Rodney Pierce Named to Preseason All-MAC Team

Bulls predicted to finish third in the East Division

Rodney Pierce

BUFFALO, NY - Rodney Pierce has been named to the All-Mid-American Conference Preseason Team. Pierce, a senior shooting guard, is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game en route to earning All-MAC First Team honors last year.

Pierce was only the second UB player to ever be named to the first team and he is the first to return the following season. Turner Battle was also named to the first team his senior season in 2005.

"It's a good thing, but it means he's going to have a target on his back," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "We want to prepare him for the challenge; mentally more than anything else. He's going to have to be prepared to work harder to get what he got last year."

The MAC also released its preseason poll as voted on by the MAC News Media Association. Buffalo is predicted to finish third in the East Division behind Akron and Kent State. The Bulls did receive one vote to win the East Division and two votes to win the MAC Tournament.

Buffalo returns 11 players, including four starters to a team that went 21-12 and advanced to the championship game of the MAC Tournament a season ago. The 2009-10 campaign tips off on November 15 when the Bulls host Vermont at Alumni Arena.