Gardner-Webb Picked 10th In Big South Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
October 11, 2011 | Men's Basketball
The Runnin' Bulldogs (11-21 record in 2010-2011) garnered 78 total votes from the Big South's head coaches and selected media members, 38 votes ahead of Radford in the poll. Defending tournament champion UNC Asheville was picked first with 18 of 25 first-place votes and regular season champion Coastal Carolina was second in the poll with five first-place votes.
Gardner-Webb returns starters Laron Buggs (6-1, 185, Sr.), Stefon Johnson (6-6, 215, Jr.), Mike Byron (6-11, 250, So.) and Santoine Butler (6-8, 210, So.) for the 2011-2012 season, and welcomes explosive offensive firepower in transfer guards Jason Dawson (5-10, 175, Jr.) and Tashan Newsome (6-3, 200, Jr.) - who each sat out last season after transferring from Wofford and Mississippi Valley State, respectively.
Dawson averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game during the team's August tour of the the Bahamas, turning the basketball over just twice in those two games.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the 2011-2012 season on Friday, November 11, at 8:00 pm at Clemson.
2011-2012 Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
1. UNC Asheville
2. Coastal Carolina
3. VMI
4. Liberty
5. Winthrop
6. High Point
7. Presbyterian
8. Charleston Southern
9. Campbell
10. Gardner-Webb
11. Radford
2011-2012 Preseason All-Big South Conference Team
Matt Dickey, UNC Asheville (Player of the Year)
Jesse Sanders, Liberty
Al'Lonzo Coleman, Presbyterian
Nick Barbour, High Point
J.P. Primm, UNC Asheville
