Nov. 2, 2011
View the NABC Preseason Coaches Poll
The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team was selected No. 23 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Preseason Poll, released Tuesday.
The poll is the latest news of what has been high preseason billing for the River Hawks, who were selected No. 1 in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll last week. UMass Lowell was also tabbed No. 10 in the Sporting News Division II Poll, released early in September.
UMass Lowell was among three NE-10 teams cited to the NABC poll. The College of Saint Rose came in at No. 20 while Bentley received votes. Other East Region teams included C.W. Post and Bloomfield College, who also received votes.
The River Hawks return 13 veterans and all five starters from last year’s team which went 20-10 overall and 14-8 in the NE-10 (tied for fifth). Despite their youth (six freshmen and four sophomores in 2010-11), UMass Lowell advanced to the NE-10 Tournament semifinal as well as the NCAA Tournament first round for the third straight year and eighth time in 11 years.
Highlighting UMass Lowell's returning corps is sophomore G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.), who led the River Hawks in scoring with 18.2 points per game; and sophomore G Scotty Tavares-Taylor (Roxbury, Mass.), who averaged 16.0 points and 4.7 assists in UMass Lowell's first three games before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
Junior F Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.), who registered 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while converting 65 3-point attempts a year ago, also returns while senior G Robbie Walton (South Boston, Mass.), with averages of 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals, also returns.
The River Hawks also welcome back junior F Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) (9.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) as well as sophomores Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) (9.1 ppg, .550 FG%) and Darrell Ward (White Plains, N.Y.) (4.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .610 FG%).
UMass Lowell opens the 2011-12 season in the University of Bridgeport Classic on Nov. 12-13, in which the River Hawks face the host Purple Knights Nov. 12 and Post University on Nov. 13.
After a key clash at Bentley Nov. 16, the River Hawks open at home Nov. 19 against Philadelphia University.
