Ferrum Picked As USA South Preseason Men's Basketball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)- Ferrum College, under the direction of 6th-year Head Coach Bill Tharp, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2010-11 men's basketball title. The Panthers will look to earn their first title since the 2007-08 season when they shared the regular season crown with Methodist University.

Ferrum received five of seven first-place votes (35 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Christopher Newport University, last season's USA South Tournament champions, finished second in the voting with 28 points and one first-place vote while Shenandoah University collected the final first-place vote and placed third with 26 points. Greensboro College rounded out the top-four with 21 points.

The 2010-11 campaign tips-off on Monday, November 15 when four USA South teams begin non-conference play.