is third in the league in scoring at 17.7 points per game. He also shoots 81.2 percent from the free-throw line.

NKU’s Lavone Holland II earned most valuable player honors last season at the Horizon League Tournament. Holland is the only player in the Horizon League currently averaging at least 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)

T — Tournament-tested players? How about NKU’s Lavone Holland II, who earned most valuable player honors last season at the Horizon League Tournament. Holland also made an impression during the NCAA Tournament with a highlight-reel dunk against Kentucky. Holland is the only player in the Horizon League currently averaging at least 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

U — Upsets are common at the Horizon League Tournament, no better example than last year when the No. 10 and No. 9 seeds advanced to the semifinals, along with the No. 6 seed. Along the way, both top-seeded Oakland and second-seeded Valparaiso were upset in their opening games. Only fourth-seeded NKU survived the upset binge in the early round.

V — For Valparaiso, which departed the Horizon League after last season for the Missouri Valley Conference. Good move? Maybe not. The Crusaders finished 10th in the MVC (6-12 record) and are 15-16 overall.

W — The Word in Cleveland is good. Like in Bobby Word, who is No. 2 in the Horizon League in 3-point shooting (.401) and third in 3-pointers made (79). You better not leave him open, or he will have the last Word.

X — Xavier is part of Horizon League history. Yes, the same Xavier that’s located across the Ohio River in Cincinnati. The Musketeers were members when it was originally founded in 1979 and called the Midwestern City Conference. The charter members of the MCC in 1979 were Butler, Evansville, Loyola, Oklahoma City, Oral Roberts, and Xavier, with Detroit joining in 1980.

Y — For Youngstown State, which scored a Horizon League-high 134 points against Franciscan on Nov. 14 this season. The Penguins won that game by a 134-46 score. Youngstown State is another team to keep an eye on because of its pressing, aggressive style of play. The Penguins could pull off a surprise or two at Motor City Madness.

Z — As in zilch, the chances of the Horizon League receiving an additional berth in the NCAA Tournament other than the automatic qualifier. NKU has an impressive resume, and several of its losses came in the closing seconds against good teams. But in the eyes of the selection committee, the Horizon League’s low RPI will translate into a one-bid situation again this season. The Norse must win Motor City Madness to dance again in the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, NKU will get the consolation prize of the NIT, which the Norse assured themselves of by capturing the regular-season title.

MOTOR CITY MADNESS BRACKET