The Hillsdale College men's basketball team is already hard at work, preparing for the upcoming campaign, its third as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
The Chargers were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coach's poll, presented by Under Armour and released by the conference office Tuesday morning. The poll reflects voting by G-MAC coaches.
Defending conference tournament champion Walsh was s lim pick to take first ahead of 2019 runner-up Findlay. A vastly improved Cedarville squad was picked third, nine poll points ahead of Hillsdale.
Head coach John Tharp, the all-time winningest head coach in Hillsdale College men's basketball history, returns an experienced squad in 2019-20, led by returning starters Dylan Lowry and Davis Larson. Both were All-Conference picks a year ago and can score in a wide variety of ways.
Other top returning players include forwards Austen Yarian and Trenton Richardson and guards Connor Hill and Mike Travlos.
This year's team will also receive an infusion of young talent that figure to bolster the team's depth, defense and scoring options in the frontcourt and backcourt. Patrick Cartier and Tavon Brown join the active roster, and both have the length and athleticism to be impact players this year.
Hillsdale has already played an exhibition game, at Toledo last weekend. The Chargers open their season by hosting a crossover event opening weekend November 8-9, featuring Malone, Oakland City and Southern Indiana.
2019-20 Great Midwest Preseason Men's Basketball Coach's Poll
| PLACE | TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) | POLL POINTS |
| 1. | Walsh (7) | 117 |
| 2. | Findlay (5) | 114 |
| 3. | Cedarville | 97 |
| 4. | Hillsdale | 88 |
| 5. | Ohio Dominican | 80 |
| 6. | Lake Erie | 76 |
| 7. | Kentucky Wesleyan | 64 |
| 8. | Alderson Broaddus | 43 |
| 9. | Malone | 40 |
| 10. | Tiffin | 38 |
| 11. | Trevecca Nazarene | 22 |
| 12. | Ohio Valley | 13 |