Key Highlights
- It’s reminiscent of the old WCHA Final Five format from hockey. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe bottom two teams, 10th and 11th, meet in a “play-in” with the 10 seed hosting. The winner joins the top nine teams for the “first round.”Those five winners are reseeded from 1 to 5, with all heading to Indianapolis. The new 4 and 5 seeds meet in the “second round.”The winner of that game plays the new 1 seed in the semifinals, while the new 2 and 3 seeds meet in the other. This format guarantees the 1 seed in each stage meets the lowest-seeded team possible.
- Will this translate to the 1 seed having a better chance at making the NCAAs?
- That’s a lot to ask a of a format for a conference that’s usually extremely balanced. SiteFor the ninth season in a row, higher seeds will host the first two rounds—dubbed the Play-In and First Rounds for this edition.
- For the eighth season in succession, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis will host the final stages, this year spread over three days. ParticipantsAll 11 Horizon League members will participate.
- That number will grow to 12 next season when Northern Illinois (1996 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament champion) rejoins the conference from the Mid-American Conference—a move driven by the football team’s switch to the Mountain West. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScheduleDownloadable PDF BracketTV/Streaming InfoESPN+ ($) will stream all games before the semifinals. Play-In (Mon.