(Posted October 27, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College men's basketball team received 29 points from the head coaches and sports information directors in the Landmark Conference, placing them sixth in the preseason poll, released Wednesday.

The Eagles are coming off a 9-16 season a year ago and seven freshmen will join the returning eight upperclassmen in their 2010 squad.

Alex Raymond (Holidaysburg, Pa./Altoona) will replace two-time All-Conference senior point guard Jeff Berkey (Stoystown, Pa./Shanksville-Stonycreek). Raymond led the team in assists and was second in scoring last season.

The Eagles will also return senior Bruce Knowles (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) and junior Dan Seluski (Douglasville, Pa./Daniel Boone Area) who played 24 games last year, averaged 5.7 points per game and grabbed 2.6 rebounds a contest.

Coming off two straight seasons as a postseason participant The Catholic University of America has been picked to take the next step and earn the Landmark Conference Men's Basketball Championship.

Catholic's 77 points just edged the Mariners with 74 who went 24-5 and 12-2 in conference play last season. USMMA looks for another title with new Head Coach Danny Nee. The team lost a pair of All-Conference players but bring back All-Conference seniors Matt Hueber and Tim Izzo to lead the team.

Scranton made its third trip to the Landmark Championship after winning the first two conference titles. Four starters return from last year's 18-9 season, and though they lost an All-Conference post player they welcome back Landmark Player of the Year and All-Region pick Zach Ashworth.

Susquehanna rounded out the top half of the poll in fourth place. They have reached the Landmark postseason each of the first three years after posting a 15-11 mark last year and going 8-6 in conference. Goucher College holds down the fifth place in the poll with 44 points. The Gophers finished one spot out of the postseason last year, finishing 7-17 overall and 5-9 in Landmark action.

Moravian College falls seventh with 26 points, while Drew University rounded out the poll with 17 points.

Juniata will travel to Carnegie Mellon to kick off their season November 15th at 7:00 pm. The complete poll results are listed below.

2010 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Catholic -- 77 pts.
2. USMMA -- 74 pts.
3. Scranton -- 68 pts.
4. Susquehanna -- 54 pts.
5. Goucher -- 44 pts.
6. Juniata -- 29 pts.
7. Moravian -- 26 pts.
8. Drew -- 17 pts.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.