ABILENE, Texas – The pressure is on. McMurry University's men's basketball team was voted to finish first in the American Southwest Conference West Division in men's basketball for the 2011-12 season while senior post
Steven Jones was named the west division's preseason player of the year.
The War Hawks finished last season at 21-8 overall and were the ASC West champs and the ASC Tournament champions. McMurry eventually lost in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament to ASC foe Mary Hardin-Baylor to end the season.
After losing the ASC West Division Defensive Player of the Year in
Steven Johunkin and second-team all-west division players
Derick Sumpter and
Teddy Chambers, McMurry's head coach Matt Garnett departed following the season to take the head coaching job at Wayland Baptist.
However, will the loss of those key players and coach, McMurry landed on its feet hiring J.D. Isler as head coach. He coached at Clovis High School in New Mexico the previous 10 seasons where he won 209 games, and has a 533-160 record overall between the high school and college ranks.
In addition he returns Jones who was not only the ASC West Division Player of the Year but a NABC First-Team all-South Region selection. He averaged 14 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.2 assists on the season from the post position.
Jaden Isler, the son of the new head coach, returns for his second year with the team and final season of college eligibility at point guard. The younger Isler averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists (led ASC), and shot 83 percent from the free-throw line.
Bryant Taylor,
Cameron Quinton and
Anthony Johnson are among the returners back this season after providing significant playing time last season. Eight new faces are on the roster including
Bryce Hill who played for Isler at Clovis High School. Hill, a senior transfer from Texas Wesleyan, is a senior and averaged 10.2 points per game at Texas Wesleyan last season.
McMurry received 13 of the 24 first-place votes in the poll to get 174 points narrowly edging Mary Hardin-Baylor's 173 points. The Crusaders, who ousted McMurry in the national playoffs last season, had nine first-place votes. Hardin-Simmons received the remaining two first-place votes and were picked third. Concordia-Texas, Texas Lutheran, Sul Ross State, Schreiner and Howard Payne were picked fourth through eighth respectively.
On the east division side, UT-Dallas took 19 of the 21 first-place votes and were the favorites.
2011-12 ASC PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2010-11 Record
1. McMurry (13) 174 21-8, 16-5 ASC (1st)
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor (9) 173 23-8, 15-6 ASC (T2nd)
3. Hardin-Simmons (2) 142 17-10, 15-6 ASC (T2nd)
4. Concordia Texas 130 15-11, 13-8ASC (4th)
5. Texas Lutheran 85 11-13, 10-11 ASC (5th)
6. Sul Ross State 69 9-16, 8-13 ASC (T6th)
7. Schreiner 50 10-15, 8-13 ASC (T6th)
8. Howard Payne 38 5-20, 4-17 ASC (8th)
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2009-10 Record
1. Texas-Dallas (19) 140 21-7, 16-4 ASC (1st)
2. Mississippi College (1) 114 13-13, 10-10 ASC (T4th)
3. East Texas Baptist 97 17-9, 13-7 ASC (2nd)
4. Texas-Tyler 92 12-14, 11-9 ASC (3rd)
5. Louisiana College 71 11-13, 10-10 ASC (T4th)
6. Ozarks (1) 46 6-19, 3-17 ASC (6th)
7. LeTourneau 29 3-22, 2-18 ASC (7th)
*Centenary 1-29, 1-17 Summit League (10th)
*Ineligible for the conference and division title as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships.
2011-12 ASC PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
WEST DIVISION
EAST DIVISION
Chris Barnes, F, Sr., Texas-Dallas
