MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the Northeast-10 standings this season, as the league coaches voted in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll that was unveiled Thursday.
For the first time since the 2012-13 season, the NE10 men's basketball standings will not be broken into two divisions (Northeast and Southwest), but instead feature all 13 programs competing for one regular season championship.
The Penmen totaled 102 points, while the University of New Haven took the top spot with 133 points and five of a possible 12 first-place votes. Pace University (127) and Bentley University (126) collected four first-place votes each and placed second and third, respectively. Saint Anselm College finished fourth (111).
Adelphi University (82) slotted in sixth, with Franklin Pierce University (67) narrowly edging Le Moyne College (65) for seventh. Assumption University and the College of Saint Rose tied for ninth with 57 points, while Saint Michael's College (43), Southern Connecticut State University (29) and American International College (15) rounded out the poll.
In his fifth year as head coach, Jack Perri brings back nine players from a 2021-22 campaign that saw SNHU finish 13-11, including 9-9 in the league. The Penmen earned the No. 5 seed in the Northeast Division and dropped an NE10 Championship first round contest. SNHU returns second leading scorer, junior Matt Becht (Vienna, Va.), who averaged 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game, while slashing .412/.386/.919. Becht's 76 3-pointers made are tied for the 10th most in a single season in program history. Junior Noah Kamba (Lynn, Mass.) is also back after averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal per contest.
The Penmen play exhibition games against a pair of Division-I opponents in St. John's University (Oct. 29) and Syracuse University (Nov.1), before tipping off their season Saturday, Nov. 12 (3 p.m.) at the University of Bridgeport. They remain in Bridgeport and take on Post University on Sunday (Nov. 13). The first home contest for SNHU is Tuesday, Nov. 22 (7:30 p.m.) when it plays host to Bentley University at the Stan Spirou Field House.
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2022-23 NE10 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1) New Haven – 133 (5)
2) Pace – 127 (4)
3) Bentley – 126 (4)
4) Saint Anselm – 111
5) Southern N.H. – 102
6) Adelphi – 82
7) Franklin Pierce – 67
8) Le Moyne - 65
9) Assumption – 57
9) Saint Rose – 57
11) Saint Michael's – 43
12) Southern Conn. – 29
13) American Int'l – 15
(#) indicates number of first-place votes
