WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – For the second consecutive season, the Northwood University (Fla.) men's basketball team sits atop the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top-25 Poll, announced on Tuesday by the NAIA national office.
The Seahawks earned the number-one ranking by the slimmest of margins, one point (332-331), over defending national champion Oregon Tech, who defeated Northwood in the championship game. Oregon Tech received more first-place votes than Northwood, 6-5, but Northwood received more second-place votes, to garner the one-point edge. The Seahawks have been in the No. 1 or 2 spot in the last 20 NAIA Coaches' Polls, dating back to the 2010-11 season.
Three Sun Conference teams were picked in the top-25: Northwood, Warner at #10, and Embry-Riddle at #16.
The Northwood University Seahawks look to capitalize on their veteran leadership and young talent in the 2012-13 campaign after their 2011-12 season came to an end at the hands of Oregon Tech in the NAIA Division II Championship game. The Seahawks fell to the Hustlin' Owls, 63-46, in the lowest-scoring title game to date. Northwood finished with a 34-4 record, going 14-2 in the Sun Conference, winning the Sun Conference regular season title and tournament championship. The Seahawks also had the longest win streak in the NAIA with 15 straight wins.
The Seahawks will be without major contributors from last year's title run in 2012-13. Senior Jon Dunn has graduated after a stellar two-year run with Northwood. Dunn took home top awards in the NAIA, as well as the Sun Conference, while averaging 21.5 points/game in 32 games. Dunn was named the 2011-12 NAIA Player of the Year, 2011-12 Sun Conference Player of the Year, was a first-team All-American, and first-team All-Conference player, earning Sun Conference Player of the Week four times. He amassed over 1,000 points in during his Seahawk career. Senior Noah Keeton also graduated after recording over 1,000 points in his Seahawk career.
Northwood will be returning eight players, creating a nucleus of veterans to help guide the new talent influx for the Seahawks. Senior guard Tyrone Davis is running the point after becoming Northwood's All-Time leader in assists and steals, averaging nearly eight assists per game, and earning the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year award, and named Third-Team All-America and Second-Team All-Conference selection. Senior forward Masse Doumbe took home the Sun Conference Newcomer of the Year award, averaging 17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds a game, earning a spot as a All-American Honorable Mention. Senior forward Patrick Horstmann was an Academic All-Conference and Second-Team All-Conference selection, while earning his 1,000 point as a Seahawks during the 2011-12 season. Senior forward Theirno Agne notched 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game last year, as well as earning the Sun Conference Champion of Character and NAIA Champion of Character awards.
The Seahawks are bringing in six new players to build around their veteran foundation. Junior guard Jerrod Owens (Gainesville, Fla.) was a member of the Seahawks JV team, and has been elevated to the varsity squad. Senior forward Dan O'Keefe (Lexington, Mass.) transferred from Bentley College, and senior guard Ra'shad James (White Plains, N.Y.) comes to Northwood from Iona College. Three freshman guards, Mike Newton (Bedford Heights, Ohio), Austin Anderson (Riverton, Utah), and Kevin McDuffie (Clarksville, Md.), round out the new talent joining Northwood for the 2012-13 season.
Head Coach Rollie Massimino enters his seventh season with the Seahawks. With a 171-37 record over his first six seasons, Massimino was garnered with the 2012 Rawlings Basketball Coach of the Year award and the 2012 Hillyard Golden Anniversary award, as well as being inducted into the Palm Beach Sports Hall of Fame.
NORTHWOOD BASKETBALL
