AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Sun Conference announced the 2016-17 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday afternoon and Keiser University was the top pick to claim the regular season crown. The poll was voted upon by all nine of the league's men's basketball coaches.
The Seahawks collected 57 total votes and five of the nine first place votes. Keiser and head coach Rollie Massimino are coming off a 30-5 season in which they went 14-2 in conference play and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament.
Keiser returns First Team All-Conference honorees Stanley Whittaker and Deion McClenton to lead the way for the Seahawks. Whittaker, who also received NAIA Second Team All-American accolades, led the Seahawks in scoring (15.4 ppg), assists (6.3 apg), and steals (2.0 spg) while McClenton, an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honoree, was Keiser's top rebounder (9.6 rpg) and led the team in blocks (2.0 bpg).
Last season's preseason favorite, St. Thomas University, was picked to finish second with 54 votes and three first place votes. The Bobcats return First Team All-Conference and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honoree Michael Walker to pace the Bobcats. Walker averaged over 16 points and totaled 63 steals (2.25 spg) for the Bobcats last season. STU also returns Second Team All-Conference honoree Raheem Bowman (11 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg). The Bobcats finished 18-10 overall last season.
The defending conference tournament champion, Warner Royals, are picked to finish third with 53 total votes and one first place vote. The Royals finished 26-7 overall last season and made it to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament before falling to Davenport University. The Royals return NAIA First Team All-American, First Team All-Conference, and Sun Conference Player of the Year Warren Hall to lead the Royals in 2016-17. Hall averaged over 23 points per game and ranked sixth in the NAIA in total scoring with 747 points last season. He also grabbed 6.8 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game.
Southeastern was picked to finish fourth with 42 votes followed by Johnson & Wales with 40 votes and Thomas in sixth with 31 total votes. Florida Memorial (22 votes), Webber International (13 votes), and Ave Maria (12 votes) rounded out the poll.
The 2016-17 Sun Conference Tournament begins on Feb. 23 with quarterfinal action hosted by the higher seeds as determined by the final league standings. The tournament semifinals and championship game will be hosted by the regular season champion on Feb. 27-28.
The 26th Annual Division II Men's Basketball National Championship gets underway March 8-14 from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo.
The 2016-17 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' poll will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
2016-17 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Keiser – 57 (5)
2. St. Thomas – 54 (3)
3. Warner – 53 (1)
4. Southeastern – 42
5. Johnson & Wales – 40
6. Thomas – 31
7. Florida Memorial – 22
8. Webber International – 13
9. Ave Maria – 12
