Fisher Men No. 22 in D3hoops.com Preseason Poll
The St. John Fisher College men's basketball program is ranked No. 22 in the 2015-2016
D3hoops.com National Preseason Poll.
D3hoops.com is forecasting an unpredictable season, noting that nine of the 25 teams received first-place votes, and 14 teams, more than half the top 25, received third-place votes.
The Cardinals recorded one of the most successful seasons in program history last winter, finishing the season with a 25-5 overall record, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship. for the fourth time in program history. Fisher defeated nationally-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the first round, followed by an 87-70 victory over Amherst College, before falling to top-ranked Randolph-Macon College in its final game.
Fisher recorded the third-best win-streak in the program's 52-year history with 18 straight victories from December 6
th, 2014 to February 17, 2015. The Cardinals also won the Empire 8 Conference Championship with a 77-62 win over Alfred University in the title game.
The Cardinals return several key players from last year's title run, including senior point guard
Chaz Lott and preseason All-American
Keegan Ryan. Lott, an All-Region selection, led Fisher in assists (6.1 per game) and steals (1.2 per game) last year, while averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Ryan was named to the NABC All-American Third Team last year after leading Fisher in scoring (15.1 points per game, rebounding (9.1 rpg), while shooting a league-best 56.2% from the floor. Senior
Tyler Hart is also back after coming off the bench to average 10.7 points per game, while leading his team in 3-pointers made per game and 3-point shooting percentage (41.8%).
The men's basketball program opens the 2015-16 season at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15 when the Cardinals host SUNYIT at Bobby Wanzer Court.