University of Massachusets Athletics
Hoops Picked Fourth In Preseason Atlantic 10 Poll
October 14, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Senior center Cady Lalanne was named to the second team for the first time in his career. The 6-foot-10 Orlando, Fla. product is UMass' leading returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 11.3 points and 7.9 boards a year ago. He also posted 2.1 blocks per game and has 136 in his career, placing him eight in school history.
UMass returns seven letterwinners and two starters from last season's team that went 24-9 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. UMass has won 70 games in the last three years with 20-plus win campaigns and national postseason appearances each year.
Head coach Derek Kellogg is entering his seventh year at his alma mater and has registered 109 career victories. The Springfield, Mass. native was named the USBWA District I Coach of the Year in 2014 and currently ranks third on the school's career coaching list behind legends Jack Leaman and his mentor John Calipari.
VCU earned all 28 first place votes in the poll, which consisted of the head coach and one media member from each of the 14 member schools. George Washington and Dayton were also among the top four ahead of the Minutemen.
Richmond was picked fifth, followed by Rhode Island, La Salle and Saint Joseph's. Two-time defending champion Saint Louis came in at ninth, ahead of St. Bonaventure, Duquesne, Davidson, George Mason and Fordham.
