WACO, TX. -- Coming off a run that took them all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA South Central Regional last season, the Dallas Baptist men’s basketball team has been picked to win the 2009-2010 Heartland Conference men’s basketball title according to a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the Blue Tigers landed in the ninth spot.
Lincoln returns leading-scorer Lionel Booker, who posted an average of 16 points and 3.4 rebounds a game, while adding 29 steals and 50 assists. Fourth-leading scorer, Donald Brumfield will also return this season, after posting nearly seven points a game (6.9) and adding 94 total rebounds. Along with Booker and Brumfield, the Blue Tigers will have two other seniors in Ryan Spearman and Davey Fall. Fall, transitioning from baseball, played in 21 games last season, tallying 104 points, 48 rebounds, seven blocks and 12 steals in 303 minutes. Spearman played in just one game last season after suffering an ankle injury that made him miss the rest of the year. Lincoln will open the season with an exhibition game at Louisiana Tech on November 7 beginning at 7 p.m.
The Patriots had 162 total points and 12 first-place votes in the poll.
Under fourth-year head coach Blake Flickner, DBU was 24-7 overall last season and 12-4 in conference play. The Patriots advanced to the Heartland Conference championship game before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Senior guard Bryan Baumann (Allen, Texas), who averaged 13.5 points per game last season, is poised to be the top returner for DBU.
DBU finished last season with a strong showing in the national statistical categories, including an 11 game regular season winning streak. DBU finished third in Division II in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 42.2% from behind the arc. They were also ranked 12th in scoring per game, posting an impressive 88 points per game, 12th in assists per game with 17.9, 16th in free throw percentage per game, shooting 75.5% on the season, and 20th in scoring margin at with a 12-point advantage. Along with top national rankings, the Patriots finished first in the Heartland Conference in points per game, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, assists per game, and steals per game. DBU finished a close second in the conference in scoring margin, free throw percentage, three-point field goal percentage defense, and three-point field goals made.
Following closely behind the Patriots, defending conference champion Incarnate Word was picked to finished second with 152 points, including five first-place votes. The Cardinals posted a 23-7 mark last season en route to the conference title and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.
St. Mary’s was picked to finish third with 131 points, followed by St. Edward’s (114), Newman (96), Texas A&M International (65), and Texas-Permian Basin (49). Oklahoma Panhandle State (45) and Lincoln (41) rounded out the poll.
The 2009-10 season begins in mid-November. The Heartland Conference Basketball Championship Tournament is set for March 4-6, 2010, at St. Mary's Bill Greehey Arena. The winner of the conference championship earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Heartland Conference
2009-2010 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
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Institution
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Points (1st Place)
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2008-2009 Record
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Dallas Baptist
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162 (11)
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24-7 (12-4)
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Incarnate Word
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152 (5)
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23-7 (13-3)
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St. Mary’s
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131
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17-11 (12-4)
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St. Edward’s
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114 (2)
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17-11 (11-5)
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Newman
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96
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15-12 (9-7)
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Texas A&M Intl.
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65
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9-18 (7-9)
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Texas-Permian Basin
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49
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8-17 (5-11)
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Okla. Panhandle State
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45
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4-23 (1-15)
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Lincoln
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41
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4-20 (2-14)
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