Indianapolis, Ind. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team was predicted to finish sixth in the 2024-25 Under Armour Horizon League Preseason Poll after a vote by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and select media, the league announced.

 The Penguins garnered 272 points and one first-place vote.

Youngstown State is coming off its second straight 20-win season after going 22-10 in 2023-24. It marked the first time since 1963-64 and 1964-65 that the Penguins posted consecutive 20-win campaigns. YSU went 24-10 in 2022-23 and won the first regular-season conference championship in program history.

Ethan Faulkner is in his first season as Head Coach of the Youngstown State men's basketball program after serving as the associate head coach for two years and three seasons as an assistant coach. During Faulkner's time at YSU, the Penguins have won a total of 98 games.

Over the last three seasons, Youngstown State owns a Horizon League best 65 overall wins and a league-high 41 conference victories. The Penguins won 19 games in 2021-22, 24 during the 2022-23 season, and 22 in 2023-24. In league play, the Penguins won 12, 15 and 14 games, respectively.

Youngstown State opens the 2024-25 season against Westminster Monday, Nov. 4. Tipoff is slated for 7:35 p.m. after the YSU women's basketball game against North Dakota at 5:30 p.m.

2024-25 Under Armour  #HLMBB Preseason Poll
Pl.        Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
T1.        Milwaukee (15) – 421
T1.        Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421
3.          Northern Kentucky (4) – 389
4.          Oakland (5) – 345
5.          Wright State (4) – 315
6.          Youngstown State (1) – 272
7.          Cleveland State – 252
8.          Green Bay – 171
9.          RMU – 148
10.        IU Indianapolis (1) – 91
11.       Detroit Mercy – 79