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No drop off is expected for the Tusculum Pioneers or the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears.

The two teams shared the men’s basketball championship last season and both teams return plenty of talent and are expected to challenge for another crown.

The Pioneers are the favorite to win the 2004-05 championship, according to a vote of the league’s eight coaches. The Pioneers received six first-place votes and 62 out of a possible 64 votes.

Tusculum’s Brad Hawks, who has led the conference in field goal percentage the last two years and was a First Team All-Conference selection last season when he averaged 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds, is one of two Pioneers on the preseason All-Conference First Team. Guard Drew Harmon, who averaged 3.7 assists, joins Hawks on the preseason squad.

The Catawba Indians picked up some valuable experience on their way to the Food Lion SAC Tournament title, and are projected to finish second. The Indians received the other two first place votes and 52 points overall.

Helgi Magnusson, the MVP of last year’s tournament, is a preseason First Team All-Conference selection, while Chris Woolridge, who had an impressive rookie season and was named to the SAC’s All-Freshman team, is a Second Team selection.

Carson-Newman is picked to come in third, the same place the Eagles finished last season. The Eagles garnered 42 total points. Senior guard Braun Dabbs will be counted on to provide leadership for the Eagles and is a preseason First Team All-Conference member.

Presbyterian received 37 points to take fourth place in the poll, edging out last year’s co-champion Lenoir-Rhyne by one point.

Junior forward Tray Ballenger, a preseason All-SAC Second Team pick, will be counted to lead a young Blue Hose team.

Lenoir-Rhyne lost some veteran leadership off last year’s team, but the Bears do return the reigning conference Player of the Year in senior forward Roman Davis. Davis, as well as guard Tony Connelly, are on the preseason All-Conference First Team. Davis finished third in scoring and field goal percentage last season. Connelly is a four-year starter who is closing in on the 1,000 career points milestone.

Wingate is predicted to finish sixth. The top returning player for the Bulldogs is Ahmad Richardson, who is a preseason Second Team selection.

Mars Hill, which became only the second eighth-seed to upset a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament last year, comes in as the seventh seed, garnering 21 points. The Lions put two on the preseason All-Conference second team. Walt Baxley, who was named to the All-Tournament Team last year, joins Ritchie Covington on the honor squad.

Newberry, under first-year coach Shaun Golden, is the pick to finish eighth. The Indians placed Tommy Burke on the preseason All-Conference second team.