ROCK HILL -- The Carson-Newman Eagles, who won their 20th conference championship in 2008, are the favorite to defend the conference title, in a vote of the league's head coaches.The Eagles have won 20 conference titles under head coach Ken Sparks, including a share of the title each of the past two seasons. Carson-Newman received six first-place votes and 62 out of a possible 64 total points.
Catawba College and 2008 champion Tusculum College shared second place in the poll. The Catawba Indians, coming off a 6-4 record and fourth-place finish in the SAC, received one first-place vote. The Pioneers won their second conference title last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Wingate University is picked to finish fourth. The Bulldogs finished in a tie for fourth place last season after a strong start to the season. The ! ! Bulldogs picked up 41 points.
Mars Hill College, another team involved in the fourth-place tie, received 35 total points for fifth place. But the Lions also received one first-place vote.
Newberry College, last year's other league champion, is picked to finish in sixth under first-year coach Todd Knight. Newberry received 34 total points.
Lenoir-Rhyne University received 16 points for seventh place, which is where the Bears finished last season.
Brevard College rounds out the preseason poll with eight points.
Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Carson-Newman (6) 62
2. Catawba (1) 46
2 (tie) Tusculum 46
4. Wingate 41
5. Mars Hill (1) 35
6. Newberry 34
7. Lenoir-Rhyne 16
8. Brevard 8
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
