Molloy Men's Basketball Ranked Fifth in ECC Preseason Poll

The East Coast Conference recently put out its preseason poll for men's basketball, and Molloy ranked fifth in the league for the 2010-11 campaign. Senior forward Brian Hutchinson earned preseason player of the year honors after raking last year's impressive averages of 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. 

In addition to those averages, Hutchinson shot 50.3 percent (152-for-302) from field-goal range, while pouring in 38 assists, 13 blocks and 12 steals. Among NCAA Division II, he ranked 37th in rebounds per game. Then, in the ECC, the Elmont local led the league in rebounding, while placing sixth in scoring, ninth in free-throw percentage (.677) and 11th in field-goal percentage. For his efforts on the court, Hutchinson won first-team laurels from the East Coast Conference and Met Basketball Writers Association.

Head Coach Charles Marquardt and the Lions open up the 2010-11 campaign on Nov. 19 when they face local rival Adelphi University on Day One of the third-annual Lions' Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Lady Lions Hoops

The Molloy College women's basketball team was ranked second in the East Coast Conference preseason poll. Coming off of its second league title and NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in three years, the Lions earned two first-place nods with 48 points, listed only behind preseason favorite C.W. Post, which amassed 58 points and five votes.

Molloy brings back just one starter from last season's championship team. Senior center Caitlin Wheeler had 6.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 2009-10. She also swatted away a single-season record 104 blocks at the college, and is four shy of breaking the all-time mark. Among the nation's leaderboard, Wheeler was second-best in blocks per game with a 3.5 a game.

Head Coach Tim O'Hagan and the Lions start up the 2010-11 season on Nov. 13 when they host Franklin Pierce University in a re-match of last year's NCAA East Regional semifinal on Day One of the ECC/Northeast-10 Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.