HARTFORD, Conn.–The Stony Brook men’s basketball team was picked to finish in second in the conference by the coaches’ poll announced at the second annual America East basketball tip-off luncheon in Hartford on Thursday.
The Seawolves finished behind Boston University, who won six of eight possible first-place votes. Stony Brook got two first place votes. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
“It’s nice, we’re getting respect,” Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell said, noting that in his first year with Stony Brook his team was picked to finish in dead last and received a last-place vote from every coach. “But we have a long way to go.”
Stony Brook did not place a single player on the preseason all-conference team, a snub that didn’t affect Pikiell.
“No one voted for [2009-10 AEC Player of the Year] Mo [El-Amin] last year,” Pikiell said. “It’s all about what happens at the end.”
Stony Brook was the regular season America East champion in 2009-2010, but lost to Boston in the conference championship semifinals. The Terriers went on to lose to Vermont in the championship game.
2010-11 America East Preseason Poll
Rank Team (1st place votes) Pts.
1 Boston U. (6) —62
2 Stony Brook (2)— 57
3 Maine (1)— 51
4 New Hampshire—41
5 Vermont — 35
6 Hartford— 24
7 Binghamton — 23
8 Albany — 22
9 UMBC — 9
2010-11 Preseason All-Conference Team
*Greer Wright, Sr., F, Binghamton
*John Holland, Sr., G/F, Boston University
Jake O’Brien, Jr., F, Boston University
Gerald McLemore, Jr. G, Maine
Evan Fjeld, Sr., F, Vermont
*Unanimous selection
