Men’s and women’s basketball teams picked third and seventh in MIAA preseason coaches’ polls

The Olivet College men's and women's basketball teams have been picked to finish third and seventh, respectively, in the 2009-10 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Polls. Each coach was not allowed to vote for his/her own team. Calvin and Hope are the preseason co-favorites in the men's poll, while Hope was selected as the preseason favorite for the women.

Under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Gene Gifford, the Comet men return nine letterwinners, including four starters from last year's team. The starters are senior Joel Kerns (North Judson, Ind./San Pierre) along with juniors Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights), Michael McClary (Bellaire) and Joe Post (Olivet).

A two-time second-team All-MIAA selection, McClary led the team in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and was second in scoring (12.8 ppg) last year. Evans ranked third in scoring (11.9 ppg) and drained a team-leading 57 three-pointers. Kerns averaged 8.0 ppg, while Post led the league with a 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Comet women are under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Heather Bateman and will be led by senior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos). Last season, she led the Comets in rebounding (9.6 rpg) and was third in scoring (8.0 rpg).

Olivet will open the 2009-10 season with a men's and women's doubleheader Sunday, Nov. 15. The men's team plays John Carroll (Ohio) University at 1 p.m., followed by the women's game versus University of Chicago at 3 p.m.