WALTHAM, Mass. – With seven of last year's top eight returning, the Bentley University men's basketball team slotted for third in the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division preseason coaches' poll that was announced Thursday.

Bentley received a total of 86 points in the voting and finished behind preseason favorite Saint Anselm College and Merrimack College, two other teams that have most of their key players back. Saint Anselm had 13 of the 15 first-place votes with the other two going to the Warriors.

Rounding out the Northeast Division forecast were Stonehill, Southern New Hampshire, Assumption, Franklin Pierce and St. Michael's.

In the Southwest Division, first-place votes were divided among four teams with Southern Connecticut State topping the voting with nine firsts and 93 points. New Haven (3 firsts), Le Moyne (1) and Saint Rose (2) followed the Owls.

Coach Jay Lawson's Bentley team, which shared third place with Stonehill a year ago and finished 16-12, includes players who accounted for 90 percent of the points, 80 percent of the rebounds and 85 percent of the assists a year ago.

Senior guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate), a first-team All-Conference and All-Region performer, scored at least 22 points a game for the second straight year with his 23.6 average a school record.

The veterans include two others who averaged in doubles last winter are the frontcourt duo of Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) and Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston-Northampton School). Hudson produced 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds last season and Gilpin's numbers (11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds) were similar.

Bentley will open its season during the weekend of Nov. 10-11 when it hosts its annual Tip-Off Classic.

Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

Northeast Division

Southwest Division

(First place votes in parentheses)