The Real Prestige Rankings: Part VII

12)  Horizon League – Average Point Total: 54.00

1) Butler – 174 (61, 47)

2) Wisconsin-Milwaukee – 86 (T-96, T-124)

3) Detroit – 68 (T-114, T-165)

4) Valparaiso – 62 (116, 56)

T-5) Cleveland State – 50 (T-121, T-185)

T-5) Loyola (IL) – 50 (T-121, T-233)

7) Wisconsin-Green Bay – 40 (T-132, T-105)

8) Illinois-Chicago – 6 (T-175, T-172)

9) Wright State – 4 (T-191, T-177)

10) Youngstown State – 0 (T-273, 287)

The Horizon League is a very balanced conference, especially in the middle.  The top seven teams all have at least one tournament victory in the past 24 seasons.  The top six teams all have at least two tournament victories.

Butler is far and away the most prestigious program in this conference though.  They have more than double the point total of the second place team, Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

Butler has two Sweet Sixteen appearances (2003 and 2007) and two second round exits (2001 and 2008).  They also have three other tournament appearances, the first of which in this time period did not come until 1997. 

Wisconsin-Milwaukee is another team with only recent tournament success.  Almost all of their points come from a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2005 and a second round exit in 2006.

It should also be pointed out that all of Valparaiso’s tournament success came as members of the Mid-Continent Conference (which has turned into the Summit League).  Valparaiso joined the Horizon League in 2007, so they have only played two seasons in this conference.

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