Basketball Notes: Exhibition Game Against Ferris Is Thursday

• The Big Ten men's basketball preseason poll was released on Sunday as apart of media day and Michigan was picked to finish 8th in the conference. This is what the predicted order looks like:
  
  1. Michigan State
  2. Indiana
  3. Ohio State
  4. Wisconsin
  5. Purdue
  6. Illinois
  7. Penn State
  8. Michigan
  9. Minnesota
  10. Iowa
  11. Northwestern
• Michigan scrimmaged against Kent State on Saturday and word on the street is that they actually lost. I don't know many of the details, but here is what we do know:
  
  The starting lineup, according to Nathan Fenno, was as follows: Ron Coleman, Zack Gibson, K'Len Morris, Jerret Smith and DeShawn Sims. The reason that Gibson was a starter was because Ekpe Udoh apparently suffered an injury last week and is still sore.
• Eric Lacy has a ton of new info over at the Big 10 Blog on the Detroit News' website, so make sure to check it out. One thing I found interesting from the point about Crisler Arena's new lighting. The lighting was just finally installed and here are Lacy's impressions:
  

  Took a brief look around Crisler Arena before Lloyd Carr's press conference today. The new lighting system is up and it looks great. Now some might complain it's too bright, since Crisler was very dark compared to other arenas for several years. But I think this new setup is perfect. I'm sure our photographers will be pleased. It really adds to the refinished floor.

  Lighting! That was the one complaint I've had for years about Crisler Arena - that it was too dark. I can't wait to see what the new lighting system has done to change that.
• Michigan's first and only exhibition game is Thursday against Ferris State. This should be a game that gives the entire team a chance to get ready for the season as Ferris is comprised of nearly all freshmen - nine to be exact. Even their coach knows that this will be a tough game for the Bulldogs to win (HT: Eric Lacy), so Michigan should take full opportunity of gaining experience. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
• Don't forget that Fan Night is this Friday. You will get a chance to meet both the men's and women's basketball team and both of the new coaches as college basketball season inches closer and closer.