Horizon League Tournament

Posted: February 28, 2012

MARCH TO MADNESS

As the countdown to Selection Sunday continues, the Daily News previews each conference tournament on the day it starts to help you get a jump on finding those sleepers for your bracket. We expect a cut if you win your office pool.

Horizon League

Regular-season champ:

Valparaiso won its first Horizon championship since joining the league in 2007-08 . . . Second-leading scorer Kevin Van Wijk attended Katholieke Scholengemeenschap Hoofddorp in the Netherlands. Loosely translated, it's better known as St. Dick Schaap Catholic high.

On the Horizon: Butler did not get a piece of the regular-season crown for the first time in 6 years. The Bulldogs, Final Four participants the last 2 years, lost both meetings with Valpo . . . Cleveland State has the highest RPI (78) in the Horizon League. The Vikings were dismantled by Drexel on Feb. 18 . . . Wright State and Illinois-Chicago have seven true freshmen each on their rosters.

Big Dance prospects: This is a one-bid league that no BCS school wants to see in March. A Horizon League team has won an NCAA game each of the last 7 years.

SCHEDULE

Tonight

Loyola-Illinois (10) at Detroit (3), 7

Green Bay (7) at Youngstown State (6), 7:05

Wright State (8) at Butler (5), 7

Illinois-Chicago (9) at Milwaukee (4), 8

Friday

At Valparaiso, Ind.

Loyola-Ill./Detroit vs. Green Bay/Youngs. St., 6

Wright St./Butler (5) vs. Illinois-Chi.//Milw., 8:30

Saturday

At Valparaiso, Ind.

Cleveland St. (2) vs. higher seed, 6

Valparaiso (1) vs. lower seed, 8:30

CHAMPIONSHIP/Tuesday, March 6

At higher seed, 9 (ESPN)

Coming tomorrow: Atlantic Sun, Ohio Valley, Patriot, West Coast

- Ed Barkowitz

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