Hobart chosen as 2017-18 favorite in Liberty League preseason men's basketball poll
With four starters returning from a team that compiled a 16-win season and earned a berth in the Liberty League championship game, Hobart College has been selected as the preseason favorite by the league’s head coaches. The Statesmen, who received six of a possible nine first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own teams) and 78 points, edged Skidmore College for the top spot. The Thoroughbreds received four first-place votes and 76 points. Other teams rounding out the top six were Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (52), St. Lawrence University (51), Vassar College (43) and Liberty League newcomer Ithaca College (42).
Hobart (16-11, 10-6 Liberty League) finished fourth during the regular-season in 2016-17 before upsetting top-seeded Skidmore on the road, 70-65, in the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament. The Statesmen also led in the final minute in the league championship on the road at Union before falling in the closing seconds, 71-67. With four starters and the team’s top six scorers returning from a year ago, optimism is high for fourth-year head coach Tim Sweeney who has just one senior on a talented roster. Junior guard Colin Dougherty emerged as the offensive leader for Hobart, averaging 17.3 points per game – sixth in the league. A second-team All-Liberty League selection, Dougherty also led the team in assists (71) while finishing second in rebounding (4.6 per game). Sophomore guard Tucker Lescoe (12.2 ppg, league-leading 72 3-pointers) established himself as one of the league’s top shooters while earning Rookie of the Year honors. Junior guard Jamal Lucas (11.7 ppg, team-leading 4.7 rpg, 42 steals) is a versatile player who has averaged more than 14 points per game in his first two seasons with the Statesmen. First-year player Dan Masino will also look to be a regular contributor.
Skidmore (20-8, 14-2 Liberty League) had another strong season in 2016-17, capturing the Liberty League regular-season title and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Thoroughbreds earned a first-round victory before falling to eventual national champion Babson on the road, 72-65, in the second round. Skidmore lost a key player in senior guard Aldin Medunjanin, an NABC second team All-American and two-time Liberty League Player of the Year. Medunjanin graduated as the program’s second all-time leading scorer (1,684 points) and career assist leader (552). Despite the loss of Medunjanin, the Thoroughbreds have a strong nucleus returning, led by junior guard Edvinas Rupkus. A two-time All-Liberty League first-team selection and Rookie of the Year in 2015-16, Rupkus was the league’s second-leading scorer last season (20.7 ppg) while also finishing first in free throw percentage (.883) and second in field goal percentage (.560). When Medunjanin went down with a season-ending injury early in the 2015-16 season, Rupkus carried the team as a freshman. He has scored 1,061 points in just two seasons. Skidmore also has two of the league’s top 3-point threats in junior Jack Byrne and senior Jack Morrow who finished with 66 and 68 treys respectively. Sure-handed junior guard Chase Ta (6.6 ppg) finished second on the team with 60 assists in a supporting role last season.
Rensselaer (14-11, 8-8 Liberty League) has improved its win total by three wins per year in each of head coach Mark Gilbride’s three seasons with the program. With the top two scorers returning on a roster that includes just one senior, the Engineers appear poised to continue their upward climb. Junior forward Andreas Kontopidis, an All-Liberty League second-team selection last season, emerged as the team’s offensive leader. Kontopidis, who also finished second on the team in rebounding (5.8 rpg), made significant strides as he more than doubled his scoring output from his first to second seasons, averaging 16.9 points as a sophomore, up from 7.2 as a freshman. Junior guard Tom Horvat has been among the team’s leading scorers each of his first two seasons as he boasts a career scoring average of 14.7 points. RPI graduated a pair of double-digit scorers in guard Jonathan Luster (12.9 ppg) and forward Brian Hatcher (10.1 ppg, team-leading 6.0 rpg), but the returning players along with four newcomers should help to offset the loss of two senior starters.
St. Lawrence (20-7, 13-3 Liberty League) finished second in the league standings in 2016-17 while earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Saints graduated three outstanding guards in seniors Kyle Edwards (16.5 ppg, 3.1 apg), Kyle Kobis (9.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) and Willie Zachery (13.0 ppg, 4.2 apg). Together, Edwards, Kobis and Zachery combined for 46 percent of the team’s scoring and 68 percent of the assists. The St. Lawrence backcourt will take on a different look this season, but senior forward Riley Naclerio, an All-Liberty League second-team selection, returns as one of the league’s top scorers and rebounders. The 6-8 Naclerio (18.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) is capable of scoring inside or outside as he connected on 36 shots from beyond the arc. Junior forward Ben Crawford (11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), a 60-percent shooter from the floor, should also be in for a strong campaign. Juniors Dom DeRegis and Chris Miner should also figure in more prominent roles for the Saints this season.
Vassar (6-19, 2-14 Liberty League) is poised for a strong rebound in 2017-18. In 2015-16, the Brewers went 8-8 in league play, 12-14 overall, finishing fourth in the league and earning a tournament berth. Vassar was dealt a blow in the preseason last year as Liberty League all-rookie selection Paul Grinde suffered a season-ending injury. The loss of Grinde, who averaged 12.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg as a freshman, was especially felt on the defensive end. Vassar’s rebounding margin went from +0.6 per game two years ago to -4.5 last year. The Brewers also gave up 9.2 points per game more in 2016-17. A healthy Grinde along with the return of the team’s top three scorers in junior Alex Seff (15.8 ppg), senior Jesse Browne (13.5 ppg, 66 assists, 46 3-pointers) and junior Mason Dyslin (10.6 ppg) should elevate Vassar back into Liberty League tournament contention. A solid recruiting class should add to the team’s depth.
Ithaca (9-16, 5-11 Empire 8) joins the Liberty League in 2017-18 after a long association with the Empire 8. The Bombers had four games against Liberty League opponents last year, going 1-3. The win was a big one as Ithaca knocked off Skidmore 89-85 in its fourth game of the season. The Bombers return their top five scorers from a year ago led by senior guard Marc Chasin (16.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), an All-Empire 8 honorable mention selection last season. Junior guard Matt Flood (10.4 ppg, 44.5 percent from 3-point range) and junior forward Peter Ezema (10.1 ppg, team-leading 7.1 rpg) were also double-digit scorers for the Bombers. Ithaca head coach Jim Mullins, who enters his 21st season as head coach of the Bombers, needs just two wins to reach 300 in his IC career.
RIT (12-13, 6-10 Liberty League) will take on a different look in 2017-18. The Tigers will look for a more balanced offensive attack following the departure of guard AJ Horde who led the team in scoring each of the past three seasons while scoring 1,303 points. Senior guard Troy Pierre-Louis is the team’s top returning scorer at 13.8 points per game last season. Pierre-Louis has made steady, consistent improvement over the course of his RIT career. After seeing action in just seven games and scoring five points as a freshman, he was the team’s top player off the bench as a sophomore when he averaged 6.9 points per game. After doubling his output as a junior, Pierre-Louis should be poised for a solid senior campaign. Fellow senior guard Anthony Lewis (8.3 ppg) along with sophomore forward Rob Aguilera (8.7 ppg, team-leading 6.4 rpg as a freshman) and junior center Justin Schneider (5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) should be part of an offense that distributes the scoring evenly.
Union (17-11, 10-6 Liberty League) captured the Liberty League title in 2016-17, its first in 13 years. The Dutchmen lose three key starters from that championship team including guards Deshon Burgess, Wade McNamara and Zach Bouton. Burgess, who was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA G-League draft by the Erie Bayhawks (Atlanta Hawks affiliate) after a career in which he scored 1,675 points, including 568 as a senior while leading the Dutchmen in scoring (20.3 ppg). The 2016 Liberty League Player of the Year, Burgess had an incredible postseason last year in which he averaged 30.0 points in two Liberty League tournament games and two NCAA tournament games. McNamara, an all-league second-team selection last year, averaged 15.0 points along with a league-leading 10.2 rebounds. Bouton, a starter in all 28 games, contributed 65 assists with only 25 turnovers. The Dutchmen will turn to a pair of seniors and double-figure scorers, Greg King and Kevin Weckworth, to shoulder the scoring load this season. The 6-5 King (10.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is capable from scoring from long range as he connected on 39 3-pointers last season. Weckworth (10.2 ppg) was utilized as a scoring threat off the bench last season, but is expected to be a key contributor for the Dutchmen. Junior center Brendan Laing should continue to develop as a scorer.
Clarkson (12-13, 7-9 Liberty League) graduated its top two scorers from 2016-17 in center Derek Hart (league-leading 22.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and forward Drew Zlogar (15.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg). The Golden Knights return five players who played at least 14 minutes per game including junior guard Liam Ellis who averaged 9.2 points along with a team-leading 3.1 assists. Juniors Malaquias Canery (6.0 ppg) and Matt Hornak (4.5 ppg) also saw regular playing time for Clarkson and should see increased roles this season. Fourth-year head coach Jeff Gorski has a large group of newcomers who will also look to make an immediate contribution.
Bard (4-21, 2-14 Liberty League) will be a young team with just two seniors and eight freshmen among its 15-player roster. The Raptors graduated top scorers Harry Johnson (10.6 ppg) and Chris Lockwood (9.8 ppg), but the team spread its scoring evenly among a number of players. Junior forward Armando Dunn (9.1 ppg, team-leading 6.1 rpg), junior guard David Runcie (8.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and senior forward Jelani Bell-Isaac (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) are expected to be regular contributors for Bard this season. The Raptors will look for significant contributions from a talented group of newcomers.
With the addition of Ithaca, there will now be 10 teams competing in Liberty League men’s basketball and there will be a format change to the league tournament. Six teams will now qualify for the postseason. This year, the quarterfinals take place on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the site of the third and fourth seeds of the tournament. The first and second seeds will receive a bye into the semifinals. The semifinal games will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24 and the championship game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 25. All three games (two semifinals and championship) will be hosted by the top seed. The winner of the championship earns the Liberty League’s automatic berth to the 2017 NCAA tournament.
2017-18 LIBERTY LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Hobart, 78 (6)
2. Skidmore, 76 (4)
3. RPI, 52
4. St. Lawrence, 51
5. Vassar, 43
6. Ithaca, 42
7. RIT, 38
8. Union, 34
9. Clarkson, 24
10. Bard, 9
(First-place votes are in parentheses)