Men’s Basketball Blog – Part 5
Rock Basketball Picked 2nd in PSAC-West
The PSAC-Western Division men's basketball coaches picked us to finish second in the 2012-13 division race. We were picked to finish behind IUP in the poll announced Thursday as part of our media day festivities. We each received three of the possible eight first-place votes in the poll.
This is the highest preseason ranking in my five years which is good news and a tribute to our program and university.
The PSAC West is arguably the toughest division in NCAA Division II basketball. With the additions of Gannon and Mercyhurst to the PSAC four years ago, the landscape and terrain for success became a lot more difficult.
The SRU basketball program is extremely thankful for the fantastic teamwork on our campus with most departments. We recognize their importance in our success over the past four years. SRU’s divisions of Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Admissions, and Registration are as good as any you will find in NCAA Division I. The people in these departments make our jobs as coaches easier. They are a fantastic recruiting tool for our current student-athletes. A big thank you goes out to all of them (if I missed anyone, my apologies)!!!
Getting back to the preseason polls, our program doesn't put a lot of stock in them. As I told the team today, The New York Yankees were picked to win the World Series in 2012 and they are watching it from home. I think that tells the significance of a preseason poll. The polls that matter are at the end of the year.
Our immediate goal as a team is to get better every day in practice throughout the year. A goal that seems so simple is actually one of the biggest challenges throughout the season. The ability to bring your “A game” to every practice and game is our daily objective. We consider the ability to “play hard” a talent.
Here is the poll:
2012-13 PSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll - Western Division
1. IUP
2. Slippery Rock
3. Gannon
4. Edinboro
5. California
6. Mercyhurst
7. Clarion
8. Lock Haven
Go Rock!
Coach Reynolds
