RICHMOND, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association released its 2015-16 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll and complete television schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the league’s annual Media Day in Baltimore, Md.
Senior guard Tanner Samson was named as an honorable mention on the 2015-16 CAA Preseason All-Conference team. Elon as a team was selected 10th in the poll, as the Phoenix enters its second season in the CAA.
Elon is coming off of a 15-18 season record, including a 6-12 mark in conference play during the team’s inagural season in the Colonial Atheltic Association. The Phoenix welcomes back two starters in senior guard Samson (12.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and senior center Tony Sabato (3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg), while returning a total of 11 non-starters. Senior guard Sam Hershberger (1.6 ppg) join Samson and Sabato to make up this year’s senior class. The team welcomes five newcomers to the squad this season, including Sheldon Eberhardt (Fr., G, 6-5, 185, Apex, N.C.), Karolis Kundrotas (Fr., F/C, 6-11, 240, Kaunas, Lithuania), Steven Santa Ana (Fr., G, 6-4, 185, Charlotte, N.C.), Tyler Seibring (Fr., F, 6-8, 225, Towanda, Ill.), and Dainan Swoope(Fr., F, 6-0, 185, Kansas City, Kan.).
In addition to the preseason prognostications, the CAA announced its full television package for the 2015-16 season. Elon will be on television a total of seven times during the year:
Date Time Opponent Network Nov. 14 8:30 p.m. at Charlotte American Sports Network (ASN) Nov. 16 7:00 p.m. at Michigan ESPN3 Nov. 21 7:00 p.m. at Syracuse ESPN3 Dec. 28 8:00 p.m. at Duke ESPNU Jan. 2 7:00 p.m. Drexel American Sports Network (ASN) Jan. 9 7:00 p.m. Hofstra American Sports Network (ASN) Feb. 6 6:00 p.m. Towson American Sports Network (ASN)
Following a Nov. 5 home exhibition against William Peace, Elon opens the 2015-16 regular season on Nov. 13 at Charlotte at 8:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on American Sports Network.
Season tickets for the 2015-16 season are currently on sale now and are the only way to guarantee your seat in Alumni Gym this season. As a reminder, season tickets sold out last season prior to the team’s first home game. Order tickets online here or call the Elon Athletics Ticket Office at 336-278-6750 today.
2015-16 CAA Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Hofstra
2. James Madison
3. Northeastern
4. William & Mary
5. Delaware
6. UNCW
7. Towson
8. Drexel
9. College of Charleston
10. Elon
2015-16 CAA Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School Ron Curry, James Madison # Sr. G 6-3 200 Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI Juan'ya Green, Hofstra * Sr. G 6-3 205 Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll/Niagara Ameen Tanksley, Hofstra # Sr. G/F 6-6 218 Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter/Niagara Terry Tarpey, William & Mary # Sr. G/F 6-5 210 Stamford, Conn./Fairfield Prep David Walker, Northeastern # Sr. G 6-6 196 Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls
Second Team Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School Yohanny Dalembert, James Madison ^ Jr. F 6-8 230 Port-au-Prince, Haiti/Lower Merion (Pa.) John Davis, Towson ^ Jr. F 6-5 215 Philadelphia, Pa./Ss. Neumann-Goretti Quincy Ford, Northeastern Sr. F/G 6-8 225 St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs Kory Holden, Delaware So. G 6-2 180 Salisbury, Md./J.M. Bennett Omar Prewitt, William & Mary ^ Jr. G/F 6-7 195 Mount Sterling, Ky./Montgomery County
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Juan’ya Green, Hofstra
Honorable Mention: Tavon Allen, Sr., G, Drexel; Canyon Barry, Jr., G, College of Charleston; Arnaud William Adala Moto, Jr., F, Towson; Craig Ponder, Sr., G, UNCW; Tanner Samson, Sr., G, Elon
*1st team All-CAA in 2014-15
#2nd team All-CAA in 2014-15
^3rd team All-CAA in 2014-15