Big Green Picked Sixth in Ivy League Preseason Media Poll

10/21/2015 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. — The Ivy League conducted its men's basketball teleconference call with the media today and released its preseason poll in conjunction with the event. For the third straight year, Dartmouth was picked to finish the season in sixth place, but for the first time ever, Yale finds itself atop the Ancient Eight in the 31 years of the poll's existence in one of the closest votes ever.

Yale (22-10, 11-3 Ivy) garnered 117 points and five first-place votes, just ahead of Columbia (13-15, 5-9) with 114 points and six first-place votes and Princeton (16-14, 9-5) with 108 points and six first-place votes. This was the closest margin (three points) between first and second place since 1998-99 when the margin was just two points as Princeton edged Penn. In addition, this is the first time in the poll's history that the team that finished first did not receive the most first-place votes.

2015-16 IVY LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
First-Place Votes in Parentheses
1.	Yale (5)	117
2.	Columbia (6)	114
3.	Princeton (6)	108
4.	Harvard	96
5.	Brown	54
6.	Dartmouth	50
7.	Penn	48
8.	Cornell	25

The five-time defending champion, Harvard (22-8, 11-3) was pegged for fourth due in part to the loss of senior point guard Siyani Chambers to injury for the season. The bottom half of the poll is exactly the same as last year's with Brown (13-18, 4-10) fifth, the Big Green (14-15, 7-7) sixth, Penn (9-19, 4-10) seventh and Cornell (13-17, 5-9) eighth.

Dartmouth beat the expectations last year by winning its final five regular-season games to improve to a .500 record overall and in league play, which qualified the Big Green for the postseason for the first time in 56 years. A loss in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at Canisius did not put a damper on the accomplishments of the team throughout the season, but the graduation of several key players left the media doubting Dartmouth could maintain or improve upon its place in the league standings in 2015-16.

“I certainly understand why the media picked us to finish sixth with the graduation of three of our starters,” said Dartmouth head coach Paul Cormier during the teleconference call. “I don't agree with it, but I understand. With the recruiting class we have coming in and the returning players, we have a deeper roster and have more competitive practices that bode well for the season. We are expecting to continue climbing the standings and challenge for a spot at or near the top.”

The two leading scorers from last year's squad, center Gabas Maldunas (11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and point guard Alex Mitola (12.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) both graduated, as did four-year starter John Golden (4.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg). But the Big Green can still rely on their other two starters — senior forward Connor Boehm (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in sophomore guard Miles Wright (7.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg) — as well as several others who saw considerable playing time, such as point guard Malik Gill (6.0 ppg, team-high 93 assists and 43 steals).

Along with a pair of seniors in forward Tommy Carpenter (3.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and guard Kevin Crescenzi (3.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Dartmouth will welcome the return of a trio of forwards that missed most or all of the 2014-15 campaign: seniors Brandon McDonnell and Matt Rennie, and junior Eli Harrison. Also battling for playing time will be junior center Cole Harrison, junior forward Ike Ngwudo and sophomore guards Taylor Johnson and Cameron Smith.

All the returning players will be pushed by a talented freshman class, headed by Evan Boudreaux (F, 6-8, 220) out of Lake Forest, Illinois. Both Guilien Smith (G, 6-2, 180, West Roxbury, Massachusetts) and Michael Stones (G, 6-2, 170, Orlando, Florida) will be in the mix for time on the court as well.

The season opens up at Seton Hall on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., and the home opener will take place on Nov. 29 against LIU Brooklyn at 2 p.m.