Spalding Picked As Preseason Favorites

Spalding University has been picked as the 2013-14 SLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason favorites as voted on by the league coaches. Spalding received 73 total points and five first-place votes, marking the second consecutive year they have been tabbed as preseason favorites.

Spalding is coming off a season in which they capture the regular season and tournament championship, finishing the year with a 20-8 overall record and 17-1 record in conference play. The Golden Eagles return seven players but just one starter from last year's team. The youthful Golden Eagles will have to replace their top two scorers and will be looking for senior guards Thomas Blakemore and William Barber to do so. Blakemore averaged 8.1 points per game while Barber averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 53-percent from the field last season. Spalding will welcome a trio of talented freshmen in Terez Smith, Taylor King and Dalton Duley.

MacMurray was picked second in the poll with 68 points and four first-place votes. MacMurray returns four starters from last year's squad that went 13-12 overall and 10-6 in the SLIAC. The veteran Highlanders, which feature six seniors and four juniors, are led by D3 News Preseason All-American pick Clayton Whitlock. Whitlock, a junior center, earned First Team All-Conference honors last year after averaging 14.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season while shooting 63-percent from the floor. Dylan Burton, the 2013 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, is also back after averaging 6.9 points per game.

Westminster finished third in the poll, receiving 63 total points and the final remaining first-place vote. Westminster returns just two starters but a total of 16 players from a team that was 19-7 overall and 12-4 in the conference, advancing to the SLIAC Tournament. The Blue Jays were the league's top shooting outside team, with 7.5 three-point field goals per game. Their attack will be led by Verdis Lee Jr., who averaged 13.1 points per game. Also back is senior guard Joe James who averaged 12.4 points and 3.0 assists per game.

Webster was chosen to finish fourth, receiving 61 total points. Webster finished last year with a 14-12 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the SLIAC. They return nine players including four starters from a team that advanced to the SLIAC Tournament. The Gorloks return their leading scorer from last year, junior guard Ahmad Smith. Smith averaged 14.6 points and 1.6 steals per game last season while earning Second Team All-Conference honors. Senior guard Hollis Edwards, a two-time SLIAC All-Defensive team member, is also back as is junior forward Aaron Griffin who averaged 10.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Eureka was picked fifth with 50 total points after going 18-9 overall and 12-4 in the SLIAC last season. The Red Devils will have to replace the 2013 SLIAC Player of the Year, Mark Lessen, and will break in a completely new starting lineup. The Red Devils return senior guard Connor Lincoln and bring in a trio of transfers, in Seth Wickert, Marious Lobdell and Josh Fenoglia, to help with depth.

Fontbonne received 45 total points and was chosen sixth in the poll. The Griffins finished last year with an 8-17 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the conference. They return 11 players and all five starters from last year's team including 2013 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, sophomore forward Jared Greenlee. Greenlee averaged 10.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season while shooting 52-percent from the field. Also back are guards Greg Gentry and Blake Welch. Gentry averaged 10.3 points per game and led the conference in assists at 5.0 per game while Welch averaged 10.3 points per game and was third in the conference in three-point shooting.

Greenville was picked to finish seventh with 34 total points after going 9-16 overall and 4-12 in league play. The Panthers welcome in seven new players, with three freshmen and four transfers, to join their six returners. Alex Mumphard is the team's lone returning starter and was second on the team in scoring last season at 12.6 points per game; earning honorable mention All-Conference honors. Among the newcomers expected to see time are transfers Ron Harris and Jake DeWitt and freshman Nick Trisko.

Iowa Wesleyan finished eighth in the poll with 27 total points. The league's newest member will be led by first year head coach Todd Lorensen. The Tigers finished last year with a 13-14 overall record and return seven players. After graduating eight players from last year's team, the Tigers will have to replace a full starting lineup. They will count on sophomore Joe Lennon to add experience to the young team while incoming freshman guard Max Kearns, a second team All-State honoree last year, should see considerable time on the court.

Blackburn was picked ninth in the poll with 20 total points and return nine players, including three starters, from last year's team that finished 2-23 overall and 2-14 in the SLIAC. Despite returning nine players, the Beavers are still a young team with just one player with at least two years of collegiate experience. They return their leading scorer from last season in junior guard Jon Lowry, who averaged 8.9 points per game. Blackburn will look to several freshmen including Jamie Moore, Tommy Ulinski and Chris Davis, to provide some scoring punch.

Principia rounds out the preseason poll, receiving 9 total points for tenth place. The Panthers are led by second year head coach Michael Bushong and finished last year with a 0-25 record. The Panthers return six players including four starters. Kenny Sydness, a senior forward that averaged 15.8 points per game, and senior guard Damon Wilgus, who averaged 15.4 points per game, will provide the team with a strong one-two scoring punch.

2013-14 SLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Spalding University
2. MacMurray College
3. Westminster College
4. Webster University
5. Eureka College
6. Fontbonne University
7. Greenville College
8. Iowa Wesleyan College
9. Blackburn College
10. Principia College