UAA picked 2nd in GNAC men's hoops poll

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 14) – The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team has been picked to finish runner-up in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s preseason men’s basketball coaches’ poll, release Tuesday by the league office.

The Seawolves – coming off their ninth straight winning campaign – received one first-place vote and outpointed Seattle Pacific 69-68 for the No. 2 slot. League favorite Western Washington received seven first-place votes and 78 overall points, while SPU garnered the other two first-place votes.

UAA went 17-13 a year ago and tied for fourth in the league with a 10-8 mark. The Seawolves return three starters from that club – Div. II Bulletin preseason ‘Super 16’ All-American guard Travis Thompson (21.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, .892 FT, .421 3FG), Second Team All-GNAC junior point guard Brian McGill (15.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, .480 3FG) and senior post Brad Mears (4.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .487 FG) – along with fellow veterans Christian Leckband (4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Boomer Blossom (2.4 ppg) and Jacob Craft (1.9 ppg).

Eleventh-year head coach Rusty Osborne and his staff will also welcome back returning redshirt center Kalidou Diouf (6-9, 270) to this year’s roster, along with transfers Derrick Fain (Sr., G, 6-4/175), Dom Hunter (Jr., G, 6-0/180), Travis Parrish (So., G/F, 6-3/215) and Kevin Bowman (Jr., G, 6-1/180), and true freshman guard Damien Fulp (6-2/175).

The Seawolves begin their season Saturday at 7 p.m. when they host the first-ever Green & Gold Madness at the Alaska Airlines Center. Admission is free.

2014-15 GNAC Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Rk Team (1st-place votes)   2013-14 Records     Pts

1. Western Washington (7)   20-8 (13-5, 2nd)    78

2. Alaska Anchorage (1)     17-13 (10-8, 4th-T) 69

3. Seattle Pacific (2)      26-6 (15-3, 1st)    68

4. Western Oregon           18-12 (10-8, 4th-T) 60

5. Montana State Billings   12-15 (8-10, 6th-T) 41

6. Central Washington       12-14 (8-10, 6th-T) 39

7. Alaska Fairbanks         18-10 (12-6, 3rd)   38

8. Northwest Nazarene       7-19 (5-13, 9th)    21

9. Simon Fraser             10-16 (3-15, 10th)  18

   Saint Martin’s           9-17 (6-12, 8th)    18

(Note: Each coach ranked other nine teams. First-place votes in

parentheses. Points awarded on 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.).

--GoSeawolves.com--

 

Nate Sagan
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr.
Anchorage, AK  99508
(907) 786-1295 / nate@uaa.alaska.edu
GoSeawolves.com