COUGARS PICKED TO WIN NORTH DIVISION IN CACC PRESEASON POLL
11-8-07
 CALDWELL,
N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team was selected to finish
first in the North Division according to the Central Atlantic Collegiate
Conference Preseason Poll released today. The Cougars, who won the CACC
Tournament last season and advanced to the NCAA Northeast Region Tournament,
received seven first-place votes and 67 points, five more than Post
University. Philadelphia University was picked to win the South, collecting
66 points.
Caldwell, coached by Mark Corino, returns 11 of 12 players from last
year's squad that finished 19-12 overall, including an 11-9 mark in
conference play. Senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our
Savior) averaged 13.9 points per game last season to earn all-CACC third
team honors, while sophomore forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham)
grabbed a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest and earned CACC Rookie of the
Week accolades four times. Senior guards Adam Sabree (pictured)
(Detroit, MI/Renaissance), Hans Stelzer (Selden, NY/Our Savior) and
Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Township) also return.
Additionally, junior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg
Harbor Twp.), who twice earned all-CACC second team honors, is back after
missing all but two games last season due to injury.
With an experienced roster back from last year's title squad, the Cougars
have received some attention from national publications. The Division II
Bulletin tabbed Caldwell as a team to watch in its NCAA Division II
Preseason Top 25 rankings, while The Sporting News included the
Cougars its list of possible breakthrough teams. Caldwell won its sixth CACC
title with a 61-60 victory over the University of the Sciences in the
finals, then narrowly lost to No. 2 Bentley, 59-56 in the first round of the
NCAA Northeast Region Tournament.
This is the first season the conference will have divisional standings, with
the top four teams in each division qualifying for the CACC Tournament. The
addition of Chestnut Hill College brings the total number of CACC members to
12 for the men and 13 for the women.
The Cougars open the 2007-08 season with a home game against Belmont Abbey
College on Saturday, Nov. 24. The tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in the George
R. Newman Center.
2007-08 CACC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
North Division
|
Pl |
Team |
2006-07 record |
Points |
|
1. |
Caldwell (7) |
19-12/11-9 CACC |
67 |
|
2. |
Post (4) |
17-12/14-6 |
62 |
|
3. |
Bloomfield (1) |
10-17/8-12 |
37 |
|
4. |
Nyack |
9-18/7-13 |
33 |
|
5. |
Dominican |
13-15/10-10 |
31 |
|
6. |
Felician |
12-16/10-10 |
22 |
South Division
|
Pl |
Team |
2006-07 record |
Points |
|
1. |
Philadelphia (7) |
20-10/14-6 CACC |
66 |
|
2. |
Holy Family (4) |
19-9/14-6 |
63 |
|
3. |
Goldey-Beacom (1) |
15-13/11-9 |
50 |
|
4. |
USP |
14-15/10-10 |
32 |
|
5. |
Wilmington |
1-26/1-19 |
28 |
|
6. |
Chestnut Hill |
19-9/13-3 NEAC |
13 |
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