Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

Roanoke College's Page Moir has watched his teams record five straight winning seasons, including a 19-7 campaign in 2008-09.

ROANOKE

The Maroons finished third in the ODAC last season, but three starters must be replaced. Roanoke has been picked just sixth in the league's preseason coaches poll.

Roanoke, which went 19-7, 11-5 last year, is aiming for a sixth straight winning season.

"I like our talent," coach Page Moir said. "We're not a big team, but I like our perimeter. We're definitely going to be more perimeter-oriented.

"It's going to be a team that has a chance to get a lot better as the year goes on."

With 225 conference wins on his resume, Moir needs to win just six more league games to overtake the late Bob Johnson for the most ODAC victories in the league's history.

Roanoke must replace All-ODAC forward Curtis Peery (18.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), forward Aaron Tyson and fiery point guard Drew Gaeng.

Peery and Tyson were the team's top two rebounders. Moir has been studying how Division I Butler does a good job on the boards despite being a small team.

Rebounding "is a question mark," Moir said. "We're hoping our quickness and speed to the ball can make a difference there."

Starting guards Parrish Walker (11.7 ppg) and Melvin Felix (10.9 ppg) are back, although Felix could miss today's 4 p.m. opener against visiting Christopher Newport with a sprained ankle.

The other guards who will get playing time are Corey Poindexter, a Pulaski County graduate coming off offseason knee surgery, and freshman Kwasi Amponsah, who made the Associated Press All-Group AAA second team at Gar-Field High School in Dale City.

Matt Crizer (Alleghany) and Michael McGeough will see action at small forward. Kendrick Chittock will start at power forward. Logan Singleton (Hidden Valley) will start at center, with Papa Fall also getting time.

Moir is waiting for someone to emerge as a scorer in the paint.

"Our offense is going to be a little different," Felix said. "We'll just play faster."

The Maroons are looking forward to stepping up in weight class for a Dec. 13 visit to Division I Radford.

WASHINGTON & LEE

For the first time in 20 years, the Generals are coming off back-to-back winning seasons.

"In terms of recruiting, it's a definite plus," coach Adam Hutchinson said. "In terms of how we've approached this season, you want to see a little more urgency than we've seen. Now, that could be because we've been better and guys are not feeling as desperate. Or it could be because of who you lost. It's more likely the second."

W&L must replace forward Ben Heller (10.4 ppg) and guards Isaiah Goodman and Chris McHugh. Hutchinson is concerned about this year's backcourt.

Post player Ben Goetsch (9.7 ppg) and small forward Zac White (9.4 ppg) are back.

The Generals finished eighth in the league last season but made it to the ODAC final. They have been picked eighth in the league's preseason poll. W&L opens against visiting Greensboro today.

FERRUM

The Panthers are aiming for a third straight winning season.

Three starters are back -- All-USA South center Derek Mitchell (14.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg), All-USA South guard Keith Crump (15.6 ppg) and point guard Jerrell Wade (Franklin County).

"Mitchell's going to get a ton of attention in the post. That's going to open up things for guys on the perimeter a lot more," coach Bill Tharp said. "We need to shoot the ball better from the perimeter."

Ferrum shot 27.1 percent from 3-point range last season.

Marcus Mayo (10.5 ppg), who did not return to the college, will be missed. But Tharp hopes some returning players can have a bigger impact, including forwards Ryan Firebaugh (James River), Garry Brandt (Jefferson Forest) and Nick English (Blacksburg).

Ferrum, which finished third in the league last year, has been picked third in the USA South preseason poll. The Panthers open up at Lynchburg today.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

The Knights are coming off their first winning season. They lost in the semifinals of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

USCAA All-American J.J. Holt graduated and Dele Opeifa left the team, but starters Bryce Pendelton, Ade Swann and Cory Evans are back.

"We are a little bit more athletic than we've been in the past, a little quicker," said coach Brian Pendleton, whose team played its third game of the season Saturday. "We're still short. We like to get out and run, but to do that we have to be able to rebound, so our challenge is to be active on the boards."