SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Endicott College has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2012-13 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Men's Basketball Championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head men's basketball coaches.

Defending conference champion Endicott (20-9, 12-6 CCC) received eight of a possible 10 first place votes in the 2012-13 CCC preseason poll. Wentworth Institute of Technology (17-11, 12-6) was selected to finish second, while acquiring one first place vote. The 2011-12 runner-up, Salve Regina University (21-10, 15-3) was picked to finish third, while Curry College and Gordon College were slated to finish fourth and fifth, respectively. Rounding out the remaining five slots was Nichols College (sixth), Roger Williams University (seventh), Western New England University (eighth), University of New England (ninth), and Eastern Nazarene College (10th).

Wentworth returns 10 players from a 2011-12 season that saw the Leopards finish 17-11, reach the CCC semifinals for a third straight season and appear in the ECAC Tournament for a third straight season. Of the 10 returning players the Leopards return three starters, including senior Corey Therriault and junior Derek Mayo who earned All-CCC honors a season ago. Therriault averaged 12.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while leading the team with 56 3-pointers made. Mayo averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Sophomore John-Michael Fragnoli returns after a solid freshman season that saw him average 5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, while seniors Colin Johnson and Matt Harte and sophomores Nico Donato and Ray Bessette also return to help the Leopards contend for a conference title.

The Leopards open the 2012-13 campaign Saturday night against Colby in the opening round of the Babson College tip-off tournament.

(Portions of this release courtesy of the Commonwealth Coast Conference)