Marlins Receive 11 First Place Votes, Randolph-Macon Gets One

FOREST, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College was awarded 11 first place votes towards 121 points to top the ODAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll for the second straight year.  Hampden-Sydney College holds the second position with 109 tallies, while Randolph-Macon College chimes in third with 99 points and the remaining first place nod in the annual survey of the ODAC's head coaches.

Virginia Wesleyan (27-4 overall, 14-2 in ODAC play in 2011-12) was taken to the wire by consecutive ODAC finalist, Randolph College, before winning the Marlins' fourth ODAC title, all since 2005.  VWC was joined by Randolph-Macon College in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  While the Yellow Jackets' stay lasted just one game following a 68-60 loss to Capital University (Ohio) in the first round, Virginia Wesleyan marched its way to a pair of wins over St. Mary's College (Md.) (70-57) and Whitworth University (Wash.) (74-71 in OT) before falling to eventual national champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 76-62, in the quarterfinals.

The Marlins and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Dave Macedo, returns four starters from their title run last season.  The group is led by 2012 ODAC Player of the Year, junior D.J. Woodmore (16.1 ppg, 85.6 FT%).  He's joined by All-ODAC Second Team senior forward Chris Astorga (14.9 ppg, 42.9 3FG%) and fellow seniors in wing Chris Teasley (11.5 ppg, 69 ast) and point guard Tre' Ford, who led the league in assists (129) and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.6).  The Marlins finished last season ranked fifth in the country by D3hoops.com and enter this year as the second-rated squad in the pundit's preseason top-25 poll.

Hampden-Sydney (19-8, 11-5), ranked 25th by D3hoops.com coming into the this season, welcomes back two-time All-ODAC First Team selection, senior forward Harrison George (16.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 70 ast).  He's joined on the front line by athletic big man, All-ODAC Third Team center Khobi Williamson (10.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 38 blk).  Williamson led the ODAC with a 63.7-percent showing from the field.  Look for guards Leon Hargrove and Randall Ward to continue to contribute along the wings.

Randolph-Macon (21-7, 12-4) is led by All-ODAC Second Team forward Lamar Giggetts (12.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 25 blk).  Point guard Marcus Badger (4.4 ppg, 99 ast) and center Dylan Cole (6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) give the Yellow Jackets three returning starters, with electric big man Andre Simon (11.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) also back after serving as R-MC's sixth man in 2012.  R-MC makes it three ODAC squads in the D3hoops.com top-25 as the Jackets open play as the 24th-ranked team in the country.

Of the 15 players named to one of the three all-conference teams, 12 are set to return with four each coming from the first, second and third teams.  Two-time first team selection Josh Pittman (13.5 ppg, 53 3FG) is one of just two returning starters for Tom Palombo at Guilford College (17-9, 11-5).  The Quakers also feature 2012 ODAC Rookie of the Year, forward Will Freeman (9.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg).  Randolph College (15-14, 7-9) standout Colton Hunt (17.6 ppg, 77 stl, 85.0 FT%) rounds out the returning first team players.  Hunt set an ODAC Tournament record with 101 points through four games in leading the WildCats back to the ODAC title game for the second straight year.

Roanoke College (7-19, 3-13) guard Kwasi Amponsah returns to the hardwood after an All-ODAC Second Team campaign in which he led the ODAC in scoring at 18.4 points per game.  Washington and Lee University (13-14, 5-11)  triple-double threat J.D. Ey (12.6 ppg, 85 ast) was also a second team choice.  He led the conference in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and blocked shots (62).

A trio of seniors join H-SC's Williamson as returning All-ODAC Third Team honorees.  Lynchburg College (15-11, 9-7) is powered by center Austin Chillemi (14.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 39 blk).  Eastern Mennonite University (12-15, 6-10) and Emory & Henry College (12-14, 6-10) look to the wings for production as the Royals feature forward Andrew Thorne (13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and the Wasps welcome back guard Malcolm Green (14.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

Bridgewater College (7-19, 4-12) will look to junior Ronnie Thomas (10.6 ppg, 105 ast, 50 stl) to lead a young squad that features just one senior.

The ODAC is now 12 teams strong entering the 2012-13 campaign as Shenandoah University embarks on its first basketball season since becoming the 14th full-time member of the conference.  All-USA South Honorable Mention guard/forward Avery Green leads the Hornets after leading the team in scoring (15.7 ppg), rebounding (4.5 rpg) and steals (51) in 2011-12.

Listed below is the full 2012-13 ODAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC men’s basketball, visit any of the participating school’s websites, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com and view the men’s basketball virtual media guide.

Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.  Be sure to check out the ODAC's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/ODAC1976) and watch an interview with each of the ODAC’s head men’s basketball coaches as they talk about their programs from media day in Salem (videos not live --- to be added after the event).

2012-13 ODAC MEN’S BASKETBALL PREASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes