Centennial Conference Preseason Poll
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the Centennial Conference standings after the preseason voting of coaches and athletic communication directors. The Fords received 58 voting points in the poll to pick up their highest preseason ranking since they were also selected seventh overall heading into the 2011-12 season after coming off of a playoff appearance.
The first-place votes were split between preseason favorite Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore. Franklin & Marshall, Ursinus, Dickinson, and Muhlenberg rounded out the top six teams in the poll. The Fords edged Gettysburg for the seventh spot and were also picked ahead of Washington College and McDaniel in the preseason rankings.
Haverford features one of its most experienced lineups in recent memory as 11 players return to the fold from last year's team which won its most games since the 2013-14 campaign, broke the school record for three-pointers made, and had the school's highest scoring average since the 2004-05 season. Over 95 percent of that scoring returns as the Fords graduated just two players from last year.
Seniors Kahlil Garnes and Joe Scibelli have both been named Centennial Conference Players of the Week during their career and both are on pace to eclipse the 1,000 point mark this winter. Scibelli was also the Centennial Conference's Rookie of the Year in 2016. Junior Jonathan Lang is just under halfway to 1,000 points after two seasons. Overall, the Fords' experienced lineup features three seniors and six juniors. Haverford's returning core has combined for 484 games played, 256 starts, and 3,520 points entering this season.
Men's basketball opens the 2018-19 season on Saturday, November 10 with a trip to Rutgers-Camden for a 1 p.m. opening tip. Haverford's home opener is slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14 against Penn State Brandywine. The Fords begin Centennial Conference play on Tuesday, November 20 at Ursinus.