GREENVILLE, S.C. – The annual Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball coaches Preseason Poll was announced, Converse has been picked to finish seventh while
Uzziah Dawkins (Spartanburg, S.C.) has been selected as a player to watch.
Last season, the Valkyries finished 15-15 overall and 12-8 in Conference Carolinas action. Converse won their first ever postseason match with an 81-78 home win over Francis Marion in the second round of the Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championships. In the quarterfinals round, the Valkyries dropped a heartbreaking 80-79 overtime loss to Barton.
Converse picked up 98 total points in the preseason poll this season and finished just ahead of Chowan, Lees-McRae and Mount Olive. King, North Greenville, Southern Wesleyan and Erskine all finished in the bottom four of the conference poll.
UNC Pembroke won the poll with 166 total points and 10 first place votes, while Emmanuel finished second in the poll with 160 points and 4 first place votes. Young Harris rounded out the top three with 132 points, followed by Belmont Abbey, Barton and Francis Marion.
Dawkins returns for his senior season after being a Third Team All-Conference selection a season ago. Dawkins was one of just two Valkyries to play and start in all 30 games last season. Dawkins averaged 33.8 minutes per game and set a new program record for points in a season with 439. Dawkins also holds the single season school records for field goals made (157), field goal attempts (309) and assists (117). Dawkins also led the team in steals (29), blocks (17) and set the program record for double-figure scoring games with 21.
The Converse University men's basketball team will tip-off the season against Mars Hill on Friday, November 10
th at 3:00 p.m. in Wingate, N.C. The Valkyries first home game will be on Saturday, November 18
th against Morris College inside the Weisiger Center. Tip off against Morris is slated for 4:00 p.m.
For the complete preseason poll and list of players to watch log onto
conferencecarolinas.com today.
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