Coach Dannton Jackson's Gold Rush received one first-place vote and 50 points in a poll of the GCAC's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Philander Smith, which shared the GCAC regular-season title with Xavier last season and won the conference tournament, topped the poll with 63 points and received the other eight first-place votes.
It's the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in seven seasons that Xavier finished in the poll's top two.
The Gold Rush will attempt to become the second GCAC team to win three consecutive regular-season championships. SUNO did it three straight times from 2001-04.
Xavier will begin its 76th season at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 against Carver College of Atlanta at the Convocation Center. It will be one of five November home games for the Gold Rush. Also in the opening month will be a 7 p.m. exhibition Nov. 6 at LSU.
The Gold Rush — 24-8 overall, 11-3 in the GCAC and 24th in the NAIA Division I postseason poll a year ago — are aiming for a fourth consecutive 20-win season, a fourth consecutive berth in the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and a 14th consecutive winning season, which would extend a school record.
The NAIA Division I Coaches' Preseason Top 25 will be announced Oct. 29.
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XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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