Albertus Magnus Picked as Men's Basketball Favorite

Defending champion Albertus Magnus College will repeat as Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Basketball champions in 2011, according to the GNAC pre-season coaches poll. The Falcons garnered 80 of a possible 81 points, making Albertus the near unanimous favorite to capture their second straight GNAC title.

St. Joseph's College of Maine was picked to finish second, just ahead of third place Norwich University and fourth place Johnson & Wales University, as only two points separated the second through fourth place selections. Rounding out the pre-season poll are Emerson College, picked to finish fifth, and Rivier College, selected to finished sixth, while Mount Ida College and Emmanuel College were selected to finish seventh and eighth respectively.

1.       Albertus Magnus   (80)

2.       St. Joseph's ME    (62)

3.       Norwich                 (61)

4.       Johnson & Wales   (60)

5.       Emerson               (40)

6.       Rivier                    (38)

7.       Mount Ida              (35)

8.       Emmanuel             (33)

#1 Albertus Magnus College

The 2010 campaign was a banner year for Albertus Magnus College as the Falcons finished with a 23-7 overall record, going 15-3 in GNAC regular season play before defeating Rivier, JWU and finally Emerson en route to the 2010 GNAC Championship. After taking the conference title, Albertus also made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second-round with a 57-55 victory over No. 7 William Patterson, thanks to Byron Reeves' half court buzzer-beater. With all but one member of its 2010 championship team returning, 2010 GNAC Coach of the Year Mitch Oliver will be expecting continued success.

The Falcons will once again be led by the duo of Ray Askew and Walden St. Justie. Askew collected numerous accolades last season, earning 2010 GNAC Player of the Year, an All Conference First Team selection and a spot on the 2010 All Tournament Team. St. Justie was a 2010 All Conference Second Team selection as well as the 2010 GNAC Tournament MVP. The Falcons return several members of last year’s squad, including Reeves and GNAC All Conference selection Jefferson Lora.

#2 St. Joseph's College (ME)

After an early exit from the 2010 GNAC tournament, St. Joseph's College will be looking to challenge for the title in 2011. The Monks finished 2010 with an impressive 19-7 overall record while posting a 14-4 mark in GNAC play, good enough for the 3rd seed in the conference tournament, but they would ultimately be upset by sixth seeded Lasell in the first round of the GNAC playoffs.

Despite the graduation of three-time all GNAC forward Ray Eatmon, head coach Rob Sanicola returns a solid core of players for the 2011 season. St. Joe's will be led by a trio of guards who all have the ability to score. The team's statistical leader in 2010 with 14.5 points per game (PPG) and 4.1 assists per game (APG), Zach O'Brien was an All Conference Second Team selection along with teammate Tyler Kelley, who averaged 14.3 PPG as well as 3.6 rebounds per game (RPG). Coming off a season where he averaged 13.7 PPG, the Monks also expect strong contributions from Chris Petzy as they navigate a tough non-conference schedule, that includes a date with Division I Davidson College on December 30, while also taking aim at the GNAC championship.

#3 Norwich University

Last season saw the Norwich University Cadets finish with a 13-13 overall record and an 8-10 mark in GNAC play. Norwich will be looking to build on a solid 2010 campaign and challenge for the GNAC championship. Norwich's season came to an end with a loss to Emerson in the first round of the GNAC tournament. This year, head coach Paul Booth expects even more from a team that graduated only two seniors following last season.

After joining the team as a transfer last season, Cori Boston earned GNAC All Conference honors. This season, Norwich will be looking for Boston as well as Jaren Jeffcoat who averaged 13.3 PPG and 5.6 RPG, Antonio Davis, 11.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG, and perimeter shooter Ryan Williams 11.5 PPG to make significant contributions for the Cadets. Adding to a strong core of returning players will also be Josh Cabrera, who will return to the court following a red-shirt season that came due to injury.

#4 Johnson & Wales University

Finishing just one game under .500 at 13-14 overall, while posting a 9-9 GNAC record last season. After a solid regular season the Wildcats turned heads in the GNAC tournament. JWU knocked off Mount Ida in the first round of the GNAC tournament before giving Albertus all they could handle before falling in the conference semi-finals, 78-76. JWU will look to build on its strong showing in 2010 as they move into the 2011 campaign.

Jamie Benton's Wildcats return nine players from last season. Perhaps no one is more important than First Team All Conference selection Lamonte Thomas. Thomas will be joined in the back court by classmate Calvin Jones, as the two will continue to be a formidable 1-2 punch for the Wildcats. The two will lead a veteran roster through the regular season with their sites set on making a run even farther in this season's conference tournament.

#5 Emerson College

For Emerson College, replacing one First Team All Conference player would have been difficult, but the Lions are faced with the unenviable task of replacing two of the GNAC's top players from just a season ago. Bryan Rouse and three-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Shannon, helped guide Emerson to an impressive 20-8 overall record and a 15-3 GNAC regular season record in 2010 as the Lions made a trip to the championship game of the 2010 GNAC Tournament. However they would fall just short of an NCAA tournament bid, falling 85-69 to Albertus.

Despite the departure of Rouse and Shannon, Emerson returns a veteran roster that boast 12 upperclassman. Veteran head coach Hank Smith will look to his returning players to help keep Emerson among the conference elite. Expect significant contributions from seniors Tom Mesinger and Kabir Moss, as well as juniors Nathan Firm, Drew Ventner, and Alex Dempsey.

#6. Rivier College

All five starters return for Rivier, a team that has high hopes for the 2011 season. After battling to a 9-17 overall and a 6-12 GNAC record in 2010, the Raiders will look to shake the nagging injuries that accompanied the previous season. Rivier returns all five starters from last season as head coach Dave Morissette looks to guide the Raiders into the top half of the GNAC standings. Head Coach Dave Morissette will look to guide the Raiders into the top half of the GNAC standings in 2011.  

It all starts in the middle for Rivier, Second Team All Conference selection Don Poitras will be the focal point for Rivier this season and the Raiders will expect him to contribute just as he has done throughout his career. The 6'8" center has the ability to dominate the paint not only on offense but as he showed with 75 blocks last season he can change a game defensively as well. The backcourt will be led by point guard Will Snider and guard Nick Bean while the addition of a strong freshman class, that includes Poitras brother, Tom, will add to Rivier's solid core of players.

#7. Mount Ida College

Mount Ida will look to build on a 2010 campaign that saw the Mustangs finish at 15-11 overall and 10-8 in the GNAC. Mount Ida secured home court advantage in the first round of the conference tournament before being upset by fifth seeded Johnson & Wales.

Mount Ida will be looking to replace the production of guard Darren Martinez, who graduated following last season. Martinez not only averaged 13.8 PPG but was also a catalyst for the Mustang offense, dishing out 5 APG. Head coach Rico Cabral will look to his returning players to lead Mount Ida in 2011. Travis Hillery is the leading returning scorer for Mount Ida, after averaging 11.0 PPG last season as well as 6.7 RPG. Hillery will be joined by Joe Cabral, the teams leading rebounder last season at 6.8 per game. Mount Ida will also look to Isiah Benjamin, 9.0 PPG, for leadership in 2011.

#8. Emmanuel College

Following a 4-21 season that saw Emmanuel finish 3-15 in conference play, the Saints will be looking to climb back into the GNAC playoff mix during the 2011 season. Emmanuel head coach Jamahl Jackson will lead a young Emmanuel team that includes 10 underclassmen and only 2 seniors.

Emmanuel returns guard Xavier Everson who averaged 12.8 PPG as well 7.5 RPG last season. The Saints will also benefit from the return of Tyrone Buchanan who missed last season due to injury. Buchanan along with Tony Carter-Hill will be looked to to provide veteran leadership for a young but deep Emmanuel team. Expect the Saints to play with an up-tempo style of play as they will look from contributions from everyone on the roster. Also, expect freshman DJ Fazio and Josh Welles to make an immediate impact in 2011.