Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee men's basketball team has been selected to finish first in the Horizon League regular season, according to the Under Armour preseason poll. The announcement was made by the league office and reflects the opinions of head coaches, SIDs, and media members.

This marks a significant achievement for the Panthers, who were previously ranked second last season. This is their first top position since before the 2006-07 season. Players Erik Pratt and AJ McKee have also received recognition by being named to the Preseason All-League Second Team.

The Panthers secured 15 first-place votes and 421 points in the poll. Purdue Fort Wayne shares this top spot with one less first-place vote. Northern Kentucky, Oakland, and Wright State complete the top five rankings.

Bart Lundy has led Milwaukee through a successful period, achieving consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since mid-2000s. His leadership helped propel the team to a memorable postseason run last year, which ended just shy of an NCAA Tournament berth.

Despite injuries throughout last season, Milwaukee achieved six victories from double-digit deficits and maintained strong home performance against league opponents. They also set several new records in various statistical categories such as total points and field goals attempted.

Erik Pratt had a notable season with averages that placed him among leading players in scoring and assists within the Horizon League. AJ McKee joins Milwaukee after excelling at Queens University where he was a standout player in scoring during his tenure.

The upcoming 2024-25 campaign brings high expectations for Milwaukee as they prepare to compete under their new ranking.