From Mirror reports

The Saint Francis men’s basketball team returns seven letterwinners and three starters from last year’s team. Despite the returning experience for the Red Flash, the team was picked to finish eighth, according to the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday.

Sophomores Aidan Harris, Bobby Rosenberger III, and Ace Talbert all return for the 2024-25 season after starting all 16 league games last season. Rosenberger is one of four NEC players who ranked in the top 30 in points per game and is returning this season. He registered 10.6 points in 30 games.

Talbert averaged 8.3 points per game and led the team with 64 assists, while Harris led the team in steals (30).

Also back are juniors Gestin Liberis, Chris Moncrief, Wisler Sanon II and Miles Webb.

In addition, coach Rob Krimmel has added transfers Daemar Kelly (Quinnipiac), Riley Parker (Cochise College: NJCAA) and Valentino Pinedo (East Carolina) along with freshman Jeremy Clayville, Juan Cranford, Jr., and Victor Payne,

Central Connecticut State, the defending NEC regular-season champion, and Wagner, the NEC Tournament champion, head into the season as co-favorites.

The Blue Devils earned five first-place votes, and the Seahawks garnered the other four. Fairleigh Dickinson, Le Moyne, Long Island, Chicago State, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis, and Stonehill round out the nine-team poll. The Red Flash and Skyhawks finished in a tie for eighth in the poll.

Twice under Krimmel, the Red Flash has been picked in the bottom half of the poll and finished at least two spots better than the poll.

Saint Francis opens the season at Dayton on Monday, Nov. 4.