Butler is top vote-getter in Horizon preseason poll

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler was picked to win the Horizon League men’s basketball title this season, according to the preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media.

The Bulldogs finished 26-6 overall and 15-3 in the Horizon League last season, and return every player from a squad that captured the regular season championship.

Butler received 455 points and 43 of 46 first-place votes. Butler has captured at least a share of the Horizon’s regular season title each of the last three seasons.

Anchoring the Bulldogs’ lineup will be junior forward Matt Howard, who was the league’s player of the year after averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Also back is sophomore Gordon Hayward, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds, and was named first-team all-league and the newcomer of the year.

Wright State (20-13, 12-6) was picked second with 398 points and one first-place vote. Defending tournament champion Cleveland State (26-11, 12-6) was third with 324 points and the remaining two first-place votes. The Vikings won their first tournament title with a 57-54 victory over Butler and defeated Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (17-14, 11-7) was voted to finish fourth with 314 points and Wisconsin-Green Bay (22-11, 13-5) was fifth with 273. Rounding out the poll were Detroit (209), Youngstown State (197), Valparaiso (137), Illinois-Chicago (126) and Loyola (97).

Other players to watch this coming season include a trio of returning second-team all-league picks: 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 begins Nov. 11 when Detroit plays at California in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. The league schedule will begin with four games on Dec. 3.

The 2010 league tournament is scheduled for March 2, 6-7 and 9. The regular season champion will host the second round and semifinals, with the championship game hosted by the highest remaining seed.