Oct. 27, 2009

New York, N.Y. - Junior guard Jamal Barney was selected for the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team and the Greyhounds were tabbed for a tie for fifth place in voting by the league's coaches it was announced today at the annual MAAC Media Day held in mid-town Manhattan.

"I'm happy that the league's coaches recognize how important Jamal is to our program by selecting him for the second team," Loyola sixth-year head coach Jimmy Patsos reflected about the selections. "I thought we might be picked near the middle in the standings. This will be a very competitive league this year and we want to be playing our best at the end and see what happens in March."

Two-time defending champion Siena was chosen by nine of the 10 coaches to repeat and all four of their returning starters received a spot on Preseason All-MAAC teams. The Saints (99 points) were followed by last year's runner-up Niagara (87) and Rider (82), which received the other first-place vote. Fairfield (67) was selected one spot above the Greyhounds (45) with Loyola's point total being equaled by Saint Peter's for the tie for fifth. Canisius (43), Manhattan (40), Iona (30) and Marist (12) rounded out the voting.

Rider's senior guard Ryan Thompson was selected as the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and was the only member of the first team not from Siena or Niagara. Saints Edwin Ubiles and Ronald Moore were joined by Purple Eagles Bilal Benn and Tyrone Lewis on the five-man first team made up exclusively by seniors.

Barney, who led the MAAC in scoring last season as a sophomore, is joined on the first team by Siena's Alex Franklin, a senior, and junior Ryan Rossiter. Senior Greg Nero from Fairfield and Saint Peter's junior Wesley Jenkins round out the second five. Canisius' Greg Logins and Frank Turner, Rider's Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson and Darryl Crawford from Manhattan comprise the third team.

Loyola opens its 2009-2010 season on November 6 when it hosts Adelphi in an exhibition game in Reitz Arena at 7 o'clock. The regular season gets underway one week following on November 13 when the Greyhounds host Vermont in a 7:00 p.m. start.