Orono, ME - The America East Conference announced on Tuesday morning that the University of Maine men's basketball program was selected fifth in the preseason poll and that Kellen Tynes was one of six players selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Maine is coming off of a 2022-23 season in which they finished 13-17, their most wins since 2010. The Black Bears went 7-9 in America East action, earning the seventh spot in the America East playoffs where they were defeated by UMass Lowell in the quarterfinals. Maine had the sixth-best offense in the America East and the fourth best defensive, which was anchored by the America East Defensive Player of the Year in Kellen Tynes. Tynes led the NCAA with 98 steals a season ago, which earned him the program's first ever Defensive Player of the Year honors and had him named a semifinalist for the National Defensive Player of the Year.

Tynes joins a crew of 10 returning players from a season ago, which includes America East All-Rookie Team member Jaden Clayton, Sixth Man of the Year finalist Peter Filipovity, Kristians Feierbergs and Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish, all of whom ranked in the top-six in scoring a season ago for the Black Bears.

Maine added seven new players to the program for this season, five by way of the transfer portal and two true freshmen.

Vermont heads the preseason poll with 62 votes and six first place selections. UMass Lowell ranks second with 55 votes and two first place selections. Bryant (51), Binghamton (44) and Maine (36) round out the top-five. UMBC (25), UAlbany (23), New Hampshire (18) and NJIT (10) finish out the preseason poll.

Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
School Points (1st Place)
1. Vermont 62 (6)
2. UMass Lowell 55 (3)
3. Bryant 51
4. Binghamton 44
5. Maine 36
6. UMBC 25
7. UAlbany 23
8. New Hampshire 18
9. NJIT 10

Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Player                              Yr. Pos. School
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly   Sr. F UMass Lowell
Clarence Daniels             Sr. F New Hampshire
Aaron Deloney                 Gr. G Vermont
Sharif Gross-Bullock        Gr. G Bryant
Earl Timberlake                Sr. G Bryant
Kellen Tynes                    Jr. G Maine

-UMaine-