LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis University men's basketball team has been tabbed to finish eighth according to the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll, announced by the league during its Virtual Media Day on Tuesday.
Wagner College received seven of the 10 first place votes to be selected as the preseason favorite. Bryant University picked up two first place nods to finish second, while Mount St. Mary's University earned the final first place selection to place fourth. Long Island University, Merrimack College, Sacred Heart University, St. Francis Brooklyn, the Red Flash, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Central Connecticut State rounded out the 10-team poll.
Saint Francis returns 15of its 16 players, including its Top-6 scorers and four starters from last season.
Ramiir Dixon-Conover (Newark, N.J.) was named an All-NEC third-team selection after leading the team with 15.5 points per game and ranked second with 5.6 rebounds per game.
Myles Thompson (Camden, N.J.) was second on the team with 10.1 points per game and third with 5.4 rebounds per game.
Maxwell Land (Cincinnati, Ohio) (8.7 ppg.), Ronnell Giles, Jr. (Brandywine, Md.) (8.9 ppg.),
Marlon Hargis (Mays Landing, N.J.) (8.3 ppg.) and
Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa.) (8.0 ppg.) and return in 2021-22. Flagg fueled the squad with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Dixon-Conover, Thompson and local product
Luke Ruggery (Duncansville, Pa.) will serve as team captains in 2021-22.
The Red Flash finished 6-16 overall and 5-13 in the NEC in 2021-22. Head coach
Rob Krimmel enters his 10th season at the helm of his alma mater and has led Saint Francis to the league postseason seven times in the last eight seasons. In the three of the last four campaigns, the Red Flash has advanced to the NEC Championship Game and participated in three postseason tournaments.
The NEC returns to its regular format in 2021-22 with a home-and-home conference schedule and an eight-team postseason tournament.
Saint Francis opens the season at George Washington University on Tuesday, November 9. Game time is 8 p.m. The Red Flash will make its DeGol Arena debut against Franciscan University on Monday, February 15. Game time is 7 p.m.
