SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Appalachian State and Wofford are the favorites to capture the Southern Conference’s divisional men’s basketball titles in 2010-11, according to a vote by the leagues head coaches.  College of Charleston senior guard Andrew Goudelock was also named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year as part of the preseason all-conference team.
    The Mountaineers earned nine first-place votes from the league coaches and finished the balloting with 64 points.  Western Carolina earned the remaining three first-place votes in the North Division and finished with 52 points.  Chattanooga (49) was chosen third while UNCG (31) was slotted fourth.  Elon (29) and Samford (21) rounded out the North Division.
    Last season’s South Division and SoCon Tournament Champions, the Wofford Terriers, were picked to repeat as division champions by the league coaches.  Wofford turned in its best season since moving to Division I with a 26-9 record a season ago. 
    College of Charleston secured the remaining two first-place votes in the division and finished second with 54 points.  Davidson earned 49 points to claim third place while The Citadel (29) was slotted fourth.  Furman (26) and Georgia Southern (23) placed fifth and sixth, respectively. 
    In addition to the preseason polls, the coaches selected an all-conference team.  Goudelock, who ranked second in the league in scoring last season (19.4 ppg), was joined on the preseason team by teammate Jeremy Simmons.  Wofford and Davidson also had two players garner preseason honors.  Davidson was represented by sophomores Jake Cohen and JP Kuhlman, while Wofford had the league’s 2010 Player of the Year, Noah Dahlman, and Jamar Diggs named to the preseason all-conference team.  Other members of the preseason team included Amu Saaka (Furman), Donald Sims (Appalachian State), Drew Spradlin (Elon) and Cameron Wells (The Citadel).
    The regular season opens Wednesday, November 10 when College of Charleston visits Maryland.  Elon visits Furman on December 1st in the first league contest.  The Southern Conference Tournament will be held March 4-7, 2011 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

North Division
Team (1st)          Total
1. Appalachian St. (9)     64
2. Western Carolina (3)   52
3. Chattanooga              49
4. UNCG              31
5. Elon                  29
6. Samford              21
South Division
Team (1st)             Total
1. Wofford (10)              65       
2. Charleston (2)              54
3. Davidson              49
4. The Citadel              29
5. Furman              26
6. Georgia Southern       23