Oilers Picked to Win South Division
The University of Findlay men's basketball team was picked to finish first in the South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as the league office revealed their 2011-12 preseason poll on Wednesday, November 2.
The Oilers received 20-of-25 first place votes and a league best 170 points in the poll. The Oilers were followed by Hillsdale College with 140 points and three first-place votes, Wayne State with 134 points and two first-place votes, Ashland with 96, Tiffin University with 72, Ohio Dominican University with 53, and Lake Erie College with 35.
In the North Division, Michigan Tech was picked to finish first with 156 points and 12 first-place votes, Grand Valley State was picked second with 151 points and 11 first-place votes, Ferris State was third with 125 points and two first-place votes, Lake Superior State was fourth with 91 points, Saginaw Valley State was tabbed fifth with 86 points, Northwood was chosen sixth with 50 points and Northern Michigan was seventh with 40 points.
South Division
1. Findlay (23) – 170
2. Hillsdale (3) – 140
3. Wayne State (2) – 134
4. Ashland – 96
5. Tiffin - 72
6. Ohio Dominican - 53
7. Lake Erie - 35
North Division
1. Michigan Tech (12) – 156
2. Grand Valley State (11) – 151
3. Ferris State (2) – 125
4. Lake Superior State – 91
5. Saginaw Valley State – 86
6. Northwood – 50
7. Northern Michigan – 40
In addition, the conference office unveiled their preseason all-league teams and senior guard Kyle Caiola was tabbed as a first team pick.
Caiola, who was a first team all-league pick last year, averaged 14.0 points per game last season.
Junior guard Aaron Robinson, an all-defensive team selection last year, was tabbed a second team all-league pick in the preseason as well.
South Division 1st Team
Kyle Caiola, Findlay
Tyler Gerber, Hillsdale
Brad Guinane, Hillsdale
Mike Hollingsworth, Wayne State
Evan Yates, Ashland
South Division 2nd Team
Karl Finley, Tiffin
Aaron Gibbs, Ohio Dominican
Joe Graessle, Tiffin
Aaron Robinson, Findlay
Ike Udanoh, Wayne State
North Division 1st Team
Jared Benson, Northern Michigan
Greg Foster, Saginaw Valley State
Ali Haidar, Michigan Tech
Kyle Hunt, Lake Superior State
James Thomas, Grand Valley State
North Division 2nd Team
Mike Hojnacki, Michigan Tech
Breland Hogan, Grand Valley State
Cameron Joyce, Northwood
Jerrell Sanders, Ferris State
Andrew VanDierenDonck, Northwood
The Oilers have won nine GLIAC South titles in the past ten years and are currently riding a 70-game home winning streak.