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When you win the league title and return all of your starters, big things are expected of you.

That is the position the Catawba Indians find themselves in heading into the 2005-06 men’s basketball season.

The Indians, who won the league regular-season title with a 12-2 record, are the unanimous choice to repeat at league champions, in a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.

Catawba placed three on the preseason All-Conference team, including Helgi Magnusson, a two-time All-Conference selection and preseason All-American. Guard Brian Graves is also on the first team, while Jamel Hamilton is a second team preseason selection.

Catawba not only starts the year as the favorite in the SAC, but the Indians are ranked ninth in the nation by the Division II Basketball Bulletin. The Indians closed out last year by taking eventual national champion Virginia Union to the wire before losing 85-81 in the NCAA Tournament.

Presbyterian was an overwhelming choice to finish second. The Blue Hose return plenty of talent from last year’s squad which went 18-11. Sean Dixon is a preseason All-Conference first team choice, while center Johann Collins is a second team selection. The Blue Hose will be tested early, opening the season at the Disney Tip-Off Classic.

Followng the Blue Hose, the next three teams are separated by just two points in the poll.

Tusculum, which won the 2005 Food Lion SAC Tournament, is the pick to finish third with 35 points. The Pioneers return tournament MVP Donald Sexton and multi-talented talented forward Douglas Tshomba, both preseason second-team selections, but have a new coach in Jim Boone, who is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Division II.

Wingate received 34 points to finish fourth in the poll. The Bulldogs are led by 2005 SAC Freshman of the Year Sean Barnette, a preseason All-Conference first team selection.

Lenoir-Rhyne is next in the preseason poll with 33 points. Stephen Hinds and Josh Rudder were both named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

Carson-Newman is the pick to finish sixth. The Eagles under veteran coach Dale Clayton are looking to rebuild with a young squad.

Mars Hill comes in seventh in the preseason poll. The Lions do return leading scorer Walt Baxley, a preseason All-Conference first team selection.

Newberry rounds out the preseason poll. The Indians placed Michael Dease on the preseason All-Conference first team.

2005-06 Men’s Coaches Poll