Posted: Nov 10, 2015

Men's Basketball Tabbed Third in NECC Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College men's basketball team was selected third in the 2015-16 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, released by the league office Monday. The Blazers collected 56 total points to finish tied with Mitchell College in the third spot.

The Blazers are returning 11 players, including three starters, from a squad who posted an 11-14 overall mark with a 10-6 record in the NECC. Elms earned the third-seed in the NECC tournament and fell to sixth-seeded Daniel Webster College in the quarterfinals. Senior Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.) returns after collecting First Team All-NECC honors last season after leading the Blazers in scoring at 18.4 points per game, fifth-most in the conference, while leading the league in three-point shooting with a 42.4 mark. Jerry netted a career-high 35 points in a win at Lesley, and buried a career-high seven three-pointers in a win over Daniel Webster. For the season, Buchanon amassed 461 points, fifth-most in a single season in Elms men's basketball program history. Junior Conny Ihearahu (Largo, Md.) averaged 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore, and sits fifth all-time in program history in blocks with 64. Senior Tim Putnam (Windsor Locks, Conn.) started 15 of 24 games as a transfer from Springfield Tech, shooting 40% from three-point range while averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 assists.

Elms College Head Coach Rob Southall has added seven new players to his roster, including transfers junior Symon Smith (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Andre Wright (Danbury, Conn.). Smith heads to Elms from Lamar CC, where he appeared in 28 games, averaging 4.1 points and shot 37.2% from three-point range. At Gateway CC, Wright contributed 15.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 34.4% from the floor.

The Blazers will open the 2015-16 season against Endicott College at Keene State College for the Keene State College Tip Off Tournament on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.

Southern Vermont College tops the poll with seven of the nine first place votes. The Mountaineers look to build on last year's success as they won the NECC Regular Season Title and the ECAC Championship with an impressive 25-win season. The Mountaineers have a veteran team as they return four of their five starters and nine players that played significant minutes a season ago.

Southern Vermont's DeShawn Hamlet earned NECC Player of the year honors and will strive for nothing less in his senior campaign. They also have the reigning NECC Rookie of the Year in guard Daemond Carter.

The rest of the first place votes went to the defending NECC Champions, Regis College, who finished with a total of 69 points. Experience is also on the side of the Pride as they return eleven players including four of their starters from the 2014-2015 season. The Pride are led by the 2015 Tournament MVP Jordan Monts, and also All-Conference selections Jeff Tagger Jr.and Sam Jean-Gilles.

Tied for third place in the polls were Elms College and Mitchell College with 56 points. Ranking fifth in the preseason polls with 49 points is Daniel Webster College. The Eagles have three returners and will look to make a run in the NECC postseason.

Rounding out the polls are Becker College (39) who ranked sixth, Wheelock College (20) who ranked seventh, and Newbury College and Lesley College who tied for eighth with 19 total points.

2015-2016 NECC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll