Wells Men's Basketball Picked Fourth In NEAC

The Wells College men's basketball team was picked fourth in the North Eastern Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll for the 2016-17 season and received one first-place vote from league coaches.

Wells qualified for the NEAC playoffs in the 2015-16 season with a 10-7 record in the NEAC. The Express placed third in the North Division and lost a first-round playoff game at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Wells was 12-13 overall.

Nine players from last year's roster return to the team this season including sophomore Rich Ross, who was 2015-16 NEAC Rookie of the Year and made the All-NEAC Second Team. Seniors Vaughndell Brantley, James Feocco, and Chris Courtney are other key returners. Head coach Joe Wojtylko enters his ninth season at the helm of the Express, and the team has made the NEAC playoffs in six of his first eight campaigns.

Wells begins its season Tuesday, Nov. 15 at home against Alfred University at 7 p.m. The first NEAC game for the Express is Nov. 30 at Cazenovia College.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute was picked first in the poll with five first-place votes. Gallaudet University was second and Morrisville State College was third. The preseason poll rankings were conducted by the NEAC men's basketball coaches, with each coach ranking out all teams but their own using a staggered points system.

2016-17 Men's Basketball Schedule

2016-17 NEAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (5), 157

2. Gallaudet University (4), 152

3. Morrisville State College (2), 140

4. Wells College (1), 137

5. Lancaster Bible College (2), 135

6. Penn State Berks, 90

7. Bryn Athyn College, 89

8. Keuka College, 89

9. Penn State Abington, 66

10. Cazenovia College, 63

11. Wilson College, 57

12. Penn College, 48

13. SUNY Cobleskill, 36

14. College of Saint Elizabeth, 15