AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta State men’s basketball program is ranked No. 8 in the nation, according to the Division II Bulletin’s preseason national poll.

The Jaguars, who were ranked as high as No. 3 in 2008-09 and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country, return three starters and nine lettermen from a squad that racked up a school-record 30 wins and made its second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., last March.

Two of ASU’s regular-season opponents earned a preseason national ranking as well. Tusculum, who the Jags face on Dec. 12 in Greeneville, Tenn., is ranked No. 6, while Valdosta State is ranked No. 11. ASU takes on the Blazers on Jan. 16, 2010 in Valdosta, Ga.

The Jags tip off their 2009-10 schedule with an exhibition vs. Aiken Tech on Wednesday, Nov. 4 in Christenberry Fieldhouse. ASU opens its regular-season slate at home on Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. West Georgia at 2:00 p.m.

Division II Bulletin
Preseason National Poll

1.  BYU-Hawaii
2.  Findlay
3.  Southwest Baptist
4.  Cal Poly Pomona
5.  Bellarmine
6.  Tusculum
7.  Merrimack
8.  AUGUSTA STATE
9.  Florida Southern
10. Bentley
11. Valdosta State
12. Southwest Minnesota
13. Metro State
14. Central Missouri
15. Winona State
16. Kutztown
17. Central Oklahoma
18. Grand Valley State
19. Philadelphia
20. Northern Kentucky
21. Delta State
22. Rollins
23. Johnson C. Smith
24. West Virginia State
25. Incarnate Word