CUA selected first in conference preseason poll

WASHINGTON – The CUA men’s basketball team has been selected as this season’s Landmark Conference favorites after the Cardinals received 77 points in the annual preseason poll, released on Wednesday.  CUA returns all five starters from last year’s team for what is the 100th season in program history.

Leading the way for the Cardinals this year are seniors R.J. Dixon and Jason Banzhaf, who were named All-Conference a season ago.  Dixon led CUA in assists with 93 and averaged 12.3 points per game in 2009-10, while Banzhaf was the Cardinals’ leading scorer (14.7) and rebounder (7.8).

CUA also returns seven players who saw time in at least 20 games a season ago and another four who appeared in at least ten games.  The Cardinals were 18-9 overall last season, including a 10-4 mark in the Landmark Conference.

Coming in second in the poll behind CUA was Merchant Marine with 74 points, while Scranton was third with 68 and Susquehanna came in fourth with 54 points.

Rounding out the poll were Goucher (44), Juniata (29), Moravian (26) and Drew (17).

The Cardinals will tip off the 2010-11 season with a trip to South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, November 6 when CUA takes on Big East member Notre Dame inside the Joyce Center.  Tip-off is slated for 7:00.