Butler University has been picked to win the Horizon League men’s basketball title this season, according to the League’s 2009-10 preseason poll that was released Tuesday (Oct. 20).
The Bulldogs (26-6, 15-3 Horizon League in 2008-09) -- who return every player from last year’s regular-season championship squad -- received 455 points and 43 of 46 first-place votes from League head coaches, sports information directors and media members. Butler has captured at least a share of the League’s regular-season title each of the last three seasons.
Anchoring the Bulldogs’ lineup will be junior forward Matt Howard, who is the League’s reigning Player of the Year after averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season. Also back is sophomore swingman Gordon Hayward who averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds en route to first-team All-League and Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
Coming off its third straight 20-win season, Wright State University (20-13, 12-6) was picked second with 398 points and one first-place vote. Defending champion Cleveland State University (26-11, 12-6) was tabbed third with 324 points and the remaining two first-place votes. The Vikings won their first League title last season with a 57-54 victory over Butler in the championship game and then defeated Wake Forest University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (17-14, 11-7) was voted to finish fourth with 314 points and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (22-11, 13-5) fifth with 273. Rounding out the poll are the University of Detroit Mercy (209 points), Youngstown State University (197), Valparaiso University (137), the University of Illinois at Chicago (126) and Loyola University Chicago (97).
Other players to watch this coming season include a trio of returning second-team All-League picks in senior guard Tone Boyle (13.2 ppg) of Milwaukee, senior guard Todd Brown (11.7 ppg) of Wright State and junior guard Rahmon Fletcher (10.8 ppg, 4.5 apg) of Green Bay.
The regular season will begin Nov. 11 when Detroit plays at the University of California in the Coaches v. Cancer tournament at 11 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The League schedule will tip off with four games on Dec. 3, including Cleveland State at Wright State, also on ESPNU.
The 2010 Speedway Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 2, 6-7 and 9. The regular-season champion will host the second round and semifinals, with the higher remaining seed hosting the championship game live on ESPN as part of “Championship Week.”
The following is the complete 2009-10 Horizon League men’s basketball preseason poll.
Total 1st-pl. 2008-09 2008 2008-09 2008-09
Rank Team Points Votes Overall League HL Finish Postseason
1. Butler 455 43 26-6 15-3 1st NCAA (first round)
2. Wright State 398 1 20-13 12-6 T-3rd
3. Cleveland State 324 2 26-11 12-6 T-3rd NCAA (second round)
4. Milwaukee 314 17-14 11-7 5th
5. Green Bay 273 22-11 13-5 2nd CBI (first round)
6. Detroit 209 7-23 2-16 10th
7. Youngstown State 197 11-19 7-11 T-6th
8. Valparaiso 137 9-22 5-13 9th
9. UIC 126 16-15 7-11 T-6th
10. Loyola 97 14-18 6-12 8th
COURTESY: HORIZON LEAGUE
