Entering its first season of play in the Horizon League, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team has been projected to finish sixth in a poll of League coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

The Crusaders earned 227 points in the polling, which awarded 10 points for a first-place vote.  46 ballots were completed, with 42 of them projecting Butler as the League champion.  The Bulldogs led all teams with 456 points, far outdistancing second-place Wright State, which totaled 354 points.

Green Bay, which received two first-place votes, finished third in the polling with 333 points, just in front of Milwaukee, which tallied 325 points.  Loyola received the last two first-place votes en route to 264 points.  Detroit (201), UIC (171), Cleveland State (118) and Youngstown State (81) rounded out the poll.

Valparaiso returns eight letterwinners from last season’s 16-win squad, including four starters who averaged double figures in scoring.  Head coach Homer Drew has also brought in four freshmen to round out his team for the 2007-2008 campaign.