Merrimack Men's Hoops Picked First In NEC Preseason Poll

NEWARK, NJ — The Merrimack College men's basketball team was picked to finish first in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, which was revealed at Wednesday's Media Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The Warriors received six of a possible nine first-place votes, earning the top spot in the NEC's preseason poll for the first time in program history. Sacred Heart received two first-place votes and was picked second. Saint Francis (Pennsylvania) was picked third, Wagner fourth and Saint Francis Brooklyn was picked fifth.

Last season, Merrimack finished 14-16 overall, 9-8 in the NEC, which was good for fifth place in the conference. But the Warriors return four senior starters in forward Jordan Minor, forward/guard Ziggy Reid, guard Mykel Derring and guard Jordan McKoy.

"I don't put a whole lot of stock into that (poll), but I'm happy for our guys, our four seniors, they were our first four players off our bench on that (NEC) championship team four years ago," Warriors head coach Joe Gallo said during Media Day. "Fast forward three, four years, and that same group has stayed together, and the respect from their peers to pick these guys No. 1 is a credit to them."

Reid, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Baltimore, joined Gallo at Media Day and explained why he felt the Warriors would be better than last season.

"We're more consistent every day," Reid said. "As the four seniors, we know what winning looks like and we know what losing looks like, and we know if we're inconsistent that we're not going to get to the level we want to get to. So, I feel consistency is the big key for us."

Minor, meanwhile, was named to the preseason All-NEC team. Last season, the 6-8 Kingston native averaged 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

The Warriors are scheduled to open the regular season on Nov. 7 at St. John's. Merrimack's first home game is at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 against Clark University. That contest will be played at Hammel Court.

The Merrimack women's team was picked to finish fifth in the NEC preseason poll.

Warriors' junior forward Teneisia Brown was named to the preseason All-NEC Team. Last season, the Mt. Vernon, New York native averaged 10.5 points per game for a Merrimack team that went 9-17, 7-11.

The Merrimack women's team opens the 2022-23 season on Nov. 7 at home against Holy Cross.