HoriZONE - Men's Basketball Offseason News

Aug. 29, 2008

-- Posted by Will Roleson, Associate Commissioner/Communications & Multimedia

Coming off one of the best seasons in conference history, Horizon League men's basketball teams have earned some preseason recognition in Rivals.com's Top 65 Countdown.

Cleveland State, which emerged out of nowhere to finish as runner-up in the Horizon League regular-season standings and the tournament, is ranked 59th and is the highest league team on the list. Headlining the Vikings this season will be a pair of returning All-League performers in senior forward J'Nathan Bullock (14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) and senior point guard Cedric Jackson (13.9 points and 4.9 assists per game).

The Vikings just returned from a week-and-a-half trip to Spain, where they went 3-1. You can read more about the trip on CSU SID Brian McCann's blog .

Green Bay is rated 62nd , sandwiched between Maryland and Minnesota. The Phoenix finished .500 in the league last season but return four seniors, including first team All-League pick Mike Schachtner (14.9 points per game) and two-time All-Defensive Team selection Terry Evans (6.3, rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game).

Green Bay also adds Chop Tang, a 6-foot-6 forward from Eastern Arizona Junior College, who would be a candidate to make anyone's "All-Name Team."

Last season, four Horizon League teams won 20 games for the first time in history, with Butler advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and setting a conference record with 30 wins. Valparaiso won its first-round game in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, and Cleveland State earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.

The Horizon League's official preseason poll and All-League Teams will be announced the week of October 6th.