Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll Announced
The Northeast Conference announced its Preason Coaches' Poll and Preseason All-NEC Team on Wednesday at the league's "Social" Media Day at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. CCSU was picked to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, in which coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Four schools received first-place votes in the coaches' poll. LIU was tabbed the preseason favorite and collected five first-place votes. Sacred Heart collected three first-place votes and was picked second, while the 2018-19 regular-season champion Saint Francis U was picked third and had one first-place vote. Fairleigh Dickinson, the defending NEC champion, collected two first-place votes and was picked fourth.
Head coach Donyell Marshall begins his fourth season at the helm of the Blue Devils. Central's roster will feature seven freshmen, but will also be bolstered with the return of two starters. Senior Jamir Coleman, a 6-7 wing, started 30 games a season ago and averaged 12.1 points, while posting five double-doubles. Sophomore Ian Krishnan was named to the NEC All-Rookie Team and averaged 12.0 points and started 30 games as a rookie.
The Blue Devils will host the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in an exhibition game open to the public on Monday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. The Blue Devils open the 2019-20 season at home against Hartford on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7:00 p.m.
2019-20 NEC PRESEASON COACHES POLL (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. LIU (5)
2. Sacred Heart (3)
3. Saint Francis U (1)
4. Fairleigh Dickinson (2)
5. Robert Morris
6. Bryant
7. Mount St. Mary's
8. St. Francis Brooklyn
9. Wagner
10. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
11. Merrimack
2019-20 MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-NEC TEAM
E.J. Anosike, Sacred Heart, Jr., F, 6-8, 245 lbs., East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)
* Keith Braxton, Saint Francis U, Sr, G, 6-5, 208 lbs., Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)
* Raiquan Clark, LIU, Sr, G/F, 6-6, 195 lbs., New Haven, CT/Hillhouse
Adam Grant, Bryant, Sr, G, 6-1, 180 lbs., Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School
* Jahlil Jenkins, Fairleigh Dickinson, Jr, G, 6-0, 160 lbs., Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy
* - denotes unanimous selection
