November 14, 2002

MACON, Ga. –The Atlantic Sun Conference released its preseason selections for men’s basketball on Wednesday for both predicted team finish as well as preseason all conference team as selected by the coaches and media.

In fact, the media and coaches have forecasted an identical order of finish. Prior to the start of the season, both polls have selected the Golden Knights to finish in fifth place in their respective division. UCF will compete this season in the South Division and will be chasing preseason favorite Jacksonville, who was picked first. Holding the second position is defending A-Sun champion Florida Atlantic, with Mercer holding down the third spot. Troy State sits one spot ahead of UCF in fourth and Stetson rounds out the division in sixth.

The order of predicted finish in the North Division has Georgia State on top with Jacksonville State in second. Third place belongs to Belmont, while Samford, Campbell and Gardner Webb round out the top six.

UCF did not place a player on the A-Sun Preseason All-Conference First Team.

The Golden Knights who won 17 games last season and finished tied for fourth in the league with a 12-8 record, return two starters. The team is led by shooting guard Ray Abellard, who earned second-team all-conference honors in just his first season with the Knights a year ago.

With the addition of Gardner-Webb, the A-Sun has moved to divisional play. The top two teams from each division and four wildcards will advance to the A-Sun Tournament for the opportunity to claim the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UCF will open the season on Nov. 13 at UCF Arena, with an exhibition game against OBRAS/Argentina before heading to Annapolis to take on the Mid-Shipmen of Navy in the season opener.


 

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