NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - With a new season's start just a little more than a week away, the Christopher Newport men's basketball squad has been selected to finish first in the Capital Athletic Conference. The league released its pre-season poll of coaches on Thursday.

The Captains, 22-7 a year ago and 14-4 in the CAC, received six first-place votes in the eight-team league, and a total of 48 points. Mary Washington, picked to finish second with 39 points, and York (PA) with 38 points, selected third, also each received one first-place nod. Coaches are not permitted to select their own team in the poll. The top three are followed by Salisbury (34 points) and Frostburg State (20 points). Penn State-Harrisburg and St. Mary's are tied for sixth place with 18 points each, and Southern Virginia, with nine points, is picked to finish eighth.

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Christopher Newport has advanced to the CAC's Championship game in each of the last five years since joining the conference. The Captains have also advanced to the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons. John Krikorian's squad is returning 15 players, including nine Captains who averaged at least ten minutes per game. Seniors Marcus Carter and Tyler Femi, as well as juniors Luther Gibbs, Cutch Ellis, Savonte Chappell, and Nick Parks are expected to lead the way. Krikorian, the CAC's Coach of the Year the last three years, returns for his ninth season at the helm.

Christopher Newport will hold a blue vs. white scrimmage Friday night at the Freeman Center, which will be free and open to the public. The final tune-up before the season will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Captains open the 2018-2019 campaign on the road next Saturday, November 17th, against Trinity (TX) in the Marymount Tournament in Arlington, Va. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. CNU will open at home on Saturday, November 24th, against Methodist in the first round of the CNU Invitational. Tipoff time at the Freeman Center is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.