WONDER BOYS BASKETBALL EARN THREE VOTES IN PRESEASON
NABC/DIVISION II COACHES' POLL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – With the start of the 2009 season just around the corner, Arkansas Tech Men’s Basketball earned three votes in the Preseason NABC/Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll that was released on Wednesday. Tech was one of 17 teams that received votes in this year’s preseason poll.

Tech, who finished last season with a 23-9 record and won the program’s first-ever Gulf South Conference title and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional, is one of three GSC schools mentioned in this year’s preseason NABC poll as Valdosta State is ranked seventh, while Delta State is ranked 23rd.

Fourth-year Tech coach Mark Downey welcomes back two starters and eight lettermen from last season’s squad, including senior guards Renard Allen (New Orleans, La.) and Brandon Friedel (Victoria, Texas). In addition, Downey brought in 10 newcomers, including senior guard Marcus Pillow (Russellville, Ark.), a transfer from Central Arkansas, junior guard Jeremy Dunbar (Niceville, Fla.), a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana and junior guard Willie Sanders (Jacksonville, Ark.), a transfer from St. John’s River [FL] Community College.

BYU-Hawai’i headlines the NABC/Division II Preseason Coaches’ Poll as the Seasiders earned 198 points and six first place votes, while Bellarmine [KY] is ranked second as they earned 189 points and one first place vote and Southwest Baptist opens the season ranked third. Findlay [OH], the defending NCAA D-II Champion, opens the season ranked fourth and they are followed by Central Missouri at No. 5.

The second five begins with Cal Poly Pomona, the defending D-II National Runners-up, at No. 6 and the Broncos are followed by Valdosta State at No. 7, Florida Southern at No. 8, Bentley at No. 9 and Augusta State rounds out the Top 10 at No. 10.

St. Cloud State begins the season ranked 11th and they are followed by Metro State at No. 12 and Grand Valley State at No. 13. Tusculum is ranked 14th, while Merrimack [PA] is ranked 15th and Kutztown is at No. 16. Central Oklahoma opens the year ranked 17th and the Bronchos are followed by Indiana [PA] at No. 18, Johnson C. Smith at No. 19 and Winona State rounds out the Top 20 at No. 20.

The final five in the preseason poll begins with Humboldt State at No. 21 and they are followed by Southwest Minnesota State at No. 22 and Delta State at No. 23. Rollins [FL] and Philadelphia round out the preseason poll at Nos. 24 and 25 respectively.

Tech will open its 2009-10 regular season on Monday, Nov. 16, when they host Ozark Christian in a 7:30 p.m. game at Tucker Coliseum.

-- Tech Athletics --