Sheri Pine, Sports Information Director for the Golden State Athletic Conference has released the 2010-11 GSAC Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Polls.
On the men’s side, Westmont tied for third with long-time rival Biola, each team received 89 points out of a possible 121. Biola finished second in the GSAC standings last season with a record of 16-4 and Westmont tied Fresno Pacific for fourth with a 13-7 mark.
Azusa Pacific tops the poll with 116 points, including six first place votes. The Cougars edged out Concordia which received 115 points and five first place votes. Concordia was the 2009-10 GSAC regular season champion with a record of 18-2 while Azusa Pacific (14-6) won the GSAC Tournament. Every ballot listed Azusa Pacific and Concordia in the top two places.
Point Loma Nazarene received the fifth most votes at 67 – one more than sixth place Fresno Pacific. California Baptist was picked to finish seventh with 59 points and The Master’s eighth with 55 points. Rounding out the voting was Vanguard in ninth (32 votes), San Diego Christian in tenth (26 votes) and Hope International in eleventh (12 votes).
In the women’s poll, Westmont – the GSAC Tournament Runner-up – was picked to finish in a tie with The Master’s for fifth place. Point totals were not released for the women’s poll.
GSAC regular season co-champions Azusa Pacific and Vanguard were picked to finish first and second respectively with the Cougars receiving ten of the eleven first place votes. Biola was ranked third by the conference coaches and Point Loma Nazarene fourth.
California Baptist was listed seventh and Concordia eighth in the preseason forecast with Hope International, Fresno Pacific and San Diego Christian ranking ninth through eleventh, in that order.
NAIA National Preseason Polls are scheduled for release on Monday, October 25.
GSAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Azusa Pacific (6) 116
2. Concordia (5) 115
3. Biola 89
3. Westmont 89
5. Point Loma Nazarene 67
6. Fresno Pacific 66
7. California Baptist 59
8. The Master’s 55
9. Vanguard 32
10. San Diego Christian 26
11. Hope International 12
