College Men’s Basketball News – Guilford Picked Fifth in ODAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

SALEM, Va. – Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men’s basketball coaches selected Guilford College fifth in their annual preseason poll. The rankings were released by the league Thursday at the annual ODAC Men’s Basketball Media Day at the Salem Civic Center, which also hosts the league’s postseason tournament.

Virginia Wesleyan College received nine of the 12 first-place votes for 118 points overall. Lynchburg College was tabbed second with 106 points. Hampden-Sydney College received the remaining three first-place votes and was ranked third with 98 points. Defending league champion Randolph-Macon College received 88 points for the fourth place slot.

This will be the Quakers’ 13th season with head coach Tom Palombo on the sidelines. Guilford will miss 2014-15 ODAC Player of the Year and Second Team All American Matt McCarthy from last year’s 18-9 team. Juniors Zachary Houston (2.3 ppg.) and Trever Hyatt (10.6 ppg.) are the Quakers’ lone returning starters from 2014-15. After coming off the bench for the majority of last year, sophomore Jarrod Rogers (2.6 ppg.) will be given more opportunities to impact the Quakers’ season. The lineup will also be bolstered by the return of 6-4 senior Will Freeman, the 2012 ODAC Rookie of the Year.

Guilford opens its 109th recorded basketball season with an exhibition game at The University of North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 6th. The first official home contest is Tuesday, Nov. 17th versus Greensboro College.

2015-16 ODAC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes

1. Virginia Wesleyan (9) 118 pts.
2. Lynchburg 106 pts.
3. Hampden-Sydney (3) 98 pts.
4. Randolph-Macon 88 pts.
5. Guilford 79 pts.
6. Washington and Lee 75 pts.
7. Randolph 69 pts.
8. Eastern Mennonite 46 pts.
9. Emory & Henry 45 pts.
10. Roanoke 26 pts.
11. Shenandoah 22 pts.
12. Bridgewater 20 pts.