October 28, 2009 - Wednesday afternoon, the 2009-10 GLIAC Men's Basketball preseason poll was released, and the Hillsdale College Chargers were well-represented.

A panel of media picked the Chargers to finish second i the GLIAC South Division in the preseason poll, released by the conference office. Second place is exactly where Hillsdale finshed in the South Division in the 2008-09 season.

In addition to the preseason poll, the sme media panel picked preseason All-GLIAC teams for the North and South Divisions. Hillsdale senior Luke Laser was picked for the preseason All-GLIAC South Division team.

Defending Division II national champion Findlay was picked to win the South Division once again, while Grand Valley State was pegged by the media to win the North Division.

It's no crime to finish second to an undefeated national champion, as Hillsdale did last season, but head coach John Tharp and the players will have a new look this year, after graduating five experienced players last year.

Laser and sophomore Brad Guinane return with the most career starts to their credit on this year's team. Laser is in his third year in the Charger program, second on the active roster after transferring from Saginaw Valley State following the 2006-07 season. Laser and guard Tyler Brand are the only seniors on this year's team.

Guinane leads a big group of underclassmen on the team who will have plenty of opportunities to earn playing time as the season gets going. He started at forward throughout the first half of last season, before suffering a setback because of an illness. But Guinane adds size, shooting touch and skill to the starting unit.

Juniors Nick Meinert and Joe Caruso lead the rest of the team in game-playing experience. Sophomore Tyler Gerber is likely to step in at point guard for the Chargers, and is quick, tough and calm in high-pressure situations.

Sophomore swingman Brent Eaton joins the Hillsdale program after transferring from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Along with fellow sophomores Matt Clarke and John Bagge, and freshmen Nick Washburn, Tony Nelson, Anthony Manno and Tim Dezelski could all figure into the team's playing time rotation.

The Chargers face a challenging non-conference schedule, taking on top-five team Bellarmine and nationally ranked West Virginia State in its pre-conference schedule.

Please click on the link below to view the entire 2009-10 GLIAC Men's Basketball preseason release.


2009-10 GLIAC Men's Basketball preseason release