W&L Men's Basketball Tabbed 8th in ODAC Preseason Poll
FOREST, Va. — The Old Dominion Athletic Conference released its 2012-13 men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday, and Washington and Lee was picked eighth out of 12 schools with 64 points.
Defending league champion Virginia Wesleyan garnered the top spot with 11 of the 12 first-place votes and 121 points. Hampden-Sydney was picked second with 109 points. Randolph-Macon received the other first-place vote and 99 points to take the third spot. Guilford (87) and Randolph (72) complete the Top 5.
Eastern Mennonite was picked sixth (69) and Lynchburg (67) just edged the Generals for seventh. Following W&L was Bridgewater (30), Emory & Henry (30), Roanoke (30) and Shenandoah (14).
The Generals return 11 players, including all five starters, from the 2011-12 team that went 13-14 overall and 5-9 in the ODAC. Senior forward J.D. Ey (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) returns as the team’s leading scorer (12.6 points per game) and the leading rebounder (9.0 rebounds per game). Ey also earned Second Team All-ODAC honors last season.
Along with Ey, W&L returns sophomore guard Javon McDonald (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) and junior forward Larry Whitaker (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett). McDonald averaged 11.8 points per game in his first season, and Whitaker recorded 9.8 ppg and 7.4 rpg in his sophomore campaign.
Head coach Adam Hutchinson returns for his 10th season at the helm of the Generals and is one victory away from becoming only the second coach in school history to reach the 100-win plateau.
W&L opens the season at the Rutgers-Newark Tournament on November 16, when it plays Tufts at 6:00 pm.
2012-13 ODAC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
|
1. Virginia Wesleyan (11) |
121 pts. |
|
2. Hampden-Sydney |
109 pts. |
|
3. Randolph-Macon (1) |
99 pts. |
|
4. Guilford |
87 pts. |
|
5. Randolph |
72 pts. |
|
6. Eastern Mennonite |
69 pts. |
|
7. Lynchburg |
67 pts. |
|
8. Washington and Lee |
64 pts. |
|
9. Bridgewater |
30 pts. |
|
9. Emory & Henry |
30 pts. |
|
9. Roanoke College |
30 pts. |
|
12. Shenandoah |
14 pts |
