Elon Men’s Basketball Selected 2/3 in Preseason Polls; Isenbarger Earns Preseason Nods

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference released its 2012-13 Men’s Basketball Preseason Media and Coaches Poll today, Oct. 25, as well as the Preseason All-Conference Team. Junior guard Jack Isenbarger was named a preseason all-league selection by the coaches and Elon was tabbed second in the North Division coaches poll with three first-place votes and third in the media poll with two first-place votes.

A first-team all-conference honoree last season, Isenbarger led the Phoenix in scoring last season at 14.5 points per game, good for eighth in the SoCon. The Zionsville, Ind., native averaged 17.3 points per game against league foes last year and scored in double figures in 14 of the final 15 games. Isenbarger led the team with 73 made three-pointers, a number that ranked fourth on the school’s single-season list. He also picked up second-team all-district honors and was an all-state selection.

In the coaches poll, Elon picked up three first-place votes and 55 total points, finishing second behind UNCG (59 points, seven first-place votes) in the North Division. Elon was selected third in the North Division by the media with three first-place votes and 119 points behind Western Carolina (144 points, nine first-place votes) and UNCG (164 points, 18 first-place votes).

Following a Nov. 3 home exhibition versus Ferrum, the Phoenix begins the 2012-13 regular season on Nov. 10 in Hinkle Fieldhouse against the Butler Bulldogs as part of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Opening Games. Elon’s home opener is slated for Nov. 13 in Alumni Gym against Bridgewater. The team will also host the Maui Invitational Regional Games on Nov. 17-18 in Alumni Gym when it welcomes Colgate, Florida Atlantic and Coppin State to campus.

The Southern Conference Tournament will be held March 8-11, 2013, in Asheville, N.C. The 2013 Southern Conference championship game will be held Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. and will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2.

Predicted Order of Finish (Coaches Poll)

North Division
Team (1st place votes), Total
1. UNCG (7), 59
2. Elon (3), 55
3. Western Carolina (2), 52
4. Appalachian State, 36
5. Chattanooga, 26
6. Samford, 18

South Division
Team (1st place votes), Total
1. Davidson (11), 65
2. College of Charleston (1), 54
3. Georgia Southern, 48
4. Wofford, 32
5. Furman, 27
6. The Citadel, 15

2012-13 Preseason All-Conference Team
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Trent Wiedeman, College of Charleston
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Nik Cochran, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina

Predicted Order of Finish (Media Poll)

North Division
Team (1st place votes), Total
1. UNCG (18), 164
2. Western Carolina (9), 144
3. Elon (3), 119
4. Appalachian State, 72
4. Samford, 72
6. Chattanooga, 59

South Division
Team (1st place votes), Total
1. Davidson (28), 176
2. College of Charleston, 134
3. Georgia Southern (2), 120
4. Wofford, 101
5. Furman, 62
6. The Citadel, 37