CARMEL, Ind. – With the 2020-21 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) men’s basketball season set to officially tip-off this weekend, in a vote amongst league coaches, Transylvania University was selected to repeat as league-leaders in the 2021 season.
The Pioneers picked up 80 votes to claim the first place slot. Not far behind, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was picked to finish second with 71 points with Franklin College (64), Hanover College (62) and Anderson University (54) rounding out the top five respectively.
Listed below is the 2020-21 HCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll and the 2020-21 HCAC Players to Watch. For more information on HCAC Men's Basketball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the Internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.
2020-21 HCAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| 1. |
Transylvania University |
80 |
| 2. |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
71 |
| 3. |
Franklin College |
64 |
| 4. |
Hanover College |
62 |
| 5. |
Anderson University |
54 |
| 6. |
Bluffton University |
45 |
| 7. |
Defiance College |
42 |
| 8. |
Manchester University |
30 |
| 9. |
Earlham College |
26 |
| 10. |
Mount St. Joseph University |
21 |
2020-21 HCAC Players to Watch:
Anderson
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Austin Lyons |
JR |
Lapel, Ind. |
Guard |
| Ronny Williams |
SR |
Anderson, Ind. |
Guard |
Bluffton
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Dezman Brown |
SR |
Elyria, Ohio |
Guard |
| Aaron Rich |
SR |
Greenville, Ohio |
Forward |
| Jameel Cosby |
JR |
Springfield, Ohio |
Guard |
| Ronnie James |
SR |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Guard |
Defiance
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Marell Jordan |
JR |
Chicago, Ill. |
Guard |
| Tyler Andrew |
JR |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
Forward |
| Jack Kolar |
SO |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Guard |
| Avonte Jones |
SO |
Columbus, Ohio |
Guard |
| Chase Glock |
SO |
Stryker, Ohio |
Forward/Center |
Earlham
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Jamel Barnes Jr. |
SR |
Muncie, Ind. |
Guard |
| AJ White |
SO |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
Guard |
Franklin
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Matt Krause |
JR |
West Lafayette, Ind. |
Forward |
| Sam Gutierrez |
SR |
Tipton, Ind. |
Guard |
| Payton Mills |
SR |
Newburgh, Ind. |
Forward |
| Danny Goggans |
SR |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
Forward |
| Ismail Jones |
SR |
Buckner, Ky. |
Guard |
Hanover
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Mark Albers |
SR |
Pendleton, Ind. |
Guard |
| Connor Washburn |
SR |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
Center |
Manchester
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Cortiz Buckner |
SR |
Lafayette, Ind. |
Guard |
| CJ Hampton |
SR |
Hammond, Ind. |
Forward |
| Matt Westman |
SR |
Michigan City, Ind. |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Devin Young |
JR |
Crestwood, Ky. |
Forward |
| Tanner Clos |
JR |
Alexandria, Ky. |
Forward |
| Brady Thomas |
JR |
Grove City, Ohio |
Guard |
| David Luers |
JR |
Lebanon, Ohio |
Guard |
Rose-Hulman
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Craig McGee |
SR |
Loveland, Ohio |
Guard |
| Jacob Back |
SR |
Harrison, Ohio |
Forward |
| Samvit Ram |
JR |
Buffalo Grove, Ill. |
Guard |
| Terry Hicks |
SO |
Fishers, Ind. |
Guard |
| Max Chaplin |
SO |
Carmel, Ind. |
Guard |
Transylvania
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
Position |
| Michael Jefferson |
SR |
Berea, Ky. |
Guard |
| Zach Larimore |
JR |
La Grange, Ky. |
Forward |
| Lucas Gentry |
SR |
Mt. Vernon, Ky. |
Forward |
| Brandon Cromwell |
SO |
Versailles, Ky. |
Guard |