MELBOURNE, Fla. – Barry University men’s basketball team was picked second in the Sunshine State Conference preseason poll released Thursday. The poll was voted on by the nine league schools’ coaches.
Barry received two first-place votes and 57 points. Teams are not allowed to vote for themselves. Florida Southern, the defending league champs, was picked first. The Moccasins received seven first-place votes and 63 points.
Nova Southeastern was third with 47 points, while Florida Tech and Tampa tied for fourth with 31. Saint Leo was picked sixth with 30 points, and Eckerd and Rollins tied for seventh with 22. Lynn was predicted to finish ninth with 21.
The Buccaneers went 19-9, 9-7 in the SSC with a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament a year ago in coach Butch Estes’ first season in Miami Shores. Florida Southern was 26-5, 12-4 with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Saint Leo went 24-9, 10-6 with an NCAA Tournament appearance, and picked up the lone win by the SSC at the NCAA South Regional hosted by Florida Southern. Tampa was 20-10, 10-6 with a trip to the NCAA Tourney as well.
Barry begins the exhibition season Saturday, Nov. 1 at No. 9 Louisville in a 12:30 p.m. tipoff to be televised locally in Kentucky by WAVE 3 TV. The Bucs will also play at No. 7 Florida 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 in a game broadcast on the SEC Network.
2014 - 15 SSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1. Florida Southern (7) 63
2. Barry (2) 57
3. Nova Southeastern 47
T 4. Florida Tech 31
T 4. Tampa 31
6. Saint Leo 30
T7. Eckerd 22
T7. Rollins 22
9. Lynn 21