University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bronchos No. 17 In Cage Poll

10/12/2009 7:33:08 AM

BEAVERTON, Ore. (Oct. 12) – Two-time defending Lone Star Conference North Division champion Central Oklahoma has earned a No. 17 ranking in the Division II Bulletin preseason men's basketball poll.

The Bronchos of eighth-year head coach Terry Evans have seven lettermen back from last year's 24-6 team that made a second consecutive national tournament appearance.

Brigham Young-Hawaii tops the Division II Bulletin rankings, followed by defending champion Findlay. Southwest Baptist, Cal Poly Pomona and Bellarmine round out the top five.

UCO, which has won 52 games the past two years, is the lone league team in the preseason poll.

The Bronchos are led by senior guard Eric Cazenave, who averaged 11.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game last season while making 42 3-pointers. Five other returning lettermen started at least four games last year and UCO also gets back sophomore guard-forward Tyler Phillips, who started the first six games last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury and earning a hardship.

The Bronchos open practice later this week and will play exhibition games against Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma City before hosting Emporia State on Nov. 16 in the season-opener.

Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll
1. Brigham Young-Hawaii
2. Findlay
3. Southwest Baptist
4. Cal Poly Pomona
5. Bellarmine
6. Tusculum
7. Merrimack
8. Augusta State
9. Florida Southern
10. Bentley
11. Valdosta State
12. Southwest Minnesota
13. Metropolitan State
14. Central Missouri
15. Winona State
16. Kutztown
17. Central Oklahoma
18. Grand Valley State
19. Philadelphia
20. Northern Kentucky
21. Delta State
22. Rollins
23. Johnson C. Smith
24. West Virginia State
25. Incarnate Word

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