AMCC Basketball Preseason Poll

2008-09 MEN'S BASKETBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

PENN ST. BEHREND PICKED TO DEFEND
MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE

The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference men's basketball coaches came to a broad consensus that Penn State Behrend would successfully defend their conference title for the fourth crown in 11 years. La Roche College, which earned a third place regular season finish last season, was picked in the #2 slot, and Medaille College, a conference tournament semifinalist last season, was selected to come in third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were awarded to Mount Aloysius junior Richard McNutt (Ellesmere Port, England/Ellesmore Port Catholic). The 6-8 forward was a first team all-conference selection in 2008. He led the AMCC in scoring (22.4 ppg) and blocked shots (3.6 bpg), and ranked second in the AMCC in rebounding (11.0 rpg). McNutt was also ranked third nationally in blocked shots, tenth in rebounding, and 18^th in in scoring.

This season the conference welcomes Franciscan University of Steubenville to its ranks; the Barons are entering year two of NCAA provisional membership. The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, December 3, and the championship will be Saturday, February 28, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*

1. Penn St. Behrend (1)
2. La Roche (3)
3. Medaille (6)
4. Penn St. Altoona (3)
5. Frostburg St. (7)
6. Pitt-Bradford (9)
7. Pitt-Greensburg (3)
8. Hilbert (7)
9. Mount Aloysius (10)
10. Franciscan (N/A)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2008

Preseason Player of the Year
RICHARD MCNUTT
Mount Aloysius College

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Sean Donovan (3rd year) 2007-08: 6-19 overall
Senior F Robert Slattery (Middle Ridge, WI/Cashton)...Led the Barons the second half of the season in rebounding and was the second leading scorer. returns as the only starter from the 2007-08 season. Junior G Josh Doucolumbier (Los Angeles, CA/St. John Bosco)...Returning to the court after a two year hiatus...exciting all-around player that is expected to have an impact at both ends of the floor.
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Webb Hatch (10th year) 2007-08: 8-10 AMCC, 9-16 overall
Sophomore G Brian Anderson (Perry Hall, MD/Eastern Tech)...The Bobcats' third leading scorer last season with 9.9 ppg, shooting 43.6% from the field...also contributed 1.7 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.7 spg. Senior F Juan Wansley (Odenton, MD/Arundel)...Played in all but one game last season, averaging 20.5 minutes...contributed 3.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg...shot 45.7% from the field, 45.3% from the three point arc, and 65.5% from the line.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Rob deGrandpre (7th year) 2007-08: 8-10 AMCC, 12-13 overall
Senior F Malcolm Edwards (Cleveland Heights, OH/Lutheran East)...Averaged 8.9 ppg a year ago...his 89 offensive rebounds ranked second in the conference and his 8.3 rpg ranked #4...had 35 blocked shots, third best in the league, and shot 53.6% from the field (#6)...2007-08 honors included AMCC Player of the Week, ECAC Player of the Week and DIII News Hotshot. Sophomore G Andy Marchand (Rochester, NY/C.G Finney)...Hilbert's second leading scorer as a freshman (11.0 ppg)...his 44 treys ranked him eighth in the AMCC...started 24 of 25 games last year.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Scott Lang (12th year) 2007-08: 10-8 AMCC, 13-13 overall
No information available.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Mike MacDonald (3rd Year) 2007-08: 9-9 AMCC, 15-13 overall
Senior F Bill Gersitz (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore East)...Ranked 3^rd in the AMCC in FG% (54%) last season...was averaging 13 ppg and 3.3 rpg when he got pneumonia; played the month of February with the lingering effects. Junior G/F Keith Hack (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay)...Honorable mention All-AMCC in 2008...the Mavericks' second leading scorer averaged 12.5 ppg, 12.9 ppg in conference and 6.3 rpg...missed 9 games at beginning of the season with a broken ankle.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Lance Loya (6th year) 2007-08: 1-17 AMCC, 5-20 overall
Junior F Richard McNutt (Ellesmere Port, England/Ellesmore Port Catholic)...First Team all-conference in 2008...led the AMCC in scoring (22.4 ppg) and blocked shots (3.6 bpg), second in AMCC in rebounding (11.0 rpg)...ranked third nationally in NCAA in blocked shots, 10^th in the NCAA in rebounding, and 18^th in the NCAA in scoring.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Alan Seretti (4th year) 2007-08: 10-8 AMCC, 14-13 overall
Junior G Zach Spitz (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp.)...Two year starter for the Lions...team leader in minutes per game last season with 29.6...second in AMCC in assists (4.3), second in assist-turnover ration, 10th in steals (1.33) and 11th in rebounding (4.7).
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Dave Niland (15th year) 2007-08: 15-3 AMCC, 24-5 overall
Senior F Tom Newman (Girard, PA/Northwestern.)...A standout from the three-point arc, shooting 42% (50-119) to rank #5 in the AMCC last season...second leading scorer with 9.0 ppg...started every game in 2008...also contributed 2.3 apg and 4.1 rpg. Sophomore F Adam Potter (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon)...Started all 29 games in 2008, averaging 6.6 ppg and 3.2 rpg.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Andy Moore (16th year) 2007-08: 6-12 AMCC, 10-15 overall
Senior G Shawn Spindler (Bradford, PA/Bradford)...Averaged 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.5 apg last season...led the Panthers in steals with 42...logged 32.7 minutes per game, second most on the team. Junior F Mike Ridge (Tonawanda, NY/Starpoint)...Played in all 25 games in 2008...recorded 8.7 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Jeromy Yetter (1st year) 2007-08: 10-8 AMCC, 11-15 overall
Junior F Elliott Prigrom (Washington, PA/Washington)...Shot 45.3% from the field in 18 games last season, averaging 7.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg...team's leading blocker with 14 rejections. Sophomore G Josh Kucenic (Lansdale, PA/North Penn)..Averaged 7.7 ppg and 1.0 apg while shooting 75.8% from the line...started 16 of 23 games as a freshman, averaging 22 minutes a game.