BELTON (Octobe 20, 2009)--The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team is picked to win the American Southwest Conference West Division championship in the league’s annual Preseason Coaches and Media Poll, released today.

The Cru picked up 10 first-place votes and totaled 169 points in balloting of West Division coaches, sports information directors and media representatives. McMurry University is picked to finish second with nine first-place votes and 166 total points. Concordia Texas picked up four first-place votes and 154 total points to take third place, Hardin-Simmons University is picked to finish fourth with 103 total points, Sul Ross State was picked fifth with 87 total points, Howard Payne University totaled 82 points for sixth place, Schreiner University picked up the other first-place vote and 53 total points for seventh place and Texas Lutheran University was the pick to finish eighth with 51 total points.

Concordia Texas senior forward Brad Walker was voted ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. Walker was a First Team ASC All-West Division selection last year after averaging 16.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Defending ASC champion U.T.-Dallas was picked to win the East again with 13 first-place votes and 133 total points, edging out Mississippi College’s seven first-place votes and 125 total points. LeTourneau University senior guard Dale Vanwright was named ASC East Division Preseason Player of the Year. Vanwright averaged 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Yellow Jackets last season.

The Cru went 19-8 overall and 16-5 in ASC play last season and UMHB advanced to the ASC Championship Tournament Semifinals before falling to U.T.-Dallas. The UMHB men will tip-off the 2009-10 season with a 7:00 PM home game against Trinity University on November 18th.