NEC coaches pick Wagner as big favorite with Robert Morris and Bryan tied for 2nd

NEW YORK – Wagner is the runaway choice to win the Northeast Conference, something that last happened 21 years ago.

The Seahawks, led by Bashir Mason, at 29 the youngest head coach in Division I, received seven first-place votes from the league's coaches Tuesday. They were picked No. 1 before the 1992-93 season and finished second.

Bryant, which had 19 wins last season after having two the year before, and Robert Morris both received two first-place votes and tied for second. LIU Brooklyn, the conference's three-time defending champion, had the other first-place vote and was fourth.

The rest of the preseason poll was: Central Connecticut, Mount St. Mary's, St. Francis (N.Y.), Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Fairleigh Dickinson.

The preseason All-NEC team included seniors Jason Brickman of LIU Brooklyn and Alex Francis of Bryant and juniors Jalen Cannon of St. Francis (N.Y.), Dyami Starks of Bryant and Kyle Vinales of Central Connecticut.