2017-18 NEC Preseason Poll Release
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in this year's Northeast Conference standings in the league's annual preseason coaches' poll. The announcement of the annual preseason poll was made Wednesday during the sixth annual NEC Basketball "Social" Media Day at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Last year's NEC Tournament runner-up Saint Francis U. was a unanimous pick for the top spot. Fairleigh Dickinson was picked second, followed by Wagner in the third spot. Defending NEC champion Mount St. Mary's was tabbed fourth with Sacred Heart fifth and LIU Brooklyn sixth in the annual preseason ranking. Robert Morris claimed the seventh spot and Bryant landed in the eighth position. Central Connecticut and St. Francis Brooklyn rounded out the 10-team poll.
The Blackbirds are under the direction of first year head coach
Derek Kellogg, and will be looking to replace the team's three top scorers: last year's NEC Player of the Year
Jerome Frink, and All-NEC selections
Nura Zanna and
Iverson Fleming.
LIU will look to redshirt senior
Joel Hernandez, who is back after missing last season due to injury, along with All-Rookie honoree
Jashaun Agosto in the point guard spot. Upperclassmen
Raiquan Clark,
Julian Batts and
Julius van Sauers will also be key components of Kellogg's new system, with
Raul Frias and
Ganlandou Cisse providing depth as well.
Additionally, the Blackbirds bring five new faces to the squad this season, with redshirt senior transfers
Zach Coleman and
Jamall Robinson, along with transfer
Craig Owens Jr., and freshmen
Eral Penn and
Shyheim Hicks.
LIU opens the 2017-18 season Friday, November 10, taking on Tulane in New Orleans at 7 p.m.
2017-18 NEC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Saint Francis U (9)
2. Fairleigh Dickinson (1)
3. Wagner
4. Mount St. Mary's
5. Sacred Heart
6. LIU Brooklyn
7. Robert Morris
8. Bryant
9. Central Connecticut
10. St. Francis Brooklyn
First place votes in parentheses