SPARTANBURG, S.C.
– The Elon men’s basketball team was picked to finish in a tie for fifth place
in the Southern Conference North Division, according to a vote by the league’s 12
head coaches. Western Carolina was the favorite in the North Division after
concluding the 2008-09 season in a tie for first place. College of Charleston
led the voting in the South Division, earning eight first-place votes.
The Catamounts finished the balloting with 64 points on 10
first-place votes. Appalachian State was slated second in the North, earning
the final two first-place votes for a total of 55 points. Samford (44) was
selected third while last year’s SoCon Tournament champion, Chattanooga (39),
was slotted fourth. Elon and UNC Greensboro tied for fifth place with 22 points
each.
In the South Division, the Cougars earned a total of 63
points and were followed by Wofford who finished second with 54 points. Davidson,
winner of three consecutive division titles, came in third with 48 points. The
Citadel (36), Furman (24) and Georgia Southern (21) took up the remaining three
spots.
The Phoenix begins a new era of Elon hoops this year under
first-year head coach Matt Matheny. Elon won its first exhibition game of the
season, an 87-62 victory over Washington & Lee on Monday. The Phoenix will
host its final preseason contest on Monday, November 9 against Greensboro
College at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym, before opening the regular-season at Lipscomb
on Saturday, November 14 at 8 p.m.
Southern Conference
Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
North Division
1.
Western Carolina (10 - 64
2.
Appalachian State (2) - 55
3.
Samford - 44
4.
Chattanooga - 39
5.
Elon - 22
UNC Greensboro - 22
South Division
1. College of Charleston (8) - 63
2. Wofford (3)
- 54
3. Davidson (1) - 48
4. The Citadel - 36
5. Furman - 24
6. Georgia Southern - 21
-- ELON --