Photo courtesy of Quinnipiac Athletics
By Morey Hershgordon
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the preseason men’s basketball polls for the 
upcoming 2014-2015 season. The Quinnipiac Bobcats were picked to finish in fifth-place out of the eleven-team conference.
The Bobcats finished with a record of 20-12 last season and return many key pieces. Zaid Hearst, the lone captain and first ever for a Tom Moore squad, is back for his senior season. Hearst is a lock-down defender who can guard opponents at various positions. He contributed over 17 points per game last year during conference play and will be relied heavily as a perimeter threat this season.
The Bobcats also welcome back senior center Ousmane Drame. At 6’9”, his wingspan will once again anchor the Bobcats in the middle of the paint in blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. Drame was integral in the Bobcats finishing first in the country in rebounds per game last season, averaging 14.4 points per game to go along with 11.3 rebound per game during MAAC play.
In their inaugural season in the MAAC a year ago, the Bobcats were picked to finish seventh and ended up finishing in third place with a 14-6 conference mark.
They will open up their season on Friday, Nov. 14 at home against Yale at the TD Bank Sports Center at 5:30 p.m. Conference play begins in Albany, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 5 when the Bobcats face the Siena Saints at 7 p.m.
