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. School Points 1. Tougaloo (7) 49 2. Xavier (1) 43 3. (tie) Edward Waters 25 3. (tie) Talladega 25 5. Philander Smith 24 6. Dillard 22 7. SUNO 21 8. Fisk 15 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
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