The Wabash basketball team, coming off an 18-10 season and an appearance in the championship game of the 2008 North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Tournament, have been picked to finish fourth this season by both the media and coaches. The preseason rankings were part of the 2008 NCAC Basketball Media Day conference call.
The Little Giants received one first-place pick from among 23 total media members voting for the top team this season. Wabash received a total of 171 points from media. Wooster, the unanimous selection for first in both polls, picked up 20 first-place votes and 227 total points. Wittenberg was next with 190 points and one first-place selection. Defending conference tournament champion Ohio Wesleyan garnered the final first-place vote along with 181 total points.
Kenyon (138), Allegheny (119), Hiram (81), Denison (65), Oberlin (61), and Earlham (32) completed the media voting.
The Fighting Scots picked up seven of ten coaches votes and a total of 97 points to earn the top spot in that poll. Wittenberg received one first-place vote and 82 points to finish second. Ohio Wesleyan was third (76 points). Wabash was the top pick on two of the coaches' ballots, finishing fourth overall with 73 points. Kenyon (62) was fifth, followed by Allegheny (60), Hiram (32), Oberlin (25), Denison (24), and Earlham (19).
Wabash head coach Mac Petty shared his thoughts about his team and the upcoming season with the media members and conference coaches gathered together on the call. (View video of Coach Petty's comments here as iTunesU files).
Wabash will have two starters and five lettermen back from last year's squad. Junior Aaron Brock averaged 11.1 points a contest and earned a place on the NCAC All-Tournament team last season. He'll be joined in the starting lineup once again by sophomore Wes Smith, who set the Wabash single season record for steals with 68 while averaging 10.9 points a game.
The Little Giants open the 2008 season at home against Wilmington College on Friday, November 21 in the second game of the Little Giant Tipoff Tournament.
Main page photo - Freshman guard AZ Zinnerman drives to the hoop against Anderson in a preseason scrimmage game. Zinnerman is one of nine freshmen hoping to contribute to the Wabash basketball team's success this year.
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