CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team has been picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League this year, as the Horizon League announced the 2021-22 #HLMBB Preseason Poll Tuesday (Oct. 19) afternoon.
 
The preseason poll, as voted on by the League's coaches, sports information directors and select media, tabbed reigning Horizon League champion Cleveland State to finish atop the league once again. The Vikings received 30 of the 44 first-place votes.
 
The top five teams in the preseason poll all received at least one first-place vote, with Wright State (9), Northern Kentucky (1), Milwaukee (2) and Detroit Mercy (2), rounding out the top five. Oakland and Youngstown State sit in fifth and sixth place, respectively, just ahead of the Flames who garnered 204 votes.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne (169 votes) and Robert Morris (157) round out the top ten while Green Bay (146) and IUPUI (85) complete the preseason poll.
 
Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis headlines the Preseason All-League First Team as the Preseason Player of the Year after leading the Horizon League in scoring in each of his first three seasons.
 
UIC will get its first taste of Horizon League action earlier than normal this year with the League now featuring a 22-game conference schedule. In the middle of non-conference play, the Flames will play host to Oakland and Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2 and 5, respectively.
 
Flames fans can see the team in action all season long by becoming a UIC basketball season ticket holder.
 
Fans can secure the best seats at Credit Union 1 Arena and sit courtside for the full slate of 15 games this upcoming season. Tickets prices have been reduced for 2021-22 season, with courtside seats priced at $400 each, $100 less than during the last season the Flames welcomed fans to home games, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flames fans wishing to purchase courtside seats will be required to be a donor to the Flames Athletics Fund (FAF), the annual fundraising organization for UIC Athletics. A gift of $250 will allow supporters to purchase up to four courtside season tickets.
 
Individuals interested in sitting in the lower level of Credit Union 1 Arena, will have two options available. Season tickets in the priority center court sections (104-105 and 113-14) are $200 each. A gift of $100 to the Flames Athletics Fund will allow fans to purchase up four seats. Non-priority lower-level season tickets in other sections will also be $200 each, with no FAF donation required.
 
The Impact Courtside Club returns for the 2021-22 campaign, providing fans with exclusive access to the hospitality area that is one of the most unique in college basketball. Members will enjoy catered food options, a bar consisting of beer, wine and Pepsi products, in addition to other amenities including comfortable seating areas, televisions to monitor action from other sporting events in progress and much more. Season passes to the Impact Courtside Club are $400 each, a reduction of $100 compared to the 2019-20 season. Club season pass members must also be UIC men's basketball season ticket holders and contribute to the Flames Athletics Fund at the $100 level or above. Donations to the Flames Athletics Fund are cumulative, thus contributions made to secure seating privileges also count towards Impact Courtside Club eligibility.
 
Current UIC men's basketball season ticket holders will receive information regarding the renewal of their seats in the coming days. Fans wishing to find out more about securing their season tickets and joining the Flames Athletics Fund can visit the 'Tickets' section of the UIC Athletics website at UICFlames.com or call 312-413-8421 for more information.
 
2021-22 #HLMBB Preseason Poll Results
Pl.      School (1st-place) – Votes
1.        Cleveland State (30) – 502
2.        Wright State (9) – 463
3.        Northern Kentucky (1) – 406
4.        Milwaukee (2) – 396
5.        Detroit Mercy (2) – 350
6.        Oakland – 340
7.        Youngstown State – 214
8.        UIC – 204
9.        Purdue Fort Wayne – 169
10.      RMU – 157
11.      Green Bay – 146
12.      IUPUI - 85
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
 
Preseason All-League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Torrey Patton, Cleveland State
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Patrick Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee
Jalen Moore, Oakland
Grant Basile, Wright State
 
Preseason All-League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
DeAndre Gholston, Milwaukee
Trevon Faulkner, Northern Kentucky
Marques Warrick, Northern Kentucky
Jarred Godfrey, Purdue Fort Wayne
Tanner Holden, Wright State