Horizon League announces 2008-09 MBB Preseason Poll
Oct. 7, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland State University has been tabbed as the Horizon League's No. 1 men's basketball team, according to the league's 2008-09 preseason poll.
The Vikings received 478 points and 40 of 49 first-place votes from Horizon League head coaches, men's basketball sports information directors and media members. CSU went 21-13 overall and 12-6 in league play a season ago en route to a Postseason NIT berth.
Wright State University (412 points), the University of Illinois at Chicago (361), the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (335) and Butler University (326) rank two through five in the league's preseason poll.
The Raiders wrapped up the 2007-08 campaign 21-10 overall and 12-6 in league action. The Flames (18-15, 9-9), Phoenix (15-15, 9-9) and Bulldogs (30-4, 16-2) also finished .500 or better a year ago.
Cleveland State senior J'Nathan Bullock, Wright State junior Vaughn Duggins and UIC senior Josh Mayo all return after being named first team All-Horizon League in 2007-08. CSU senior Cedric Jackson and Green Bay senior Mike Schachtner are also back after earning second-team honors a season ago.
Butler returns just one starter from a 2007-08 squad that posted a league-record 30 wins and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs were nationally-ranked for a school-best 19 straight weeks and their winning percentage (.882) placed fifth among all NCAA Division I teams.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (216), Valparaiso University (207), Loyola University Chicago (189), the University of Detroit Mercy (98) and Youngstown State University (73) round out the conference's preseason top 10.
In addition to Cleveland State's 40, Wright State (3), Butler (3), UIC (2) and Loyola (1) received first-place votes. The Bulldogs finished four games better than both the Vikings and Raiders in last year's league standings.
The 2008-09 Horizon League men's basketball season begins with three exhibition games on Saturday, Nov. 1. The regular season tips off with four contests on Friday, Nov. 14.
The upcoming Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship is slated for March 3, 6, 7 and 10. Butler posted a 70-55 win over Cleveland State in last year's tournament finale.
2008-09 Horizon League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Cleveland State
2. Wright State
3. UIC
4. Green Bay
5. Butler
6. Milwaukee
7. Valparaiso
8. Loyola
9. Detroit
10. Youngstown State
NOTE: See the full release in PDF format for first-place votes, total points, 2007-08 record, 2007-08 league finish and 2007-08 postseason.
