FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2014
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Saint Anselm College and Southern Connecticut State University topped their respective divisions in the 2014-15 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced this morning.
Saint Anselm and So. Connecticut met in the East Regional Final a year ago, with the Owls prevailing 78-72 to earn a berth to the Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind.
For the complete coaches' poll, please see below.
So. Connecticut received 14 first place votes (the maximum number possible), and 92 votes overall. The Owls who have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the country in some preseason publications, are coming off a year, which saw them post a 30-3 overall record and a record of 18-2 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
They won the East Region title, but fell in the Elite Eight to Central Missouri, who would ultimately go on to win the National Championship.
Saint Anselm narrowly edged out Saint Michael's College to claim the top spot in the Northeast Division. The Hawks received 94 votes overall, including seven first-place nods. Saint Anselm returns a number of key contributors from last year's East Region Finalist team that posted a 22-8 record overall.
Saint Michael's actually received one more first-place vote (8) then Saint Anselm, but fell two votes shy, and was ranked 2nd in the Northeast Division. The Purple Knights were followed by Bentley University (79 votes), Southern New Hampshire University (64), Franklin Pierce University (54), Merrimack College (35), Stonehill College (30), and Assumption College (28).
In the Southwest Division, So. Connecticut is ranked ahead of the University of New Haven (78 votes, 1 first-place vote), The College of Saint Rose (50), Le Moyne College (49), Pace University (40), Adelphi University (35), and American International College (27).
The men's basketball season will officially get underway on Friday, November 15th and the Northeast-10 Conference will crown a champion on Saturday, March 7th. For more information on the league, it's members and the upcoming men's basketball season, please visit the conference's official website at Northeast10.org or follow us on Twitter @TheNortheast10
2014-15 Northeast-10 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Northeast Division
1. Saint Anselm – 94 (7)
2. Saint Michael's – 92 (8)
3. Bentley - 79
4. So. New Hampshire - 64
5. Franklin Pierce - 54
6. Merrimack - 35
7. Stonehill - 30
8. Assumption - 28
Southwest Division
1. So. Connecticut – 92 (14)
2. New Haven – 78 (1)
3. Saint Rose - 50
4. Le Moyne – 49
5. Pace - 40
6. Adelphi - 35
7. American Int'l – 27
( ) – Indicates first-place votes
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
– #NE10 –
