HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The University of Southern Indiana has been picked to capture the 2003-04 Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s basketball championship in the preseason coaches poll, which was released Tuesday.
Southern Indiana, which posted a 25-7 record last season, received nine first-place votes and a total of 99 points to earn the favorite’s role in the preseason poll. Kentucky Wesleyan College is picked second in the poll with a total of 87 points, followed by Lewis University (85 points), the University of Indianapolis (68 points) and Northern Kentucky University (64 points).
NKU returns two starters from last season’s 25-6 team that captured the GLVC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Junior guard Mike Kelsey averaged 14.5 points per game and is the Norse’s top returning player. Kelsey also made a team-leading 81 three-point shots last season.
NKU also welcomes back senior center Jesse Rupe (6.6 ppg), senior guard Adam Howell (5.3 ppg) and junior point guards Jordan Stowers and Sean Rowland from last season’s team.
NKU will begin the 2003-04 season Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. with an exhibition game at the University of Cincinnati. The Norse start the regular season on Nov. 7 against Kennesaw (Ga.) State University at the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
GLVC 2003-04 Men's Basketball
Preseason Coaches Poll
School, first-place votes, total points
1) Southern Indiana.....(9) 99
2) Kentucky Wesleyan.....(1) 87
3) Lewis.....(1) 85
4) Indianapolis.....68
5) Northern Kentucky.....64
6) SIU Edwardsville.....59
7) Bellarmine.....45
8) Saint Joseph’s.....38
9) Quincy.....30
10) Wisconsin-Parkside.....19
11) Missouri-St. Louis.....11
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Jesse Rupe |