Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll Announced at NEC "Social" Media Day

The Central Connecticut men's basketball was picked to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll it was announced on Wednesday at the league's "Social" Media Day in Brooklyn, NY.  Fairleigh Dickinson, the league's defending champion was tabbed as the preseason favorite and collected six first-place votes.

NEC "SOCIAL" MEDIA DAY PHOTO GALLERY

Under first year head coach Donyell Marshall, Central returns four players with significant experience as a starter from last season, while adding a total of seven newcomers to the roster.

Senior guard Khalen Cumberlander averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 2.8 assists per game for the Blue Devils last season. Sophomore Austin Nehls earned NEC All-Rookie Team honors last season after leading the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game and ranking among the NEC leaders with 71 three-pointers.

The Preseason All-NEC team was made up of Darian Anderson (Fairleigh Dickinson, Jr., G), Michael Carey (Wagner, Sr., G), Jerome Frink (LIU Brooklyn, Sr., F), Corey Henson (Wagner, Jr., G), and Earl Potts, Jr. (Fairleigh Dickinson, Jr., G/F).

The Blue Devils open the season at home on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. against Hartford at Detrick Gymnasium.

2016-17 NEC PRESEASON COACHES POLL (first place votes in parenthesis)

1. Fairleigh Dickinson (6)
2. Wagner (4)
3. Bryant
4. LIU Brooklyn
    Mount St. Mary's
6. Robert Morris
7. St. Francis Brooklyn
8. Sacred Heart
9. Saint Francis U
10. Central Connecticut