Hawks Ranked 2nd In NECC Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Elms College has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC's head men's basketball coaches.

This is the inaugural year for the New England Collegiate Conference. Men's basketball sponsors eight programs of the nine member institutions.

The Elms Blazers (23-7, 11-2 NAC) received all eight first-place votes in the 2008 NECC preseason poll. The Blazers are led by head coach Ed Silva who will return five players who started 13 games last season including North Atlantic Conference first team member, Juan Galdon (Holyoke, Mass). Silva, with seven years under his belt, has a 118-77 overall coaching record. Last season, Elms broke a school record with 23 wins, while earning their fourth consecutive NAC title and their fourth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.

Becker College was picked as the runner-up receiving seven of the second place votes. Lesley University grabbed the number three spot with 55 points. Daniel Webster College was fourth with 43 points while Newbury College rounded out the top five with 39 points. Mitchell College and Southern Vermont College each tied for sixth place tallying 30 points and Wheelock was eight with 22 points.

Teams received nine points for every first place vote received, eight points for second place votes, seven points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2008 NECC PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
TEAM, POINTS(1st Place votes)
1-Elms, 72(8)
2-Becker, 61
3-Lesley, 55   
4-Daniel Webster, 43
5-Newbury, 39
6-Mitchell, 30
6-Southern Vermont,30
8-Wheelock, 22