HoriZone Roundtable
By Bob McDonald and Matt Dudek
HoriZone RoundtableFeb 11, 2019
Wicks Rides Off Into the Sunset
An extraordinary set of circumstances has all of a sudden led to a coaching vacancy at Green Bay, as Sundance Wicks heads home to Wyoming. Bob and John break down the potential roster implications and who could come in to take the helm.
Howdy, Partner! A Conversation with Jayson Woodrich
Bob and Matt welcome Jayson Woodrich, who has transferred to Oakland after playing for four years at Cleveland State. They talk about his time with the Vikings, what he'll bring to the table at Oakland, his sports fandom...and those Woody memes.
A Conversation With Langston Wilson
Bob and Matt welcome Langston Wilson, who spent last season with Milwaukee and is on his journey to becoming a pro. They discuss how the process had going since UWM's last game, what his season with the Panthers was like, and his experience in Phoenix participating in the Slam Dunk contest, among other things.
A Conversation With Paul Corsaro
Bob and Matt welcome new IU-Indianapolis coach Paul Corsaro to the podcast, where they talk about everything from Corsaro's playing days both in football and basketball, how the new Jaguar roster and coaching staff is shaking out and some dining recommendations as well!
Since You've Been Gone
Matt is back from vacation, and he and Bob get back up to speed with some of the news he didn't get a chance to talk about, along with some of things that did happen since he's been back, namely the retirement of Green Bay's Kevin Borseth the transfer to Oakland of Jaylen Jones, the brother of current Golden Grizzly Isaiah Jones.
Welcome to Detroit Mercy, Coach Monty!
Bob talks with new Detroit Mercy head coach Mark Montgomery about his vision for the program, his previous career and bringing the Titans back to prominence in the Horizon League.
We're Not Done Here
Bob and John, still filling in for Matt, talk about the latest coaching hires, including the official promotion of Ethan Faulkner to the helm of Youngstown State and Mark Montgomery being chosen to lead Detroit Mercy, as well as the dismissal of Northern Kentucky women's coach Camryn Volz. They also talk about IUPUI's roster moves and Trey Townsend finally announcing the he will hit the transfer portal.
Stop This Ride! I Wanna Get Off!
Bob and John, filling in for Matt, talk about the whirlwind of activity that has taken place in the past week, both with players in the transfer portal and with changes in head coaches.
How About That?
Oakland became the first Horizon League team since 2011 to win an NCAA Tournament game, and Bob and Matt welcome Griffin Beers on to talk about his experience in Pittsburgh during the Golden Grizzlies' tourney run. Bob and Matt also talk about Cleveland State's win in the CBI, Purdue Fort Wayne's wins in the CIT and WNIT, and movement in the transfer portal, which opened on March 18th.
To the Victors, Oakland Edition
Oakland has made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since joining the Horizon League, and Matt and Bob talk about the conference tournament, as well as the Golden Grizzlies' tourney opponent, Kentucky. They also talk about the coaching changes at IUPUI and Detroit Mercy, along with who may be in the mix for those jobs.
Horizon's Gonna Horizon, Tournament Edition
The Horizon League semifinals are set, and Bob and Matt talk about the match-ups. Matt also talked to Oakland coach Greg Kampe, and Bob talked to Cleveland State head coach Daniyal Robinson. There's also a discussion about what appears to be return of the heated rivalry between Milwaukee and Green Bay.
It's Tourney Time Again, Women's Edition
Bob, Matt and Kyle discuss the last week of the regular season and how the Horizon League women's tournament shakes out.
It's Tourney Time Again, Men's Edition
Bob, Matt and John discuss the final week of the season and discuss how the Horizon League men's tournament shakes out.
Some Days the Bear Gets You...Some Days You Get the Bear
Despite getting hammered by Wright State, Oakland will go into the final week of the regular season with at least a share of the Horizon League title. Bob and Matt, to shake things up, talk about the week that was in the vein of where each team's top player is positioned in the Player of the Year race.
Grin and Bear It
Oakland has a half-game lead in the Horizon League standings and also have the inside track to take the regular season title. Bob and Matt break down what The Grizz and second-place Green Bay need to do to take the crown, and they also talk about the rest of the week, which included Detroit Mercy's first win and Milwaukee's last-second heroics.
The Phoenix Has Risen Again
Bob and Matt discuss the week that was, starting with Green Bay, which continues to completely outpace any preseason expectations with its sweep of Robert Morris and Youngstown State, the latter of which happening without star Noah Reynolds. They also talk about how the rest of the week went down and preview the IUPUI-Detroit Mercy game for...reasons.
It's Not So Lonely At the Top...Or the Middle Or the Bottom
Bob and Matt start of by remembering Earl Cureton, the staple of Detroit Mercy basketball who passed away on Sunday, a day after providing color for the Titans game against Robert Morris. They also talk about Detroit Mercy's luck being bad already, having clinched the Horizon League record for consecutive losses this week. Plus, they discuss the rest of the conference, which now has two teams tied for the top spot.
The Wisconsin Trip Is Tough Again!
With another week in the books, and a good chunk of Horizon League teams close together, Bob and Matt discuss how the Wisconsin trip through Milwaukee and Green Bay has become a grind once again after a multi-year lull. They also talk about the seemingly never-ending saga that is the Detroit Mercy losing streak, team depth and...the Detroit Lions?
Another Round With Jordan Bernfield
Bob and Matt welcome back ESPN's play-by-play announced Jordan Bernfield (@jordanbernfield) to discuss both the upcoming ESPN broadcasts of league games and the conference teams themselves.
Colonial Chaos
With Matt out, Bob is joined by Scott Meier (@smeier87) to have an in-depth conversation about the situation at Robert Morris and what the future holds for head coach Andy Toole (hence the title, which is not what Bob said at the beginning). They also talk about what happened elsewhere this past week in the conference.
Wright Place, Wright Time
Bob and Matt get into the week's conference action that included Wright State getting back into the swing of things with two big wins, and Oakland passing two critical tests against the Wisconsin teams. They also talk about the ongoing misery with Detroit Mercy, IUPUI's place in the world, and what to make of Northern Kentucky without Sam Vinson, among other things.
The 2024 HoriZone Roundtable Live New Year's Day Episode
Bob, Kyle Rossi, John Parker and Blake Schumaker get into the New Year by discussing what went down in the games prior to 2024, including the return of BJ Freeman, Detroit Mercy's continued woes and the fight to keep up with Purdue Fort Wayne at the stop of the standings.
A Mantis at the Table
Bob and Matt talk about the latest string of non-conference games, as well as the recent decision on multi-year waivers that could benefit Detroit Mercy. They start, though, with a conversation with Mantis (youtube.com/@YoungMantis2), whose appearance at the IUPUI-Lindenwood game was all the buzz across the Internet.
The Long String of Non-Conference Games
As 19 straight days of non-conference games is in full swing, Bob, Matt and John talk about what has happened so far and which Horizon League teams are faring better than others.
This All Seems Oddly Familiar...
With the first games of the Horizon League schedule in the books, Bob and Matt break down how each team fared, as well as discuss Oakland's huge upset at Xavier to start the week.
We Were ALL Rooting for You!
Bob and Matt discuss the week that was, which was filled with holiday MTE games and a few near-disasters. And with the conference game coming this week, they talk about which teams they're buying and which ones they're selling.
Tempered Expectations
Matt and John (minus Bob) discuss the crush of games during the week, including some close games with power conference teams and the start of MTE contests.
First Week Blues
The first week of the season is in the books, and Bob, Matt and John talk about the highlights, including IUPUI, Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State, and the lowlights, including a host of games on Friday that are better well forgotten.
Another Season Is Upon Us!
Bob and Matt touch on the final warm-up games (including two games against Wayne State with significantly different results), and they delve into the first games of the regular season this week.
The 2023 Student Media Forum
Bob and Matt are join by Torie Houston of The Northerner, Giovanni Moceri of WXOU and Michael Deemer of the Colonial Sports Network to discuss their respective teams and the Horizon League in general.
Staring the the Floorboards with Jordan Majewski
Bob and Matt welcome Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) from Staring at the Floorboards (staringatthefloorboards.wordpress.com) to the podcast, and they discuss the release of the Horizon League's official preseason poll and what Jordan makes of the conference's team for the upcoming season.
The 2023 Post-Preview Week Recap, Part 2
John Parker and Kyle Rossi join Bob to wrap up Preview Week and discuss the Horizon League men's and women's teams in the second of this annual two-part wrap-up.
The 2023 Post-Preview Week Recap, Part 1
John Parker and Kyle Rossi join Bob to wrap up Preview Week and discuss the Horizon League men's and women's teams in the first of this annual two-part wrap-up.
Bonus - Tanner Holden Cleared!
Tanner Holden has been cleared to play this season for Wright State, completing his homecoming to the Raider. John Parker and Blake Schumaker join Bob to talk about the impact that will have on Wright State, as well as the rest of the Horizon League.
The 2023 Media Forum
As it has become a tradition to kick off Preview Week, Bob and Matt welcome the play-by-play voices from around the Horizon League to talk about their teams. They include
- Brian Kuklinski, Green Bay (@brian_kuklinski)
- Greg Rakestraw, IUPUI (@gregrakestraw)
- Brady Laber, Northern Kentucky (@BradyLaber1)
- John Nolan, Purdue Fort Wayne (@John_G_Nolan)
- Chris Collins, Wright State (@chriscollins381)
- Robb Schmidt, Youngstown State (@YSU_Robb)
It's Almanac Season Again!
The Almanac is back and has a new format (cbbalmanac.com), and Bob and Matt welcome back Matt Cox (@matty_cox) on the podcast to talk about the publication and what they've gleaned from their Horizon League coverage.
Horizon Boy's 2023 Visit!
With Matt setting up the Southwest offices of the HoriZone Roundtable, Bob is flying solo to welcom Horizon Boy (https://twitter.com/HorizonBoy_HB) back to the podcast for their annual discussion about how the conference shook out last year and what the upcoming season holds.
The 2023 Writer's Forum - #HLMBB Edition, Part 2
Bob and Matt welcome HoriZone Roundtable men's basketball writers John Parker, Alec Kwait, Blake Schumaker and Griffin Beers to discuss the upcoming season from a league and individual team perspective.
The 2023 Writer's Forum - #HLWBB Edition
Bob is joined by HoriZone Roundtable women's basketball writers Kyle Rossi and Blake Schumaker to discuss the league in general, as well as the individual teams.
The 2023 Writer's Forum - #HLMBB Edition, Part 1
Bob and Matt welcome HoriZone Roundtable men's basketball writers John Parker, Alec Kwait, Blake Schumaker and Griffin Beers to discuss the upcoming season from a league and individual team perspective.
Luke is the Boss(o) at IUPUI Now!
Bob and Matt welcome new IUPUI athletic director Luke Bosso (@boss2356) to the podcast, and they talk about his background, the job at IUPUI and the upcoming name transition to IU-Indianapolis.
A Conversation with Daniel Young
Alec Kwait takes over for Matt and Bob this episode, and he has a conversation with incoming Cleveland State freshmen Daniel Young.
2023 Fan Battle Royale, Part 2
For what will be the final time, Bob and Jimmy bring fans from Horizon League schools together to talk about their respective team's season, the future, and, of course, other teams in the conference. Fans participating:
- Cleveland State - Jon Durda (@pronkville08)
- Green Bay (@JimSarow)
- Northern Kentucky - Kyle Craven (@NorseReport)
- Oakland: Harjun Buttar (@Fan20Lions)
- Wright State: Share Mortemore (@freewind69)
- Youngstown State: Rege Ryan (@NotBigLon)
2023 Fan Battle Royale, Part 1
For what will be the final time, Bob and Jimmy bring fans from Horizon League schools together to talk about their respective team's season, the future, and, of course, other teams in the conference. Fans participating:
- Cleveland State - Jon Durda (@pronkville08)
- Green Bay (@JimSarow)
- Northern Kentucky - Kyle Craven (@NorseReport)
- Oakland: Harjun Buttar (@Fan20Lions)
- Wright State: Share Mortemore (@freewind69)
- Youngstown State: Rege Ryan (@NotBigLon)
The Juiceman Cometh
Matt (and later on, Bob) welcome new Green Bay head coach Sundance Wicks (@CoachSundance) to the podcast, talking about all things Phoenix, as well as some of Coach Wicks' history, his love of Star Wars, and of course, the origins of bringing the juice.
That's the End?
The season has come to an end, and Bob and Matt discuss the post-season outcomes from Northern Kentucky, Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Milwaukee, along with who was not in any post-season tournament (hint: Detroit Mercy). They kick the episode off, of course, with the recent hiring of Sundance Wicks to Green Bay, then close things out with their assessment of the transfer portal and how it's worked out for players coming in and out of the Horizon League over the years.
The Kings of the North(ern Kentucky)
The Horizon League Tournament is over, and Bob and Matt reflect on their time there, as well as briefly recap the games, in which Northern Kentucky emerged as the champion. They also talk about the Norse's first-round foe in the NCAA Tournament, Houston, as well as Youngstown State's home NIT contest against Oklahoma State and Cleveland State and Milwaukee reaching the CBI (while Detroit Mercy did not). Finally, with the transfer portal opening, they discuss the one big name that is stay: Wright State's Trey Calvin.
To Indy We Will Go!
Bob and Matt not only talk about the upcoming semifinal match-ups for the Horizon League tournament, they also chat with Cleveland State head coach Daniyal Robinson (at the 17:20 mark) and Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy (at the 24:54 mark). They also talk about the roads that Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky took to get to Indianapolis, as well as Antoine Davis, who may yet still get the all-time NCAA scoring record if the CBI invites Detroit Mercy to Daytona.
Bonus - HoriZone Roundtable All-League Picks Recap
In this bonus episode, Bob and John break down the HoriZone Roundtable's picks for Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, 6th Man of the Year and Defensive Player of the year, as well as the pick for all three All-Horizon League teams.
We Had That Going Differently In Our Heads
With the regular season over for the Horizon League, Bob and Matt talk about the champions, Youngstown State, along with all of the preseason predictions that the HoriZone Roundtable, along with everyone else, made that were completed wrong. They also talk about how the seedings shook out, as well as a small glimpse into the conference tournament itself.