All basketball degens know that real ones watch the Horizon League. A true mid-major basketball conference, the Horizon League offers regional identity, unique arenas, and highly competitive basketball. This conference has been a challenge to predict year-to-year. Last year? Robert Morris won the regular season and the conference tournament. The previous year? Oakland won, and Robert Morris finished third from the bottom. We haven’t seen a repeat regular-season champion since Cleveland State went back-to-back in 2020-21 and 2021-22, but the Vikings only won a share of the conference. They tied for first both times.
Only two teams in the Horizon League return more than two starters in 2025-26. Those teams? Detroit Mercy and Green Bay. Neither is likely to contend for the conference title this year, but there is one team that you’ll want to add to your betting portfolio before the season tips off.
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2025-26 Horizon League Conference Champion Best Bet
Milwaukee Panthers to win the Horizon League: +525
Milwaukee only returns one starter from last year’s team, but they are bringing back several key pieces. Graduate senior forward Faizon Fields was limited by injuries last year, but is in line to contribute if he stays healthy. The Panthers also return senior forward Danilo Jovanovich. He’s spent most of last year coming off the bench, and he’s also returning from injury. Jovanovich is expected to step into a starting role this year.
As far as the back court goes, the Panthers might have the best group of guards in the country. 6’8″ guard John Lovelace also returns and is expected to step into the starting lineup. Lovelace appeared in all 32 games after transferring from Youngstown State last year, but played a reserve role.
JUCO transfer Isaiah Dorceus is expected to handle the starting point guard role this year. Dorceus made the all-NJCAA first team last year. Dorceus averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season. He has the skills to step into a starting role, and Milwaukee has had success with JUCO transfers before.
The biggest get for Milwaukee this year is Fresno State transfer Amar Aguillard. Aguillard averaged 13.3 points and 2.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs last year, and he’s on most pre-season Horizon League Player of the Year shortlists. He should step into the starting shooting guard role and be a key source of offense.
Coach Bart Lundy enters his fourth season with the program. He’s won at least 20 games in all three seasons in Milwaukee, but he’s never finished higher than second in the conference. This is the year that Lundy breaks through and wins the conference.
There should be a lot of changes in the Horizon League standings this year. Robert Morris lost every starter from last year’s team, and Cleveland State should also take a step back. Youngstown State and Oakland have solid front courts, but don’t appear to have the back-court depth to compete in the Horizon League. Milwaukee at better than 5-to-1 odds is the right side here.
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