Wednesday, October 26, 2005

PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE MEN PICKED SECOND IN THE 2005-2006 SAC BASKETBALL RACE

HICKORY, N.C. — The Presbyterian College men’s basketball team received 53 votes in the and were picked to finish second in the race for the South Atlantic Conference championship announced today at the league’s annual preseason basketball press conference held in Hickory, N.C.

The Blue Hose return plenty of talent from last year’s squad that went 18-11. Junior Sean Dixon is a preseason All-Conference first team choice, while senior center Johann Collins is a second team selection. The Blue Hose will be tested early, opening the season at the Disney Tip-Off Classic.

Catawba College, the defending SAC regular season champions, were picked to defend their title in 2005-06. The Indians, who won the league regular-season title with a 12-2 record, are the unanimous choice to repeat at league champions. Catawba placed three on the preseason All-Conference team, including Helgi Magnusson, a two-time All-Conference selection and preseason All-American. Guard Brian Graves is also on the first team, while Jamel Hamilton is a second team preseason selection.

Catawba not only starts the year as the favorite in the SAC, but the Indians are ranked ninth in the nation by the Division II Basketball Bulletin. The Indians closed out last year by taking eventual national champion Virginia Union to the wire before losing 85-81 in the NCAA Tournament.

Tusculum, which won the 2005 Food Lion SAC Tournament, is the pick to finish third with 35 points. The Pioneers return tournament MVP Donald Sexton and multi-talented talented forward Douglas Tshomba, both preseason second-team selections, but have a new coach in Jim Boone, who is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Division II.

Wingate received 34 points to finish fourth in the poll. The Bulldogs are led by 2005 SAC Freshman of the Year Sean Barnette, a preseason All-Conference first team selection.

Lenoir-Rhyne is next in the preseason poll with 33 points. Stephen Hinds and Josh Rudder were both named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

Carson-Newman is the pick to finish sixth. The Eagles under veteran coach Dale Clayton are looking to rebuild with a young squad.

Mars Hill comes in seventh in the preseason poll. The Lions do return leading scorer Walt Baxley, a preseason All-Conference first team selection. Newberry rounds out the preseason poll. The Indians placed Michael Dease on the preseason All-Conference first team.