On Thursday afternoon, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) announced the 2021-22 WHAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Siena Heights men's basketball team was chosen to finish ninth in the poll--the team's position in the 2020-21 season. The Saints will look to improve on the 2-9 conference record from last year.
Last season, the two leading scorers return to the team in 2nd-team All-WHAC player Kevin Rice (19.0 PPG) and Curtis Bell III (11.5 PPG). In addition, Siena will have four junior college transfers making their debut with the team this season. Kiewuan Graham (Jr. | Henry Ford CC), Jonny Bowers (Jr. | Lakeland CC), Fred Greer (So. | Elgin CC), and Trevon Montgomery (So. | Elgin CC). Along with the transfers, the Saints also return Elijah Kimmons and Jace Norton, who saw action last year. Senior Chad Elliott also returns for the 2021-22 season after injury last year.
"The strength and competitive balance of our conference has grown dramatically over the past few seasons," said SHU men's basketball coach Joe Pechota. "We have emphasized to our guys to focus on things we can control, such as daily practice habits, putting in extra time in the gym, film study, energy, and effort. Those daily habits will benefit us and help put us in the position we want to be throughout the grind of our season."
The preseason poll is voted on by the coaches in the league who rank each team in the WHAC from 1-11. Eleven points are given to the team at the top of the list, 10 points to the second-ranked team, and so on to determine the order of the poll.
Reigning WHAC Tournament champion Indiana Tech sits atop the poll with nine of the 11 first-place votes for 118 points. Rochester landed second with one first-place pick and 110 points. Lourdes climbed to third after receiving a first-place vote and totaling 94 points. Madonna fell to fourth place with 89 points. Cornerstone claimed fifth after registering 83 points. Lawrence Tech edged out Concordia (Mich.) for sixth place with 59 points. The Cardinals amassed 55 points for seventh. Aquinas was five points behind with 50 for the eighth spot. The Saints totaled 33 points for ninth. UNOH (24 points) and UM-Dearborn (11 points) ended the poll.
Click here for the WHAC release of the 2021-22 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.
