Skidmore tabbed unanimous preseason favorite in 2016-17 Men's Basketball poll

November 15, 2016

For the second straight season, defending champion Skidmore College has been selected as the unanimous choice of the coaches to capture the 2016-17 Liberty League men’s basketball championship. The Thoroughbreds, who received eight first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own teams), were picked first by the coaches with 64 points. St. Lawrence, which received 55 points, was picked second. Hobart (48), Union (45) and RIT (37) rounded out the top five.
 
Skidmore (19-9, 11-5 Liberty League) entered the 2015-16 season as the league favorite and emerged as the champion, but the road was not easy for the Thoroughbreds. Guard Aldin Medunjanin, the 2014-15 Liberty League Player of the Year was expected to be the floor general for a young Skidmore team, but his season was cut short due to injury after just five games. As a result, the Thoroughbreds needed find a new identity in midseason. After starting league play at 3-3, Skidmore went 6-1 over its final seven games to earn the top seed in the Liberty League tournament. Rookie guard Edvinas Rupkus, the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, became the team’s go-to scorer in the second half of the season as he averaged a team-best 17.2 points while shooting 55.2 percent. With Medunjanin back and healthy for a fifth season after receiving a medical redshirt and Rupkus primed to follow up a strong rookie campaign, hopes are high for the Thoroughbreds. Skidmore loses a 1,000-point scorer in graduated senior Erik Sanders, but the team returns a host of experienced players including guards Royce Paris, Jack Morrow, Jack Byrne, Chase Ta, forwards Martin Bedulskij, Charlie Williams and center Marcus Jackson as it aims for a third straight Liberty League title.
 
St. Lawrence (14-12, 9-7 Liberty League), which lost by just four points – 72-68 – to Skidmore in the Liberty League championship game, will be poised to make a strong run at the title this season. The Saints return all five starters along with their top eight scorers from a year ago. All-Liberty League first-team selection, senior guard Kyle Edwards leads a balanced St. Lawrence offense. Edwards, who averaged 14.9 points while shooting 43 percent from three-point range, was one of four Saints to average double figures. Junior forward Riley Naclerio (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), who will be one of the league’s top big men, came on strong at the end of last season as he poured in 32 points in a Liberty League tournament semifinal win at Union. Senior guards Kyle Kobis (8.5 ppg, 2.9 apg) and Willie Zachery (10.6 ppg) along with sophomore forward Ben Crawford (10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) provide the Saints with multiple offensive options.
 
Hobart (12-13, 8-8 Liberty League) was an extremely young team last season. The Statesmen had an entirely new starting five with no seniors on its roster. Despite the inexperience, Hobart finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Liberty League, narrowly missing a league tournament berth. With all of the experience gained by the youthful team last season, the Statesmen should be in for a strong 2016-17 campaign. Hobart’s top three scorers were freshmen last season, led by dynamic rookie guard Jamal Lucas (16.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) who led the team in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots while finishing tied for second in assists. Fellow rookie Colin Dougherty (12,5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) was a starter in all 25 games while averaging a team-best 30.9 minutes. Senior guard Pete Drescher (7.0 ppg) and junior forward Luke Ruddy (6.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) also return as experienced starters.
 
Union (13-12, 10-6 Liberty League) returns three starters from last year’s team that finished second behind Skidmore in the Liberty League standings. The Dutchmen are led by 2015-16 Liberty League Player of the Year, senior guard Deshon Burgess who led the team in both scoring and assists (19.9 ppg, 2.8 apg). Union had one of the league’s most consistent starting lineups with the same starting five for 24 of their 25 games. Fellow senior guards Zach Bouton (6.5 ppg, 2.7 apg) and Wade McNamara (10.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) join Burgess as returning starters. Sophomore Kevin McNoble and junior Matt Liquori both averaged more than 11 minutes off the bench and will vie for larger roles this season.
 
RIT (12-13, 8-8 Liberty League) finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Liberty League standings last season, narrowly missing out on a league tournament berth. The Tigers return two starters, including league scoring champion, junior guard A.J. Horde (21.0 ppg, 5.0 apg). Horde, an All-Liberty League first-team selection, connected on 66 three-pointers while also making 92 free throws – seventh-most in the league – making him a threat from the outside as well as off the dribble. Senior forward Mitch Herman (8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) joins Horde as a returning starter. A trio of juniors – Joe Stortini, Anthony Lewis and Troy Pierre Lewis are also expected play significant roles for RIT this season.
 
RPI (12-13, 6-10 Liberty League) continued to show improvement in head coach Mark Gilbride’s second season in Troy. The Engineers improved from eight wins in 2014-15 to 12 last season and, with four starters returning, look to make another move up the league standings this year. RPI is led offensively by sophomore guard Tom Horvat. The league’s eighth-leading scorer and Liberty League All-Rookie selection, Horvat averaged 15.3 points while knocking down 58 three-pointers. He also led the league with 74 steals, 25 more than Hobart’s Jamal Lucas, who had 49. Also returning to the Engineers’ starting lineup are senior guards Nate Kane (5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Jonathan Luster (7.7 ppg, 2.5 apg) and emerging sophomore center Marcus Giese (6.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg).
 
Vassar (12-14, 8-8 Liberty League) made a significant step forward last season, improving from a 3-13 league mark in 2014-15 to 8-8 last season. The Brewers finished in a three-way tie for fourth and earned a bid to the league tournament where they dropped an 82-71 decision to top-seeded Skidmore after leading by five points at halftime. Vassar graduated All-League guard Erickson Wasyl, but returns three starters led by leading scorer, junior guard Jesse Browne (15.6 ppg, 2.3 apg,). An All-Liberty League second-team selection, Browne connected on 42.5 percent from three-point range. Sophomore guard Alex Seff (7.4 ppg) and senior forward Mickey Adams (7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) join Browne as returning starters. The Brewers were dealt a blow when All-Rookie sophomore center Paul Grinde (12.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg) suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.
 
The 2015-16 season was a rebuilding year for Clarkson (9-16, 6-10 Liberty League) after losing an experienced group of seniors that guided the Golden Knights to the Liberty League championship game the year before. With four starters and seven of the team’s top eight scorers returning from last season, Clarkson is looking for a strong rebound this season. Senior forward Derek Hart (12.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 57 percent FG) could emerge as one of the league’s best post players. Senior guard Conrad Zampier (10.4 ppg, 40 3-pt FG) is also a returning double-figure scorer. Senior forward Drew Zlogar (8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) along with sophomore guards Liam Ellis (3.9 ppg) and Malaquis Canery (5.0 ppg) figure to play larger roles this season.
 
Bard (9-16, 6-10 Liberty League) continues to show steady development since joining the Liberty League in 2011-12. The Raptors return three starters, but will need to replace a pair of double-figure scorers in guards DeVahnte Mosley (15.8 ppg) and Emmanuel Rainey (14.0 ppg). Sophomore forward Armando Dunn (7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and senior guard Harry Johnson (7.2 ppg) are Bard’s top returning scorers and will provide a veteran presence for a young group looking to continue its climb up the Liberty League standings.
 
2016-17 LIBERTY LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
 
1. Skidmore, 64 (8)
2. St. Lawrence, 55 (1)
3. Hobart, 48
4. Union, 45
5. RIT, 37
6. RPI, 24
7. Vassar, 22
8, Clarkson, 17
9. Bard, 12
 
(First-place votes are in parentheses)