USA South Athletic Conference releases preseason basketball polls
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon women's basketball team is ranked fourth in the West Division and the men's basketball team is fifth with the release of the USA South Athletic Conference preseason men's and women's basketball polls on Wednesday.
The Lady Hawks totaled 41 points in the West Division. Berea is first with six of a possible nine first-place votes and 62 points. Piedmont is second with three first-place votes and 57 points. Maryville is third with 47 points.
Berea won the West Division last season before falling to Piedmont in the USA South championship game. Piedmont is the two-time defending conference tournament champion.
In the East Division, Pfeiffer is No. 1 with five first-place votes and 60 points. Greensboro is second with two first-place votes and 57 points and Averett is third with two first-place votes and 54 points.
On the men's side, defending conference champion Maryville picked up six first-place votes and 36 points to lead the West Division. Lagrange is second with one first-place vote and 28 points. Covenant and Piedmont are tied for third with 22 points each and Huntingdon is fifth with 19 points.
In the East Division, North Carolina Wesleyan leads the poll with four first-place votes and 22 points. Averett is second in the East Division with two first-place votes and 20 points.
Both the Huntingdon men and women open the season on the road. The men will play at Sewanee on Nov. 9 and the women will play Florida College in a game at Pensacola Christian on Nov. 9.
The complete polls are listed below.
USA South Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
West Division
1. Berea (6 first-place votes), 62 points
2. Piedmont (3), 57 points
3. Maryville, 47 points
4. Huntingdon, 41 points
5. Covenant, 35 points
6. Brevard, 32 points
7. LaGrange, 27 points
8. Agnes Scott, 15 points
9. Wesleyan, 8 points
East Division
1. Pfeiffer (5 first-place votes), 60 points
2. Greensboro (2), 57 points
3. Averett (2), 54 points
4. N.C. Wesleyan, 41 points
5. William Peace, 29 points
6. Meredith, 28 points
7. Salem, 25 points
8. Mary Baldwin, 19 points
9. Methodist, 11 points
USA South Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
West Division
1. Maryville (6 first-place votes), 36 points
2. LaGrange (1), 28 points
T3. Covenant, 22 points
T3. Piedmont, 22 points
5. Huntingdon, 19 points
6. Berea, 11 points
7. Brevard, 9 points
East Division
1. N.C. Wesleyan, (4 first-place votes), 22 points
2. Averett (2), 20 points
3. William Peace, 17 points
4. Pfeiffer, 14 points
5. Greensboro, 12 points
6. Methodist, 5 points