ST. GEORGE – The Pacific West Conference held its Men’s Basketball Media Day this afternoon and released the 2009 Preseason All-Pac West squad and the predicted order of finish as determined by the coaches. Dixie State was chosen to finish third in the nine-team conference while senior forward Andy Palmer was the school’s lone selection to the all-conference preseason squad.
The Red Storm was selected to finish third in the conference behind BYU-Hawaii – the preseason D-II top-ranked team - and Grand Canyon University under first year coach Russ Pennell.
Dixie State finished last season with a 16-11 overall record and finished in second place behind Pac West champion BYU-Hawaii. The team just missed earning an at-large bid into the Division-II basketball tournament in their first year of NCAA eligibility.
Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) is DSC’s only representative on the preseason all-conference team. The senior from St. George returns for his second season under head coach Jon Judkins. Last season, Palmer led the team in field goal percentage (54.9%) was second in points (8.8) and rebounds (4.2) per game. He anchors a core of five returning players (guard Adam Ross; forwards Tom Whitehead and Kevin Lindquist; center Nick Howard) who saw significant court time last season.
Dixie State begins the 2009-2010 Season with three exhibition contests beginning November 6-7 in Salt Lake City against Westminster College and Rocky Mountain College (MT). The final exhibition is Nov. 11 at home in the Burns Arena against Whittier (CA) College at 7:30pm.
The regular season tips November 21 at home against CSU-Dominguez Hills at 7:30pm. The team will participate in two tournaments - travelling to Idaho for the Northwest Nazarene Tournament (Nov. 27-28) and then hosting the Dixie State Classic (Dec. 4-5).
Pacific West Conference play begins January 7 against BYU-Hawaii inside the Burns Arena.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. BYU-Hawaii (9 first place votes)
2. Grand Canyon
3. Dixie State
4. Chaminade
5. Hawaii Hilo
6. Hawaii Pacific
7. NDNU
8. Dominican (CA)
9. Academy of Art
Preseason All-PacWest
Lucas Alves (BYU-Hawaii) - Preseason Player of the Year
J.R. Buensuceso (BYU-Hawaii)
Cartier Carter (Chaminade)
Andy Palmer (Dixie State)
Bryan Ngo (UHH)
Jeff Ingram (HPU)
Bennie Murray (NDNU)
