Spartans Tabbed to Finish Eighth in SSC Preseason Poll

WINTER PARK, Fla.- Coming off their ninth appearance at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in program history, Florida Southern has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2013-14 Sunshine State Conference men's basketball title.

The Moccasins, who claimed a share of their conference-leading 21st SSC regular-season title and their 21st tournament championship a season ago, collected 63 points and seven of the nine first-place votes in a preseason poll conducted among the conference men's basketball coaches.

Florida Tech, who finished fourth in the conference a season ago after sweeping the second-half of its conference slate, was picked to finish second. The Panthers received 53 points and the other two first-place votes. Saint Leo, who shared the regular-season title with Florida Southern in 2012-13, was picked third with 46 points. Rollins received 44 points for fourth, while Eckerd collected 31 points for the fifth slot. Rounding out the ranks were Lynn (28 points), Nova Southeastern (21 points), and Barry and Tampa both earning 19 points.

Florida Southern, under eighth-year head coach and reigning SSC Coach of the Year Linc Darner, returns three of five starters and three off-the-bench players, including All-SSC Second Team senior guard Dominic Lane, senior forward Lamar McKnight, junior guard Kevin Capers and junior guard Tyler Kelly. Capers was named a Preseason Honorable Mention Division II All-American by the Sporting News in its 2013-14 season preview magazine.

Florida Tech also returns three of five starters, including junior guard Chris Carter, junior guard Jermaine Jackson and sophomore center David Usic. Both Carter and Jackson were named to the All-SSC Second Team a season ago, while Carter was also named to the SSC All-Newcomer team.

The Division II Bulletin preseason top-25 poll was released on Oct. 8 with Florida Southern ranked No. 14. Florida Tech received votes. In addition, Saint Leo's Jerrell Harris was named a Division II Bulletin Super 16 preseason All-American.

2013-14 Sunshine State Conference Preseason Men's Basketball Poll

Rank - Team, Points (1st-place votes)

1 - Florida Southern, 63 (7)
2 - Florida Tech, 53 (2)
3 - Saint Leo, 46
4 - Rollins, 44
5 - Eckerd, 31
6 - Lynn, 28
7 - Nova Southeastern, 21
T8 - Barry, 19
T8 - Tampa, 19