Tuesday, October 18, 2011

XU's Gold Rush picked for second in GCAC preseason poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, which returns nine of 11 lettermen and four starters from its 27-6 men's basketball team of this past season, is picked to finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 2011-12.

The Gold Rush received one first-place vote and 43 points in a poll of the GCAC's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. Tougaloo topped the poll with 49 points and received the other seven first-place votes.

Four points separated the third- through seventh-place teams.


Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Men's Basketball
2011-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)

No.SchoolPoints
1.Tougaloo (7)49
2.Xavier (1)43
3. (tie)Edward Waters25
3. (tie)Talladega25
5.Philander Smith24
6.Dillard22
7.SUNO21
8.Fisk15


Xavier in previous GCAC polls
2010-11 — 1st
2009-10 — 8th
2008-09 — 2nd
2007-08 — 1st
2006-07 — 6th
2004-05 — 3rd
2003-04 — 4th
2002-03 — 5th
      2001-02 — 1st
2000-01 — 2nd
1999-2000 — 3rd
1992-93 — 2nd
1991-92 — 1st
1989-90 — 6th
1988-89 — 4th
1987-88 — 2nd

The GCAC expanded during the summer from six to eight teams with the addition of Philander Smith and Talladega. Unlike last season, all GCAC teams will play a double round-robin schedule, with the conference awarding regular-season and tournament championships. Tougaloo defeated Xavier 93-80 in overtime to win the GCAC Tournament in March.

Xavier's returning starters are guards Chris Iles and Kevin Miller and forwards Anthony Simmons and Denzell Erves. Simmons was All-GCAC this past season, and Iles led the conference in assists per game. They helped Xavier win its first 13 games for the first time since 1940-41 and record a school-record-tying 11th consecutive winning season.

The XU men will open their 74th season at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at The Barn against Carver College of Atlanta.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

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