#HLMBB Notebook – 2026-27 Season Preview

#HLMBB Notebook – 2026-27 Season Preview

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Rachel White

#HLMBB Notebook

INDIANAPOLIS (October 30, 2026) – The 2026-27 season tips off next week for our 12 #HLMBB programs.

#HLMBB DIG DEEPER
  • Wright State posted a 23-12 overall record and was 15-5 in #HLMBB play last season, earning both the regular season and tournament titles.
    • Preseason Player of the Year Kellen Pickett was the Freshman of the Year in 2025-26, averaging 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor.
    • Preseason All-League First Team selection CJ O’Hara posted 14.1 points per game last season at Green Bay.
    • Dominic Pangonis was voted to the Preseason All-League Second Team after posting 8.9 points per game for the Raiders in 2025-26.
  • RMU advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 #HLMBB championship, collecting 13 League wins during the regular season and 22 total wins last season.
    • 2025-26 All-Freshman Team honoree Darius Livingston and League newcomer Ace Valentine represent the Colonials on the Preseason All-League Second Team.
      • Livingston scored 9.6 points per game in his first season in Moon Township.
      • Valentine joins RMU from UMBC where he averaged 12.0 points per game last season.
  • Green Bay was 18-15 last season, posting a 12-8 record in League play.
    • Preseason All-League First Team honoree Marcus Hall returns to lead the Phoenix after averaging 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2025-26.
  • Oakland won 16 games last season, going 12-8 in #HLMBB play.
    • Head coach Greg Kampe enters his 43rd season leading the Golden Grizzlies and is the longest-tenured men’s basketball coach in the country.
  • Milwaukee posted two student-athletes on the Preseason All-League Teams.
    • Danilo Jovanovich averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 17 games last season before a season-ending injury.
    • Chandler Jackson posted 9.7 points per game for the Panthers in 2025-26.
  • DeAndre Craig Jr. scored 14.0 points and added 2.6 assists per game for Purdue Fort Wayne last season.
  • 2025-26 All-Freshman Team honoree Tyler Spratt started 28 games for Detroit Mercy last season, averaging 9.9 points per game.
  • NIU joins #HLMBB this season with first-year head coach Matt Majkrzak at the helm.
  • Northern Kentucky’s Ethan Elliott was among the League’s leaders in assists per game (4.6) and assist/turnover ratio (3.3) in 2025-26.
  • Cleveland State ranked first among #HLMBB teams with 10.8 three-point field goals made per game last season.
  • IU Indy paced the League with 83.5 points per game in 2025-26.
  • Jaiden Haynes is the lone returner from last season’s Youngstown State squad. He appeared in 21 games and made two starts, averaging 4.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
  • The regular season starts on Monday, Nov. 2 with Horizon League play scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
  • The 2027 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are scheduled to culminate at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, Ind. from March 7-9 with the mantra #MarchStartsHere.
    • More information on the championships can be found at HorizonLeague.com/Noblesville.
  • A total of nine Horizon League matchups will air on ESPN linear networks including six #HLMBB games during the regular season.
#HLMBB ON THE HORIZON
  • Monday, Nov. 2
    • NIU vs. Grambling, 3 a.m. ET (Field of 68 YouTube/X)
    • IU Indy vs. Miami Middletown, 11 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Northern Kentucky vs. UTEP, 2 p.m. ET (YouTube)
    • Oakland at Michigan, 6 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
    • Wright State vs. Air Force, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Youngstown State at St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Green Bay vs. Lawrence, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • RMU at Nevada, 10 p.m. ET
    • Milwaukee at USC, 10:30 p.m. ET (B1G+)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3
    • Purdue Fort Wayne at Duquesne, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Cleveland State at Missouri, 8 p.m. ET (SECN+)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4
    • Northern Kentucky at South Dakota, 8 p.m. ET (Midco Sports Plus)
    • Milwaukee at Santa Clara, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Thursday, Nov. 5
    • Green Bay at Cincinnati, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • NIU at Tulsa, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Friday, Nov. 6
    • Youngstown State at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m. ET (B1G+)
    • Cleveland State vs. Michigan-Dearborn, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Wright State vs. Florida Atlantic, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • RMU at UIC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Northern Kentucky at Texas A&M, 8 p.m. ET (SECN+)
    • Detroit Mercy at Marquette, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Oakland at Stanford, 10 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
  • Saturday, Nov. 7
    • Oakland at UC Santa Barbara, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • IU Indy vs. UT Martin, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+/WNDY-TV)
    • Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Albion, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • NIU at Dayton, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Sunday, Nov. 8
    • Milwaukee vs. Ripon, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Green Bay at St. Thomas, 2 p.m. ET (Midco Sports Plus)
  • Monday, Nov. 9
    • Cleveland State at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
    • Oakland at Alabama, 7:30 p.m. ET (SECN+)