Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament

Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament
Sport College basketball
Conference Horizon League
Number of teams 10
Format Single-elimination tournament
Current stadium Little Caesars Arena (beginning in 2018)
Current location Detroit, Michigan
Played 1980–present
Last contest 2018
Current champion Wright State Raiders
Most championships Butler Bulldogs (7)
TV partner(s) ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPNU

The Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1980. The winner of the tournament is designated the Horizon League Tournament Champion and receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The finals of the tournament are typically among the first held before the field for the NCAA tournament is announced.

History and tournament format

Through 2002, the entire tournament was hosted at a single venue. From 2003 through 2015, all first-round matches were played at the home court of the higher-seeded team involved. Hosting rights for the quarterfinals and semifinals were awarded to the winner of the regular season championship. The championship game was played at the home arena of the higher remaining seed. This format rewarded the regular-season champion and runner-up with a double-bye into the semifinals. The regular-season champion received the added benefit of home-court advantage in the semifinals, plus a home-court final if it won its semifinal.

Beginning in 2009, the Horizon League secured an entitlement sponsorship of its men's and women's basketball tournaments with Speedway SuperAmerica, a major gas and convenience store chain throughout the midwest United States, officially changing the name of the tournaments to "The Speedway Horizon League Men's/Women's Basketball Championship".

On May 7, 2015, the conference announced that the entire men's tournament would be held in Detroit beginning in 2016 under a five-year deal with the women joining the fold in 2017. The Little Caesars Horizon League Men's & Women's Basketball Championship uses the name Motor City Madness. It was held at Joe Louis Arena in 2016 and 2017, and will move to Little Caesars Arena beginning in 2018.[1]

In its first year, Motor City Madness drew 20,908 fans over four sessions, which is the seventh-highest per session average among the non-FBS conferences with a neutral site tournament. In the second year, the tournament drew 29,240 fans over five sessions.

Horizon League Tournament Championship Game records

Team Championships Years Runners up Years Record
Butler 7 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011 6 1992, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009 7–6 (.538)
Xavier 6 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 4 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993 6–4 (.600)
Milwaukee 4 2003, 2005, 2006, 2014 3 2004, 2011, 2017 4–3 (.571)
Evansville 3 1982, 1992, 1993 2 1989, 1994 3–2 (.600)
Detroit 3 1994, 1999, 2012 5 1988, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2005 3–5 (.375)
Oral Roberts 2 1980, 1984 1 1985 2–1 (.667)
UIC 2 2002, 2004 1 1997 2–1 (.667)
Valparaiso 2 2013, 2015 1 2012 2–1 (.667)
Green Bay 2 1995, 2016 2 1998, 2015 2–2 (.500)
Wright State 2 2007, 2018 5 1995, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 2–5 (.167)
Loyola 1 1985 4 1980, 1982, 1983, 2002 1–4 (.200)
Cleveland State 1 2009 2 2008, 2018 1–2 (.333)
Dayton 1 1990 0 1–0 (1.000)
Northern Illinois 1 1996 0 1–0 (1.000)
Northern Kentucky 1 2017 0 1–0 (1.000)
Oklahoma City 1 1981 0 1–0 (1.000)
Saint Louis 0 3 1986, 1987, 1991 0–3 (.000)
Duquesne 0 0 0–0 ()
IUPUI 0 0 0–0 ()
La Salle 0 0 0–0 ()
Marquette 0 0 0–0 ()
Oakland 0 0 0–0 ()
Youngstown State 0 0 0–0 ()
Notes
  • Current conference members in bold.

Horizon League Tournament all-time standings

Current members

Through 2018 tournament finals
SchoolRecordWinning pctChampionships
Detroit31–34.4773
Wright State23–21.5232
Green Bay22–21.5122
Milwaukee21–17.5534
UIC20–21.4882
Cleveland State15–21.4171
Youngstown State5–17.2270
Northern Kentucky3–2.6001
Oakland2–5.2860
IUPUI0-1.0000

Former members

School Record Winning pct Championships
Butler 30–25 .545 7
Loyola 25–32 .439 1
Xavier 24–10 .706 6
Evansville 15–12 .556 3
Valparaiso 8–6 .571 2
Oral Roberts 7–6 .538 2
Saint Louis 7–8 .467 0
Northern Illinois 5–2 .714 1
Dayton 5–4 .556 1
Oklahoma City 5–4 .556 1
Duquesne 1–1 .500 0
Marquette 0–2 .000 0
La Salle 0–3 .000 0

Horizon League Tournament results

Year Champion Seed Score Runner-up Seed Tournament MVP Site
1980 Oral Roberts 2 103–93 Loyola 1 Calvin Garrett, Oral Roberts Roberts Municipal StadiumEvansville, IN
1981 Oklahoma City 3 82–76 Xavier 1 Anthony Hicks, Xavier Opening round: campus locations
Semifinals: Frederickson FieldhouseOklahoma City, OK
Championship: Riverfront ColiseumCincinnati, OH
1982 Evansville 1 81–72 Loyola 3 Brad Leaf, Evansville Mabee CenterTulsa, OK
1983 Xavier 2 82–76 Loyola 1 Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola Roberts Municipal Stadium – Evansville, IN
1984 Oral Roberts 1 82–76 Xavier 3 Sam Potter, Oral Roberts UIC PavilionChicago, IL
1985 Loyola 1 89–83 Oral Roberts 3 Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola Mabee Center – Tulsa, OK
1986 Xavier 1 74–66 Saint Louis 2 Byron Larkin, Xavier Market Square ArenaIndianapolis, IN
1987 Xavier 3 81–69 Saint Louis 4 Byron Larkin, Xavier Market Square Arena – Indianapolis, IN
1988 Xavier 1 122–96 Detroit 6 Byron Larkin, Xavier Market Square Arena – Indianapolis, IN
1989 Xavier 3 85–78 Evansville 1 Tyrone Hill, Xavier University of Dayton ArenaDayton, OH
1990 Dayton 2 98–89 Xavier 1 Negele Knight, Dayton University of Dayton Arena – Dayton, OH
1991 Xavier 1 81–68 Saint Louis 3 Jamie Gladden, Xavier University of Dayton Arena – Dayton, OH
1992 Evansville 2 95–76 Butler 3 Parrish Casebier, Evansville Riverfront Coliseum – Cincinnati, OH
1993 Evansville 2 80–69 Xavier 1 Parrish Casebier, Evansville Market Square Arena – Indianapolis, IN
1994 Detroit 4 72–63 Evansville 2 Andy Elkins, Evansville Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
1995 Green Bay 3 73–59 Wright State 8 Jeff Nordgaard, Green Bay Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
1996 Northern Illinois 3 84–63 Detroit 5 Chris Coleman, Northern Illinois Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
1997 Butler 1 69–68 UIC 3 Kelsey Wilson, Butler Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
1998 Butler 3 70–51 Green Bay 4 Jon Neuhouser, Butler Brown County Veterans Memorial ArenaGreen Bay, WI
1999 Detroit 1 72–65 Butler 2 Rashad Phillips, Detroit UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL
2000 Butler 1 62–43 Detroit 3 Mike Marshall, Butler UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL
2001 Butler 1 53–38 Detroit 2 LaVall Jordan, Butler Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
2002 UIC 6 76–75 (OT) Loyola 5 Cedrick Banks, UIC CSU Convocation CenterCleveland, OH
2003 Milwaukee 2 69–52 Butler 1 Clay Tucker, Milwaukee Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: U.S. Cellular ArenaMilwaukee, WI
2004 UIC 2 65–62 Milwaukee 1 Armond Williams, UIC Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals: Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
Championship: U.S. Cellular Arena – Milwaukee, WI
2005 Milwaukee 1 59–58 Detroit 3 Joah Tucker, Milwaukee Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: U.S. Cellular Arena – Milwaukee, WI
2006 Milwaukee 1 87–71 Butler 2 Adrian Tigert, Milwaukee Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: U.S. Cellular Arena – Milwaukee, WI
2007 Wright State 1 60–55 Butler 2 DaShaun Wood, Wright State Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
2008 Butler 1 70–55 Cleveland State 2 Mike Green, Butler Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
2009 Cleveland State 3 57–54 Butler 1 Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
2010 Butler 1 70–45 Wright State 2 Matt Howard, Butler Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
2011 Butler 2 59–44 Milwaukee 1 Matt Howard, Butler Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: U.S. Cellular Arena – Milwaukee, WI
2012 Detroit 3 70–50 Valparaiso 1 Ray McCallum, Jr., Detroit Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Athletics–Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
2013 Valparaiso 1 62–54 Wright State 3 Erik Buggs, Valparaiso Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Athletics–Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
2014 Milwaukee 5 69–63 Wright State 3 Jordan Aaron, Milwaukee Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals: Resch CenterGreen Bay, WI
Championship: Nutter Center – Dayton, OH
2015 Valparaiso 1 54–44 Green Bay 2 Alec Peters, Valparaiso Opening round: campus locations
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship: Athletics–Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
2016 Green Bay 4 78–69 Wright State 3 Jordan Fouse, Green Bay Joe Louis ArenaDetroit, MI
2017 Northern Kentucky 4 59–53 Milwaukee 10 Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky Joe Louis ArenaDetroit, MI
2018 Wright State 2 74–57 Cleveland State 8 Grant Benzinger, Wright State Little Caesars ArenaDetroit, MI

Post-season success

Horizon League members past and present have made several Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four appearances. Charter member Loyola also won the 1963 NCAA Tournament.

Championships and post-season appearances

Season Season champion
(league record)
NCAA bids
(seed), advancement
NIT bids
(seed), advancement
CBI bids
(seed), advancement
CIT bids
(seed), advancement
1980Loyola (5–0)-LoyolaTournament
not
held
Tournament
not
held
1981Xavier (8–3)--
1982Evansville (10–2)Evansville (10)Oral Roberts
1983Loyola (12–2)Xavier (12)-
1984Oral Roberts (11–3)Oral Roberts (11)Xavier, Quarterfinals
1985Loyola (13–1)Loyola (4), Sweet 16Butler
1986Xavier (10–2)Xavier (12)-
1987Evansville (8–4)
Loyola (8-4)
Xavier (13), 2nd rndSt. Louis, 2nd rnd
1988Xavier (9–1)Xavier (11)Evansville
1989Evansville (10–2)Evansville (11), 2nd rnd
Xavier (14)
St. Louis, Championship game
1990Xavier (12–2)Xavier (6), Sweet 16
Dayton (12), 2nd rnd
St. Louis, Championship game
Marquette
1991Xavier (11–3)Xavier (14), 2nd rndButler
1992Evansville (8–2)Evansville (8)Butler
1993Evansville (12–2)
Xavier (12–2)
Xavier (9), 2nd rnd
Evansville (14)
-
1994Xavier (8–2)-Xavier, Quarterfinals
Evansville
1995Xavier (14–0)Green Bay (11)
Xavier (14)
-
1996Green Bay (16–0)Green Bay (8)
Northern Illinois (14)
-
1997Butler (12–4)Butler (14)-
1998Detroit (12–2)
UIC (12–2)
UIC (9)
Detroit (10), 2nd rnd
Butler (13)
-
1999Detroit (12–2)Detroit (12), 2nd rndButler, Quarterfinals
2000Butler (12–2)Butler (12)-
2001Butler (11–3)Butler (10), 2nd rndDetroit, Semifinals
2002Butler (12–4)UIC (15)Butler, 2nd rnd
Detroit
2003Butler (14–2)Butler (12), Sweet 16
Milwaukee (12)
UIC
2004Milwaukee (13–3)UIC (13)Milwaukee
2005Milwaukee (14–2)Milwaukee (12), Sweet 16-
2006Milwaukee (12–4)Milwaukee (11), 2nd rndButler (8)
2007Butler (13–3)
Wright State (13–3)
Butler (5), Sweet 16
Wright State (14)
-
2008Butler (16–2)Butler (7), 2nd rndCleveland State (6)Valparaiso (4), 2nd rnd
2009Butler (15–3)Butler (9)
Cleveland State (13), 2nd rnd
-Green Bay (2)-
2010Butler (18–0)Butler (5), Nat'l Runner-Up-Green Bay (3), 2nd rnd-
2011Butler (13–5)
Cleveland State (13–5)
Milwaukee (13–5)
Butler (8), Nat'l Runner-UpCleveland State (2), 2nd rnd
Milwaukee (5)
-Valparaiso
2012Valparaiso (14–4)Detroit (15; 61 overall)Cleveland State (6)
Valparaiso (7)
Butler, 3rd rnd (semi-final)
Milwaukee
-
2013Valparaiso (13–3)Valparaiso (14; 56 overall)Detroit (6)Wright State, 3rd rnd (semi-final)Youngstown State, 2nd rnd
UIC, 2nd rnd
Green Bay
2014Green Bay (14–2)Milwaukee (15; 60 overall)Green Bay (4)-Valparaiso
Wright State, 2nd rnd
Cleveland State
2015Valparaiso (13–3)Valparaiso (13; 51 overall)Green Bay (5)-Cleveland State 2nd rnd
Oakland
2016Valparaiso (16–2)Green Bay (14; 55 overall)Valparaiso (1), Championship game--
2017Oakland (14-4)
Valparaiso (14–4)
Northern Kentucky (15; 59 overall)Oakland (7), 2nd rnd
Valparaiso (7)
Green Bay
UIC
-

See also

Notes

  1. "Moving Horizon League tourney to Detroit is all about branding". Detroit News. Digital First Media. May 7, 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
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