Defending champion Robert Morris is predicted to finish fourth in the Horizon League men’s basketball standings, according a preseason poll released Wednesday.

The Colonials earned the conference’s regular-season and tournament championships last season, finishing with a 26-9 record (15-5 Horizon) and advancing to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years.

Robert Morris, which received eight of the 44 available first-place votes, is represented on the preseason all-league second team by IU Indianapolis transfer DeSean Goode.

Milwaukee, with 24 first-place votes, earned the top spot in the poll. Oakland, with seven first-place votes, wound up second and Youngstown State, which gathered two first-place votes, finished third.

Oakland’s Tuburu Naivalurua was voted the preseason player of the year after averaging 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season for the Golden Grizzlies.

Voting was conducted by the league’s coaches and sports information directors as well as select media members.

Horizon League Preseason Poll

Rank, Team, Pts.

1. Milwaukee (24) 428

2. Oakland (7) 384

3. Youngstown State (2) 364

4. Robert Morris (8) 345

5. Purdue Fort Wayne (1) 287

6. Northern Kentucky 274

7. Wright State 221

8. Cleveland State (2) 217

9. Detroit Mercy 176

10. IU Indianapolis 115

11. Green Bay 93

Note: First-place votes in parentheses.

Preseason First Team

Orlando Lovejoy, Detroit Mercy

Marcus Hall, Green Bay

Amar Augillard, Milwaukee

Tuburu Naivalurua, Oakland

Cris Carroll, Youngstown State

Preseason Second Team

Faizon Fields, Milwaukee

Seth Hubbard, Milwaukee

Dan Gherezgher, Northern Kentucky

Corey Hadnot II, Purdue Fort Wayne

DeSean Goode, Robert Morris

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