Published: October 10, 2008 11:51 pm      

UCO ranked 7th nationally

BEAVERTON, Ore — Defending Lone Star Conference champion Central Oklahoma earned the No. 7 ranking in the 2008 Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released Friday.

The Bronchos of seventh-year head coach Terry Evans are coming off a record-setting 28-6 season, returning eight players who played significant minutes on that team. UCO won the LSC North Division title, the LSC Tournament crown and the South Central Regional championship in advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1992.

Findlay (Ohio) tops the preseason poll, followed by Florida Southern and Bentley (Mass.). Northern Kentucky was fourth, South Carolina-Aikin fifth and Minnesota State-Mankato sixth before UCO came in as the only LSC team in the ranking. Division II Bulletin, founded in 1991, is the leading publication covering Division II men's basketball.

"It's great that our program has reached the level where we get national respect, but at the same time we know a preseason ranking doesn't win any games," Evans said. "Our players are ready to get started and we're looking forward to the season."

The Bronchos, who were named preseason favorites to win the LSC North Division title last week, begin practice on Oct. 15.