November 12, 2009
Eagles Tabbed Third In NECC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Open Season Sunday at Johnson State

Nashua – Like many other Daniel Webster College athletics programs of late, the Eagles men’s basketball team entered unprecedented successful waters in 2008-09 and will look to keep the boat steered in the same direction in 2009-10.

Veteran head coach Dave Faucher enters his second season with the Eagles returning nine letter-winners and two starters from last year’s club that broke the program record for wins in a season (18), won its first playoff game in 11 years, advanced to the NECC final four, and later qualified for its first ever ECAC tournament, advancing to the semifinals.

“I’m really pleased with the preseason and the progress of the group,” said Faucher, who’s Eagles were picked third by the conference coaches in the annual NECC preseason poll announced Thursday afternoon. “We have some good talent and some veteran experience but we’re cautious as we should be. We have a long way to go but we’re getting there.”

The Eagles lost three of their top four scorers from a year ago including second team All NECC selection Brian Inge and point guard Tim Jackson to graduation, taking more than 730 combined points and 275 rebounds with them.

But the Eagles still return a host of solid veterans. Long one of the youngest teams in the league season-to-season, DWC is decidedly upper class with two seniors and eight juniors, accounting for a full two-thirds of the roster.

Leading the cast is junior guard and NECC First Teamer Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.), who comes off the single most prolific season in program history. Hanson set a program season record for total points (518) while averaging 18.5 ppg, adding 4.8 boards, 1.8 assists, under one steal per outing and shot 48-percent from the field including 42-percent from outside the arc. A three-time NECC Player of the Week and a former GNAC Rookie of the Year, Hanson also led the team in scoring 13 times including five of the team’s final seven games.

In the backcourt, the Eagles will also look to steadily improving junior point guard Chris Voukides (Salem, N.H.) who averaged 4.4 ppg along with junior wingman Victor Rios (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who averaged 2.5 ppg off the bench.

The backcourt is also bolstered by the likes of newcomer John Speed (Columbus, Ohio) along with senior Justin Vandyke (Middletown, N.Y.), juniors Lawrence Green (Roosevelt, N.Y.) and Omari Wright (Laurelton, N.Y.), and sophomore Stephen Chin (Lyndeborough, N.H.).

Up front, senior forward and three-year Eagle veteran Adam Landry (Vernon, Conn.) returns after averaging 9.1 ppg and 4.8 rebounds after starting 22 of 26 games. Landry, who led the Eagles in scoring three times and in rebounds five times, hit 47-percent from the field and also led the team with 10 blocks.

Landry will be joined up front by newcomer and junior Eric Suarez (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior Steven Savage (Salem, N.H.), who averaged a dependable 6.4 ppg and 4.0 rebounds off the bench as a sophomore, and junior Jonathan Smalls (Deer Park, N.Y.).

The forwards corps also will also look to the development of rookie John Hickson (Springfield, Mass.), juniors Loick Muyuka (Manchester, N.H.) and Andrew Somuah (Alexandria, Va.) and rookie Sean Connor (Millville, N.J.) for depth.

Faucher also pointed out the rising strength of the NECC as a whole. “The top NECC teams in the league can play with anyone,” Faucher said. “It’s very very competitive and I continue to be impressed by the commitment of all the NECC programs. We’re also really looking forward to the nonleague schedule that we have.”

“We hope to get better every day and see where it brings us, Faucher concluded. “We have a distinct chemistry this season and we hope that pays off.”

The Eagles open their home slate on Wednesday, November 18th in a tune up against Maine-Augusta at 7:30 p.m.

2009 NECC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
First place votes in parentheses

Team                  Last Season      Points
Elms (8)              26-2               72
Becker                22-8               60
DANIEL WEBSTER 18-11              56
Wheelock           10-17              48
Mitchell               8-18              38
Southern Vt.        7-18              31
Lesley                 5-20              25
Newbury             7-19               22