Men's Basketball Ranked Tenth in Sporting News Preseason National Poll; Schmidt Named Preseason All-America
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2008) - Sporting News released its Division II Men's Basketball preseason national rankings for the 2008-09 season, and the Pioneers were selected tenth, the magazine announced. Also, senior guard Jonathan Schimdt was named to the preseason All-America First Team.
University of South Carolina - Aiken, who posted a 27-4 record in 2007-08, received the top nod in the poll.
C.W. Post finished last season with a 26-5 record, an East Coast Conference Championship, and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Head coach Tim Cluess returns five starters from last season, and has added four transfers and two freshmen to round out a team that will look to repeat as conference champions and make another run in the NCAA tournament.
USC Aiken garnered the top spot in the poll, with Findlay and Gannon earning second and third rankings. Northeast Region foe Bentley College, who has a 54-game regular season winnings streak, is fourth and Augusta State is fifth. Southwest Baptist, Central Washington, Grand Valley State, and Florida Southern round out the remainder of the top ten.
In addition, the magazine released its preseason All-America Teams, and Schmidt was one of five players named to the first team, along with USC Aiken's Chris Commons, Elizabeth City State's Anothony Hilliard, Southwest Baptist's Matt Rogers, and Augusta State's Garret Siler.
Last season, Schmidt averaged 20.2 points and 5.2 assists per game, notching double figures in 28 games played and twice scoring 34 points – a career high – during the season. He was named the East Coast Conference Player of the Year, Daktronics All-Region First Team, NABC All-Region First Team, and All-Met First Team and Player of the Year.
The Pioneers open their season on November 15 as they host Lock Haven University.
Sporting News College Basketball Division II Preseason Poll
1. USC-Aiken
2. Findlay (Ohio)
3. Gannon (Pa.)
4. Bentley (Mass.)
5. Augusta State (Ga.)
6. Southwest Baptist (Mo.)
7. Central Washington
8. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
9. Florida Southern
10. C.W. Post (N.Y.)