The Valparaiso men’s basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League during the 2013-2014 season, according to preseason polling of the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.  The Crusaders are two-time defending Horizon League regular season champions and captured the league tournament title last season.

Valpo totaled 205 points in the preseason polling, 14 points behind fifth-place Youngstown State.  Green Bay was narrowly picked as preseason favorites, tallying 390 points and 21 first-place votes to edge out Wright State, which recorded 22 first-place votes and 389 points.  Cleveland State (338 points, two first-place votes) and Oakland (258 points, one first-place vote) were picked third and fourth, while UIC (151 points), Detroit (141 points) and Milwaukee (69 points) rounded out the polling.

The Crusaders open exhibition play at the ARC on Saturday evening, October 26 when they host Hillsdale.  The regular season opens at home on Friday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. versus Murray State, with the unveiling of the program’s championship and NCAA Tournament banners from the 2012-2013 season prior to the game.