FRAISE, GAY AND JOHNSON PRE-SEASON ALL-GSC PICKS

Birmingham, Ala. -- Coming off an Elite Eight finish in 2007-08, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team is the pre-season favorite of the Gulf South Conference coaches to win the 2008-09 league championship.

UNA clipped Ouachita Baptist, which collected six overall votes, the most since the Tigers joined the Conference in 2000-01. Defending league Champion Christian Brothers and East Division member Montevallo capped the Overall Champion voting, adding one vote apiece.

The Conference was also represented in the Pre-Season national polls. UNA and CBU each found the Division II Bulletin top 20, placing No. 15 and No. 19, respectively. Christian Brothers center Nick Kohs was an Honorable Mention selection by The Sporting News College Magazine Top 10 and UNA’s Thomas Fraise was an Honorable Mention selection by the Division II Bulletin.

UNA SELECTED TO DEFEND EAST DIVISION CROWN
North Alabama was chosen to repeat as East Division Champions, grabbing all but one possible first-place votes  (five). The 2008 NCAA South Region Champions tallied 35 total points, en route to its first division favorite honor since 1993-94.

Only four points separate the second through fifth spots. West Georgia (25) finished one point ahead of Peach State rival Valdosta State (24) for second place, while Montevallo clipped in-state rival Alabama-Huntsville for fourth, 23-21. UAH finished fifth despite claiming the lone remaining first-place nod. West Florida (13) and West Alabama (6) rounded out the poll.

OBU NAMED WEST DIVISION FAVORITE
For the third consecutive year, the West Division tabbed its first-ever favorite. This season, Ouachita Baptist was predicted No. 1 for the first time since joining the GSC in 2000-01, totaling 45 points behind six first-place votes.

Defending GSC Champion Christian Brothers finished second (36) led by one first-place vote, while Delta State (35) came in third, just one point behind CBU. Arkansas-Monticello earned the final first-place nod en route to fourth place (31). Harding (28) is expected to claim the final GSC Tournament spot, while Arkansas Tech ranked sixth (25). Completing the poll was Southern Arkansas (14) and Henderson State (10).

Three returning First Team All-GSC honorees and three Second Team standouts highlight the 2008 GSC Pre-Season Men’s Basketball Team.
Nine different schools are represented on the squad, led by North Alabama’s three standouts. Montevallo, Ouachita Baptist and West Florida each added two members apiece.

The West Division team is led by returning First Teamers, Christian Brothers center Nick Kohs and Ouachita Baptist forward Ed Keyes. Kohs led the GSC in rebounds (10.9) a year ago and also ranked fourth in assists (4.63), fifth in field goal percentage (.555), sixth in blocks (1.44) and tenth in scoring (15.8). Keyes was fourth in blocks (1.87), sixth in rebounds (7.6) and seventh in field goal percentage (.546).

Delta State guard Earnesto Green was named to the West Division Second Team after leading the team in scoring (11.9).

The East Division Pre-Season Team is led by one 2007 First Team All-GSC star and two Second Team. First Team Montevallo guard Terrill Humphrey finished last season third in scoring (18.4), eighth in free throw percentage (.765) and ninth in three-point percentage (.403).

North Alabama forward Thomas Fraise was the 2008 NCAA South Region Most Valuable Player and placed third in three-point percentage (.420) and eighth in rebounds (7.4). West Georgia Second Team guard Doug Daniels averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 28 games.