Last season the Butler men’s basketball team was in a fight for first place in the Horizon League throughout the season. But where will this season’s team finish in the standings?

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Here is a look into my projected Horizon League standings for the 2011-12 season.

10. Illinois-Chicago
—2011-12 projected record (28 games): 9-19 (3-15)

9. Youngstown State
—2011-12 projected record (28 games): 10-18 (3-15)

8. Wright State
—2011-12 projected record (30 games): 13-17 (6-12)

7. Wisconsin-Green Bay
—2011-12 projected record (28 games): 14-14 (7-11)

6. Loyola
—2011-12 projected record (28 games): 15-13 (7-11)

5. Valparaiso
—2010-11 record: 23-12 (12-6)
—Lost: guard Brandon Wood, forward Cory Johnson, guard Howard Little
—Returning: guard Ryan Broekhoff, guard Erik Buggs, forward Kevin Van Wijk
—Skinny: The Crusaders will look for leadership and production from the above trio.
—2011-12 projected record (33 games): 22-11 (10-8)

4. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
—2010-11 record: 19-14 (13-5)
—Lost: guard Tone Boyle, forward Anthony Hill
—Returning: forward Tony Meier, guard Kaylon Williams, guard Ja’Rob McCallum, guard Ryan Allen
—Skinny: The Panthers may not fare well in league action this season following a rough non-conference schedule.
—2011-12 record (30 games): 19-11 (11-7)

3. Cleveland State
—2010-11 record: 27-9 (13-5)
—Lost: guard Norris Cole
—Returning: guard Trevon Harmon, guard Jeremy Montgomery, forward Aaron Pogue, forward Tim Kamczyc
—Skinny: The Vikings should put up strong numbers in most offensive categories, but it will not be enough to claim the top —2011-12 projected record (30 games): 20-10 (12-6)

2. Detroit
—2010-11 record: 17-16 (10-8)
—Lost: None
—Returning: guard Ray McCallum, guard Chase Simon, forward Nick Minnerath, guard Jason Calliste, guard Chris Blake
—Skinny: While the Titans
are not lacking senior presence, they have not played their share of high-pressure games recently. Plus, center Eli Holman was suspended indefinitely in September.
—2011-12 projected record (30 games): 22-8 (14-4)

1. Butler
—2010-11 record: 28-10 (13-5)
—Lost: forward
Matt Howard, guard Shelvin Mack, guard Shawn
Vanzant, guard Zach Hahn
—Returning: guard Ronald Nored, forward Khyle Marshall, center Andrew Smith
—Skinny: This team is not lacking in big-game experience, but a difficult non-conference schedule could burn out the Bulldogs.
—2011-12 projected record (30 games): 21-9 (15-3)