AU Men's Basketball Picked First in PL Preseason Poll
Oct. 23, 2008
WASHINGTON - The defending Patriot League Champion American University men's basketball team has been chosen first in the 2008-09 PL Preseason Poll, conference official announced Thursday. The Eagles, who made their first NCAA Div. I Tournament appearance last year, received 14 of 16 first-place votes and a total of 98 points from conference coaches and sports information directors to claim the top spot. Coaches and SID's cannot vote for their own team.
The Eagles also earned the top individual honor in Thursday's preseason poll, as senior guard Garrison Carr was named the PL Preseason Player of the Year. Carr was an All-PL First Team selection last year and set a new conference record with 135 three-pointers. The senior averaged 18.4 ppg in '07-'08 and shot 45.2% from behind the arc.
Carr is joined on the Preseason All-PL Team by classmate Derrick Mercer. Last season the Eagles point guard was an All-PL Second Team selection while averaging 12.4 ppg and leading the conference with 133 assists.
American finished last season with an overall record of 21-12 and a conference mark of 11-4. AU returns three starters from its PL Championship squad, including the backcourt duo of Carr and Mercer. Joining the pair of upperclassmen in the backcourt will be classmate Frank Borden and sophomore Nick Hendra, both of whom played quality minutes for the Eagles down the stretch last season. Borden appeared in 30 of American's 32 games, including a start in the NCAA Tournament, while Hendra saw action in 16 games.
In the frontcourt, seniors Brian Gilmore, Frane Markusovic, Jordan Nichols and Bryce Simon will see the bulk of the minutes. Simon is the Eagles lone returning starter in the frontcourt and was the Eagles' leading rebounder at 4.0 per contest, while adding 7.0 ppg. Both Gilmore and Nichols were impact players off the bench for American last season and are expected to be key contributors again this year. Gilmore averaged 8.9 ppg and 22.5 minutes in '07-'08 while Nichols averaged 3.5 rpg and 17.7 minutes. Markusovic saw action in eight games last season but is expected to play an increased role this year.
AU will open its season on the road against Oklahoma on Nov. 14 in Norman, Okla., at 7 p.m. The Eagles will then return home to Bender Arena on Nov. 17 against St. Francis (Pa.) in their home opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the first 2,500 fans in attendance will received a free commemorative replica mini-banner courtesy of GEICO as AU celebrates its 2008 NCAA Tournament appearance. Individual game tickets for all home men's and women's basketball games will go on sale beginning tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 24, at 9 a.m. Fans can purchase their tickets either online by clicking here, over the phone by calling (202) 885-TIXX or in person at the Bender Arena Box Office.
2008-09 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. American (14 first-place votes) 98 points
2. Lehigh 75
3. Holy Cross (2) 68
4. Colgate 67
5. Bucknell 47
6. Navy 46
7. Army 29
8. Lafayette 18
2008-09 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Garrison Carr, American (Sr., G, 5'11, 165, Bellevue, Wash./Issaquah)
2008-09 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Andrew Brown, Lafayette (Sr., G, 5'11, 175, Littleton, Colo./Heritage)
Garrison Carr, American (Sr., G, 5'11, 165, Bellevue, Wash./Issaquah)
Marquis Hall, Lehigh (Jr., G, 5'11, 170, Portland, Ore./Jefferson)
Chris Harris, Navy (Jr., G, 6'2, 175, Mechanicsville, Va./Benedictine/Fork Union Military Academy)
Derrick Mercer, American (Sr., G, 5'9, 175, Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony's)
