Horizon League's Wisconsin Teams Invade NE Ohio

Due to this week's crazy Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday basketball schedule, Thursday's Horizon League workload is light in terms of number of games. However, by no means is Thursday's schedule light in terms of importance.

Cleveland State (17-8, 8-5 HL) comes home after a Chicago sweep, and the Vikings can make a huge jump in their quest for the No. 3 spot in the HL standings.

The current No. 3, Milwaukee (14-9, 9-4 HL), has a tough road assignment ahead if it wants to keep its standing. The Panthers are 2-7 in true road games this season.

Green Bay (19-6, 11-2 HL), perhaps the hottest team in the Horizon League, travels 'round the globe all the way to Youngstown State (8-15, 5-8 HL).

Green Bay, which received a vote in this week's AP Poll and appears to be a sheer lock for some type of postseason play, needs to keep pace with 15th-ranked and league top dog Butler.

However, it won't be easy for the Phoenix. Anyone who has traveled a season of Horizon League basketball knows that going to Youngstown is a LONG trip, the gym is tough to shoot in and, frankly, it's not easy to get "up" for playing them at Beeghly.

Here is a breakdown of UWM-CSU and Green Bay-YSU:

Milwaukee at Cleveland State

7 p.m. ET, Wolstein Center, Cleveland

Milwaukee Will Win If

They can play a full 40 minutes of good basketball.

In the first meeting between the Fighting Jeters and the Fighting Waterses, Milwaukee got out to a huge lead only to see CSU pressure in the backcourt and make it close at the end.

Milwaukee held on by a bucket, but the Panthers will need to play until the final buzzer to win at the Wolstein Center.

Cleveland State Will Win If

They can make Milwaukee play a slow game.

CSU is good at playing at a fast pace, but that's usually when they play full-court, man-to-man defense when they're trailing. A slow, grind it out, half-court game is something that would play to CSU's favor. 

UWM-CSU By The Numbers

4-7: Milwaukee's record away from the Cell.

+4.04: Cleveland State's turnover margin, tops in the Horizon League

26.7: Milwaukee's defensive rebounding average, tops in the Horizon League.

Want to watch this game live? Click HERE.

Green Bay at Youngstown State

7 p.m. ET, Beeghly Center, Youngstown

Green Bay Will Win If

They can keep shooting like they have all season, a Horizon League-best 43.9 percent.

The Phoenix has been the league's top shooting team all season.

Youngstown State Will Win If

Coach Jerry Slocum's JUCO players continue to gel. After 23 games, the athletes YSU has brought in are starting to play pretty well as a unit.

This must continue, especially on defense, because Green Bay is kinda good at making shots.

GB-YSU By The Numbers

First: Green Bay's rank in the Horizon League in FG shooting and 3FG shooting.

Ninth: Youngstown State's rank in the league in FG percent defense.

1.5: Games ahead in the standings YSU is on the Chicago schools for the No. 6 spot in the league standings. Of course, the No. 6 seed hosts a first-round tournament game.

Want to watch this game live? Click HERE.

Thursday's Women's Basketball Schedule (times Eastern)

Milwaukee @ Detroit, 7 p.m.—WATCH LIVE

Green Bay @ Wright State, 7 p.m.—WATCH LIVE

Butler @ UIC, 8 p.m.—WATCH LIVE

Valparaiso @ Loyola, 8 p.m.—WATCH LIVE