The Horizon League Tournament consists of ten teams that play each other every year in the tournament. The winner of the tournament regardless of their record gets an automatic bid, or entry in the NCAA tournament. The following teams playing in the Horizon League: Butler Bulldogs, Cleveland State Vikings, Detroit Titans, Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix, Loyola Ramblers, UWM Panthers, UIC Flames, Valparaiso Crusaders, Wright State Raiders, Youngstown State Penguins. http://www.horizonleague.org/sports/m-baskbl/hori-m-baskbl-body.html

Horizon League was established on June 16, 1979. It was formed by six charter member known as Midwestern Collegiate Conference. The league expanded and Detroit joined in 1980, Cleveland State, UIC, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Wright State in 1994, Youngstown State joined in 2001 and Valparaiso in 2007. Seeding for this single elimination tournament is based upon the regular season standings. Once a team loses one game in the tournament, they are eliminated and therefore lose their chance to be the Horizon League Champions along with represents their conference in the NCAA Tournament. http://www.horizonleague.org/sports/m-baskbl/hori-m-baskbl-body.html

In 2007-08 Butler Bulldogs defeated South Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, it is the first team in Horizon League history to win 30 games. Butler has a 30-4 career record under head coach Brad Stevens, he is the first basketball coach to led the Bulldogs to a 30 wins in a season. The team lost in overtime 76-71 to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

This year the winner of the tournament played March 9th in Butler. The Butler Bulldogs played Wright St. to see who would become the 2009-2010 Horizon League Champions. After the game, the Bulldogs celebrated being Champions after a 70-52 win over Wright St. http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=300682086 This makes two straight years representing the Horizon League for the Bulldogs. Last year they won the tournament as well. Currently ranked at 12th in the country, the Bulldogs could look to advance deep into the NCAA tournament depending on where they are seeded.

As for Wright St. they still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament as an at large bid, but the chances are very slim due to other teams with better records pushing for those spots.

• 2008: Butler
• 2007: Wright State
• 2006: Milwaukee
• 2005: Milwaukee
• 2004: UIC
• 2003: Milwaukee
• 2002: UiC
• 2001: Butler
• 2000: Butler
• 1999: Detroit
• 1998: Butler
• 1997: Butler
• 1996: Northern Illinois
• 1995: Green Bay
• 1994: Detroit
• 1993: Evansville
• 1992: Evansiville
• 1991: Xavier
• 1990: Dayton
• 1989: Xavier