Men's Basketball Season Gets Underway Friday

Coming off a historic 2009-10 men's basketball season, the 10 Horizon League teams begin preparations for the 2010-11 campaign on Friday, when practices begin in earnest across the country.  Several Horizon League squads will be inviting fans to their practices throughout the weekend.

Detroit begins the festivities on Friday, when they host "Tip it with the Titans," beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET at Callahan Hall.  Both the men's and women's teams will be on the court, as head coach Ray McCallum's squad looks to build on a 20-win season from last year.

Currently on fall break, Butler will take the beginning of their season off-campus, as the Bulldogs will have a two-day minicamp at Franklin College, just south of Indianapolis.  The Bulldogs, national runners-up a season ago, return 11 letterwinners to their 33-5 team of 2009-10.

Green Bay wraps up the festivities on Friday night, when they open practice with "Midnight Mania" at the Kress Center.  Beginning at 10:30 p.m. CT, fans will be treated to team introductions, a slam dunk contest, three-point shootout and a shooting contest involving men's head coach Brian Wardle and women's head coach Matt Bollant.

Cleveland State opens the doors to their practice on Saturday during "Viking Madness."  Fans in attendance can win a number of prizes during the three-hour long sneak peek, which will on the court will feature a three-point shooting contest and a short scrimmage by both the men's and women's teams. Following the scrimmages, members of both squads will be available for an autograph session.

Valparaiso closes the weekend of festivities on Saturday night with "Hoops Mania."  Player introductions and a slam dunk contest will be among the highlights provided to fans at the event, which begins at 7 p.m. CT, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Loyola, UIC, Milwaukee, Wright State and Youngstown State will all open practice on Friday as well.

The Horizon League men's basketball preseason poll will be released at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 19, live on the Horizon League Network.