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Somerset, NJ -- Coming off the program’s first Northeast Conference (NEC) title game appearance in 26 years, Saint Francis U has been crowned as the unanimous preseason favorite to capture the 2017-18 NEC men’s basketball crown.

The announcement of the annual preseason poll was made Wednesday during the sixth annual NEC Basketball “Social” Media Day at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

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.

Conducted annually, NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion two times in the last 18 years. Over the last 30 years, the coaches have proven inaccurate on 26 occasions or 87 percent of the time.
 

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

Saint Francis U (17-17, 11-7 NEC) had been teetering on the edge of championship contention in recent years before breaking through last season under sixth year head coach Rob Krimmel. The Red Flash, who were picked ninth, not only exceeded expectations by finishing tied for third in the standings, but also pieced together a memorable postseason. SFU punched its ticket to the program’s first NEC final since 1991 when NEC Rookie of the Year Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/The Lawrenceville School) sank a three-point fling at the buzzer to edge Wagner on the road in the semifinals. The Red Flash went on to win their first national postseason game in 62 years with a victory over Jacksonville in the CIT. The 17 wins were the most at the school since 1997-98, and with four starters back in the fold, SFU has the pieces in place to make another run at the NEC title and bring the trophy back to Loretto for the first time since 1991. 
 
Boasting the NEC’s most prolific offense year ago at 75.8 ppg, look for the Red Flash to continue pushing the ball in transition thanks to a loaded backcourt. Though listed as a guard, Braxton plays much bigger than his listed 6’4” frame. He comes off a rookie campaign that saw him average 13.1 ppg and lead all Division I freshman with 8.6 rpg. Braxton joined junior guard Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) on the All-NEC second team and both are preseason All-NEC picks. A deadeye shooter from distance, Blackmon led the NEC with a 50.0 percent success rate from three-point range while averaging a team-high 13.7 ppg. The Red Flash also sport cat-quick junior Jamaal King (Salisbury, MD/Bishop O’Connell (VA)) (12.0 ppg) - one of the league’s most improved players last season - and sophomore Randall Gaskins, Jr. (Woodbridge, VA/Bishop O’Connell (VA)) (7.9 ppg) in the backcourt, and will be boosted by the return of redshirt senior and former NEC Rookie of the Year Malik Harmon (Queens, NY/Christ the King), who has started 87 career games at the point.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson (11-19, 9-9 NEC) and fifth-year head coach Greg Herenda will look to the inside-outside combo of junior forward Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, NJ/Arthur P. Schalick) and senior guard Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) to lead the Knights back to the heights the program attained back in 2015-16 when a fifth NEC title was added to the trophy case in Hackensack. Anderson, a preseason All-NEC pick and two-time All-NEC second team honoree, finished third in the conference last season with 17.0 ppg and led the league with 2.0 spg. He is the NEC’s leading active scorer with 1,326 career points. The burly Holloway is one of the NEC’s top interior players, and averaged 11.4 ppg on 56.6 percent shooting from the floor, while snagging a team-best 6.3 rpg a year ago. Junior guard Darnell Edge (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) (9.0 ppg) can net up in a hurry from long range, while springy 6’8” forward Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) (4.7 ppg) could see a big bump in minutes this season after starting 13 games as a freshman.
 
A perennial NEC contender, Wagner (16-14, 11-7 NEC) returns a strong backcourt for sixth-year head coach Bashir Mason, who has led the Seahawks to top-three NEC finishes in four of his five years at the helm. At the head of the class is redshirt junior guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac (Mt. Zion Prep)), who seemed prime for a breakout season a year ago but went down with a season-ending injury in Wagner’s game one win over UConn. A multi-faceted talent, Saunders contributed 9.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg and hit 45 three-pointers as a sophomore in 2015-16. Veteran point guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord) is back for his senior year. He put up 8.2 ppg, led the Seahawks with 3.6 apg, and was an adept rebounder for his size with 5.0 per outing last season. Sophomore guard Blake Francis (Herndon, VA/Westfield) ranked second in the NEC in three-point accuracy at 42.2 percent, and hit 43 shots from distance on the year. Look for 6’8” redshirt junior forward AJ Sumbry (East Windsor, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep (Quinnipiac)) (4.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) to play a key role in the frontcourt.
 
There will be plenty of new faces on the Mount St. Mary’s (20-16, 14-4 NEC) roster this year, but the cupboard isn’t exactly bare for Jamion Christian and the defending NEC champs. The sixth-year head coach sports one of the NEC’s most iconic players in 5’5” senior guard Junior Robinson (Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance), whose style truly exemplifies “Mount Mayhem.” The playmaking, jet-quick guard comes off a terrific junior campaign that saw him average 14.1 ppg and 2.9 apg, while leading the NEC in free throw shooting at 86.8 percent. Robinson, a two-time All-NEC second teamer, also hit 70 shots from downtown and ranked fourth in three-point proficiency, making 39.8 percent of his attempts. He will be joined in the backcourt by long range specialist Greg Alexander (Hampton, VA/Kecoughtan (East Carolina)), a senior guard who sank 72 shots from beyond the arc. Few can finish on the break like senior forward Chris Wray (Shelby, NC/Fishburne Military School (VA)), a fan favorite at Knott Arena for his highlight reel slams. He also led the Mount with 5.7 rpg, and as one of the NEC’s top interior defenders, finished second in the conference with 1.5 bpg.
 
Boosted by a terrific frontcourt, Sacred Heart (13-19, 8-10 NEC) is hoping to take the next step this coming season. Now in his fifth year, head coach Anthony Latina will lean heavily on senior forward Joseph Lopez (Miami, FL/South Miami Senior (Broward College)), a preseason All-NEC selection and All-NEC third team honoree in 2016-17. The bruising 6’7” forward is nearly impossible to defend on the block, where he scored the majority of his 13.2 ppg last season. Lopez also shot a robust 56.5 percent from the field and snared 8.5 rpg to rank among NEC leaders in both categories. Lopez will be joined up front by 6’5” De’von Barnett (Waldorf, MD/Riverdale Baptist) and 6’8” Mario Matasovic (Gornja Vrba, Croatia/St. John’s NW Military (Western Michigan)), a pair of redshirt seniors. Barnett (7.7 ppg) excels around the basket and in transition, while Matasovic (5.9) can stretch the defense with his outside shooting ability. A pair of returning starters will man the backcourt. Junior Sean Hoehn (Morristown, NJ/Morristown (St. Thomas More)) is an improving combo guard who averaged 8.0 ppg, while senior point guard Charles Tucker Jr. (Lansing, MI/Montrose Christian (Panola College)) finished fourth in the league with 4.1 apg in his first year with the Pioneers.
 
A changing of the guard at LIU Brooklyn (20-12, 13-5 NEC) saw former UMass head coach Derek Kellogg assume duties this past spring. While NEC Player of the Year Jerome Frink and third team All-NEC performer Iverson Fleming were lost to graduation from a 20-win Blackbird squad, LIU does return a number key components to launch the Kellogg era. Redshirt senior Joel Hernandez (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) is back after suffering a season-ending injury suffered on opening night last November. The rugged Teaneck, NJ native sports an inside-outside game, and averaged 12.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg as a junior in 2015-16. Jashaun Agosto (Seattle, WA/Garfield) started all 31 games at the point and was an All-Rookie performer last season for LIU. His explosive speed and ability to attack the rim resulted in 11.2 ppg and a team-best 3.2 apg. Agosto’s classmate and backcourt partner Julian Batts (Jeannette, PA/Jeannette (St. Thomas More)) (4.3 ppg) started 18 games last year and shot 40.0 percent from outside the arc. Last year’s revelation was junior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse), a walk-on with a high motor who seemingly came out of nowhere the final month of the season to average 6.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg.
 
Robert Morris (14-19, 9-9 NEC) has reached staggering heights under eighth-year head coach Andrew Toole, including postseason victories four straight years from 2012 to 2015. But just two players return for a new-look Colonial squad this season as they try to work their way back up the NEC ladder. Junior guard Matty McConnell (Oakdale, PA/Chartiers Valley) came into his own the second half of the year in 2016-17, and was terrific in the NEC playoffs, averaging 19.5 in two games, including a 6-9 performance from outside the arc in RMU’s quarterfinal win at LIU Brooklyn. He finished with 7.3 ppg and made 51 treys on the year. Sophomore guard Dachon Burke (Orange, NJ/Orange) immediately established himself as a disruptive force on the defensive end, ranking sixth in the NEC with 1.56 steals per game, while contributing 7.6 ppg. Toole has 13 newcomers on the roster, including a pair of graduate transfers up front in 6’9” Xavier Williams (Fairfield, AL/Central Park Christian (Tennessee State)) and 6’8” Ronnie Gombe (Nairobi, Kenya/Maseno School (Canisius)).
 
Bryant (12-20, 9-9 NEC) ranked second in the NEC in scoring last season, and returns enough firepower to pose a threat once again this season. Headlined by a potential franchise player in two guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School), tenth year head coach Tim O’Shea possesses an impressive sophomore class. A fearless shooter, Grant led all conference freshman with 13.4 ppg and 59 three-pointers last year en-route to NEC All-Rookie honors. Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, MA/Brooks School), his running mate in the backcourt, started 30 games at the point as a freshman. He averaged 6.0 ppg, and ranked third in the NEC and first among rookies with 4.1 apg. Sturdy forward Sebastian Townes (Chesapeake, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School) also comes off a promising freshman season that saw him put up 6.2 ppg on 51.1 percent shooting from the field. O’Shea also returns a pair of grizzled veterans in nimble swingman Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia/Hallam Senior College) (9.6 ppg) and shooting guard Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, GA/North Cobb Christian).
 
Central Connecticut (6-22, 4-14 NEC) seems primed for a rebirth under second-year head coach Donyell Marshall. The Blue Devils posted wins over the top-three teams (Mount St. Mary’s, LIU Brooklyn and Saint Francis U) in the NEC standings last season despite fielding a youthful roster that featured six freshmen. With Marshall continuing to stockpile young talent in the offseason, CCSU will look to qualify for the NEC Tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Junior guard Austin Nehls (Tucson, AZ/Cheshire Academy) is one of the league’s premier long distance marksman, having hit 139 trifectas over his first two seasons. Last year he paced the Blue Devils with 13.4 ppg and ranked second on the circuit with 2.3 three-pointers per outing, while converting at a 37.0 percent clip. Senior forward Mustafa Jones (Harlem, NY/Cardinal Hayes) is the top returning big for CCSU following a junior year that saw him average 10.7 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Tyson Batiste (Springfield, MO/Notre Dame Prep) started 22 games at the point and dished for 2.9 apg as a freshman.
 
Following an appearance in the 2016 NEC title game, St. Francis Brooklyn (4-27, 2-16 NEC) and eighth-year head coach Glenn Braica suffered through an uncharacteristic off-year last season, but the Terriers hope to rebound in 2017-18 behind a strong backcourt led by junior Glenn Sanabria (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) and sophomore Rasheem Dunn (Brooklyn, NY/Thomas Jefferson). Sanabria came back strong after missing nearly the entire 2015-16 season with an injury, averaging 12.4 ppg while draining a team-best 68 shots from downtown. A steadying influence on the court, Sanabria rarely turns the ball over and formed a nice one-two punch with Dunn, who took the league by storm last season. Dunn was the league’s second-leading freshman scorer with 13.1 ppg and he led the Terriers in point production and rebounding (5.1 rpg). With an explosive first step and elite finishing ability in traffic, the local product earned NEC All-Rookie recognition at year’s end. Braica hopes 6’9” center Cori Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/South Shore) can provide interior help after sitting out his freshman season with an injury.
  
NEC Preseason Coaches Poll History (last 30 years)          
          
Year        Preseason Favorite                       NEC Tournament Champion
            (actual regular season finish)          (preseason selection)
 
2016-17     Fairleigh Dickinson (tie 5th             Mount St. Mary's (4th)
2015-16     Mount St. Mary’s (5th)                   Fairleigh Dickinson (9th)
2014-15     St. Francis Brooklyn (1st)               Robert Morris (3rd)
2013-14     Wagner (2nd)                             Mount St. Mary's (6th)
2012-13     LIU Brooklyn (3rd)                       LIU Brooklyn (1st)
2011-12     LIU Brooklyn (1st)                       LIU Brooklyn (1st)
2010-11     Quinnipiac (2nd)                         LIU Brooklyn (3rd)
2009-10     Mount St. Mary’s (3rd)                   Robert Morris (tie 3rd)
2008-09     Mount St. Mary’s (tie 2nd)               Robert Morris (3rd)
2007-08     Sacred Heart (3rd)                       Mount St. Mary’s (4th) 
2006-07     Monmouth (tie 8th)                       CCSU (tie 4th)
2005-06     Fairleigh Dickinson (1st)                Monmouth (2nd)
2004-05     Monmouth (1st)                           Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd)
2003-04     Quinnipiac (10th)                        Monmouth (3rd)
2002-03     CCSU (3rd)                               Wagner (2nd)
2001-02     Monmouth (4th)                           CCSU (4th)
2000-01     CCSU (tie 5th)                           Monmouth (3rd)
1999-00     Mount St. Mary’s (tie 7th)               CCSU (3rd)
1998-99     Mount St. Mary’s (tie 5th)               Mount St. Mary’s (1st)
1997-98     LIU Brooklyn (1st)                       Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd)
1996-97     Monmouth (3rd)                           LIU Brooklyn (4th)
1995-96     Monmouth/Rider (tie 2nd/4th)             Monmouth (tie 1st)
1994-95     Rider (1st)                              Mount St. Mary’s (3rd)
1993-94     Fairleigh Dickinson (tie 5th)            Rider (3rd)
1992-93     Wagner (2nd)                             Rider (3rd)
1991-92     Monmouth (tie 2nd)                       Robert Morris (2nd)
1990-91     Monmouth (4th)                           Saint Francis U (3rd)
1989-90     Fairleigh Dickinson (6th)                Robert Morris (3rd)
1988-89     Monmouth (3rd)                           Robert Morris (5th)
1987-88     *Marist (tie 1st)                        Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd)

* Marist was ineligible for the NEC Tournament in 1987-88

About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 37th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#22), Baltimore (#26), and Hartford/New Haven (#30).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, all @NECsports.