HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –  Northern Kentucky men's basketball was picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll in a vote comprised by the league's coaches, athletic communications personnel and media. Jalen Tate was bestowed with Preseason All-Horizon League First Team honors, while Tyler Sharpe was a member of the second team.
 
NKU collected five first-place votes and 295 points, trailing only Wright State's 28 first-place nods and 350 points.
 
Behind Northern Kentucky in this season's rankings sits UIC (280) and Oakland (229) in third and fourth, respectively, with each team collecting a first-place vote. Green Bay was picked fifth with 207 points.
 
The second half of the standings has Youngstown State (186), Milwaukee (146), Detroit Mercy (133) and IUPUI (92) ranking in order for Nos. 6-9. Cleveland State wrapped up the rankings with 62 points and had the final first-place vote. 
 
This marks the third-straight year the Norse have been chosen second, and with the previous two polls, NKU has surpassed the prognostications to win the regular-season crown. Going back to the 2015-16 season when Northern Kentucky joined the Horizon League, the trend of bucking the preseason poll has become a habit for the Norse. Northern Kentucky was picked 10^th in its inaugural league campaign, but finished eighth. Its second go-around in the Horizon League in 2016-17 saw NKU eclipse its preseason No. 7 ranking to finish fourth before claiming the 2017 league tournament title and making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
A two-time All-Horizon League Defensive Team honoree, Tate is making his second appearance in the preseason all-league honors. The redshirt junior was on the 2018 preseason second team prior to this year's nod as a preseason first-teamer. He was third for the Norse in scoring at 13.7 points per game last year and led the team in assists at 4.2 a game. Tate was also effective on the boards, nabbing 4.4 rebounds an outing.
 
Sharpe has garnered the first superlative award of his career with the all-league second team selection. The senior sharpshooter was second for the Norse in scoring last season, pouring in 14.4 points per game on the strength of his 3-point shooting. He ranked 73^rd in the country in made threes with 90 and concluded the 2018-19 season with a 23-point outburst against national runner-up Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Northern Kentucky opens the 2019-20 slate against UC Clermont on Nov. 5 at BB&T Arena. Prior to that, fans will get their first glimpse of the Norse in competitive action when they host Transylvania on Oct. 30.
 
2019-20 #HLMBB Preseason Poll Results
Pl.           School (1st-place) – Votes
1.            Wright State (28) – 350
2.            Northern Kentucky (5) – 295
3.            UIC (1) – 280
4.            Oakland (1) – 229
5.            Green Bay – 207
6.            Youngstown State – 186
7.            Milwaukee – 146
8.            Detroit Mercy – 133
9.            IUPUI – 92
10.          Cleveland State (1) – 62
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
 
First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Jalen Tate, Northern Kentucky
Xavier Hill-Mais, Oakland
Tarkus Ferguson, UIC
Loudon Love, Wright State
 
Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
JayQuan McCloud, Green Bay
Tyler Sharpe, Northern Kentucky
Marcus Ottey, UIC
Bill Wampler, Wright State
Darius Quisenberry, Youngstown State