TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) preseason poll released Wednesday morning.
 
It's the second consecutive season the Tigers were picked to finish this high. Towson, which received two first-place votes, returns 10 players from last season's 20-win team that finished third in the CAA and advanced to the conference semifinals. Eight of those returnees all played at least 10 or more minutes last season, started at least once and had big moments.
 
Coming off of its third 20-win season in four years, Towson was picked behind the College of Charleston, who received 38 of the possible 40 first-place votes. The predicted order of finish and pre-season awards was selected by a basketball cognoscenti of media members, coaches and athletic communication professionals.
 
In addition to the high acclaim, Towson senior guards Mike Morsell and Deshaun Morman were named to the preseason All-CAA team. Morsell was selected to the second team, while Morman earned honorable mention recognition.
 
Morsell and Morman earn the honors after being named to all-conference teams last year. Morsell was a third-team honoree last season. Meanwhile, Morman was a member of the all-defensive team.
 
Morsell led Towson in scoring with a 13.4 point per game average last season. Morsell scored in double figures 20 times and had a pair of 32-point scoring games against Drexel and Elon. In addition to scoring his 1,000th career point last season, Morsell also scored two game-winning baskets at UMBC and at home against William & Mary.
 
Morman led the Tigers with 49 steals, which was third in the CAA. Morman, who led Towson with 65 assists, averaged 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Morman scored a career-high 18 points twice last season in games against Stony Brook and Nevada.
 
Following Charleston and Towson in the predicted order of finish was Elon, Hofstra, UNCW, Northeastern, Delaware, William & Mary, Drexel and James Madison.
 
Towson will be tested immediately as it will meet every team picked in the top of the CAA over its first five conference games.
 
Towson's opening CAA road trip is to the College of Charleston on Saturday, Dec. 30 and Elon on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The Tigers return home to begin a three-game homestand against UNCW on Friday, Jan. 5, Charleston on Sunday, Jan. 7 and Hofstra on Thursday, Jan. 11.
 
NOTES: Towson has won 53 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season contests since 2012, the most victories of any conference school during that span … The preseason All-CAA first team features Joe Chealey and Jarrell Brantley (College of Charleston), Devontae Cacok (UNCW), Tyler Seibring (Elon) and Justin Wright-Foreman (Hofstra) … Joining Morsell on the second team were Ryan Daly (Delaware), Brian Dawkins (Elon), Rokas Gustys (Hofstra), Kurk Lee (Drexel), and Grant Riller (Charleston) … In addition to Morman, earning honorable mention recognition were Devon Begley and Jeremy Miller (Northeastern), David Cohn and Nathan Knight (William & Mary), Eli Pemberton (Hofstra) and Jordon Talley (UNCW).