HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –Northern Kentucky University's men's basketball team was selected to finish fifth in the both Atlantic Sun Preseason Coaches and Media Polls.
 
The Norse picked up 24 points in the coaches poll. Florida Gulf Coast was selected to win the league, garnering seven first-place votes and 63 total points.
 
Also ahead of NKU in the coaches poll is North Florida (53 points), who received the other first place vote, Lipscomb (51) and USC Upstate (32). Sitting behind the Norse are Kennesaw State (23), Jacksonville (14) and Stetson (13).
 
Nearly 94 percent of NKU's scoring returns for the 2014-15 campaign, as Northern Kentucky returns all but one player from last season's team that went 9-21 overall and 5-13 in the A-Sun.
 
FGCU received 25 of the 26 possible first-place votes in the media poll and was the clear front-runner with 207 points. Lipscomb (161) and North Florida (154), which received the other first-place vote, were selected second and third, respectively.
 
USC Upstate (122) preceded NKU (101) in the media poll as well. While the bottom three teams stayed the same, the order was shuffled. Stetson picked up 66 votes and was closely followed by Jacksonville with 65 and Kennesaw State with 60.
 
Jordan Jackson led NKU at 13.5 point and 2.9 assists per game last year.  The senior guard also helped set the defensive tone for the Norse, leading the team and ranking second in the conference with 1.5 steals per contest.
 
Jalen Billups added to Northern Kentucky's defensive presence, blocking 32 shots on the season. NKU's power forward was third on the team in scoring at 9.8 ppg.
 
Tyler White, who joined Jordan Jackson and Billups as all-conference selections by College Sports Madness, was second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg).
 
The Norse also return Todd Johnson (8.7 ppg), Daniel Camps (6.1 ppg) and Cole Murray (5.7 ppg) among their top six scorers.
 
NKU regains the services of Chad Jackson, who redshirted last season after averaging 10.8 ppg during the 2012-13 campaign.
 
Two talented freshmen in Tayler Persons and Jordan Garnett also join the fold this season, joining returners Jake Giesler, Dean Danos, Anthony Monaco, Deontae Cole and Matt Rosenwinkel.
 
Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1^st Place Votes)    Points
1. FGCU (7)                           63
2. North Florida (1)                53
3. Lipscomb                           51
4. USC Upstate                     32
5. Northern Kentucky            24
6. Kennesaw State               23
7. Jacksonville                      14
8. Stetson                             13
 
Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1^st Place Votes)     Points
1. FGCU(25)                           207
2. Lipscomb                            161
3. North Florida (1)                 154
4. USC Upstate                      122
5. Northern Kentucky             101
6. Stetson                               66
7. Jacksonville                        65
8. Kennesaw State                 60
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Bernard Thompson, FGCU
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Brett Comer, FGCU (298 votes)
Defensive Player of the Year: Bernard Thompson, FGCU
Fan-Voted Defensive Player of the Year: Willy Kouassi, Kennesaw State (305 votes)
 
Preseason Atlantic Sun All-Conference Team
PG - Brett Comer*- FGCU
G - Bernard Thompson*- FGCU
F - Martin Smith* - Lipscomb
G - Ty Greene* - USC Upstate
G - Jamail Jones - FGCU
G  - Delbert Love - Kennesaw State
PG - J.C. Hampton - Lipscomb
G/F - Beau Beech - North Florida
F - Chris Davenport - North Florida
G - Dallas Moore - North Florida
 
* - Denotes unanimous selection to preseason team.