Men's Basketball Chosen As Runner-Up In NECC Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The Elms College Blazers have been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) 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.

Men's basketball sponsors eight programs of the nine member institutions.

The Elms Blazers (26-2, 14-0 NECC) received all eight first-place votes in the 2009 NECC preseason poll. The Blazers are led by head coach Ed Silva who will return five players, including senior guard Juan (Galdon) Maldonado (Holyoke, Mass). Maldonado was an All NECC First Team member as well as a previous All-North Atlantic Conference (NAC) First Team member. He led the Blazers averaging 13.8 points per game and is currently third in Elms' all-time scoring list at 1,161 points.

Elms is also returning senior forward Javon Mathis (East Hartford, Conn.), a second team All-NECC member in the 2008-2009 season.

Silva, with eight years under his belt, has a 144-79 overall coaching record. Last season, Elms broke a school record with 26 wins, while earning their first NECC title and their fifth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Previously, the Blazers earned four NAC championship titles. Elms was the Nation's NCAA Division III leader in steals at 4.6 per game.

The Becker College Hawks were picked as the runner-up receiving six of the second place votes. The Eagles of Daniel Webster College grabbed the number three spot with 56 points. The Wheelock College Wildcats were fourth with 48 points, while the Mariners of Mitchell College rounded out the top five with 38 points.

The Southern Vermont College Mountaineers were awarded 31 points for sixth place. The Lynx of Lesley University and the Nighthawks of Newbury College rounded out the field with the Lynx in seventh place and the Nighthawks finishing in eighth place.

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

2009 NECC PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
TEAM, POINTS(1st Place votes)
1-Elms, 72(8)
2-Becker, 60
3-Daniel Webster, 56
4-Wheelock, 48
5-Mitchell, 38
6-Southern Vermont, 31
7-Lesley, 25
8-Newbury, 22