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2015-16 MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL & VIDEO: Christopher Newport Tabbed as Preseason Favorite

2015-16 MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL & VIDEO: Christopher Newport Tabbed as Preseason Favorite

WATCH: CAC Men's Basketball Preseason Webcast

YORK, Pa. -- Christopher Newport was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2015 CAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, voted on by the head coaches around the conference. CNU received eight first-place votes and totaled 80 points to sit atop the poll. 

Salisbury gained a pair of first-place votes and 68 points to nab second in the voting, slightly ahead of third-place St. Mary's (67 points). Mary Washington was next with 54 points, while Marymount wrapped up the top five with 44 points. 

Wesley was picked to finish sixth with a tally of 37 points, followed by York (33 points), Frostburg State (29 points), Penn State Harrisburg (27 points) and Southern Virginia (11 points). 

Last season, Salisbury captured its second CAC title in program history and first since 1995-96 with a dramatic championship game triumph over Christopher Newport. The Sea Gulls represented the CAC in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round. 

Below is a team-by-team breakdown of what to expect this season: 

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT graduated a top ten scorer all-time, but expectations remain high as the remainder of the 2015 CAC runner-up Captains is back in the fold this season. That includes CAC Rookie of the Year and CNU's leading scorer Marcus Carter and junior All-Conference forward Tim Daly. Carter led the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5.4 rpg) while Daly led the team on the glass (7.4 rpg) and was third in scoring (11.5 ppg). The duo will anchor a young, talented squad that is looking for its fourth 20-win season in the sixth year under head coach John Krikorian. Nine players, including seniors Connor Laframboise and Hunter Wetherell, who registered double-figure minutes last season will be back on the court this season.

FROSTBURG STATE narrowly missed the CAC Tournament last season and 17th-year head coach Webb Hatch and his 2015 version of the Frostburg men's basketball team returns a wealth of talent and is ready to turn the corner and compete for the league title. Seniors Nick Smoot (12.0 ppg) and James Peters (16.7 ppg) each took their turn in leading the Bobcats in scoring over the last two seasons and FSU returns three of its top five rebounders from a season ago.

MARY WASHINGTON will look to build on the momentum it built at the end of last season, as the Eagles advanced to the league semifinals. Heading the list of returnees is all-conference sophomore forward Eric Shaw, who averaged 12.8 PPG game a year ago. Also back are starters John Lutkenhaus (8.6 PPG) and Brent Mahoney (7.2 PPG). A group of newcomers will provide depth as the Eagles look to get back to the CAC title game.

MARYMOUNT will turn to the senior class consisting of Colin Burkhart, Rick Narcisse and Danny Ferry to lead a Saints' squad that graduated six, including two 1,000-point scorers in Jesse Konadu and Antonio Rouse and the league's leading rebounder, JC Hoellich. Ferry returns as a long-ball threat with sophomore D'Ondre Stockman, who led the conference in three-point percentage with 46.7 and 48.4, respectively. The sophomore class also sees Dmitri Rucker return with his physicality on the defensive end, averaging 0.7 blocks per game. The squad brings in five newcomers including four freshmen and junior transfer Jesse Longmire.

PENN STATE HARRISBURG will look to improve on their 3-22 record from last year as they build for the 2015-16 season. The team will return its top two scorers in Arick Sodini and Anthony Morgan who will add strong leadership for the Lions' young and upbeat team. The team will boasts 12 new players with nine freshmen and three junior transfers looking to contribute right away for the Lions.

ST. MARY'S has been one of the top teams in the conference for the past eight years, winning four CAC championships and picking up six regular-season titles. With a young but talented squad this year, the Seahawks will battle every night to maintain their status near the top of the CAC. Tanner Brooks, a 2015 All-CAC performer, will look to lead 11 newcomers and a small core of returners through the rigors of league play.

SALISBURY goes for back-to-back CAC championships in 2015-16, coming off the program's second league title last year. First-year head coach Andrew Sachs returns three starters from a year ago, including All-CAC First-Team selection Justin Witmer. The junior averaged 12 points a game last year, shooting 41.7 percent from three-point land. Gordon Jeter, who started all 29 game last season, averaged eight points per game and 5.6 rebounds, which was second on the team. Senior guard Rocky Harris returns for his final year, coming off a season in which he produced a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Senior Kyle Savercool played in all 29 games and averaged 24.7 minutes per game in 2014-15 despite starting just 12 contests. He was good for 8.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Under the direction of fourth year head coach Tony Caputo the Knights from SOUTHERN VIRGINIA are looking for their first playoff appearance since joining the CAC. Returning from last year are leading scorers Kevin Walker and David Baety, among others. The growing experience of the program in the CAC may boost the Knights up from a 9th place rank.

WESLEY is poised to rebound from a down year last season. After back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2013 and 2014, the Wolverines missed the big dance last season with a 12-14 overall mark. With new head coach Dean Burrows at the helm, the squad will lean on seniors Wayne Lennon and Anthony Bowers, as well as a supporting cast of athletic playmakers to right the ship and return the Wesley squad to the NCAA Tournament.

YORK enters Matt Hunter's fourth year looking to make a jump in the CAC standings. Hunter's squad will be led by senior Chris Conway, and juniors Dalton Myers and Brad Wesner. The Spartans, who have missed the tournament the last two seasons, welcome in a talented core of freshman who will contribute to the Spartan squad in 2015-16. Myers led the Spartans last year in scoring at 13.5 points per game as he shot 52.3% from the floor. Sophomores Mike Duffy, Matt Scamuffo, and Blayde Reich will also play key roles for the Green and White.

2015-16 CAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Christopher Newport (8 first-place votes)    80 points
2. Salisbury (2 first-place votes) 68 points
3. St. Mary's  67 points
4. Mary Washington 54 points
5. Marymount  44 points
6. Wesley  37 points
7. York 33 points
8. Frostburg State  29 points
9. Penn State Harrisburg 27 points
10. Southern Virginia  11 points