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WONDER BOYS BASKETBALL TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON
GSC
WEST DIVISION COACHES' POLL; BRANDON FRIEDEL NAMED
PRESEASON ALL-GSC WEST DIVISION SELECTION
BIRMINGHAM,
Alabama
–
Arkansas Tech Men’s Basketball was picked to finish
second in the Preseason Gulf South Conference West
Division Coaches’ Poll released by the league office on
Thursday.
Tech, who won its first-ever GSC title in men’s
basketball last season and advanced to the regional
semifinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament, received
44 points in the preseason poll as they received four
votes to finish first, two votes to finish second and a
vote to finish fourth. In addition, Tech received three
votes to repeat as GSC Champions.
The Preseason Poll was voted on by the league’s head
coaches and the head coaches could not vote for their
own team.
Tech fourth-year head coach Mark Downey
returns two starters, including senior guard Renard
Allen (New Orleans, La.) and senior guard Brandon
Friedel (Victoria, Texas), from last season’s 23-9
squad that finished 9-5 in the GSC West Division.
Delta State was tabbed as the team to beat in the West
Division as the Statesmen earned 46 points, including
four first place votes and also earned four votes to win
the overall GSC title. Behind Delta State and Tech in
the West Division poll was Harding (32 points) at No. 3,
while Arkansas-Monticello and Christian Brothers, who
are the defending South Regional champions, both earned
30 points to tie for fourth place. Southern Arkansas (22
points) was tabbed sixth and the Muleriders were
followed by Henderson State (11 points) and Ouachita
Baptist (9 points) in seventh and eighth place
respectively.
Meanwhile in the East Division, Valdosta State was
tabbed to repeat as GSC East Division champions as the
Blazers earned five first place votes and 25 points and
they also earned seven votes to win its first-ever GSC
title. In addition to the Blazers in the East Division,
North Alabama was picked second with 20 total points,
including one first-place vote, while Alabama-Huntsville
was picked with 17 total points. West Alabama was picked
fourth with 14 points and the Tigers were followed by
West Georgia at No. 5 with 9 points and West Florida (5
points) at No. 6.
Along with releasing its preseason poll, the league also
announced its Preseason All-GSC Team in each division as
Tech senior guard Brandon Friedel (Victoria,
Texas) was named to the Preseason All-GSC West Division
Team. Friedel, who was named to the GSC All-Tournament
Team last season, is joined on the Preseason West
Division Team by Delta State senior guard Chad Atkins,
Delta State senior guard Joe McCray, Harding junior
forward Kevin Brown, Harding senior guard Trent Morgan
and Southern Arkansas junior forward Justin Stuart.
In the East Division, Valdosta State preseason
All-American forward Tyrone Curnell headlines the
All-GSC Team. Curnell is joined by Alabama-Huntsville
senior guard Cody Jones, Valdosta State senior forward
Ricardo Lewis, West Alabama senior forward Jason Swanson
and West Georgia senior forward John Pringle.
Tech senior guard Marcus Pillow (Russellville,
Ark.), a transfer from Central Arkansas and junior guard
Willie Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla.), a transfer
from St. John’s River [FL] Community College were named
to the GSC West Division Top Newcomers List.
The Wonder Boys begin its 2009-10 season on Nov. 16 when
they host Ozark Christian in a 7:30 p.m. game in Tucker
Coliseum.
PRESEASON GSC MEN’S
BASKETBALL POLL
West Division
Team
Points
1. Delta
State (4) 46
2. Arkansas Tech (3) 44
3. Harding
32
4. Arkansas-Monticello 30
5. Christian Brothers 30
6. Southern
Arkansas 22
7. Henderson State 14
8. Ouachita Baptist 9
( ) – indicates GSC
Tournament champion votes
East Division
Team
Points
1. Valdosta State
(7) 25
2. North
Alabama 20
3.
Alabama-Huntsville 17
4. West
Alabama 14
5. West
Georgia 9
6. West
Florida 5
( ) – indicates GSC
Tournament champion votes
2009-10 Preseason GSC Men's Basketball Release
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Tech Athletics -- |