SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In voting that mirrored the predicted champions selected by the Southern Conference head coaches last week, the league's media tabbed College of Charleston and Western Carolina as the favorites to capture the conference's divisional men's basketball titles in 2009-10. 

Western Carolina earned 16 first-place votes and earned a total of 129 points.  The Catamounts were followed by Appalachian State (109) which received five first-place votes.  Samford (88) was tabbed third, narrowly edging Chattanooga (84), which picked up two first-place votes.  Elon (51) was slotted fifth while UNC Greensboro (43) earned the final first-place vote in the division.

College of Charleston picked up 21 of 24 first-place votes and was the clear choice to win the South Division with 140 points.  Davidson, last year's division champ, came in second with 107 points.  Wofford was tabbed third with 87 points, while The Citadel was close behind with 84 points, including two first-place votes.  Georgia Southern (49) was picked fifth with Furman (35) slotted in sixth place.  

The regular season opens Friday, November 13 when nine teams hit the court.  Eleven of the 12 SoCon teams will begin play over that weekend.  The Southern Conference Tournament will be held March 5-8, 2010 in Charlotte, N.C.

SoCon Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish - Media Poll

North Division
Team (1^st Place Votes)       Total
1. Western Carolina (16)       129
2. Appalachian State (5)       109
3. Samford                          88
4. Chattanooga (2)               84
5. Elon                                51
6. UNC Greensboro (1)         43

Team (1^st Place Votes)       Total
South Division
1. Coll. of Charleston (21)     140      
2. Davidson (1)                    107
3. Wofford                           87
4. The Citadel (2)                 84
5. Georgia Southern             49
6. Furman                           35