No. 10 Men's Basketball Nabs Top Spot In ECC Preseason Poll; Schmidt Named Preseason Player of the Year
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (October 23, 2008)- The East Coast Conference released its preseason men's basketball poll today, placing the defending ECC Champion C.W. Post Pioneers in the top slot. In addition, Sporting News preseason All-American Jonathan Schmidt (Centereach, N.Y.) was named the conference preseason Player of the Year.
The Pioneers are looking for another repeat of last season, when they finished with a 26-5 record, an East Coast Conference Championship, and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Head coach Tim Cluess returns five starters from last season, and has added four transfers and two freshmen to round out a team that will look to repeat as conference champions and make another run in the NCAA tournament.
Adelphi recieved the second spot behind the Pioneers, followed by Bridgeport and St. Thomas Aquinas, and NYIT rounded out the top five.
The Pioneers hope to maintain the top spot in the ECC throughout the season under the direction of Coach Cluess. They kick off their season as they host Lock Haven on November 15, starting at 3 p.m.
2008 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. C.W. Post
2. Adelphi
3. Bridgeport
4. St. Thomas Aquinas
5. NYIT
6. Dowling
7. Concordia
8. Molloy
9. Queens
10. Mercy
Preseason Player of the Year: Jonathan Schmidt, C.W. Post