WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the 2013-14 Sunshine State Conference Preseason poll, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
 
NSU received 21 points in the annual poll, seven behind sixth-place Lynn. Florida Southern sits atop the poll with 63 points and seven of nine first-place votes. The Sharks open conference play against the Mocs at home on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.
 
The Sharks return four key players from the 2012-13 team that won 15 games and finished sixth in the conference standings. The Sharks return four efficient-shooting guards from last year's team and have added several newcomers equipped to run in the Sharks' run-and-gun style of basketball.
 
Florida Tech, who finished fourth in the conference a season ago after sweeping the second-half of its conference slate, was picked to finish second. The Panthers received 53 points and the other two first-place votes. Saint Leo, who shared the regular-season title with Florida Southern in 2012-13, was picked third with 46 points. Rollins received 44 points for fourth, while Eckerd collected 31 points for the fifth slot. After Lynn and NSU, Barry and Tampa tied for the bottom slot with 19 points each.
 
NSU is set for an exhibition game against NCAA Division I powerhouse Butler on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. before opening the regular season on the road against Paine in Melbourne, Fla. on Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

The entirety of the SSC preseason poll is as follows: