Staff reportThe Augusta University men's basketball team was ranked 13th in a preseason NCAA Division II poll, and senior forward Rafael Monteiro has been named to the Peach Belt Conference preseason all-league team.AU, picked to win the Peach Belt Conference, was ranked 13th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches preseason poll."We ended last year in this poll at No. 16, and now we are picked 13th in the country out of 314 schools at our level," said AU Coach Dip Metress, whose team went 28-6 in 2018-19. "It is important for our team that we keep our eyes on the prize."Augusta was not ranked in the NCAA's poll, but was the first team mentioned in the honorable mention list.
Monteiro was a second-team All-PBC selection last season. He is joined on the 2019-2020 first team by Georgia College's Jordan Thomas, USC Aiken's Xzavier Barmore, UNC Pembroke's Akia Pruitt and Columbus State's Landarius Horton.The Jaguars, who open the season on Nov. 8 against Mt. Olive in Wilson, N.C., at 5 p.m., lost a scrimmage with Anderson (S.C.) University on Friday, Nov. 1, by 101-91. The scrimmage was two 20-minute halves and an eight-minute quarter. Anderson won the two 20-minute halves by scores of 42-37 and 44-36. AU took the eight-minute mini-game 18-15."Anderson did a good job on defense," Metress said afterwards. "They also beat us on the boards."The Trojans, who had lost an exhibition at Division I Clemson, were led junior guard Quin Nottingham, whose three-point shooting and drives caused problems for the Jaguars. Other standouts for Anderson included Satchel Hester and Mack Burgett. Guard Kai Rivers, who had scored 17 points against Clemson, hurt his knee early in the game. Trojan Coach Jeff Brookman fears Rivers will be lost for the season.Monteiro, the senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and sophomore center Tyshuan Crawford played well in the opening half for AU. Metress emptied his bench in the last two stanzas, and freshman guard Gabriel Moller, a 6-footer from Njardvik, Iceland, was impressive."He hustled all night," Metress said of Moeller.Sophomore guard Tyree Myers also showed flashes of his driving, shooting and quarterbacking talents in the opening half. Freshman Lee Flenor played well on defense and on the boards.Several Jags were nursing injuries, including guard Miguel Arnold (ankle), center Robert Barlund (wrist) and forward Troy Cracknell (hip). Arnold and Barlund did not play in the Anderson scrimmage.The Jaguars, who had beaten S.C. State in a scrimmage on Oct. 27, will get two games next weekend. In addition to the Mt. Olive game on Friday, they will play Barton on Saturday, Nov. 9, also in Wilson, at 1 p.m.In the Peach Belt preseason poll, the defending champion Jaguars were followed by UNC Pembroke, USC Aiken and Francis Marion.Augusta's first home game is Nov. 16 against Catawba at Christenberry Fieldhouse. Tipoff will be at 7:30 p.m.