Posted: Nov 10, 2015
Sage Predicted to Repeat as Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Champs; 2015-16 Preseason Poll Released
NEW YORK - The Skyline Conference's 11 head men's basketball coaches recently voted in the 2015-16 Preseason Poll, and with a total of eight first-place votes, head coach Brian Barnes's Gators of The Sage Colleges are predicted to repeat as conference champions this year.
Sage (97 points), which returns senior guard and 2014-15 All-Skyline Conference First-Team recipient, Andre Robinson (Fort Pierce, FL/Fort Pierce Westwood) (11 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), is trailed in the tally by Old Westbury (one first-place vote, 82 points), which is led by junior forward and 2014-15 second-team all-conference member, Mark Gjonlekaj (11.5 ppg, 1.3 bpg).
The Gators return seven letterwinners from the program's NCAA Tournament team that went 23-5 overall after a 15-3 showing in the league. Named Coach of the Year by the Skyline Conference, the ECAC, as regional coach of the year by both the D3Hoops.com and the NABC, Barnes is now in his seventh season and sports a career record of 81-76 at the helm of the Gators.
Purchase (55) and Mount Saint Mary (one first-place vote, 53) check in at sixth and seventh, respectively, while 2015-16 Skyline Conference newcomer St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (43) and Farmingdale State (42) were separated by one voting point. Maritime (24) and Sarah Lawrence (10) round out the poll.
Sage (97 points), which returns senior guard and 2014-15 All-Skyline Conference First-Team recipient, Andre Robinson (Fort Pierce, FL/Fort Pierce Westwood) (11 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), is trailed in the tally by Old Westbury (one first-place vote, 82 points), which is led by junior forward and 2014-15 second-team all-conference member, Mark Gjonlekaj (11.5 ppg, 1.3 bpg).
Sage also returns 2015 Skyline All-Conference performer, 2015 Skyline Defensive Player of the Year in senior Travis Gill (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) as well as senior forward Melvin Ford (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional), who paced the Gators with his 9.0 ppg and 8.2 rpg averages.
The Gators return seven letterwinners from the program's NCAA Tournament team that went 23-5 overall after a 15-3 showing in the league. Named Coach of the Year by the Skyline Conference, the ECAC, as regional coach of the year by both the D3Hoops.com and the NABC, Barnes is now in his seventh season and sports a career record of 81-76 at the helm of the Gators.
Sage opens the 2015-2016 season on November 13 and 14 at the Nazareth College Golden Flyer Tip-Off Tournament. The Gators open the year facing Alfred State on Fridat at 6 p.m. The team's home opener is slated for Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. as they host the Fighting Tigers of SUNY-Cobleskill.
In third on the tally is St. Joseph's-Long Island (one first-place vote, 74 points), while Mount Saint Vincent (64) and Yeshiva (61) round out the top-five.Purchase (55) and Mount Saint Mary (one first-place vote, 53) check in at sixth and seventh, respectively, while 2015-16 Skyline Conference newcomer St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (43) and Farmingdale State (42) were separated by one voting point. Maritime (24) and Sarah Lawrence (10) round out the poll.
2015-16 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball
Pre-season Coaches' Poll
Place. Team (first-place votes), voting points (2014-15 record / Skyline record)
1. Sage (8), 97 (23-5 / 15-3)
2. Old Westbury (1), 82 (13-14 / 12-6)
3. St. Joseph's-Long Island (1), 74 (17-10 / 13-5)
4. Mount Saint Vincent, 64 (18-9 / 13-5)
5. Yeshiva, 61 (14-11 / 11-7)
6. Purchase, 55 (9-17 / 9-9)
7. Mount Saint Mary (1), 53 (8-17 / 7-11)
8. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 43 (18-10 overall)
9. Farmingdale State, 42 (8-17 / 6-12)
10. Maritime, 24 (6-19 / 4-14)
11. Sarah Lawrence, 10 (1-24 / 0-18)