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Defending Northeast Conference regular season and playoff champion Robert Morris earned two first-place votes and was picked to finish third in the conference by the coaches. The coaches poll and preseason team was announced today.

Mount St. Mary's, which Robert Morris defeated three times, including in the NEC title game, was picked first after receiving nine first place votes. Long Island received one vote and was picked second, and Robert Morris and Quinnipiac were tied for third. St. Francis (Pa.) was picked to finish last in the conference.

No Robert Morris players were picked on the conference preseason team.

The players selected were Mount St. Mary's senior guard Jeremy Goode, Central Connecticut State junior forward Kenny Horton, Fairleigh Dickinson senior guard Sean Baptiste, Quinnipiac junior forward Jeremy Goode and Long Island senior guard Jaytornah Wisseh. This was the third time Wisseh was selected.

Central Connecticut State coach Howie Dickenman announced that Horton will miss the season with an injury and will have two years remaining.

Robert Morris is 50-19 the past two seasons.

Note: Robert Morris basketball coach Mike Rice announced today that starting senior guard Jimmy Langhurst will miss Thursday's exhibition game against Shippensburg and next week's season opener at Syracuse (Nov. 11) with a finger injury.

Langhurst, who made 66 3-pointers last year, smashed the tip of his index finger on his right hand, his shooting hand, while lifting weights. Rice said he dropped a 55-pound dumbbell on his finger.

"Jimmy is a tough player and luckily he didn't need surgery," Rice said. "We expect him back and his playing time depends on how much pain he can play with. We hope to have him back to practice after the Syracuse game."

2009-10 Preseason Northeast Conference coaches poll

1. Mount St. Mary's (9 first-place votes)

2. Long Island (1)

3t. Robert Morris (2)

3t. Quinnipiac

5. Central Connecticut State

6. Sacred Heart

7. St. Francis (N.Y.)

8. Fairleigh Dickinson

9. Monmouth

10. Wagner

11. Bryant

12. St. Francis (Pa.)

2009-10 Preseason All-Northeast Conference team

Sean Baptiste, Sr., G, Fairleigh Dickinson

Jeremy Goode, Sr., G, Mount St. Mary's

Kenny Horton, Jr., F, Central Connecticut State

Justin Rutty, Jr., F, Quinnipiac

Jaytornah Wisseh, Sr., G, Long Island

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