Men's Basketball | 10/16/2017 1:21:00 PM

    BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's basketball team found itself in a familiar position on Monday when the Mountain East Conference coaches released their annual preseason poll.
    First-year Coach Ben Howlett and his Hilltoppers were one of three teams receiving multiple first-place votes in a crowded list of contenders that saw nearly half of the league's teams listed first on at least one coaches' ballot when the results were revealed here at the annual MEC Basketball Media Day.
    West Liberty, Wheeling Jesuit and Fairmont State – the MEC's three NCAA Tournament representatives from a year ago – led the preseason balloting. Jesuit received 6 first-place votes and 112 points to edge out Fairmont State (110) for the top spot with the Hilltoppers (102) close behind at No. 3. West Liberty and the Falcons each received two first-place votes.
    First-team Preseason NCAA Division II All-American Dan Monteroso heads up a solid returning nucleus for Howlett, who has spent more than a decade in the WLU system as an All-Region player and assistant coach. After a busy summer on the recruiting trail, Howlett has bolstered the roster with several promising new faces including a pair of transfers.
    "Being picked in the top three of one of the best NCAA Division II conferences in the country is a great compliment and a great challenge," Howlett said. "We lost some outstanding players from last year's team but have several guys coming back with extensive big-game experience led by Dan Monteroso. We're also pretty excited about the talented newcomers we've added to the mix."
    Shepherd (92) and Notre Dame (86) rounded out the top five with each getting a first-place vote. West Virginia Wesleyan was a distant sixth with 64 points, followed by Charleston (58), UVa-Wise (47), Glenville State (46), Concord (31) and West Virginia State (30) with Urbana (14) bringing up the rear.
    "We've worked hard to improve individually and as a team throughout the fall," Howlett said, "and now that practice is under way, we'll be able to really fine tune what we're doing. I can't wait for this season to tip off and I'm sure my players feel the same way."
    The West Liberty men open at home on Nov. 10 when they host Cheyney (Pa.) in the MEC/PSAC Challenge. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the ASRC.
  Team                                                                        Pts
  1. Wheeling Jesuit (6)                                     112
  2. Fairmont State (2)                                       110
  3. WEST LIBERTY (2)                                       102
  4. Shepherd (1)                                                   92
  5. Notre Dame (1)                                              86
  6. W.Va. Wesleyan                                             64
  7. Charleston                                                        58
  8. UVa-Wise                                                          47
  9. Glenville State                                                 46
10. Concord                                                            31
11. W.Va. State                                                      30
12. Urbana                                                               14