Summit Preseason

[rick]

2009-10 PRESEASON POLL VOTING

Rank
School (First-Place Votes)
Points

1.
Oakland (34)
OU returns five starters this season with senior forward Derick Nelson coming back after taking a medical redshirt in 2008-09. Senior Johnathon Jones led the nation in assists per game (8.1) last season, while junior Keith Benson finished fourth in the country in field goal percentage (.622). Oakland does lose sharp shooter Erik Kangas (18.9 ppg) who broke the single-season league record with 135 treys made, third in the nation with 3.9 per game and finished with 1,540 points.
Oakland was picked to finish first in the Summit League by several preseason publications, including ESPN.com, Sporting News Magazine, Athlon Sports Magazine, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, and Pemperton's Point blog (the official OU blog by Dave Pemperton of The Oakland Press).
Oakland has four returning starters from last year's team, and also will regain the services of Derick Nelson. Nelson has been a starter for much of his career at OU but was forced to miss virtually all of last season with a foot injury. Before the injury, Nelson was arguably the best player in the Summit League.

520

2.
Oral Roberts
426

3.
IUPUI (1)
422

4.
South Dakota State
401

5.
North Dakota State
303

6.
IPFW
265

7.
Southern Utah
250

8.
Western Illinois
176

9.
UMKC
141

10.
Centenary
89

[vuweathernerd]

centenary still rounding out the bottom of the conference. some things never change.

[valporun]

Centenary is lucky to still be in existence. They had some real issues athletically, and I'll have to look for some links about that, but bringing up the rear of a conference for them is at least an accomplishment. Since prior to joining the Mid-Con, Centenary was an independent for a long time.

Links:
www.neworleans.com/sports/local-sports-news/centenary-news/173494-money-used-as-excuse-in-centenary-athletics-move.html

www.centenary.edu/news/2009/0000273

[ValpoHoops]

Centenary is in the process of moving to Division 3. I don't know if this is their final year or if next is, but they are not giving out scholarships to any new players (no athletic scholarships in D3), so the only D1-caliber guys still around (if they had any) are the core and the rest are all D3 types.

[vuweathernerd]

Nov 9, 2009 17:49:35 GMT -5 ValpoHoops said:

Centenary is in the process of moving to Division 3. I don't know if this is their final year or if next is, but they are not giving out scholarships to any new players (no athletic scholarships in D3), so the only D1-caliber guys still around (if they had any) are the core and the rest are all D3 types.

oh, right. i had forgotten that they were transitioning to d3.