AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - Both of the Capital basketball teams were picked to finish near the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference standings this winter. The Crusader women were selected to defend their OAC Regular Season Title from one year ago while the men were selected to finish third in the OAC Preseason Coaches Poll which was released on Wednesday.
The CU women garnered seven of the 10 first place votes and two other second place votes for 79 points. Capital was followed in the poll by second-place Wilmington (2 first-place votes, 69 points) and third-place Baldwin-Wallace (65 points). Fourth-place Mount Union earned the other first place vote and picked up 61 points.
Capital returns 12 letterwinners and three starters from last season's OAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship squad. The Crusaders, who are also ranked No. 22 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 Poll, will be led by All-OAC First Team and All-Region pick Kristen Richardson (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda HS) in the backcourt and All-OAC Second Teamer Caitlin Elsass (Batavia, Ohio/Clermont HS) in the post.
Despite losing 10 letterwinners off last year's NCAA Regional Seminfinalist roster, the Capital men were picked to finish in a tie for in the Ohio Athletic Conference race with Ohio Northern. Preseason nationally-ranked John Carroll earned a maximum nine first-place votes to be selected first in the Poll. Wilmington followed with 62 points while CU and ONU tied for third at 58 points. The Crusaders did earn the final first place vote in the poll.
CU will look toward a trio of experienced players to guide a large contingent of talented, but young Crusaders in 2009-2010. Junior point guard D.J. Frazier (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow HS) and senior wing Ben McGrath (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton HS) hope to compliment a solid post presence in junior Adam Johns (St. Marys, Ohio/St. Marys Memorial HS) for the Purple and White this winter.
Crusader fans can follow both Capital teams throughout the season with Live Stats, Video and Audio at http://www.capitalcrusaders.net/.