Seattle Men's Basketball picked Third, Women Fourth in Preseason GNAC Polls
The Seattle University men's basketball team was selected third in the GNAC preseason poll, while the women were selected fourth. The poll is voted on by the GNAC coaches.
For the men, the University of Alaska Anchorage was selected as the preseason favorite with seven of the ten first place votes and 104 points overall. Seattle Pacific received one first place vote and 87 points.
(20-9, 11-5 GNAC) received the remaining two first place votes and 84 points overall. The Redhawks were co-GNAC champions last season, but lost three starters. They do return starters Leigh Swanson and Mike Boxley as well as adding five newcomers to an already deep team.
Western Washington and tied for fourth place with 62 points. 's with 52 was chosen sixth after their surprising early season conference lead last year. Northwest Nazarene was taken seventh with 40 points. was picked eighth with 35 points, GNAC newcomer Montana State Billings was taken ninth with 18 points, and Alaska Fairbanks was picked tenth with 16 points.
On the women's side, Seattle Pacific was chosen as the favorite with five first place votes and 99 points. They were just ahead of Alaska Anchorage who had four first place votes and 95 points overall. The remaining first place vote went to who was chosen third with 80 points.
received 71 points and was selected fourth. Last season (18-9, 9-7 GNAC) finished fifth in the GNAC after competing for the title most of the season. returns leading scorer and rebounder Laina Sobczak, but lost three starters. The Redhawks reloaded with eight newcomers, including five transfers.
Northwest Nazarene was selected fifth with 57 points, just ahead of conference newcomer Montana State Billings with 56. was taken seventh with 43 points. The bottom three were Saint Martin’s with 24 and Alaska Fairbanks and with 19 points apiece.