Arkansas Tech University is the overwhelming choice of Great American Conference head men’s basketball coaches as the favorite to win the 2012-13 GAC title.
Arkansas Tech University is the overwhelming choice of Great American Conference head men’s basketball coaches as the favorite to win the 2012-13 GAC title.
The Wonder Boys received seven of the nine first-place votes and a total of 63 points in the GAC men’s basketball preseason poll, which was released by the league office in Russellville on Thursday.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (2nd, 51 points) and Henderson State University (3rd, 46 points) both received one first-place vote.
Ouachita Baptist University (4th, 42 points), Harding University (5th, 41 points) and Southeastern Oklahoma State University (6th, 31 points) fill out the middle three spots in the 2012-13 preseason GAC men’s basketball poll.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello (7th, 23 points), Southern Arkansas University (8th, 14 points) and East Central University (9th, 13 points) are picked to finish in the lower third of the league standings.
Arkansas Tech was 26-6 overall and 13-3 in league play last season. The Wonder Boys earned the inaugural GAC regular season and postseason men’s basketball championships in 2011-12.
It was the third consecutive regular season league title and the third conference tournament title in the last four years for the Arkansas Tech men’s basketball program.
The Wonder Boys advanced to their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament in 2012 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in men’s basketball for the first time in school history.
Head coach Doug Karleskint has three returning starters from a year ago — guard Jared Williamson and forwards Will Paul and Nick Wayman.
Karleskint has a 51-12 record in two seasons as the Arkansas Tech head men’s basketball coach.
The Wonder Boys will open their 2012-13 campaign with a 7 p.m. non-conference contest at Northeastern State University (Okla.) on Nov. 15.
Arkansas Tech will launch its 2012-13 basketball season with a Monday Madness event for fans on Nov. 5.
Learn more about Monday Madness.
View the complete 2012-13 GAC men’s basketball preseason release.
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