Men's Basketball Southern Conference

Two SoCon teams ranked in mid-major top 25

East Tennessee State and Davidson are both among the nation's top mid-major men's basketball teams according to the College Hoops Insider.Com Mid-Major poll of November 8.

ETSU is tied for seventh in the preseason poll along with Pepperdine. Davidson is ranked 12th.

The CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major All-America team was also unveiled, with Wildcat junior Brendan Winters among the 25 athletes. Winters, who was also named to the preseason All-SoCon team, led the Wildcats in scoring last year with an average of 17.8 ppg. The guard netted 20.3 ppg in league action, second-best in the conference, and strung together 26 straight games in double figures as a sophomore. Winters has scored 852 points in his two years in the red and black, averaging 15.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

ETSU's Timmy Smith was also named to the preseason All-America squad. Smith led the Bucs to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 while earning his second consecutive SoCon Tournament MVP award.

The Wildcats tip off the 2004-05 season on the road at Missouri on November 19. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (EST).

East Tennessee State's first game is at home against Virginia-Wise on Saturday, Nov. 20