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Coming off a stellar 2015-16 season and run to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team appears high in a pair of preseason national rankings heading into the 2016-17 campaign. The Cardinals are listed as the no. 5 ranked team in the Division II Bulletin rankings and are ranked no. 8 in the preseason edition of the Sporting News Rankings.
In 2015-16, the team clinched the program's first GLIAC championship since the 1984-85 season and the program's first since joining the ranks of NCAA Division II. SVSU also claimed the Midwest Regional title and trip to the annual Elite Eight tournament in Frisco, Texas in just their first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
The Cardinals were tabbed as the favorites for the league's North Division while senior forward C.J. Turnage is named on both the Division II Bulletin and Sporting News lists as a preseason all-american honorable mention selection. He has been selected as a First Team All-GLIAC honoree the past two seasons, as well as earning the GLIAC Freshman of the Year honor in 2013-14.
2016-17 Men's Division II Bulletin GLIAC Outlook
Saginaw Valley (25-8) has three starters back from its Elite Eight team, including leading scorer C.J. Turnage (16.8 ppg). The Lake Superior Lakers (19-10) return four starters, led by first-team all-league guard Akaemji Williams (19.4 ppg, 7.2 apg, 3.3 rpg) and Jordan Dasuqi (9.9 ppg, 43.3%-3pt.). Expectations are high at Ferris State (24-10) after its run to the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs must replace three starters and four senior leaders but will count on seven returning letterwinners and three redshirt freshman to build the roster. In the South, Ashland (25-6) returns four starters from its first NCAA Tournament team in 25 years. Senior forward Wendell Davis (17.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is the go-to offensive option for the Eagles. Findlay (20-8) return three starters, led by junior Martyce Kimbrough (16.0 ppg).
2016-17 Men's Division II Bulletin Preason Preseason Rankings
| 1. |
Bellarmine |
23-7 |
| 2. |
West Liberty |
31-4 |
| 3. |
Lincoln Memorial |
34-3 |
| 4. |
So. Connecticut State |
22-6 |
| 5. |
Saginaw Valley State |
25-8 |
| 6. |
Chico State |
22-7 |
| 7. |
Wheeling Jesuit |
28-4 |
| 8. |
Northwest Missouri State |
27-6 |
| 9. |
UAH |
25-8 |
| 10. |
Kutztown |
23-7 |
| 11. |
Drury |
19-8 |
| 12. |
California Baptist |
28-7 |
| 13. |
St. Thomas Aquinas |
27-5 |
| 14. |
Tarleton State |
24-9 |
| 15. |
Lander |
22-10 |
| 16. |
Fort Lewis |
28-4 |
| 17. |
Indianapolis |
21-8 |
| 18. |
Alaska Anchorage |
21-11 |
| 19. |
Barry |
26-7 |
| 20. |
So. New Hampshire |
23-11 |
| 21. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
21-8 |
| 22. |
Minnesota State |
22-10 |
| 23. |
Virginia Union |
16-14 |
| 24. |
East Central |
22-8 |
| 25. |
Fairmont State |
25-5 |
2016-17 Men's Division II Sporting News Preseason Rankings
| 1. |
West Liberty |
31-4 |
| 2. |
St. Thomas Aquinas |
27-5 |
| 3. |
Alaska Anchorage |
21-11 |
| 4. |
UAFS |
23-9 |
| 5. |
Angelo State |
25-7 |
| 6. |
Queens (N.C.) |
25-7 |
| 7. |
Colorado School of Mines |
24-8 |
| 8. |
Saginaw Valley State |
25-8 |
| 9. |
West Texas A&M |
21-10 |
| 10. |
St. Cloud State |
13-16 |
