COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- The Adams State College men's basketball team, entering its first year under new head coach Louis Wilson, has been picked to finish ninth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Monday by conference officials.
The Grizzlies, who went 8-19 overall and 5-14 in conference play in 2009-10, received 117 points in the polling of the league's 14 head coaches who ranked their opposition one through 13 without voting for their own squad.
Fort Lewis claimed nine first place votes and won the poll with 17 points while Metro State, last year's RMAC Shootout Champions, had four first place votes and 24 overall points to finish second in the poll. Colorado Mines claimed the other first place vote and finished third with 34 points while Mesa State, last year's RMAC Regular Season Champion, took fourth with 64 points.
The RMAC has done away with divisions for the upcoming 2010-11 season as each team will play a 22-conference game schedule meeting up with each of the 13 opponents once before facing nine of the other teams again down the stretch. Since 1996-97, the conference had 7-team West and East Divisions and played a 19-game conference slate.
The Grizzlies have three returning starters and seven overall hold-overs, including two 2009-10 redshirts, from last year's team that finished sixth in the RMAC West Division and 12th in the overall standings. Wilson and his staff have also recruited nine new players, all from junior colleges, to this year's team.
The Grizzlies will play NCAA Division I Utah in an exhibition game this Friday and will face Division I Boise State on Nov. 9 in another exhibition game.
The Grizzlies then begin the regular season on Nov. 16 at NAIA Northern New Mexico and will host Tennessee Temple and Oakwood (Ala.) at home during the Adams State Bankers Classic on Nov. 19 and 20 before starting conference play on Dec. 3 at Colorado State-Pueblo.
The Preseason All-Conference team was also announced in conjunction with the poll and was led by Fort Lewis senior guard DeAndre Lansdowne, a unanimous selection as Preseason Player of the Year. He was also tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Teammate David Kanyinda was also named to the 10-member Preseason All-RMAC team.
Colorado Mines also had two selections in Dale Minschwaner, a unanimous selection, and Sean Armstrong. Metro State also had two players selected in Reggie Evans, also a unanimous pick, and Jonathan Morse. Colorado Christian's Jobi Wall, Nebraska-Kearney's Max Froehlich, Western New Mexico's T.J. Riley and Chadron State's Moala Tautuaa were also named.
Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.
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