NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The TranSouth Athletic Conference men's basketball coaches have tipped Union University as the preseason favorite to capture the 2008-2009 championship.

Cumberland University scored 66 points and a first place vote from the conference coaches. The Bulldogs, under the leadership of Lonnie Thompson, are second in the poll just two points ahead of third place Martin Methodist College. The RedHawks gathered 64 votes and the other first place vote. Cumberland and Martin were two of four TranSouth teams that advanced to the NAIA Tournament last season.

Trevecca Nazarene University, who advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons last year, assembled 55 votes to finish fourth in the poll. Freed-Hardeman University is fifth just two points (53) behind the Trojans. The Lions are followed by Mid-Continent University, Lyon College, Bethel College, and Blue Mountain College in the coaches' poll.

The conference saw two members depart this season and now nine teams fill the standings. For the first time in five years the regular season title didn't come down to the final weekend of play. The toughness of the conference was proven as six teams were within four games of second place.

Below the full preseason coaches poll you'll find an appetizer for the season in the form of a short season foretaste of each conference member.

Every conference game will again be a challenge and the conference post season tournament will test the grit of teams from top to bottom. The teams that advance from the TranSouth conference to the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City will have the doggedness to compete for the ultimate prize.

TranSouth Men's Basketball

Votes were given with a value of 9=1 point and 1=9 points.

BETHEL COLLEGE WILDCATS

McKENZIE, Tenn. - The Wildcats return three starters and eight lettermen from last year's team. Bethel returns their leading scorer (15.6) and rebounder (7.2) from last season Antoine Lesesene. Five of the eight returnees are seniors, so there's plenty of experience to build around.

Heading the Wildcats returning cast will be five of the six seniors on the roster. They are 6'8" forward Akinfolarin Sessi (3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg), 6'6" center Antoine Lesesene (15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .539 FG %), 6'6" forward Brian French (8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, .429 3pt %), 6'1" guard Leroy Bell (7.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.03 assists), and 5'9" guard Brennen Ward (2.4 ppg, 2.55 assists). The sixth senior, 6'5" Forward Dontaye Hinton, comes to Bethel from Crichton College. He is very aggressive on the glass and has the ability to score.

Other returnees include junior 6'9" center Otakar Schober (DNP Knee Injury), 6'2" guard Jay Cockrell (2.4ppg), and 5'9" guard Artomie Dixon (RS). Sophomore returnees are 6'1" guard Justin Cockrell (2.2 ppg) and 6'6" forward Daniel Doyle (RS).

Along with Dontaye Hinton, Bethel brought in six more newcomers. At the guard position is 6'1" Chris Walker (Wynne H.S), 6'5" Dane MacDonald (Indian River C.C). At forward and center is 6'3" Eddie King (Chipola C.C), 6'5" Phillip White (Kishwaikee C.C), 6'6" Gavin McDaniel (Wynne H.S), and 6'9" Cameron Flechsenhaar (Mira Costa C.C).

Coach Jeff Britt states that, "It will be exciting for us this season to see how the new guys and returning guys come together on the floor. This team has the potential to be special as long as they stay focused and play hard every night."

BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TOPPERS

BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. - History was made last season at Blue Mountain as the 136-year old institution fielded its first ever men's basketball team. Ten returning players gained valuable experience last year. Combined with skills of a talented group of newcomers will generate a great deal of excitement on the hill.

The returning players are led by senior point guard Kenny Whitis who had a team high 15.1 ppg. Another senior, hard-nosed 3-point specialist, Jon Estes popped in 15.0 ppg last year. Swing man Brad Pressley, a versatile performer, led the team with a 79% free throw average. The tallest Toppers is 6'9" senior post Tyler Markham. His post work is complemented by a nice outside shooting touch. Josh Southward, a 6'5" senior post, led the team in rebounding. Sophomore J.C. Hayles is a threat inside and out.

Senior point guard Josh Whitson provided a scoring threat despite injuries with quickness and range. Seniors Jay Ewing and Shayne Adams and sophomore Ryan Howell all return with more experience.

Five freshmen include: Chuck Barnes, a smooth 5'10" point guard (Winfield, Ala.), is a penetrating scorer who made second team All-State. He a school record 45 point game fueled by 11 three-pointers. Ethan Ellis, a 6'5" post (Gibson County HS, Tenn.), was an all-league performer. Cole Townsend, a 6'1" guard (Cactus HS, Glendale, Ariz.) brings a nice shooting touch. Kyle Heard, a 6'2" swing man (Ingomar HS), is a relentless worker. Andrew Harbor, a 6'4" inside player (Alcorn Central HS, Corinth, Miss.), averaged 10 ppg.

CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS

LEBANON, Tenn. - Cumberland University enters the 2008-09 season looking to build upon last year's 21-13 campaign and national tournament appearance. Seventh-year head coach Lonnie Thompson returns a solid nucleus from last season led by First Team All-Conference performer and leading scorer Thomas Douglas (15.9 ppg).

Douglas, a senior, heads into the season with 909 total points scored in the previous two years of competition. This year's team expects to have more scoring power with the additions of redshirts Brandon Springer (Columbia State CC) and Jamar Finley (Panola JC), as well as the signings of three NCAA Division I transfers (Kenneth Simms - University of Missouri Kansas City, Quentin Turner - Loyola Marymount, and Mario Stowers - Tennessee Tech).

The Bulldogs are also returning a handful of players that contributed to last season's success, including senior Rontreal Braxton, who averaged 10.8 points per game as a starter last year. Senior Rodney James and sophomore Johnny Kuchar will also play key roles as reserves for the Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs roster includes 11 upperclassmen out of 13 players. The squad looks to become the first in Cumberland history to compete in back-to-back national tournaments.

FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS

HENDERSON, Tenn. - With all five starters back and only two lettermen gone from last year's 20-11 team, the Freed-Hardeman University Lion basketball team enters the 2008-09 season with high hopes.

Coach Jason Shelton's motion offense revolves around 6-foot-8 junior Zack Frey. Frey, a first-team all-conference selection, averaged 17 points per game while shooting 58.4 percent from the field in 2008. He'll receive help on the offensive end from senior swingman Kristoffer Smith, senior guard Shun Trevillian, and junior guard Cedric Austin.

Smith, who averaged 12.7 points per game last season, can score from the mid-range and can finish at the rim. Trevillian missed the second half of the season last year, but has worked hard in the off-season and is hard to stop on dribble penetration. Austin came into his own last season, playing very well in conference play. He led the team in steals (58) and three-point percentage (47.8 percent) while averaging 7.3 points per game.

Additional outside shooting comes from sophomore Jesse Moulton, who was voted to the TranSouth All-Freshman team last season, and Logan Greer, whose 6-foot-9 frame can create mismatches with his ability to step behind the arc.

The Lions open the season with a pair of exhibition games against NCAA Division I opponents. They'll also play a home-and-home with Lee (Tenn.) University and face McKendree (Ill.) College in a Thanksgiving tournament in Jackson.

LYON COLLEGE SCOTS

BATESVILLE, Ark. - A wealth of experience is long gone for the Scots. It packed up at last year's graduation and left for the real world with four senior starters. This year's crop of Scots are going to have to get by on youthful exuberance and the strength of only one returning starter.

Sixty-eight percent of the scoring and sixty percent of the rebounding left with Jonathan Donaldson, Levi Taylor, Matt Owens and Trey Salley.

Coach Kevin Jenkins hopes five freshman recruits can infuse the Scots' with a winning culture early. Three of those recruits -guard Michael Throesch (Pocahontas, Ark.), guard John Ukadike (Little Rock, Ark.) and forward Jacob Worlow (Mountain Home, Ark.) -could factor into the starting lineup rather quickly.

Throesch, a 5'11" scorer, is a tough, hard-nosed player who can play either guard slot. Ukadike, a 6'4" swingman, is physically-strong with inside and outside skills and Worlow, a 6'6" forward, adds some much needed post-skills to the frontline.

The Scots do have the benefit of senior forward Preston Butts (Memphis, Tenn.) and junior forward Alex Kelly. Butts averaged 8.8 points and 4 rebounds per game and Kelly put up four points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Redshirt junior guard Jeremy Brown (Lonoke, Ark.) averaged 2.2 points per game off the bench. A host of other Lyon players who saw limited action -James Jackson, Chad Glover, Craig Amos and Quinn Cooper -are expected to contribute either in a starting role or off the bench.

MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE REDHAWKS

PULASKI, Tenn. - In his first campaign with the RedHawk's, Head Coach Andy Sharpe led Martin Methodist to a second place regular season finish in the tough TranSouth Conference, an "at-large" birth to the National Tournament, and a final ranking of No. 11 in the NAIA National Poll. But the task ahead will be daunting indeed this season.

The RedHawk's lost 65% of their offense and 57% of their rebounding and Sharpe will be counting heavily on four seniors this season: shooting guard Jacob McKissack (10 ppg), point guard Mark Mangum (6.2 ppg/4.0 apg), center Marvin Listenbee (4.4ppg/3.5 rpg), and power forward Julius Virgo (8.7ppg/4.3 rpg).

The newcomers are: shooting guard Aubre Bodison (St. John's River CC) who averaged 18 ppg, red-shirt Nello Giordano from Australia who should provide immediate help in the post, and point guard Freeman Pinkney (Walter's St. CC) who will provide production offensively and defensively.

Coach Sharpe commented on the RedHawk season outlook, "I believe our talent is better and deeper than last year's, but that doesn't amount to a hill of beans if there isn't chemistry, heart, or passion. We won't change much of what we did scheme wise from last year. We addressed our needs and it was painfully obvious that we needed more of a post presence, especially at the NAIA Tournament. We signed a lot, but we have a long way to go in gelling together and establishing and embracing our roles."

MID-CONTINENT UNIVERSITY COUGARS

MAYFIELD, Ky. - Head Coach Winston Bennett has a wealth of junior college transfers and three returning starters to build upon in his second season. He looks to be about the business of molding the talented group into a mature, cohesive unit that buys into his system of unselfishness and teamwork. "Better talent, that chemistry and unselfish teamwork, blocking out and rebounding, and physical play, are my keys for the season," says Bennett.

At the point guard position is a trio of transfers; quick and active Donovan Willis (6'2", Essex County College, N.J.), true floor general Marvin Bolden (5'11", Frederick CC, Md.), and Aaron Pearson (6'0", Cabrillo JC, Calif.), an All-State first team selection.

The shooting guards are from Palm Beach CC, smart, pure shooting Joshua Woodley (6'1") and David Gratton (6'2"), and returning starter TiRon Peoples (6'3"), who averaged 11.9 ppg with 46 three-pointers.

At small forward is a pair from Riverside CC (Calif.), slashing Keiran Nunley (6'5") and knock-down shooting Tristan Edwards (6'3"), and havoc-wreaking defender and long-armed Jerry Follot (6'7") from Marshalltown CC (Iowa).

At power forward is returning starter Sinisa Korkut (6'6"), who averaged 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds, and a pair of transfers, versatile Santez Johnson (6'7"), from Itawamba CC (Miss.), and aggressive, gritty Justice Nall (6'6"), from Grayson County College (Texas).

At post is returning starter Ansil Williams (6'5"), who averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds, and transfers Kenny Thomas (6'8", 270), from Essex County, and Kazim Ahounou (6'6"), from Hillsborough CC (Fla.).

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TROJANS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Trojans return seven players from last years' team that reached the NAIA Sweet Sixteen. Leadership will rest on the shoulders of seniors Brian Oduor, Christopher Harris, and De'Jon Everson and junior Matthew Elliott. They know what it takes to complete at the national level having reached two Sweet Sixteen's and compiling a 68-31 overall record and a 41-19 TranSouth record.

Solid perimeter play is the norm as well as unselfish play and excellent passing. Experience should help continue that formula which allowed last year's group to lead the nation in FG% (. 538) and finish second in 3-point% (. 430). With outstanding perimeter play, Oduor led the NAIA in FG% (. 658).

The senior class: Everson (Albany, Ga.) continues to improve and defends the opponents' best perimeter player. Harris (Nashville Overton) returns as a three-year starter, ready to take on a new role of leadership. Oduor (Kenya) has matured and improved again for his senior season.

The junior class: Dennis Miruka (Kenya) continues to mature and will definitely play a significant role rebounding and defending the lane. Matthew Elliott (Spring Hill, Tenn.) will need to pick up some of the scoring load.

The sophomore class: Jeremy Dixon (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) will be needed to help in the paint, but his strengths stand out when the ball is in his hands. Tyler Watkins (Dalton, Ga.) proved to be an offensive weapon last season. Tulio Yamasita (Brazil) already has a good feel for what the Trojans are trying to do.

The freshman class: Matthew Smigielski (LaVergne Tenn.) red-shirted at NCAA-Division 1 High Point. Michael France, (Shelbyville Tenn. HS) will contribute. Nashvillians Camden Jordon, Don Woods and Carlos Holder look to contribute this season.

UNION UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Bulldogs are looking forward to a strong year with three returning starters, including All-American seniors Matt Neaville and Brain Lake and sophomore Roland Banhoro. Add in juniors Keith Tolliver and Tacuma Alexander who have valuable experience.

Seniors include guard Neaville, who led the NAIA in scoring (24.3) and made three-pointers (5) per game. He set a school record for 3-pointers (11) in a game and 3-pointers in a season (153). Lake led the TranSouth with 14 doubles-doubles.

The junior class sports three returners and two junior college transfers. Alexander and Tolliver, both guards, add valuable experience. Alan North returns after sitting out last season with an injury. Greg Truvillion from Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC and Martez Hawkins, a guard from Marshalltown (Ill.) CC join the roster.

Banhoro leads the sophomore class, which includes Antoine Joseph and Veljko Petrovic.

The freshman class boasts three solid additions in Allante' McLemore, Samuel Danache, and Luke Allison to complete the 2008-09 Bulldog roster.

Turner says, "I'm excited about this season. With the returning experience and the key recruits, we will be poised to make a strong run at the national championship. Our non-conference schedule is the toughest in the country, and come March we will be ready to compete."

"This year's team has one of the best returning groups in my 14 years at Union."

Union looks to return to the NAIA National Tournament after (barely) missing the tourney last year for just the second time in 11 seasons. Union has participated in 11 NAIA tournaments reaching the quarterfinals twice.

In the 12-year history of the TranSouth, Union has won five regular season titles while playing in seven of the 12 TSAC tourney title games, winning five times.