Rams Picked 1st In Division In SSAC Men's Basketball Poll

Norcross, Ga. – The 2011-12 Southern States Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll has Shorter University as the favorite to win the East Division and the league championship while the University of Mobile was picked to win the West Division, the conference announced Tuesday.

The Eagles finished the 2010-11 campaign with a record of 23-8 and 7-5 in the conference. Shorter returns four of its top players, including last season’s SSAC Newcomer of the Year Walter Hill, who averaged 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. The Eagles also return Jonathan Crawford, who averaged 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest. Shorter should be helped out by the addition of three junior transfers. Shorter received unanimous first place votes from the East Division coaches to win the division.

The Flames of Lee University were selected to finish second in both the East and the conference after posting a 23-9 overall record and 10-2 mark in the conference last season. The Flames advanced to the first round of the National Tournament by way of an at-large bid and return four solid players, including senior Johnny Godette, who averaged 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. The Flames will need to find a way to replace Second-Team All-American Jerel Blocker and three other graduating seniors.

The top vote getter in the West Division is the University of Mobile. The Rams finished the 2010-11 season with a record of 15-14 and 8-4 in the conference. Four key players are returning, including All-American guard Ji Kimbrough who averaged 14 points per game. Like Shorter, Mobile should be helped out by the addition of several key transfers. Mobile was selected to finish third overall in the conference behind Shorter and Lee.

This year's championship tournament will feature the top five teams from each division and will again be held in Rome, Georgia from February 29 through March 3.  The play-in and quarterfinal games will be held at the Darlington School and the semifinals and finals at the Forum. Floyd County is the presenting sponsor of this event.

For more information go to www.ssacsports.com.