Men's & women's hoops participate at America East Tip-Off Luncheon
The program included the announcement of the preseason polls and All-America East teams as well as speeches from new America East commissioner Amy Huchthausen, Connecticut Governor Dan Molloy and Newman's Own Foundation Board member Robert Patricelli.
The men's team has been picked to finish second in America East, as voted on by the league's nine head coaches. The Seawolves earned three first-place votes to finish with 56 points, behind only defending champion Boston University's six first-place votes and 62 points.
In addition, senior guard Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) has been named to the preseason All-America East team after earning conference second team honors in each of the last two seasons.
Led by seventh-year head coach Steve Pikiell, the Seawolves return 12 letterwinners, more than any other America East team, including four starters, from last season's squad that went 15-17 overall and 8-8 in America East. Stony Brook was the No. 5 seed in the America East Championship, but plowed past higher-seeded Albany and Vermont to reach its first-ever America East Championship final, losing to champion Boston University by two points on the final play of the game. The men's team opens the season Nov. 11 at Indiana and plays its home opener Nov. 13 vs. Mount Ida.
The women's team, under first-year head coach Beth O'Boyle, has been picked to finish eighth in America East, as voted on by the league's nine head coaches. UMBC was selected the preseason favorite to win the 2011-12 America East title.
O'Boyle returns 10 letterwinners from last year's squad and welcomes five newcomers. The Seawolves open the season on Friday, Nov. 11 at Fairfield with the home opener coming against George Mason on Nov. 21.
The 2012 America East Championship will be held at the University of Hartford's Chase Family Arena. For the third straight season, the conference's men's and women's basketball championships will be held in a combined format.
Season and individual game tickets for the men's & women's basketball teams are now on sale through the Stony Brook Athletics Ticket Office. For more information visit the Seawolves ticket office online at www.goseawolves.org/tickets or call 631-632-WOLF.
