Northern Kentucky University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division preseason poll, the league office announced Tuesday.

NKU received three first-place votes and a total of 52 points from the GLVC coaches to place second in the East Division. Bellarmine, which is ranked No. 1 nationally by The Sporting News in that publication's preseason NCAA Division II poll, received 12 first-place votes and totaled 64 points to secure the favorite's role in the GLVC East.

Quincy and Rockhurst were also selected as the favorites to finish atop their respective divisions as the GLVC moves to a three-division format in 2009-10.

Quincy is the favorite to take the GLVC North Division title. The Hawks picked up 59 total points and nine first-place votes to edge Lewis in the voting. Rockhurst collected 13 first-place votes and 65 total points to top the GLVC West Division.

NKU returns two starters and six letterwinners from last season's 24-7 team that captured both the GLVC East Division and GLVC Tournament titles. Leading scorer Dustin Maguire (15.0 points per game) is the top returnee for NKU, which has won three straight GLVC East Division championships. The Norse also add a strong group of newcomers that includes 6-foot-9 center David Palmer and 6-7 forward Chris Knight.

NKU begins the season Nov. 7 with an exhibition game at Xavier. Two days later, the Norse travel to Dayton, Ohio, to take on Dayton in their final exhibition contest.

NKU tips off the regular season Nov. 15 with a road game against perennial powerhouse Grand Valley State at Allendale, Mich.

East Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Bellarmine (12) 64
2. Northern Kentucky (3) 52
3. Kentucky Wesleyan 35
4. Southern Indiana* 33
5. Indianapolis 16

North Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Quincy (9) 59
2. Lewis (5) 54
3. Saint Joseph's (1) 45
4. UW-Parkside 23
5. Illinois-Springfield* 19

West Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Rockhurst (13) 65
2. Drury (2) 50
3. Missouri-St. Louis 40
4. Missouri S&T 31
5. Maryville* 14

*Ineligible for GLVC Tournament