NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The Merrimack men’s basketball team was selected to finish third in the Northeast-10 Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Warriors also received a first place vote after sporting a 21-9 overall record in 2009-10 with a 16-6 mark in the conference. Earlier this week, Merrimack garnered a No. 22 ranking in the NABC National Preseason Poll.
Merrimack finished third in the Northeast-10 Conference standings at the conclusion of last season. The Warriors claimed an 80-72 win over Southern N.H. in the quarterfinals of the conference playoffs. UMass Lowell eliminated Merrimack in the semifinals 80-70 but Merrimack avenged that loss with an 81-62 victory in the quarterfinals of the NCAA East Regional. The Warriors were edged 83-79 by Bentley in the NCAA East Regional semis to close out the year.
Head coach Bert Hammel is entering his 31st season at the helm of the Warriors and will look to post a winning-record for the fourth-consecutive year.
Senior Darin Mency (Hagerstown, Md.) is Merrimack’s top returning scorer. Mency averaged 16.9 points per game a year ago while pulling down 7.4 rebounds per contest. The Warriors return eight players from the 2009-10 roster and have added a trio of freshmen for the upcoming campaign.
Five squads garnered first-place votes in the preseason poll. Bentley is the preseason favorite after receiving nine first place votes and accumulating 216 points. Saint Anselm earned 195 points and one pick to finish first, good for second. Saint Rose ranked fourth and received two picks to claim the crown. Stonehill received three votes to repeat as Northeast-10 champions.
The Warriors open the 2010-11 season November 12 against Concordia as part of the Bentley Tip-Off Classic.
www.merrimackathletics.com
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