GETTING INSIDE

The entire cast is back for an encore performance at Butler, which lost no starters or even non-starters from last year's regular-season Horizon League champions.

Third-year head coach Brad Stevens' entire roster is back, with two redshirt freshmen and a 6-11 freshman center added to the mix. No wonder the Bulldogs, who won 26 games last year and made their annual trip to the NCAA Tournament, are considered a contender for the 2010 Final Four held a few miles from campus at Lucas Oil Stadium. That's "the last thing we're thinking about," Stevens told the Indianapolis Star.

The Bulldogs are deep and also built for the long haul. The class breakdown also includes just two seniors (one of them a walk-on), five juniors and four sophomores.

Butler, which has won at least a share of three straight Horizon League regular-season titles, was naturally picked first in the preseason poll, receiving 43 of 46 first-place votes.

Junior forward Matt Howard, the reigning conference Player of the Year, was the preseason pick to win the award again. He is the league's top returning scorer (14.8) and second-leading returning rebounder (6.8). Joining Howard on the preseason all-league first team is sophomore forward Gordon Hayward (13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds). Sophomore guard Shelvin Mack (11.9 points) made the preseason second team.

Hayward was the Horizon Newcomer of the Year last season. Hayward and Mack played for the gold medal-winning Team USA squad at the U-19 world championships this summer.

Butler's other returning starters are senior forward Willie Veasley and sophomore point guard Ronald Nored. Seven other letter winners are back, along with redshirt freshmen Chase Stigall and Emerson Kampen and freshman center Andrew Smith.

"We're excited to get on the court and get to work to become the best basketball team we can be," Stevens said. "It's nice to receive recognition, but that's based on the past and it doesn't change our approach or the way we prepare each day. Our goal remains the same -- we want to get better each day."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Butler is scheduled to appear on ESPN's family of networks a record eight times this season, eclipsing the total of seven appearances by the 2007-08 squad.

--F Gordon Hayward was named to the list of 50 preseason candidates for the 2009-10 John R. Wooden Award. The 6-8 sophomore averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds last season and this summer, helped the U.S. capture its first FIBA U-19 world championship since 1991.

--F Matt Howard, the 2008-09 Horizon League Player of the Year, said that he placed a greater emphasis this summer on strength and conditioning work. "It's paid off," he told the Indianapolis Star. That's bad news for defenders trying to keep the 6-8, 230-pound junior off the boards.

LAST YEAR: 26-6 overall, 15-3 Horizon; lost in first round of NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Brad Stevens (career 56-10); third year at Butler (56-10).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The expectations are to represent Butler well in the classroom and in the community. If we do those things, and prioritize getting better every day, I feel very comfortable that we have a chance to improve as a team, and good things will happen." -- Butler head coach Brad Stevens to the Indianapolis Star.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: G Chase Stigall and 6-9 C Emerson Kampen are redshirt freshmen who both practiced with the team last season, making 6-11 freshman Andrew Smith of Covenant Christian High in Indianapolis the lone true newcomer. He averaged 23.3 points and led the state with 17.1 rebounds per game as a senior and was named the All-City Player of the Year by the Indianapolis Star.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: Butler opens the season at home against NIT participant Davidson, minus Division I-A scoring leader Stephen Curry, who is now with the NBA's Golden State Warriors. The Bulldogs face NCAA Tournament participant Minnesota in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif., and tackle Georgetown at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The 2010 Final Four will be held in Butler's backyard at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. The Bulldogs have the offensive talent, defensive tenacity and discipline to become hometown Hoosier heroes.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ronald Nored, SG Shelvin Mack, SF Willie Veasley, F Gordon Hayward, F Matt Howard.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Sophomore PG Ronald Nored resumed limited practice in late October, his first action in months due to a stress fracture in his left leg.

--Sophomore SG Shelvin Mack finished at the head of the pack when the Bulldogs ran a mile in preseason fitness tests, clocked at 5 minutes, 22 seconds. Sophomore F Gordon Hayward was next at 5:26 and even 6-11 freshman Andrew Smith finished in under 6 minutes.

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CLEVELAND STATE

GETTING INSIDE

Sustaining the momentum from last season's stunning first-round NCAA Tournament upset of Wake Forest won't be easy for Cleveland State with only two starters back in 2009-10.

"It's going to be a difficult challenge," head coach Gary Waters told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. "We don't have the long tradition like a Butler, where they can just recharge their motors. That's what we're trying to formulate here. At the same time, we have to work a little harder."

The formerly forgotten Vikings won 47 games in the past two seasons, led by the nucleus of All-Horizon League honorees Cedric Jackson and J'Nathan Bullock. Their eligibility has expired, along with a third starter, Chris Moore.

The two returning starters are junior guard Norris Cole and junior small forward D'Aundray Brown. Cole was the team's second-leading scorer (13.3) and Brown was fourth in scoring (7.4) and second in rebounding (5.7) and assists (2.5). Only two other returning players averaged more than 10 minutes per game, sophomore guards Trevon Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery.

The new additions, a crew that may produce as many as three starters, includes transfers Lance James and Aaron Pogue. Pogue, a 6-9 sophomore forward, averaged 7.1 points and 5.6 boards at Vincennes (Ind.) College and practiced with the Vikings last season. James is a 5-11 junior point guard who averaged 23.4 points and 6.1 assists at Aiken (S.C.) Tech.

The wildcard could be 6-6 sophomore forward Nigel Ajere, who can play three positions and averaged 11 points and 6.6 rebounds at Summit Prep in California.

"I don't know how fast he'll pick it up, but he is very athletic," Waters told the Plain Dealer. "I'm going to extend the floor a lot more this year, and you need athletes to do that."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Cleveland State's Dec. 12 game vs. Wilberforce will be played in Woodling Gym, marking just the second game in the facility since the end of the 1990-91 campaign.

--G Norris Cole averaged 17.3 points and shot 46 percent from the field last year in Cleveland State's six games against schools from BCS conferences.

--C Joe Latas played five games in the Czech Republic and Austria in August as part of a tour with the East Coast All-Stars.

LAST YEAR: 26-11 overall, 12-6 Horizon; lost in second round of NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Gary Waters (career 228-180); fourth year at Cleveland State (57-45).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The effort has been pretty good so far. Nobody has shied away from that, and we go as hard as any team in the country." -- Cleveland State head coach Gary Waters to the Plain Dealer.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: PG Lance James was a third-team JUCO All-American at Aiken (S.C.) Tech after averaging 23.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.2 steals, but he has big shoes to fill replacing Cedric Jackson. PF Aaron Pogue sat out last season, but used the time to get in shape (dropping from 310 to 275) and impress teammates in practice. Kevin Anderson, a 6-10 junior transfer, is an athletic shot blocker with a lot of upside.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The Vikings begin the year at St. Bonaventure, one of nine new opponents on the schedule. They will face Kentucky and either Stanford or Virginia at the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 24-25). The home slate includes 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Robert Morris (Dec. 15) and West Virginia (Dec. 19).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Head coach Gary Waters proved he can build a successful program in three years, taking the Vikings to the brink of the Sweet 16 last season. Now he has to prove he can reload after losing all-conference players Cedric Jackson and J'Nathan Bullock and two other important seniors.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Lance James, SG Norris Cole, SF D'Aundray Brown, PF Aaron Pogue, F Kevin Anderson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Sophomore F Nigel Ajere stole the show in the season-opening practice with two sensational slams in the Vikings' dunk contest.

--Redshirt freshman F Charlie Woods sat out last season after colliding with teammate Trevon Harmon on the second day of practice and suffering a fractured right eye socket, which required surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

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DETROIT

GETTING INSIDE

There's no such thing as a "most improved team" award in the Horizon League, but let's give it to Detroit anyway.

Of course the Titans have plenty of room for improvement under second-year head coach Ray McCallum. They have posted back-to-back 7-23 seasons and haven't finished above .500 since 2003-04 (18-13).

"We're very excited about going into our second year," McCallum told the Detroit Free Press.

It's the second year in the system for Division I transfers Eli Holman and Chase Simon, but their first year on the floor after sitting out the 2008-09 campaign. Xavier Keeling also returns to the court after missing all but seven games last year with a foot injury.

Holman followed McCallum from Indiana. The 6-10 sophomore forward played in just six games for the Hoosiers in 2007-08 because of a wrist injury. In high school, he was ranked in the nation's Top 100 and averaged nearly 25 points and 12 rebounds per game. In a guard-oriented conference, Holman could have some dominant nights.

Simon transferred from Central Michigan. The 6-6 sophomore guard averaged 4.1 points in 24 games in 2007-08. Other newcomers with Division I experience include junior guards Lamar Lee (Indiana State) and Curtis Eatmon (Utah).

Keeling, who transferred from Wallace State (Ala.) Community College, was averaging 12.4 points per game for the Titans when he got hurt last season. Also back are senior forward Thomas Kennedy (11.6 points per game) and senior guards Woody Payne (8.3) and Eulis Stephens (8.1).

Detroit got a head start on the season with 15 practices in August before traveling to Spain, where the team went 5-0.

"It was awesome. It was a great trip and a great experience," Holman said. "It was important to get back on the court and build chemistry with my teammates."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Detroit has 16 home games on the schedule this season, compared to just 12 a year ago. "I feel that is going to allow us to have more continuity and have an identity as a team," head coach Ray McCallum said. "Plus, everybody plays better at home and you have a much better chance of winning inside your own building."

--C Eli Holman, a transfer from Indiana who sat out last year, was named Horizon Newcomer of the Year by Blue Ribbon Yearbook. The 6-10, 250-pound sophomore averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds during Detroit's 5-0 trip through Spain in August.

--G Eulis Stephens is already in midseason form. He averaged 16.3 points per game on the Spain tour and defeated teammates Curtis Eatmon, John Hoskins and Thomas Kennedy to win the dunk contest at the Titans' "Midnight Madness" event.

LAST YEAR: 7-23 overall, 2-16 Horizon; lost in first round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Ray McCallum (career 177-172); second year at Detroit (7-23).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel like we got a jump start on the year with our trip to Spain. Our team came together and bonded. When you're in a different country and you don't speak the language, it's like you against the world." -- Detroit head coach Ray McCallum to the Detroit Free Press.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Indiana transfer Eli Holman and Central Michigan transfer Chase Simon practiced with the team last season and are expected to start immediately. G Curtis Eatmon (Utah) and G Lamar Lee (Indiana State) are also Division I transfers, but played JUCO ball in 2008-09 and are eligible this fall. Freshman Jason Calliste received a four-star rating from Rivals.com and was the 20th-ranked guard in the nation after averaging 24 points and 11 assists at a North Carolina prep school.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The Titans get tested early, facing Cal in the season opener as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. They also tackle opponents from the Big East (DePaul) and Big Ten (Michigan) on the road before getting into conference play.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Detroit was picked sixth in the 2009-10 Horizon League preseason poll, a bump from ninth in the 2008-09 preseason poll and seventh in the 2007-08 rankings. The results haven't shown up in the win column yet, but the coaches and media members who cast the preseason ballots might be on to something.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Woody Payne, SG Chase Simon, SF Thomas Kennedy, PF Xavier Keeling, C Eli Holman.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Junior F Xavier Keeling is back after missing the final 23 games last year with a broken foot. He averaged 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds and shot 48.3 percent from the field in seven games.

--C LaMarcus Lowe has transferred to Detroit from Western Michigan. The 6-11, 200-pound sophomore led the MAC with 48 blocks last season, including seven against Eastern Michigan. He will be eligible to play for the Titans in 2010-11.

--Freshman F John Hoskins stood 6-8 when Detroit recruited him at Conner Creek Academy East in Warren, Mich., but he was 6-9 when he signed last November and 6-11 when the Titans measured him in preseason. "So he is growing in the right direction," head coach Ray McCallum told the Detroit Free Press.

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ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

GETTING INSIDE

UIC junior shooting guard Robert Kreps prefers to go by the nickname "Robo." His shooting form and the rest of his extensive basketball skill set are mechanically sound, but he is not robotic when it comes to showing passion and emotion on the court.

That's good news for UIC head coach Jimmy Collins, who needs Kreps to light a fire under the Flames in 2009-10.

"He's a leader-type kid and he's going to have to put this team on his shoulders, in terms of defensive intensity and in terms of keeping things in order with the new guys coming in," Collins told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. "He's going to have to be much more of a vocal leader."

The Flames lost leaders Josh Mayo and Scott VanderMeer. Mayo is the school's No. 4 scorer (1,718 points) and the 7-foot VanderMeer led the Horizon League in rebounding and broke the conference record for blocked shots. Three other key contributors with eligibility remaining also left the team (Tori Boyd, Rob Eppinger and Jovan Ignjatovic) and point guard Spencer Stewart is facing an indefinite suspension for breaking team rules.

Other than Kreps, the top returning scorers are senior forward Jeremy Buttell (4.7 points per game) and sophomore forward Jelani Poston (3.7).

A whopping 11 newcomers are on campus this season for the Flames, picked to finish ninth in the Horizon League preseason poll.

Potential starters from the group include freshman point guard Corey Gray of Missouri City, Texas, 6-7 junior forward Brad Birton from South Suburban (Ill.) College and 6-11 junior center K.C. Robbins from Southwestern Illinois College.

"Kyle, I think, is going to more than compensate for Scott offensively," Collins said. "However, he is not limited to that. He can step out and hit the 15-footer, and he handles the ball very well, he can pass it well, and he fits into our program in terms of being a smart player who is very coachable."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Tracy Dildy has been promoted to associate head coach after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UIC. The 19-year coaching veteran has served previously as assistant head coach at UAB (2006-07), assistant head coach at Auburn (2000-04) and associate head coach at DePaul (2000-02).

--Junior G Robo Kreps is one of the Horizon League's deadliest shooters, having finished sixth in 3-point shooting (40.6 percent) and fourth in free-throw accuracy (84.0 percent) last season.

--Senior G Spencer Stewart was suspended indefinitely Sept. 25 for an unspecified violation of team rules. The Flames were 1-5 last season when he missed games due to injuries.

LAST YEAR: 16-15 overall, 7-11 Horizon; lost in second round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Jimmy Collins (career 210-186); 14th year at UIC (210-186).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can see that the potential for us being a very competitive team this year is there. That potential can become reality if the guys stay focused on the goals we have for this team." -- UIC head coach Jimmy Collins.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: There are 11 newcomers on the Flames' bloated 20-man roster. Freshman PG Corey Gray of Missouri City, Texas, may be thrown into the fire right away if Spencer Stewart's suspension lasts. Junior F Brad Birton averaged 11.9 points and 8.0 boards and helped South Suburban (Ill.) College finish No. 7 in the nation. K.C. Robbins is a 6-11 junior center who shot 56.4 percent from the field at Southwestern Illinois College in 2008-09. Louis Green is a 6-9 freshman from suburban Chicago who averaged 11 rebounds and four blocks last season. Junior F Mylin Northern played two seasons at Triton (Ill.) College.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: UIC has home games against Missouri Valley Conference power Illinois State and Pac-10 member Oregon State, which is coached by Chicago native Craig Robinson, brother-in-law of President Barack Obama. The Flames play December road games at DePaul, Akron and Wisconsin.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: With record-setting shot blocker Scott VanderMeer and prolific scorer Josh Mayo now playing professionally overseas, UIC could sink to the bottom in Horizon League action this season. Shooting guard Robo Kreps (12.3 points per game) is the only player back who averaged more than five points per game last season. The Flames were picked ninth in the conference's preseason poll.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Corey Gray, SG Robo Kreps, F Brad Birton, F Jelani Poston, F Jeremy Buttell.

ROSTER REPORT:

--UIC might choose to redshirt JUCO transfer Matt Bush, a 6-4 junior guard who averaged 10.7 points and 4.0 rebounds last season at Black Hawk (Ill.) College.

--Three players with eligibility remaining left the UIC basketball program during the offseason: G Rob Eppinger, F Tori Boyd and F Jovan Ignjatovic. Eppinger averaged 17.8 minutes and 5.5 points and Boyd started 15 games and averaged 10.1 points, while Ignjatovic saw limited minutes in 14 contests.

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LOYOLA-CHICAGO

GETTING INSIDE

Even though Loyola has a low-mileage lineup this year, with 10 of the 16 players on the roster being either freshmen or sophomores, the Ramblers could be headed for a breakdown.

"These kids will have to hit the ground running more than any team that I've ever coached," head coach Jim Whitesell told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. "And this is not an easy league for that to happen."

The Ramblers lost five key players and 69 percent of the team's scoring, including leading scorer and team MVP J.R. Blount. Blount averaged 14.1 points last season and finished ninth in school history with 1,603 points. Other departed seniors include Justin Cerasoli (11.2 points per game), Leon Young (7.3) and Darrin Williams (7.1).

Whitesell has nine guards on the roster, led by seniors Marcus Thomas and Aric Van Weelden and sophomore Courtney Stanley. Thomas led them in 3-pointers made (44) and Van Weelden is arguably the team's top defender. Freshman Charles Winborne scored more than 3,000 points in his prep career and could start or provide an offensive spark off the bench. Stanley may take over at the point, with competition from newcomer Gabe Kindred.

"Gabe has exceptional leadership qualities and can adjust to numerous styles of play," Whitesell said. "We think he can be an impact player and make an immediate contribution."

Senior forward Andy Polka returns to the frontcourt after missing most of last season with an ankle injury. Sophomore forward Walt Gibler started 17 games as a rookie and shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range. New arrivals include 6-8 freshman Ben Averkamp and 6-6 freshman Shaun Adams.

"Ben can face up and score or score down low," Whitesell said. "Shaun is a skilled player who can give us a different dimension than we have had here."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Loyola was picked last in the 2009-10 Horizon League preseason poll with 97 points, well behind ninth-place city rival UIC with 126 points.

--G/F Jordan Hicks finished strong last season, averaging 13.0 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 55 percent (12-of-22) from 3-point distance over his last seven games.

--G Charles Winborne, a 6-1 freshman, is one of just 67 players nationally to have scored more than 3,000 points in a prep career. He joins such greats as Bill Bradley, Robert Parish and Mike Bibby, among others. Winborne averaged 27.6 points and 6.9 rebounds to earn first-team all-state honors in Louisiana last season.

LAST YEAR: 14-18 overall, 6-12 Horizon; lost in first round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Jim Whitesell (career 79-76); sixth year at Loyola-Chicago (79-76).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're really young. As I keep saying to my wife, 'It's going to be young and fun.' But it's a good group in terms of all the conditioning and preseason workouts and all that. Nine of our 13 guys on scholarship are in their first or second year." -- UIC head coach Jim Whitesell to the Chicago Tribune.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: G Charles Winborne was Class 2A Player of the Year in Louisiana in 2007-08 and runner-up in 2008-09 when he scored 40-plus points six times. JUCO transfer Terrance Hill averaged 11.0 points and shot 43 percent from 3-point range at Coffeyville (Kan.) CC. F Ben Averkamp is the leading scorer in Germanton (Wis.) High history with 1,156 points. G Gabe Kindred was team MVP at Worcester (Mass.) Academy. F Shaun Adams scored 1,239 points and is the all-time leading scorer at Liberty (Mo.) High.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: Loyola tips off the season at Kansas State, its first contest against a Big 12 opponent since 2002. It's the start of a three-year series that brings the Wildcats to the Gentile Center in 2010-11. The Ramblers also play non-conference games at home against Western Michigan and on the road at Bradley.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Ramblers lost 69 percent of their scoring output (43.6 points) and five key players from last season, including top scorer and team MVP J.R. Blount (14.1).

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Courtney Stanley, SG Marcus Thomas, G/F Jordan Hicks, F Walt Gibler, F Andy Polka.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior G Aric Van Weelden may already be the team's top defender and has worked hard to improve his offense after averaging 3.4 points last season. "Aric does everything for us and keeps his composure on the floor," head coach Jim Whitesell said. "He worked very hard on his shot during the offseason. He is our 'glue' guy."

--Senior F Andy Polka is healthy after missing all but 11 games last season with a serious ankle injury. He needs two rebounds to become the 28th player in school history with 500. Polka has grabbed 10 or more boards 11 times.

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VALPARAISO

GETTING INSIDE

Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew's 600th career victory was one of the few highlights from last year's 9-22 campaign, the program's worst record since 1991-92.

However, Drew probably celebrated more after hearing that senior guard Brandon McPherson was granted an extra year of eligibility after missing most of the season with a knee injury.

"Getting Brandon back for a fifth year, that right there is a tremendous start for us," Drew told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. "His knowledge, his leadership, his experience is all excellent. Brandon can play many positions for us. He's one of our best scorers, off the shot or off the drive, and he passes the ball well."

The Crusaders clearly missed McPherson last season. Valparaiso finished eighth in the league in scoring and ninth in scoring margin, rebounding margin, 3-point defense and assist-turnover ratio, and 10th in free-throw shooting. McPherson averaged double-digit points in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range both seasons.

Players who stepped up in his absence in the backcourt included junior guards Michael Rogers (9.9 points per game) and Howard Little (9.6). The top returning player in the frontcourt is 6-9 sophomore forward Cameron Witt, who started nine games and averaged 13.4 minutes.

Three newcomers could crack the starting lineup, including Division I transfers Cory Johnson (Iowa State), a 6-7 forward, and Brandon Wood (Southern Illinois), a 6-2 guard. Both practiced with the Crusaders last season and know the system, 6-7 sophomore forward Milos Milosevic is a powerful post presence from Yuba (Calif.) College.

"Brandon, Cory, Mike and Howard will make a very strong nucleus for us," Drew said. "Then the sophomore class got some valuable playing experience as freshmen, and we're counting on them continuing to improve."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Valparaiso enters its third season in the Horizon League in 2009-10. The Crusaders won 22 games in their first campaign in the conference, but lost 22 games in their second season.

--Freshman G Ryan Broekhoff started every game for the Australian national team at the FIBA U-19 world championships this summer, averaging 7.0 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds for the fourth-place finishers.

--Fifth-year senior G Brandon McPherson was granted a medical redshirt after being limited to five games last season with a knee injury. He ranks in the Top 10 in school history in 3-point accuracy (40.9 percent) and needs 195 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

LAST YEAR: 9-22 overall, 5-13 Horizon; lost in first round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Homer Drew (career 602-398); 21st year at Valparaiso (333-276).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We won't have the dominant size we've had in the past, so rebounding will be a real key. … But I think that we'll be a very balanced team and share the ball. We have a number of players who can shoot and handle well." -- Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew to Blue Ribbon Yearbook.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Transfers Cory Johnson (Iowa State) and Brandon Wood (Southern Illinois) both have Division I experience and will be counted on from day one. Wood played a year at Highland (Ill.) Community College and averaged 16.2 points while shooting 43.3 percent from behind the arc. Johnson played in 55 games for the Cyclones and really impressed the Crusaders in practice last season, so much so that Homer Drew made him a co-captain. Milos Milosevic is a 6-7 sophomore from Montenegro who played one year of JUCO ball and is "going to be a man-child for Valpo ... an absolute beast," his former coach told the Post-Tribune.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The Crusaders face both participants from the 2009 national championship game, playing at defending champion North Carolina on Nov. 15 and at Final Four runner-up Michigan State on Nov. 22. With non-conference road games at Purdue and Ball State adding even more heft to the schedule, Valparaiso will be counting down the days until Horizon League play gets under way.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Crusaders have one senior and eight newcomers on the roster, which suggests a rebuilding project for veteran head coach Homer Drew, one of just eight current Division I head coaches with 600-plus victories. Valparaiso was picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League preseason poll.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Brandon McPherson, G Howard Little, G/F Michael Rogers, F Milos Milosevic, F Cory Johnson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Valparaiso fans will recognize head coach Homer Drew's new student assistant. Jake Diebler joined the coaching staff after averaging 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31 games for the Crusaders in 2008-09.

--Croatia native Hrvoje Vucic, a 7-foot freshman center, joined the program in August as a late addition for the 2009-10 season. He is the fourth native of Croatia to play under Homer Drew at Valparaiso. He averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds at the Nike International Junior Tournament this season.

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WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY

GETTING INSIDE

It's normal to reshuffle a lineup from season to season. Green Bay, however, is playing with almost an entirely new deck in 2009-10.

The Phoenix lost not one or two, but three 1,000-point scorers from last season's second-place Horizon League squad in Ryan Tillema, Mike Schachtner and Terry Evans. Seven newcomers, including six freshmen, give Green Bay a much different look this year.

"Completely different," senior forward Cordero Barkley told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "In a good way, though."

Evans, Schachtner and Tillema accounted for 41 percent of the team's scoring and 46 percent of its 3-pointers. The Phoenix led the league and ranked fifth in the nation in 3-point accuracy at 41.0 percent.

Both starters return in the backcourt in junior point guard Rahmon Fletcher, a second-team all-conference pick who averaged 10.8 points per game last year, and senior shooting guard Troy Cotton (12.6 points per game). Cotton led the Phoenix in 3-pointers (89) and ranked third in the Horizon in 3-point shooting (43.0 percent).

The only other returnees who averaged double-digit minutes are senior forwards Randy Berry and Pat Nelson and junior guard Bryquis Perine.

Newcomers expected to contribute right away include freshman guard Rian Pearson, who is recovering from knee surgery, and junior forward Greg LeSage, a transfer from Columbus State (Ohio) Community College.

"We have good guys in this program and good chemistry," Fletcher said. "The new guys just fell in. We've just got to get them to buy in on the basketball court."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior G Troy Cotton enters the season 192 points shy of becoming the 22nd member of the school's 1,000-point club. His 169 3-pointers are seventh-most in Phoenix history.

--Junior G Rahmon Fletcher has appeared in every game (63) since his arrival at Green Bay, including 59 starts.

--Former Phoenix F Mike Schachtner signed a professional contract to play in Austria for the Kapfenberg Bulls. He is the school's all-time leader in starts (119) and free-throw shooting (88.3 percent) and ranks fifth in scoring with 1,667 points.

LAST YEAR: 22-11 overall, 13-5 Horizon; lost in first round of CBI.

HEAD COACH: Tod Kowalczyk (career 114-99); eighth year at Green Bay (114-99).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've got to find ways to score, but defensively, we'll be better than we were last year. Rebounding we'll be better than we were last year. Hopefully our defense will help us score and our offensive rebounding will help us score." -- Green Bay head coach Tod Kowalczyk to the Press-Gazette.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: A handful of freshmen and JUCO forward Greg LeSage are counted on to help replace departed seniors Ryan Tillema, Mike Schachtner and Terry Evans. LeSage averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season at Columbus State (Ohio) CC, which went 28-4 and was the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Division II tournament. G Rian Pearson could have the biggest impact among the freshmen if rehab from knee surgery goes smoothly. F Matt Smith averaged 19.8 points and 10.9 rebounds last season. PG Seth Evans led Seneca (Ill.) High to 65 consecutive wins.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The date circled in red on Green Bay's calendar is Dec. 9, when Wisconsin visits the Resch Center for the first time since the Badgers helped to christen the arena on Nov. 30, 2002. The Phoenix opens the campaign at the Hispanic College Fund Classic at Kent State, which includes a game against 2009 NIT participant UAB.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Green Bay is coming off its best season in a decade. The Phoenix had its most conference wins since 1995-96 and most overall wins since 1998-99 and received the program's first postseason bid since 1996. What goes up doesn't necessarily come down, but that looks like the case here with the loss of two starters and a sixth man who led the conference in scoring.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Rahmon Fletcher, SG Troy Cotton, G Rian Pearson, F Cordero Barkley, F Randy Berry.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Freshman G Rian Pearson had arthroscopic knee surgery in late September and was expected to miss at least the first five games of the season, possibly returning by Nov. 27 at North Dakota. He suffered a torn meniscus during an offseason workout. The lefty averaged 23.0 points and 8.8 rebounds last year and was all-state in Missouri.

--Senior F Cordero Barkley had to redshirt last season after undergoing wrist surgery, but is back at 100 percent for 2009-10. He has played in 92 career games and is one of three fifth-year seniors on the roster, with forwards Randy Berry and Pat Nelson.

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WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

GETTING INSIDE

With six of his top players back and some promising newcomers, Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter has his eyes on a Horizon League championship in 2009-10.

"Absolutely," he told the Journal Sentinel. "Absolutely we can. Us and three or four other teams. We feel good about being able to compete, and I know our guys and we're going to get our guys confident and ready."

The Panthers won 17 games last year and finished 11-7 in the conference, including a victory in February against then-No. 21 Butler – the program's first win against a ranked opponent.

Four starters return, including second-team all-conference guard Tone Boyle (13.2 points per game) and fellow all-newcomer team member James Eayrs (13.1), a 6-7, 310-pound forward with surprising range. Forwards Tony Meier and Anthony Hill and guards Deonte Roberts and Ricky Franklin all averaged at least 15 minutes per game last year.

Junior-college transfer Michael Tyler, a 6-5 forward, is a Newcomer of the Year candidate who averaged 17.5 points and ranked sixth nationally with 11.9 rebounds per game last season at Pratt (Kan.) Community College. Junior guard Jerard Ajami sat out last season after transferring from Northern Michigan.

"The goal is always to position yourself to have a chance at being in the conference race," said Jeter. "That's always the goal. But to do that, you take them one at a time. You have to learn from the good things and the bad things in preseason, the preseason games we have before we get into the league, and they you just take them one at a time."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Milwaukee knocked down 246 3-pointers last season -- 63 more than its opponents -- and will likely fire away from long range again in 2009-10.

--At 6-7 and a hefty 310 pounds, senior F James Eayrs is a surprisingly skilled ball-handler and passer and was No. 2 on the team in 3-point attempts last season with 131. He made the Horizon All-Newcomer team along with teammate and fellow JUCO transfer Tone Boyle.

--Freshman PG Ja'Rob McCallum's uncle is Ray McCallum, the second-year head coach at Horizon League rival Detroit. He averaged 16.2 points and 4.2 assists at Marion (Ind.) High.

LAST YEAR: 17-14 overall, 11-7 Horizon; lost in second round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Rob Jeter (career 62-61); fifth year at Milwaukee (62-61).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You have to stay healthy. That's the big thing for our group. If we can stay healthy, we have some pieces that when the smoke settles, we can be a dangerous team." -- Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter to the Journal Sentinel.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: F Michael Tyler is a junior transfer who ranked sixth in the nation in rebounding (11.9 per game) and posted 22 double-doubles in 31 games last season at Pratt (Kan.) CC. G Jerard Ajami sat out last season after transferring from Northern Michigan, where he averaged 12.4 points and 3.3 boards in 2007-08. F Ryan Haggerty and F Riley Walker are redshirt freshmen who will fight for minutes in the frontcourt.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The Panthers are participating in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Baton Rouge, La., where they face Western Kentucky and either LSU or Indiana State. The non-conference schedule also includes road tests in December against city rival Marquette of the Big East and Wisconsin of the Big Ten.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Milwaukee was picked fourth in the Horizon preseason poll behind Butler, Wright State and defending tournament champion Cleveland State. With the amount of talent returning, there's no reason that the Panthers can't finish among the Top 3 this season if they can stay healthy.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ricky Franklin, SG Tone Boyle, F Tony Meier, F Anthony Hill, F James Eayrs.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior G Tone Boyle led the Horizon League with 35.5 minutes per game last season, but he paid a price for all that court time with cracked vertebrae. "Toward the end, he lacked mobility," head coach Rob Jeter told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. "I would hope that we don't have to wear him down as much this year."

--In September, Milwaukee announced the addition to the roster of Division I transfers Mitchell Carter (South Carolina) and Christian Wolf (Florida Gulf Coast). Both are Wisconsin natives and both will have to sit out the 2009-10 season according to NCAA transfer rules.

--Milwaukee has received a verbal commitment from Randolph (Wis.) High senior Kyle Kelm, a 6-9 forward who drew interest from Marquette, Iowa, Iowa State and Saint Louis. He averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds as a junior, but suffered a broken right foot in May. He had surgery in August and should be ready for his senior season.

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WRIGHT STATE

GETTING INSIDE

The Wright brothers' famous first flight lasted longer than Wright State junior guard Vaughn Duggins' promising 2008-09 season.

Well, almost. Duggins, a first-team All-Horizon League selection as a sophomore, played four games before suffering a broken finger and taking a medical redshirt. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in limited action last season after averaging 13.8 points and shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point distance in 2007-08.

Head coach Brad Brownell said Duggins has worked hard to regain his rhythm, but still faces many challenges.

"If you're a good player, it's probably even more difficult to take a year away from you," he told the Springfield News-Sun. "It's even more challenging, more difficult on you to sit.

"The other thing is the rhythm of your career. He had a great rhythm, a great sophomore season, and like it or not in a lot of ways he has to start over. You're never in tremendous shape when you're coming out of an injury."

Despite losing their pilot and failing to get off the ground with an 0-6 start, the Raiders still managed to soar to another 20-win season last year and are ready to challenge Butler for league superiority in 2009-10.

In addition to Duggins, the teams welcomes back second-team all-conference senior guard Todd Brown (11.9 points per game) and senior forward Cory Cooperwood, their leading rebounder (5.4). Other returning players with starting experience include senior forward Ronnie Thomas, senior guard John David Gardner and junior guard N'Gai Evans.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Wright State has registered three 20-win seasons under third-year head coach Brad Brownell after posting just two in the previous 19 seasons. The Raiders reached that milestone last season despite an 0-6 start.

--Senior G Todd Brown ranks 23rd in Wright State history with 1,069 career points entering the 2009-10 season. He also ranks fifth with 143 3-pointers made, 54 short of the school record held by Andy Holderman (1990-94).

--F Paul Darkwa is a 26-year-old freshman who spent the past eight years in the U.S. Navy. His only organized basketball experience is playing on service teams, most recently at the World Military Games in Lithuania. He played in the Navy with Francis Ebong, brother of Wright State assistant coach Victor Ebong.

LAST YEAR: 20-13 overall, 12-6 Horizon; lost in semifinals of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Brad Brownell (career 147-73); fourth year at Wright State (64-33).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Several of them came from situations that they didn't feel were as good. Now there's a great appreciation for what we do here, how we do things and the overall pride in our program." -- Wright State head coach Brad Brownell, to the Dayton Daily News, on seniors and former transfers Ronnie Thomas, John David Gardner and Cory Cooperwood.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Freshman F Tyler Koch averaged 20 points and 8.5 boards per game as a senior at Winchester (Ind.) High. He was a two-time conference Player of the Year and had a record 37 points in the 2008 Class 2A state championship game. Freshman G Darian Cartharn averaged 16 points, five assists and five rebounds last year at Canal Winchester (Ohio) High. Freshman F Paul Darkwa, 26, is a native of Ghana who attended high school in California and spent the past eight years in the Navy.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: They open up at the Athletes in Action Basketball Classic in Seattle against three straight teams that won at least 20 games last season: NCAA Tournament participant Washington (26-9), Big Sky champion and NCAA participant Portland State (23-10), and Belmont (20-13) from the Atlantic Sun.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Third-year coach Brad Brownell has put together three straight 20-win seasons and compiled an impressive Horizon League record of 37-15 (.712). The Raiders were picked second in the conference preseason poll and have four starters returning. If anyone can give Butler a run for its money, it's Wright State.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G John David Gardner, G Vaughn Duggins, G Todd Brown, F Cory Cooperwood, F Ronnie Thomas.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior G John David Gardner is hoping for a healthy season after playing in just seven games his first year, 11 games the next and 21 in 2008-09. He suffered a torn labrum last season and had four months of rehabilitation following surgery.

--Junior G Vaughn Duggins was arrested Aug. 28 and charged with operating a vehicle while impaired. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Nov. 16, but he is practicing with the team. He is returning from a medical redshirt season after suffering a broken finger and undergoing ankle surgery last year.

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YOUNGSTOWN STATE

GETTING INSIDE

Youngstown State's top three priorities this season are defense, defense and more defense.

The Penguins finished last in the Horizon League last year in scoring defense (68.9 points per game allowed), ninth in field-goal defense (44.1 percent) and steals (5.6 per game) and seventh in 3-point defense (34.6 percent).

Inexperience is an unacceptable excuse for lackadaisical defense with five seniors and four juniors on the roster.

"I believe our experience will show at the defensive end of the floor this year," head coach Jerry Slocum told the Youngstown Vindicator. "Our juniors and seniors are taking the role of leaders and they want to make this a special season."

The Penguins have their top four scorers back in guards Kelvin Bright (11.4 points per game), DeAndre Mays (10.7) and Vytas Sulskis (10.3) and forward Sirlester Martin (9.6), who was also their leading rebounder (7.3).

"I think the strength of our overall program is our depth throughout," Slocum said. "From position to position we have some depth. The strength or our team is two-fold. One, we have everybody back and two is our experience."

Returning players who could have a bigger role in 2009-10 include guards Vance Cooksey and Ashen Ward and forwards Zack Rebillot and Dallas Blocker.

"Every team needs what I call ‘fill in the blank' kind of guys," Slocum said. "Guys who are going to go out and work hard to do the little things that can make a difference."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Youngstown State returns 86.6 percent of its scoring, 84.3 percent of its rebounding and 99.4 percent of its 3-point scoring from last season. The only players lost were starting forward Jack Liles and reserve guard Mikko Niemi.

--Junior F Tom Parks shot 45.7 percent from 3-point range during conference play last season, third-best in the Horizon League. He certainly knows his own strength: 77 of his 99 shot attempts were from 3-point distance.

--Senior F Sirlester Martin is the Horizon's top returning rebounder after averaging 7.3 boards per game in his first season with the Penguins in 2008-09. He had six games with 10 or more.

LAST YEAR: 11-19 overall, 7-11 Horizon; lost in first round of conference tournament.

HEAD COACH: Jerry Slocum (career 621-403); fifth year at Youngstown State (41-78).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is the deepest team we've had since I've been here and because of that it's probably the most talented team I've had here. I like where we are today." -- Youngstown State head coach Jerry Slocum to the Youngstown Vindicator.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Redshirt freshman Eddie D'Haiti is a 6-8 forward from Orlando who practiced with the team last season. He averaged a double-double (16 points and 11 rebounds) as a senior and was one of Florida's Top 40 recruits. Freshman F Lamar McKnight of Cleveland was a two-time all-state and three-time all-conference honoree and helped St. Peter's Chanel reach the 2008 state final four. Sophomore G Andy Timko is a transfer from Westminster College who served as Youngstown State's manager last year.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: The Penguins face five teams that made the 2009 NCAA Tournament and three that finished in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25. They open up at Xavier, their first matchup with the Musketeers since 1949, and have another tough road test with their first game at Pitt since 2003.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Penguins were picked seventh in the Horizon League preseason poll, but head coach Jerry Slocum believes that his team is underrated. "We don't get any respect from the league, but then again you have to earn respect," he told the Vindicator. "I still feel that we are in the top half of the league this season."

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG DeAndre Mays, SG Kelvin Bright, G Vytas Sulskis, F Sirlester Martin, F Eddie D'Haiti.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Damian Eargle, a 6-7 sophomore from Youngstown, is sitting out the 2009-10 season after transferring from UNC-Greensboro. He averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds and led the team with 55 blocked shots as a freshman last season.

--Freshman G Sheldon Brogdon is likely to redshirt this season after suffering a serious knee injury during his senior year at Warren Harding (Ohio) High. He tallied 1,003 career points and is the school's all-time leader with 112 3-pointers made.