Mandell Thomas started his senior season with recognition on Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Defensive Team. (Photo courtesy of The Associated Press)
Fordham may have been picked last of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, but their senior leader in the backcourt picked up a preseason recognition in the process.
Mandell Thomas was named to the A-10 Preseason All-Defensive Team this morning, announced along with the preseason poll and other all-league honors. In his junior season, Thomas averaged 13.3 points and 2.4 steals per game in the backcourt for former coach Tom Pecora, who moved him to the point guard spot midway through the conference season.
Thomas is joined by Patricio Garino of George Washington, Rhode Island's Hassan Martin, VCU forward Mo-Alie Cox, and DeAndre Bembry of Saint Joseph's.
On the whole, the Rams received a total of 45 points in the preseason poll, seven points behind their next closest competitor, George Mason. Dayton was picked to win, receiving twelve first-place votes and 352 points overall, only five markers better than Rhode Island, who garnered eight votes for the top spot.
Following the top two were Davidson and George Washington, with reigning champion VCU rounding out the top five. Richmond, Saint Joseph's, St. Bonaventure, La Salle and UMass complete the top ten, with Duquesne, Saint Louis, George Mason and Fordham in the last four positions.
Big things ahead for Fordham
ReplyDeleteVery tough climb for Fordham to get out of the D1 basement. Nice recognition for Mandell Thomas, but Fordham will have to rely on him far more than it should. If everything breaks right for Fordham and the team buys into the new coach's system, they could finish as high as 12th in the A10. The bad news is that with Pecora gone, the rest of the A10 teams will take Fordham more seriously as an opponent and likely won't be sleep walking through some games with the Rams, as we've seen several times each season in the past. And with Hewitt gone mason will wake from its slumber. There is talent on that team
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