AMCC Basketball Preseason Poll

2009-10 MEN'S BASKETBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

MEDAILL EXPECTED TO REPEAT
AS AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPS

Medaille College earned 6 first place votes in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference men's basketball coaches' preseason poll, indicating that their league competitors know that the Mavericks' success last season was no fluke. Medaille went 14-4 in the AMCC and 21-7 overall, winning the conference championship and earning the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Expected to be nipping at their heels, however, will be Penn State Behrend, three- time AMCC champions. The Behrend Lions were picked to finish second, followed by last year's championship game finalist Pitt-Bradford.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were awarded to Keith Hack of Medaille College. The senior guard/forward was a first team all-conference selection in 2009. He averaged 14.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg to lead the Mavericks to the AMCC title and the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA tournament. Hack scored 23 points in a hard fought first round loss at John Carroll.

This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its ranks; the Spartans previously competed in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). The AMCC kicks off conference play on Tuesday, November 24, and the championship will be Saturday, February 27, 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. Medaille (1)
2. Penn St. Behrend (2)
3. Pitt-Bradford (2)
4. Frostburg St. (2)
5. La Roche (6)
6. Mount Aloysius (8)
7. Penn St. Altoona (5)
8. Pitt-Greensburg (7)
9. Hilbert (9)
10. Franciscan (10)
11, D'Youville (N/A)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2009

Preseason Player of the Year
KEITH HACK, MEDAILLE COLLEGE

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Glen Taplin (1st year) 2008-09: 10-16 overall
Sophomore F Lionel Ellis (Buffalo, NY)...Transfer from Buffalo State...high school accolades included NYCHSAA all-star team and All-City honorable mention, averaging 17.5 ppg , 7.0apg and 5.0 rpb. Freshman G Victor Arroyo (Buffalo, NY/Lafayette)...Fourth team All-Western NY and first team All-City...all-time assist leader at Lafayette High School...averaged 15.0 ppg, 12.0 apg, 5.0 spg and 5.0 rpg his senior year.
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Sean Donovan (4th year) 2008-09: 1-17 AMCC, 4-21 overall
Senior G/F Josh Doucolumbier (Los Angeles, CA/St. John Bosco)...AMCC Honorable Mention Team in 2009...ranked second in the conference in scoring (25.9 ppg) and ninth in rebounding (5.8 rpg). Junior G/F Connor Flanagan (Richfield, OH/St. Ignatius of Loyola)...Returns from taking a spring semester to study in Europe...led the Barons in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.6) in the first half of the season.
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Webb Hatch (11th year) 2008-09: 13-5 AMCC, 17-10 overall
Junior G Brian Anderson (Perry Hall, MD/Eastern Tech)...A first team All-AMCC selection in 2009...led the Bobcats in scoring (13.1 ppg), shooting 46.9% from the field and 35.5% from the three-point line...also contributed 3.6 rpg, 81 assists and 40 steals. Junior F/C Mbusha Koffa (Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley)...Solid presence in the paint with 6.6 ppg, (50% field goal percentage), 5.7 rpg and 25 blocks...also contributed 44 steals and 32 assists while shooting 76% from the free throw line.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Rob deGrandpre (8th year) 2008-09: 3-15 AMCC, 4-21 overall
Sophomore F Nick Piccone (North Chili, NY/Aquinas Institute...Saw action in all 25 games in 2008-09, averaging 3.8 ppg and 1.9 rpg...shot 32% from the arc and 86% from the free throw line. Junior G Cody Troutman (South Dayton, NY/Pine Valley)...Transfer from Jamestown CC where he was a 2008-09 NJCAA Region III Div. II Third Team selection.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Scott Lang (13th year) 2008-09: 10-8 AMCC, 14-12 overall
No information available.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Mike MacDonald (4th Year) 2008-09: 14-4 AMCC, 21-7 overall
Senior G/F Keith Hack (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay)...First team all-conference selection in 2009...averaged 14.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg to lead the Mavericks to the AMCC title...two time AMCC Player of the Week...scored 23 points in the the NCAA tournament vs. John Carroll. Junior G Ricky Reed (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta)...Second team All-AMCC last season...contributed 12.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.0 apg...MVP of the AD ProSports Classic.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Lance Loya (7th year) 2008-09: 5-13 AMCC, 8-17 overall
Senior G Tyrone Lowery (Suitland, MD/E.P.C.S.)...Averaged 10.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg...ranked third in the AMCC in rebounding in 2008-09.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Billy Clapper (1st year) 2008-09: 11-7 AMCC, 14-13 overall
Junior F Kirk Peters (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp.)...Honorable Mention All-AMCC last season...averaged 12.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 1.6 spg...shot 52.4% from the field. Senior G Zach Spitz (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp.)...The Lions' floor leader with a league-best 4.23 apg and 1.46 spg...also contribute 4.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Dave Niland (16th year) 2008-09: 13-5 AMCC, 18-10 overall
Junior F Adam Potter (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon)...Second Team all-conference selection in 2009...the Behrend Lions' second leading scorer with 13.2 ppg and top rebounder with 6.0 rpg. Senior G Adam Kaiser (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep)...Named to the All-AMCC First Team last season...led the team in scoring with a 13.6 ppg average.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Andy Moore (17th year) 2008-09: 13-5 AMCC, 17-12 overall
Sophomore F Zach Moore (Olean, NY/Olean)...Second Team All-AMCC in 2009...led the Panthers to the conference championship game with 14.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg. Sophomore F Sam Moore (Olean, NY/Olean)...AMCC Newcomer of the Year...contributed 11.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg...strong three-point range, shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Jeromy Yetter (2nd year) 2008-09: 7-11 AMCC, 8-17 overall
Senior G Rashad Davison (Nashington, PA/Nashington)...Started 24 of 25 games last season, averaging 33.2 minutes per game...contributed 10.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg for the Bobcats.