A-10 Poll & All-Conference Teams
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – George Mason University men's basketball senior guard
Ronald Polite III has been named to the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team, the league office announced Tuesday at the conference's annual media day.
Polite III is joined on the third team by Matt Cross (UMass), Neal Quinn (Richmond), Chad Venning (St. Bonaventure), Cameron Brown (Saint Joseph's) and Sean Bairstow (VCU).
Polite III is coming off one of the most improved seasons in program history while making significant gains in nearly every statistical category, including scoring (11.5 ppg vs. 4.9 rpg), assists (4.0 vs. 1.4), 3pt FG% (.364 vs. .219) and overall FG% (.441 vs. .360).
Polite III ranked ninth in the A-10 with a career-best 4.0 assists per contest and was third on the Patriots in scoring. He started 28 games and scored 10+ points in 18 contests. He also reached double figures in each of the final eight games of the campaign.
The Patriots were picked 10
th in the league's preseason poll while receiving 146 points. Dayton was picked to win the league and earned 20 of 25 first place votes.
Polite III and the Patriots open the regular season on Monday, November 6 against Monmouth (7 p.m.). Mason also will hold an exhibition game against St. Thomas (Fla.) on Monday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team
Ronald Polite III, George Mason
Matt Cross, Massachusetts
Neal Quinn, Richmond
Chad Venning, St. Bonaventure
Cameron Brown, Saint Joseph's
Sean Bairstow, VCU
Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
1) Dayton (20) – 370
2) VCU (3) – 321
3) St. Bonaventure (1) – 319
4) Duquesne – 302
5) Saint Joseph's – 257
6) Saint Louis – 225
7) Fordham (1) – 215
8) Loyola Chicago – 177
9) George Washington – 176
10) George Mason – 146
11) Richmond – 137
12) Davidson – 118
13) Massachusetts – 93
14) Rhode Island – 76
15) La Salle - 71
