10 Thoughts about the Horizon League women’s basketball semifinals

Hey, it’s been over three years since I wrote a blog post on this website!

Truthfully, I’ve spent much of that time writing, just not about fun things. Unless you enjoy reading about the best business bank accounts. Then, it’s thrilling.

I don’t get to write for fun as much anymore, but I thought I’d write a blog post about my thoughts after the semifinal day of the Horizon League women’s basketball tournament.

1. I love Indianapolis, both the city and as a tournament venue

Indy has been quite the punching bag on social media this year. And I understand the critiques of finishing the tournament at a “neutral site.” And while IU Indy isn’t here this year, they played most of their games on campus this year for both the men and women. So it really was (primarily) a neutral site.

I feel like having the tournament at a mostly neutral site gives everyone a chance in the semifinals and finals. Most people focus on the men’s tournament, but Green Bay had the final two rounds on lock for so many years. It’s been brutal to beat them anywhere over the last two decades, but good luck doing it at the Kress Center. It’s the best home court advantage in the Horizon League, and that’s before you consider the travel to get there.

I’m sure the Horizon League likes the idea of the final four staying in Indy. It’s where the league is headquartered, allowing them to build up events around the tournament that would be harder if they didn’t know where the semifinals and finals would be until a few days before. It would also be hard to have all of those ancillary events if the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals are in different cities.

I was in Moon Township and saw that giant crowd filing it. There’s no doubt 4,000 people filling a gym like that for the semifinals and finals would be a great environment. I just don’t see it happening anytime soon. Also, it would be nice if some of those 4,000 would show up for some women’s games. That program had a magical turnaround this year, and they’re going to be a problem in the future.

2. Green Bay finds a way

You knew the defending tournament champs were going to be a tough out. They advanced to the final after a win over Robert Morris today. The Colonials came out hot and put some early pressure on Green Bay. And then, just like that, Green Bay was on top and managed to keep RMU at bay the rest of the way.

They do it so quickly to you. One minute, you feel like you have them on the ropes, and then they punch their way off the ropes. Suddenly, you’re staring at a standing eight-count.

Despite Kevin Borseth's retirement, Green Bay is back in the title game thanks to Kayla Karius’ ability to keep most of the roster intact. Now, they’re 40 minutes away from another trip to the NCAA tournament. It won’t be easy, though.

3. Mastodon stampede buries Cleveland State

Speaking of another team that can just put you in a big hole in a hurry, that’s exactly what Purdue Fort Wayne did in their semifinal win over Cleveland State today. They could barely miss from three-point range. And while Cleveland State played a decent offensive half, they were staring at a double-digit deficit at the break.

As I know Rich Hoyt is tired of hearing me talk about, I’ve been on the Purdue Fort Wayne bandwagon for the last few years. You could just see this coming. It’s very easy to be impressed by Maria Marchesano and the work she and her staff have done. This year, it was about finding the right pieces to add to their returning core. Mission accomplished, and it’s given the Mastodons their most complete team since moving into the Horizon League.

It sets up the rubber match with Green Bay. Each team won at home during the regular season. Whichever team can find a win at the Corteva Coliseum tomorrow will take home the Horizon League title and an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

4. Just the beginning for Robert Morris

While they came up short today, the future is very bright in Moon Township. And even though they will have some pieces to replace next year, you can’t help but be confident that Chandler McCabe and her staff will find a way to get it done. When you listen to her talk, you can hear the confidence in her players, staff, and program. The days of the Colonials being one of the doormats of the Horizon League is over.

I made my first visit to Moon Township last week. They’ve got a really cool building. It’s just about the perfect building for the Horizon League - 4,000 seats, video boards everywhere, bright and inviting. They won’t have trouble recruiting to that building.

5. Déjà vu for Cleveland State

The first half of Cleveland State’s Horizon League semifinal game against Purdue Fort Wayne felt a lot like the fourth quarter in the loss to Northern Kentucky earlier this year. Simply, they could not defend the three-pointer, something Chris Kielsmeier lamented after that game.

Purdue Fort Wayne shot them even better than NKU, which was a big problem. The Vikings didn’t play a poor offensive first half. But when you give up 48 points, that’s going to be tough to come back from.

The Vikings were the team I was most interested in seeing what we got from them here in Indy. At their best, they were right there with both Green Bay and Purdue Fort Wayne. But while their ceiling was high, the floor seemed lower than those two teams, seen in losses to NKU, Oakland, and YSU. They were certainly capable of playing two of their best games of the year and winning the tournament. But PFW beat them to the punch.

6. Easy to wonder how many of these players and coaches will return next year

Hearing the PA announcer rattle off all the seniors, fifth-year students, and graduate students in today's lineups, it seems pretty likely that all four teams will look different next year.

Not all those upperclassmen will wrap up their careers this offseason. Several still have the COVID year, and a couple more have medical redshirts. However, in this era of NIL and the transfer portal, you just never know who might be playing their final games at their current school.

Same goes for coaches. While Chandler McCabe and Kayla Karius likely aren’t going anywhere just yet after just taking over their programs this season, the other two coaches may (and should) be at the top of the list of candidates for many open jobs. If I were hiring for a women’s basketball coach, I’d want to speak to both Maria Marchesano and Chris Kielsmeier. They’ve both done an amazing job, and if they desire to move up, they have earned that opportunity. It’s also possible that they might stay put and keep building their excellent programs. Only time will tell.

7. I was (briefly) stuck in Indy’s version of a Mike’s Car Wash today

I’ve never been in an automatic car wash when it stopped before today, but now I can say I had that experience.

The other day, we got some muddy rain as a storm system carried dust from the desert southwest into the Ohio valley. So my car looked like I had taken the Subaru off-roading. So I thought I’d swing through a Crew Carwash on the way to the arena today.

Halfway through the wash, in the middle of a line of cars inside the carwash, it just stopped. All the brushes and wheels came to a halt, and the conveyor that drags you through the carwash just stopped.

After a few minutes, everything powered back on and we moved again. I’m not sure what caused it, but it was a little creepy for a moment.

8. Grateful to the Horizon League

This is, I believe, the fifth straight year the Horizon League has approved a credential for me. Since there are no NKU teams here, it’s an excellent opportunity for me to keep refining my photography skills.

I started in this industry in print journalism, so I love keeping my skills in shooting live sports photos sharp. In this job market, I never know when I might need those skills again full-time.

Everyone here in Indy is super nice, and I love the city. And I’m not being held at gunpoint by Rich Hoyt and Gabby Johnson to say that.

9. The portal is open for business

While the transfer portal has been open for a few days for graduate students, more names are starting to pop in there as seasons are ending. The one that drew the most attention today was IU Indy’s Katie Davidson, who averaged almost 20 points per game for the Jaguars this season.

I’m pretty sure that won’t be the last Horizon League standout to find their way to the portal. I would guess more names will be popping in there soon. Then, near the end of the month, we’ll get the portal open to everyone, and then the game of musical chairs begins.

I know NKU would like to add a couple more in the portal in the offseason. It should be a very interesting offseason.

10. Thoughts on tomorrow

Tomorrow’s championship game should be a good one. These two teams played two tight contests, with the most recent one going to overtime in Green Bay.

Before that matchup, I posted on social media that while my head predicted Green Bay would win at home, my heart was picking Purdue Fort Wayne.

I think the game is a toss-up, but I will stay with the Mastadon bandwagon until the end. Give me Purdue Fort Wayne 72-69 tomorrow in the final.