The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team was ranked 12th in the Basketball Times Division II Preseason Top 20, while sophomore forward
Dennis Coutee (Jeffersonville, Indiana) was named to preseason All-American team.
This is the second national ranking for the Screaming Eagles in the preseason. The squad was ranked eighth in the NABC/Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.
In addition to USI, the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Kentucky Wesleyan College was ranked third, while regional teams Michigan Tech University and Hillsdale College are ranked fourth and 18th in the preseason, respectively. Washburn University, one of USI's opponents in the High Desert Classic, is ranked sixth.
The preseason All-American award is the second for Coutee. Coutee was named honorable mention All-American by the Division II Bulletin back in October. The sophomore forward enters the season with USI after averaging 19.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season for Riverside Community College in California. He had 16 points, three rebounds, and five assists in the 116-82 exhibition victory over the Tornatta Stars.
The Eagles will conclude their exhibition schedule Saturday, November 16, against the Akron Wingfoots. Game time at the Physical Activities Center is 7:30 p.m.
USI starts its regular season schedule Saturday, November 23, when Wilberforce University visits the PAC for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Eagles begin GLVC action Saturday, November 30, at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Basketball Times Division II Preseason Top 20
1. Metropolitan State
2. South Dakota State
3. Kentucky Wesleyan
4. Michigan Tech
5. Salem International
6. Washburn
7. Assumption
8. California (PA)
9. Tarleton State
10. Humbolt State
11. Shaw
12. Southern Indiana
13. Carson-Newman
14. Bowie State
15. Northwest Missouri
16. Massachussetts-Lowell
17. Incarnate Word
18. Hillsdale
19. Nebraska-Kearney
20. North Dakota
Division II Preseason Top 25 All-Americans
Adam Anderson Ferris State
Brian Atkins, Concord
Jerome Beasley, North Dakota
Bobby Burries, Cal State San Bernardino
Dominic Callori, UC Davis
Matt Cameron, Michigan Tech
Dennis Coutee, Southern Indiana
Huggy Dye, Kentucky Wesleyan
Angel Figueroa, Dowling
Craig Griffin, Merrimack
Djuan Hankins, Wingate
Austin Hanson, South Dakota State
Fred Hooks, Humboldt State
Ronald Johnson, Cal State Los Angeles
Danny Jones, Tarleton State
Matt Jones, South Dakota State
Luke Kendall, Metropolitan State
Wykeen Kelly Salem International
Matt Mlynarchek, Hillsdale
Patrick Mutombo, Metropolitan State
Marion Parmer, Kentucky Wesleyan
J.R. Raymond, Shaw
Ramzee Stanton, West Chester
Nick Svehla, Nebraska-Kearney
Tim Washington, Bowie State
