UM teams picked 2nd in polls No complaints by men’s team

DURHAM, N.H. – No argument.

That was the reaction of the University of Maine contingent attending the annual North Atlantic Conference men’s basketball press day Tuesday at the University of New Hampshire when informed the preseason coaches poll had picked the Black Bears to finish second in the newly expanded eight-team league.

Delaware, a first-year entry in the NAC, was picked to finish first, garnering four first-place votes. Maine followed, earning two first-place votes. Hartford was third (one first-place vote), followed by defending champion Northeastern (1), Boston University, Vermont, new entry Drexel of Philadelphia, and New Hampshire.

“I think it takes a little pressure off us,” said UM senior guard Marty Higgins, reacting to the poll and noting that two preseason publications had picked the Bears to finish first. “It gives us something to shoot for now. It gives us more incentive. It gives us something to get mad at.”

Fourth-year Maine head coach Rudy Keeling said last year’s 13-16 season, which included an 81-76 loss at Delaware, explained the coaches’ predictions.

“It’s where I thought we’d be picked, second or third,” said Keeling, who returns four starters and 10 lettermen, seven of whom are sophomores. “I think coming off what Delaware did last year, beating us, beating Vermont and having so much back, I think they should be first.

“I think it’s good for us because I think our kids have something to build on,” Keeling continued. “They’ve done something that hasn’t been done at Maine in awhile to be picked to finish second. But it doesn’t mean anything. We still have to win games.”

Delaware Coach Steve Steinwedel, who returns his top five scorers and rebounders from last year’s 16-13 entry in the East Coast Conference, said his team is looking at the preseason poll as a challenge.

“We’re excited with it,” said Steinwedel. “It’s a great indication of where our program has grown. It also means our players have a job to do. Preseason predictions are more for the media and fans. It’s the final poll in March that counts and there’s a long time between now and March.”

Hartford (13-16 last year) earned the No. 3 spot mainly due to the return of 6-foot-10 junior center Vin Baker, who earned preseason All-NAC honors after averaging 19.6 points and 10.4 rebounds a year ago.

Northeastern (22-11) lost its top eight players from last year’s title squad, but sixth-year head coach Karl Fogel isn’t convinced his bevy of sophomores and freshmen won’t pressure the teams picked ahead of the Huskies.

“I’ve been around this thing long enough to say there’s no dominant team in the league this year,” Fogel said. “There’s no team like the BU teams and Northeastern teams and Siena, that dominated in the past. I think any team in the league, if it gets hot in the tournament, can win it.”

Joining Hartford’s Baker on the Preseason All-NAC team, also announced Tuesday, was 6-3 Maine senior guard Derrick Hodge, who is sitting out the first eight games to concentrate on his academics; 6-7 Vermont senior center Kevin Roberson, 6-7 BU senior forward Jason Scott, and 6-2 Drexel senior guard Mike Thompson.

NAC Polls

Men

1. Delaware (4) 2. MAINE (2) 3. Hartford (1) 4. Northeastern (1) 5. Boston University 6. Vermont 7. Drexel 8. New Hampshire