Monday, October 25,
2004
MORAVIAN
MEN’S BASKETBALL SQUAD PICKED EIGHTH IN COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES
POLL
ANNVILLE, PA --- The Moravian
College men’s basketball team has been selected to finish eighth in the Commonwealth
Conference in the 2004-05 Commonwealth Conference Preseason Poll conducted by the conference
coaches.
Head coach Jim Walker,
who enters his 25th season at the school, has seven letterwinners and two starters back
from last year's 10-15 squad. Even though the Greyhounds had a 2-12 record in the Commonwealth
a year ago, Moravian was competitive in all its conference games including being tied
or holding a lead at halftime in eight of 14 contests.
Senior forward Brandon
Zaleski (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown HS), who was named to the Commonwealth
All-Conference First-Team, D3hoops.com All-Region Third Team, the Most Valuable Player
of the Scotty Wood Tournament and the 26th Annual Greyhound Rock Classic a year ago,
will lead the Greyhounds on the court this season. Zaleski became
the 17th player in school history to reach 1,000 points during the Scotty Wood Tournament
last November. He currently has 1,461 points, which is fifth all-time, and he has 546
career rebounds. He led the team in scoring and rebounding last season with 19.7 and
7.2, respectively and in blocked shots with 20. Zaleski also contributed
37 assists and 37 steals.
Junior forward Steve
Wenderfer (Chester, NJ/Mendham HS) was second on the team in rebounding last
season with 5.1 rebounds per game. He also added 7.1 points per game, 22 steals, ten
assists, and six blocked shots. Classmate Zach Zsilavecz (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty
HS) averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and contributed 19 steals,
14 assists, and five blocked shots. Both players will contribute inside for the Greyhounds
this winter.
Junior guard/forward Ed
Reid (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl HS) contributed 4.7 points per game, 48 rebounds,
21 assists, 14 steals, and 13 blocked shots. Junior guard Chris Betley (Lenape,
NJ/Lenape HS), who will be out until at least midseason after surgery on an
injury this fall, added 71 points, 34 rebounds, 21 assists, and nine steals for the
Greyhounds.
Junior forward Tyler
Tripuka (Glen Ridge, NJ/Glen Ridge HS) had three points and two rebounds,
while sophomore forward Matt Devlin (Sadsburyville, PA/Coatesville HS) contributed
16 points, seven rebounds, and one steal in his debut season at Moravian.
The Greyhounds will begin
their 2004-05 season at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. on Friday, November
19th in a 7:00 p.m. non-conference contest.
2004-05
Commonwealth Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank |
School (first-place
votes) |
Points |
1. |
Widener University (3) |
45 pts |
2t. |
Albright College (2) |
41 pts |
2t. |
Elizabethtown College
(2) |
41 pts |
4. |
Lebanon Valley College
(1) |
33 pts |
5. |
Messiah College |
23 pts |
6. |
Susquehanna University |
15 pts |
7. |
Juniata College |
14 pts |
8. |
Moravian College |
12 pts |
|