October 13, 2010

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the 2010-11 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Poll of media members. The Bears – who advanced to the championship contest of last year's A-Sun tournament – were tabbed eighth for the upcoming season in the coaches' poll.

MU opens practice this coming Friday as it welcomes back two starters – Brian Mills and Jeff Smith – off of last season's team. Brandon Moore, who was the Bears' top "sixth man" after transferring to Mercer in 2009-10, is expected to play an even more prominent role in 2010-11 after topping the squad in blocked shots.

Bears' head coach Bob Hoffman (third season) will have a total of eight new faces(seven freshmen and one junior transfer), joining his eight returning letterwinners and two redshirt freshmen from 2009-10.

The first six selections agreed in both A-Sun preseason polls. Lipscomb University was the pick to win both the regular season and tournament.

2010-11 Preseason Men's Basketball Poll

 

Media Poll

Place    School (1st Place Votes) Total Points

1.         Lipscomb (23), 346

2.         East Tennessee State (9), 328

3.         Belmont (1), 306

4.         Jacksonville, 250

5.         Kennesaw State, 218

6.         Campbell, 187

7.         Mercer, 159

8.         North Florida, 155

9.         Florida Gulf Coast, 90

10.       Stetson, 82

11.       USC Upstate, 57

A-Sun Tournament Champion: Lipscomb

Coaches Poll

Place    School (1st Place Votes) Total Points

1.         Lipscomb (6), 116

2.         ETSU (4), 112

3.         Belmont (1), 97

4.         Jacksonville, 78

5.         Kennesaw State, 72

6.         Campbell, 62

7.         North Florida, 58

8.         Mercer, 51

9.         Stetson, 32

10.       Florida Gulf Coast, 30

11.       USC Upstate, 18

A-Sun Tournament Champion: Lipscomb