The set-up: It's Horizon League action Friday night when the 22-7 Oakland Grizzlies visit the 17-11 Green Bay Phoenix. The Grizzlies are 12-4 in the Horizon League, one game back of first-place Valpo, while the Phoenix sit in third-place at 11-5.

Oakland: The Grizzlies may be one game back of Valpo but they've beaten the Crusaders in both meetings this season, so a tie at the top would give them the league's No. 1 seed for the tourney. Oakland won its seventh straight game 101-72, this past Tuesday at home over Youngstown State, shooting an impressive 52.0% from the floor. The team knew it could never replace Kay Felder (24.4-4.3-9.3) but guards Martez Walker (17.1) and Dorsey-Walker (12.6-5.2-3.7) plus the 6-7 Hayes (15.7 & 7.9) have this year's team at 22 wins, just one shy of the 23 wins Felder led this team to last season.

Green Bay: The Phoenix upset the Grizzlies back on Jan. 27th in Oakland, 80-72. Small had 16 points, while Lowe, Kanter and Jones all had 14 points. Th team's leading scorer is Cooper (13.2 & 5.2) but he had just nine points (4 of 13 shooting) in that first meeting. He's joined in double digits by fellow guards Small (10.7 & 5.2) and Jones (10.6) plus the 6-10 Kanter (10.6 & 5.7). The 6-8 Lowe chips in 6.6 & 5.1.

The pick: Since that Jan. 27th loss to Green Bay, Oakland has ripped off seven straight wins and I say make it eight in a row, as the Grizzlies keep the pressure on Valpo to not slip up. Make Oakland a 10* play.