We won't underrate the Bulldogs this year! With low expectations in 2006 all they did was start out 10-0 and that included wins over Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee, and Gonzaga to win the Preseason NIT. They return three starters and they'll win the Horizon again and who knows after that.

Cleveland St has finished in the bottom three spots in the league for 6 years in a row. Head Coach Gary Waters, in his 2nd year is bringing in 10 players to try and remedy that situation. Waters was the head coach at Rutgers for 5 years so he knows what is needed to improve this program.

The once proud program at Detroit has fallen on hard times the last three years. The university will depend on Perry Watson, the dean of coaches in the league, to bring the tradition back. Detroit had nine straight winning seasons from 1996 to 2004, nows the time to turn back the clock.

The Illinois-Chicago Flames endured a year of extreme turmoil last season. Coach Jimmy Collins was forced to sit out because of a stomach ailment and an assistant coach was accused of sexual harassment causing players to transfer or quit the team, through this they still managed to win 14 games.

Jim Whitesell doesn't have much to show fort he fact that he's been very successful at Loyola. The last two years the Ramblers have 40 victories, second only to Butler, but no postseason appearances. This year looks like a tough year to break that streak with only 1 returning starter.

Size did not matter too much in the Mid-Con, but with Valparaiso moving into the Horizon, the size, or lack thereof, is a major concern. But Butler can do it, so why not Valpo? n the end, the size concerns will not stop the Crusaders from being an effective and dangerous team in their new conference

Green Bay ended last season with 18 wins overall but they were only 7-9 in conference for a tie for fourth place. This year coach Tod Kwalczyk's Phoenix has four returning starters and a couple of good recruits and looks to rise back into being a contender in the Horizon Conference.

The Panthers fell to earth after three magical seasons that saw 92 wins and three NCAA tournament appearances. Coach Rob Jeter only had two seniors on last years team so this year has 10 of his top 11 scorers returning. Mix in some good recruits and excellent transfers and things are looking up.

Brad Brownell had a pretty good first year at Wright State. He tied Butler for the league championship and won the league tournament to go to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1993. Their best player, DaShaun Wood is gone but three starters are back. Can they contend again this year?