NEW YORK – (Canisius College Athletics) Senior Frank Turner and junior Greg Logins were named to the preseason all-MAAC Third Team at MAAC Media Day that was held at the ESPN Zone in Times Square on Tuesday.
Canisius was selected seventh in the preseason coaches poll, earning 43 points, two points behind Loyola and Saint Peter’s who tied for fifth place with 45 points. Siena earned nine of a possible 10 first-place votes to be named the preseason No. 1 team, followed by Niagara, Rider and Fairfield. Behind Canisius were Manhattan, Iona and Marist.
“Although we want to finish much higher in the standings, it is nice to see that the program is one the rise and being recognized by your peers,” Canisius coach Tom Parrotta said. “In the 13th-ranked conference in the nation, it’s important that the growth is continuous and steady, and I believe it is. The growth ends with a MAAC Championship, and that is our ultimate goal.”
Turner, who was named to the preseason all-MAAC Third Team as a junior, enters the 2009-10 season as the second player in program history with 1,000 points, 400 assists and 400 rebounds while entering his senior season. An all-MAAC Third Team selection following his junior season, Turner led the Griffs in scoring for the second straight year in 2008-09 with an average of 15.6 points per contest. Turner ranked fourth in the MAAC in assists per game (4.0) and is the fourth player in program history to have 100-plus assists in each of his first three seasons.
Logins, who was named to the collegeinsider.com Freshman Mid-Major All-America Team following the 2007-08 season, made 25 starts last season and ranked third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per contest. Logins led the Griffs in rebounding at 7.0 per game, ranking eighth in the MAAC, and also led the Griffs in free-throw percentage (74.4) and field goal percentage (45.4).
The Griffs will open the 106th season in program history Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the team travels to face Loyola (Chicago). The 2009-10 home opener will take place Saturday, Nov. 28, when the Blue and Gold hosts Howard at 3:15 p.m., as the back half of a doubleheader with the Canisius women's team. Canisius returns five starters and nine letterwinners to this year's roster.
