Men's Basketball picked to finish third in OAC Preseason Coaches Poll

By Tim Glon

ADA — The Ohio Northern men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the 2009-10 Ohio Athletic Conference Coaches' preseason poll on Wednesday.

The Polar Bear men received 58 points in voting conducted by the league’s 10 head coaches.

No. 2-ranked John Carroll was picked to finish first for the men with 81 total points and nine first place votes, Wilmington was picked to finish second with 62 points and Capital was picked tied with ONU for third with 58 votes and the final first place vote.

ONU returns seven lettermen and three starters, led by senior All-Conference honorees Kyle Meyer and Ezra Bradshaw. ONU was 18-9 overall, finished third at 12-6 in the league and posted their 19th consecutive winning season in 2008-09.

The Polar Bears will open their season Nov. 15 at home against Hanover (Ind.) at 3 pm at the ONU Sports Center.

Northern fared well in an exhibition contest Monday at NCAA Division I foe Kent State. Meyer had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds and Bradshaw added 16 points as the Golden Flashes edged the Polar Bears 75-66.