Basketball Teams Picked 7^th in SAC Poll

OKLAHOMA CITY – The USAO men’s and women’s basketball teams are picked to finish seventh in the Sooner Athletic Conference title race, according to the SAC preseason Coaches Poll. The survey was released during the SAC basketball press conference Oct. 27 at the Bricktown Brewery.

The Drover women return three starters from a team that posted a 15-13 overall record and 8-10 in the SAC. USAO finished tied for fifth in the SAC standings, and advanced to the SAC tournament quarterfinals with a win over St. Gregory’s in a play-in game. The Drovers lost to top-seed Oklahoma City in the quarterfinals.

Topping the SAC women’s poll is Southern Nazarene, which received eight of nine first-place votes and is a unanimous No. 1 in the preseason NAIA poll. The Storm also claimed their eighth national championship last season. Coming in at No. 2 is Oklahoma City, which received one first-place vote and is ranked No. 3 in the nation.

John Brown, Ark., is picked to finish third, and received one first place vote. The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 12 in the NAIA poll. Ranked No. 16, Oklahoma Baptist is tabbed just behind JBU at fourth. Rounding out the rest of the poll are No. 21 Oklahoma Christian, Wayland Baptist, USAO, Lubbock Christian, St. Gregory’s and Northwestern.

The USAO men return two starters, and are looking to rebuild a team that went 11-16 last season and finished tied for eighth in the SAC at 6-12. The Drovers advanced to the SAC tournament semifinals with victories against Northwestern in a play-in game and top-seed Lubbock Christian in the quarterfinals. A loss to Wayland Baptist ended the Drovers’ season.

Defending conference champion OBU is picked to repeat in 2004-05, receiving five of 10 first-place votes. The Bison are ranked No. 5 in the NAIA preseason poll, and are going for an unprecedented three SAC titles. Lubbock Christian, ranked No. 12, is tabbed to finish second and picked up four first-place votes.

Ranked No. 19, Oklahoma Christian is picked fourth and received a first-place vote. Rounding out the rest of the men’s SAC preseason poll are Oklahoma City, Wayland Baptist, USAO, Southern Nazarene, Northwestern and St. Gregory’s. The only other SAC team to receive votes in the NAIA poll was John Brown with 14.