FLUSHING, N.Y. - The City University of New York Athletic Conference and Con Edison announced the results of their preseason men's basketball coaches’ poll and Baruch received seven first-place votes in being selected as the favorite in the CUNYAC's North Division. Meanwhile, Staten Island garnered five first-place tallies in garnering the top spot in the South Division, and Dolphin’s senior guard TJ Tibbs (Staten Island, NY) picked up preseason Player of the Year, accolades.

Baruch picked up a total score of 43 points placing them 10 points ahead of second place favorite Hunter College.  The Bearcats finished last season 15-12 (9-4 in CUNYAC), and ultimately falling to Hunter in the CUNYAC/Con Edison Basketball Championship quarter finals in a close game (68-63).

Hunter was selected as the second place favorite in this preseason poll garnered a total of 33 points.  Lehman (26), John Jay (19) and CCNY (14) rounded out the North Division tally. The division was also full of coaching changes over the summer with Shay Berry taking over at Hunter, Otis Fenn at John Jay and Tom Green at CCNY.

Staten Island (17-11) and Medgar Evers (17-12) finished their regular season conference play with identical 10-3 marks and with that, earned the same total amount in voting points for the preseason favorite in the south division.  With both schools tied for the first place spot, Staten Island is projected to place first with five first place votes.  Also tying for third and rounding out the South division are Brooklyn (23) and York (23)

Earning a spot on the CUNYAC/Con Edison’s All Tournament team last season, Tibbs led the conference in both assists and 3 point field goals. He had a total of 136 assists for the season averaging 5.0 a game and 50 for 118 field goal attempts with a 4.24 average.  The Staten Island native scored a total of 190 points last season with 14.6 points a game. During last year’s CUNYAC/Con Edison Men’s Basketball Championship final Tibbs led the Dolphin players with 22 points, in a losing effort.

2011-12 CUNYAC/Con Edison
Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

North Division

1. Baruch (7 first-place votes), 43 pts.
2. Hunter, 33
3. Lehman, 26
4. John Jay, 19
5. CCNY, 14

South Division

1. Staten Island (5 first-place votes), 39 pts.
2. Medgar Evers (4), 39
3. Brooklyn, 23
4. York, 23
 

Preseason Player of the Year : TJ Tibbs, Guard, College of Staten Island