NEW HAVEN, CT  (Nov. 5, 2009)  - Bloomfield College and Philadelphia University have been voted to win their respective divisions as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2009-10 Preseason Men's Basketball Poll was released today. The poll was voted upon by the 13 head coaches. Philadelphia was a unanimous pick to win the South Division, while Bloomfield was voted first on 12 of 13 ballots.

Philadelphia won the South Division last season and also claimed the CACC Tournament Championship for the second consecutive season with a 63-56 win over Bloomfield. The Rams lost in the first round of the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament to finish the season 25-6 overall after going 14-2 in conference play. The Rams return two All-CACC first team performers in senior guard Russell Frederick and senior forward Malcolm Ingram. Both earned preseason All-America honors from the Basketball times. Also back is second team pick, senior center Mike Yocum. The NABC Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll picked PhilaU at #25, the DII Bulletin selected them 19^th, while the Basketball Times gave the maroon and gray a #12 ranking.

Goldey-Beacom was picked second in the South after advancing to the semi-finals of the CACC Tournament last season. GBC is followed by Holy Family, USP, Chestnut Hill and Wilmington.

Bloomfield returns first team All-CACC selection Gage Daye after leading the league in scoring (19.7 ppg) and steals (2.53) last season as a sophomore. The Deacons welcome back four starters, losing last season's CACC Player of the Year, Omari Knox, to graduation. BC went 15-1 in conference play last season to capture the North Division Championship and concluded the season with a 23-7 mark. The season ended with a loss to Philadelphia in the CACC Championship game.

Post University was picked second in the North after finishing second in the division last season with an 11-5 conference slate and a 17-10 overall record. Caldwell College and Felician College tied for third in the poll, and the North is rounded out by Nyack College, Dominican College and conference newcomer, Concordia (N.Y.) College.

The regular-season begins this weekend, as Philadelphia will be playing in the 2009 Disney Tip-Off Classic from Nov. 6-8. The Rams will face Lake Superior State, Southwest Baptist and Saint Leo College. Southwest Baptist is ranked third in the NABC and DII Bulletin preseason polls. The Rams also play in the first conference game this season, at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 18. Ten teams will begin conference play on Dec. 8.

The 2009-10 CACC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll is listed on the following page.

 

North Division
School	08-09 Records	Points
1. Bloomfield (12)	23-7, 15-1 CACC	90
2. Post	17-10, 11-5	73
T3. Caldwell (1)	12-16, 8-8	59
T3. Felician	16-13, 8-8	59
5. Nyack	11-19, 6-10	39
6. Dominican	10-17, 5-11	31
7. Concordia	7-23, 5-13*	14
*as member of ECC
South Division
1. Philadelphia (13)	25-6, 14-2 CACC	78
2. Goldey-Beacom	14-15, 8-8	61
3. Holy Family	8-20, 7-9	51
4. USP	7-20, 5-11	35
5. Chestnut Hill	6-22, 5-11	32
6. Wilmington	7-20, 4-12	16
() - First Place Votes