AUSTINTOWN - The Marietta College men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll announced by the league office on Tuesday.
In voting by the OAC coaches, Capital University is picked to win the league crown followed by Baldwin Wallace University and the Pioneers in a tie for second place.
The Crusaders earned 74 points and six first-place votes, while the Yellow Jackets garnered three first-place votes and 67 points. Marietta tied Baldwin Wallace with 67 points and landed one first-place vote.
Article Photos
Times file photo
Marietta College’s Tyler Hammond, right, goes in for two during an OAC game.
"Our goal is to reclaim the OAC regular season championship and earn the right to host the league tournament," said MC head coach Jon VanderWal. "We know this will be a difficult task, but our players have worked hard to prepare for the challenge."
Marietta opens the season at home in the 42nd annual Shrine Tournament. The Pioneers play Frostburg State University (Md.) on November 16 at 8 p.m.
The consolation and championship games are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on November 17th.
Fact Box
The complete polls are below. First-place votes are in parenthesis.
OAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Capital (6) - 74
2. Baldwin Wallace (3) - 67
2. Marietta (1) - 67
4. Wilmington - 57
5. John Carroll - 51
6. Mount Union - 38
7. Ohio Northern - 35
8. Heidelberg - 34
9. Otterbein - 17
10. Muskingum - 10
OAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coach Poll:
1. Mount Union (7) - 79
2. Ohio Northern (2) - 73
3. Baldwin Wallace (1) - 62
4. Capital - 58
5. Otterbein - 51
6. Wilmington - 42
7. John Carroll - 32
8. Muskingum - 21
9. Heidelberg - 17
10. Marietta - 15
Some key MC players to keep an eye on will be Tyler Hammond, J.J. Martin, Jason Humphrey, Jacob Owens, and Scott Kimmey.
The Marietta College women's basketball team was picked tenth by the league coaches.
First-year head coach Stacia Shrider returns four starters off of last year's squad that went 10-16 and qualified for the OAC Tournament for the first time since 2005.
The Pioneer women open the season at the Mount St. Joseph Tip-Off Classic. Marietta plays Albion College (Mich.) on November 16th at 5 p.m. The Pioneers open at home in the 28th annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot against Earlham College (Ind.) on November 24 at 8 p.m.
Some key Lady Pioneer players will be Paige Lamb, Tori Dixon, and Kristeva Rowe.
