Francis Marion Men tabbed for sixth in PBC Preseason Hoops poll

AUGUSTA, GA -- Francis Marion University has been picked to finish sixth in the race for the 2009-10 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball title, according to the annual preseason coaches' poll.  Coming on the heels of back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Augusta State University has been selected the preseason favorite to win the PBC men's championship.

COMPLETE PEACH BELT CONFERENCE RELEASE

ASU received 10 of a possible 12 first-place votes in the poll for 142 points, 19 ahead of Clayton State University (123). USC Aiken (118) was third in the poll, followed by Georgia College & State University (114), Lander University (89), FMU (83), University of Montevallo (80), North Georgia College & State University (74), Armstrong Atlantic State University (57), Columbus State University (48), Georgia Southwestern State University (47), UNC Pembroke (22), and Flagler College (17).

Fourth-year FMU head coach Gary Edwards welcomes back four lettermen from last year's 16-12 squad that tied for fifth in the Peach Belt, and posted the program's second-best record this decade. Leading the returnees is senior guard Kendrick Robinson (8.5 ppg), and junior forwards David Turner (6.4 ppg. 4.3 rpg) and Simel Boyd (6.7 ppg), who was the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year.

Fifteen newcomers are listed on the roster, including three NCAA Division I transfers, two Division II transfers, five junior college transfers, and five high school products. They are headed by 6-8 junior forward Robert Faulkner (Iowa State), 6-5 senior guard Kaylan Anderson (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and 6-4 junior swingman Edward Gullatte (Denmark Tech).

Edwards' win total at FMU has increased each year from 9 to 12 to 16. The Patriots will play an exhibition game at Clemson University on Nov. 6, and then open their season on Nov. 15 at the Florida Tech Tip-Off Classic in Melbourne, Fla.

The Peach Belt Conference will undergo several changes for the 2009-10 season, the foremost of which is a return to division play. With the additions of Flagler and Montevallo, the PBC will be split into east and west divisions. Francis Marion will compete in the East Division along with Augusta State, USCA, Lander, Flagler, AASU, and UNCP.

The PBC regular season begins Nov. 15 and continues through the 2010 PBC Tournament. The tournament format has changed with only the top four teams in each division advancing to a first-round game on the campus of the higher seed. The final four will then convene in Aiken, S.C., on March 6-7, 2010.

The preseason poll is listed below. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.