Davidson Tabbed Preseason Favorite; Brooks Player of the Year, Cohen and Cochran All-Conference
10/25/2012 11:14:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In addition to Davidson being selected preseason favorites in both the Southern Conference men's basketball coaches and media polls, the Wildcats' De'Mon Brooks was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year, while senior teammates Jake Cohen and Nik Cochran were voted to the 10-member preseason all-conference team, as announced by the league office Thursday.
Coming off its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and sixth under head coach Bob McKillop, Davidson received the maximum 11 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 28 of a possible 30 in the media poll.
The Wildcats finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 25-8 overall record and 16-2 mark in conference play before capturing the SoCon crown with a 93-91 double-overtime win over Western Carolina. Davidson, which has won 25 or more contests in four of the last six seasons, returns all five starters and the top eight scorers and rebounders from last year's squad.
College of Charleston was picked to finish second in both polls ahead of Georgia Southern, Wofford, Furman and The Citadel. UNCG is the North Division's preseason favorite.
An Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection last year, Brooks was named the SoCon Player of the Year by the league's head coaches following the 2011-12 campaign and took home the SoCon Tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award. A year ago, Brooks led the team in scoring (15.7), rebounding (6.2), field-goal percentage (.530) and steals (33 / 1.0 spg). Along with scoring in double figures 27 times, the 6-7 forward hit the 20-plateau 10 times in 2011-12.
Voted SoCon Player of the Year by the media last season, Cohen currently ranks among Davidson's all-time leaders in points (1287 / 20th), blocks (141 / 2nd) and total rebounds (566 / 24th). The 6-10 forward finished 2011-12 averaging 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and a league-best 1.7 blocks, while ranking second behind Cochran in the conference with a .876 clip from the charity stripe.
One of two Wildcats to start every game last season, Cochran averaged 10.9 points while leading the team in assists per game (3.6), free-throw percentage (.886) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.373). The third-team all-conference selection was also named SoCon Player of the Week on Dec. 20 after leading Davidson to an 80-74 win over then-ranked No. 12 Kansas with a game-high 21 points.
Joining the Davidson trio on the preseason all-conference squad were College of Charleston's Andrew Lawrence and Trent Wiedeman, The Citadel's Mike Groselle, Elon's Jack Isenbarger, Georgia Southern's Eric Ferguson, UNCG's Trevis Simpson and Western Carolina's Trey Sumler.
The Wildcats will host Belmont Abbey in an exhibition game Nov. 1 before opening the season Nov. 9 against Emory inside the friendly confines of Belk Arena.
2012-13 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
North Division
Team (1st Place Votes) Total
1. UNCG (7) 59
2. Elon (3) 55
3. Western Carolina (2) 52
4. Appalachian State 36
5. Chattanooga 26
6. Samford 18
South Division
Team (1st Place Votes) Total
1. Davidson (11) 65
2. College of Charleston (1) 54
3. Georgia Southern 48
4. Wofford 32
5. Furman 27
6. The Citadel 15
2012-13 Preseason All-Conference Team
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Trent Wiedeman, College of Charleston
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
De'Mon Brooks, Davidson
Nik Cochran, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
2012-13 Preseason Player of the Year
De'Mon Brooks, Davidson
SoCon Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
North Division
Team (1st Place Votes) Total
1. UNCG (18) 164
2. Western Carolina (9) 144
3. Elon (3) 119
4. Appalachian State 72
Samford 72
6. Chattanooga 59
South Division
Team (1st Place Votes) Total
1. Davidson (28) 176
2. College of Charleston 134
3. Georgia Southern (2) 120
4. Wofford 101
5. Furman 62
6. The Citadel 37
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