Pacers Ranked 11th in Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25
BEAVERTON, Ore. - The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team is ranked 11th nationally in the 2010 Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.
Defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona is the No. 1 team in the preseason poll. Rounding out the top five are Findlay, St. Cloud St., Indiana (Pa.) and Florida Southern.
USC Aiken is the only Peach Belt Conference school ranked in the preseason top 25. Montevallo is listed as a team to watch.
This is the second preseason accolade thus far for the Pacers, who were also tabbed as a possible breakthrough team in NCAA Division II by the 2010-11 Sporting News College Basketball Preview.
"We are excited (to receive this ranking)," noted USC Aiken head men's basketball coach Vince Alexander. "A lot is still to be determined, but we are looking forward to competiting. We play in an extremely tough conference where we need to be ready night in and night out. I am just looking forward to getting things underway. It is always nice to be recognized, but we have a lot still to do, but we are looking forward to a great year."
USC Aiken men’s basketball program has won a school-record 72 games over the last three seasons. The 72 victories over the three-year span are the most in the Palmetto State among all levels of college basketball.
Under the guidance of Alexander, USC Aiken has become a national force in NCAA Division II over the past three seasons.
In addition to the victories, the 2007-08 USC Aiken men’s basketball team won the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship and the 2008-09 Pacer men’s basketball team advanced farther than any other squad in program history to the NCAA Division II “Sweet Sixteen.” The 2009-10 USC Aiken men’s basketball team claimed the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship.
The Division II Bulletin has selected a preseason Top 25 every year since 1991 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.
The Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25:
1. Cal Poly Pomona
2. Findlay
3. St. Cloud St.
4. Indiana (Pa.)
5. Florida Southern
6. Bellarmine
7. Bentley
8. Tarleton St.
9. Grand Valley St.
10. St. Joseph’s
11. USC Aiken
12. Rollins
13. Midwestern St.
14. Seattle Pacific
15. Metro St.
16. West Liberty
17. Merrimack
18. Cent. Oklahoma
19. Cent. Missouri
20. Alabama Huntsville
21. Drury
22. Virginia Union
23. Philadelphia
24. BYU-Hawaii
25. Mount Olive
Others to watch: Felician, Bridgeport, Kutztown, WV State, Valdosta St., Clark Atlanta, Arkansas Tech, Montevallo, Catawba, Lincoln Memorial, Minn. St., Winona St., Ft. Lewis, Humboldt St., Queens, Stonehill, Augustana
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