OWENSBORO, Ky. - The Augustana men's basketball team has been named a "possible breakthrough" team in the NCAA Division II 2010-11 Preseason Top 10 poll released Thursday by
The Sporting News. Augustana's
Cody Schilling was also tabbed as a preseason All-America honorable mention pick.
Findlay (Ohio) took the No. 1 spot in the poll. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference-neighbor Winona State is ranked No. 9; the Warriors are the only NSIC team ahead of Augustana.
Schilling, a junior from Ellsworth, Minn., averaged 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. He was also named All-NSIC first team, NABC All-Central District first team and Division II Bulletin All-America honorable mention.
The Vikings’ 15-5 conference mark in 2009-10 put them in third place in the final standings, while their overall record of 24-7 saw them set a school record for wins and reach the Central Region finals.
Augustana opens the 2010-11 season with two exhibition games, hosting Gustavus on Nov. 1 and traveling to the University of Arizona on Nov. 7. The Vikings begin regular-season play on Nov. 13 when they host Jamestown.
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball 2010-11 Preseason Top 10
1. Findlay (Ohio)
2. Bellarmine (Ky.)
3. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
4. Arkansas Tech
5. Cal Poly-Pomona
6. Indiana (Pa.)
7. Seattle Pacific (Wash.)
8. West Liberty
9. Winona State (Minn.)
10. Bentley (Mass.)
Possible Breakthroughs:
Alabama-Huntsville, Anderson (S.C.),
Augustana (S.D.), Bloomfield (N.J.), BYU-Hawaii, Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Drury (Mo.), Felician, (N.J.), Ferris State (Mich.), Florida Southern, Fort Lewis (Colo.), Georgia, College & State, Hillsdale (Mich.), Humboldt State (Calif.), Kentucky Wesleyan, Lynn (Fla.), Mary (N.D.), Metro State (Colo.), Midwestern State, (Texas), Minnesota State-Mankato, Montevallo (Ala.), Mount Olive (N.C.), Philadelphia University (Pa.), Queens (N.C.), Rollins (Fla.), St. Cloud State (Minn.), Southern Indiana, Stonehill (Mass.), Tarleton State (Texas), USC-Aiken, W.Va. State
Sporting News Preseason All-Americans
First Team: Chris Banchero (Seattle Pacific), Gage Daye (Blooomfield), Justin Keenan (Ferris State), Darryl Webb (Indiana, PA), Dauntae Williams (Central Oklahoma).
Second Team: Jet Chang (BYU-Hawaii), LaMarshall Corbett (Angelo State), Chris Hall (Lynn), Justin Ringler (Grand Valley State), Nick Wolf (Rollins).
Honorable Mention: Darius Adams (Indianapolis), Daniel Bailey (Queens, N.C.), Thomas Baudinet (Saint Anselm), D.J. Blackmon (Lenoir-Rhyne), Donnelle Booker (Cal Poly-Pomona), Simel Boyd (Francis Marion), Sharif Bray (Cheyney), Justin Brock (Quincy), Tyler Bullock (Nebraska-Omaha), Kyle
Caiola (Findlay), Rashad Callaway (Tampa), D'Mario Curry (Lincoln Memorial), Byron Faison (USC-Aiken), Chris Hagan (Midwestern State), Alex Hall (Drury), Braydon Hobbs (Bellarmine), Marquel Hoskins (San Francisco State), Nathan Hyde (Findlay), Dominique Jones (Fort Hays State), Jeremy Kendle (Bellarmine), DeAndre Lansdowne (Fort Lewis), Jefferson Mason (Minnesota State-Mankato), Darin Mency (Merrimack), Josh Miller (W.Va. State), Anthony Moody (Mary), Brian Morris (Humboldt State), Donte Nicholas (Metro State), Corey Pelle (West Liberty), Blake Poole (Saint Martin's),
Cody Schilling (Augustana), Justin Swidowski (Holy Family), Brian Tracey (Bentley), Anthony Tucker (Winona State), Marques Whippy (BYU-Hawaii), Taylor Witt (St. Cloud State), Chris Woods (Pfeiffer).