IUP, West Chester Claim Top Spots in 2018-19 PSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Polls
2018-19 PSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Information Packet
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- West Chester and IUP have been selected to win the Eastern and Western Division, respectively, in the 2018-19 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, the league office announced Thursday morning.
Preseason polls were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
PSAC Men's Basketball Preview Video
EASTERN DIVISION
WCU accumulated six of the eight possible first-place votes and were selected first. The Golden Rams return a quartet of starters, including three seniors. Senior Jackson Hyland earned all-conference second team accolades last season after averaging 16.4 points per contest. Teammate Frank Rokins contributed 11.4 points per game along 6.9 rebounds. Coach Damien Blair enters his 11th season at the helm and is 14 wins shy of 200 for his career. Senior Matt Penecale is 59 assists shy of breaking WCU’s all-time record. The Golden Rams finished in the top five of most offensive statistical categories last season.
East Stroudsburg earned a first-place vote and was tabbed second in the poll. The Warriors won their first-ever regional title and advanced to the NCAA DII Elite 8 before falling to eventual national runner-up Northern State. The Warriors won their fourth PSAC Championship after claiming the No. 1 seed with an 18-4 conference mark. Coach Jeff Wilson enters his 17th season at ESU and is two wins shy of 300 for his career. The Warriors return a trio of starters, including senior Nick Giordano. Giordano averaged 11.2 points and 2.3 assists per contest. ESU used its fast-paced play to lead the league in scoring (92.0) while holding the opposition to a league-low 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Shippensburg claimed the final first-place vote and was tabbed third. The Raiders paced the PSAC in free-throw percentage (80.6) and will have to replace two-time East Athlete of the Year Dustin Sleva. Coach Chris Fite will rely on junior John Castello and senior Antonio Kellem. Both averaged over 11 points per game. Fite is 12 wins shy of 100 in his career.
Kutztown was slated fourth and will be under the direction of Bernie Driscoll. The Golden Bears return senior Anthony Lee and sophomore Moe Williams. Williams impressed in his first year after claiming East Freshman of the Week honors on five occasions. He averaged 10.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Lee averaged 21.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Millersville was picked fifth and returns a trio of starters. Senior Marcus Adkison led the league in steals a season ago with 63. The Marauders led the PSAC in minutes played by freshmen, however, made the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2014-15.
Bloomsburg claimed the sixth slot and boasts a pair of returners. The Huskies have made the postseason in six of the last seven seasons. Junior Ky Mauras scored 13.7 points and grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game.
Mansfield and Lock Haven tied for seventh to round out the poll.
WESTERN DIVISION
IUP claimed eight of the nine possible first-place votes and were selected as the favorite in the West. The Crimson Hawks return three starters from last season. IUP paced the league in three-point percentage (38.6) while holding teams to 70.3 points per game, which was third-best. Coach Joe Lombardi will rely on a trio of seniors in Jacobo Diaz, Dante Lombardi and Willem Branwijk. Diaz averaged 14.8 points and 9.7 rebounds. Coach Lombardi is 25 wins shy of 300 for his career and enters his 13th season at the helm.
Slippery Rock was slotted second and returns redshirt-junior Micah Till. Till was a monster on the glass while grabbing 12 rebounds per game. He claimed All-American honors while The Rock paced the PSAC in rebounds with 46.5. SRU coach Kevin Reynolds is 12 wins shy of 200 for his career. The Rock finished last season with a 21-9 record, including a 12-3 mark at home.
Gannon was selected third and returns only one starter. The Golden Knights held teams to 65.9 points per game, marking the second-best in the PSAC. Coach John Reilly’s squad went 14-1 at home last year.
Mercyhurst was selected fourth and claimed a first-place votes and returns a pair of starters. The Lakers defense was tough last season while allowing only 65.5 points per game, which was best in the league. Mercyhurst will rely on senior Patrick Smith, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds.
California was picked fifth and will be under the direction of Danny Sancomb. Sancomb joins the Vulcans after 11 seasons at Wheeling Jesuit. Cal returns one starter in Cordell Smith. Smith averaged 11.3 points per game last season. Cal is 16 wins shy of 900 as an institution.
Pitt-Johnstown was tabbed sixth and returns junior Josh Wise. Wise averaged 15 points per game. The Mountain Cats finished third in the PSAC in shooting percentage (48.0).
Edinboro was picked seventh and will be under the direction of sixth-year coach Pat Cleary. Cleary was named the West Coach of the Year while the Fighting Scots posted an 18-11 record. EU finished second in the league in free-throw percentage and three-point percentage.
Seton Hill claimed eighth and will be under first-year coach Kendrick Saunders. The Griffins return four starters, including senior Trevor Blondin. Blondin scored 20.8 points per game while junior Nathan Davis turned in 14 points per contest.
Clarion rounded out the poll and returns a pair of starters. Sophomore Mason Mraz was named West Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.
The 2018-19 regular season commences Friday, November 9th. PSAC play begins Saturday, December 1.
PSAC Men’s Basketball East Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1) West Chester (6)
2) East Stroudsburg (1)
3) Shippensburg (1)
4) Kutztown
5) Millersville
6) Bloomsburg
T-7) Lock Haven
T-7) Mansfield
PSAC Men’s Basketball West Preseason Poll
1) IUP (8)
2) Slippery Rock
3) Gannon
4) Mercyhurst (1)
5) California
6) Pitt-Johnstown
7) Edinboro
8) Seton Hill
EASTERN DIVISION
WCU accumulated six of the eight possible first-place votes and were selected first. The Golden Rams return a quartet of starters, including three seniors. Senior Jackson Hyland earned all-conference second team accolades last season after averaging 16.4 points per contest. Teammate Frank Rokins contributed 11.4 points per game along 6.9 rebounds. Coach Damien Blair enters his 11th season at the helm and is 14 wins shy of 200 for his career. Senior Matt Penecale is 59 assists shy of breaking WCU’s all-time record. The Golden Rams finished in the top five of most offensive statistical categories last season.
East Stroudsburg earned a first-place vote and was tabbed second in the poll. The Warriors won their first-ever regional title and advanced to the NCAA DII Elite 8 before falling to eventual national runner-up Northern State. The Warriors won their fourth PSAC Championship after claiming the No. 1 seed with an 18-4 conference mark. Coach Jeff Wilson enters his 17th season at ESU and is two wins shy of 300 for his career. The Warriors return a trio of starters, including senior Nick Giordano. Giordano averaged 11.2 points and 2.3 assists per contest. ESU used its fast-paced play to lead the league in scoring (92.0) while holding the opposition to a league-low 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Shippensburg claimed the final first-place vote and was tabbed third. The Raiders paced the PSAC in free-throw percentage (80.6) and will have to replace two-time East Athlete of the Year Dustin Sleva. Coach Chris Fite will rely on junior John Castello and senior Antonio Kellem. Both averaged over 11 points per game. Fite is 12 wins shy of 100 in his career.
Kutztown was slated fourth and will be under the direction of Bernie Driscoll. The Golden Bears return senior Anthony Lee and sophomore Moe Williams. Williams impressed in his first year after claiming East Freshman of the Week honors on five occasions. He averaged 10.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Lee averaged 21.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Millersville was picked fifth and returns a trio of starters. Senior Marcus Adkison led the league in steals a season ago with 63. The Marauders led the PSAC in minutes played by freshmen, however, made the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2014-15.
Bloomsburg claimed the sixth slot and boasts a pair of returners. The Huskies have made the postseason in six of the last seven seasons. Junior Ky Mauras scored 13.7 points and grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game.
Mansfield and Lock Haven tied for seventh to round out the poll.
WESTERN DIVISION
IUP claimed eight of the nine possible first-place votes and were selected as the favorite in the West. The Crimson Hawks return three starters from last season. IUP paced the league in three-point percentage (38.6) while holding teams to 70.3 points per game, which was third-best. Coach Joe Lombardi will rely on a trio of seniors in Jacobo Diaz, Dante Lombardi and Willem Branwijk. Diaz averaged 14.8 points and 9.7 rebounds. Coach Lombardi is 25 wins shy of 300 for his career and enters his 13th season at the helm.
Slippery Rock was slotted second and returns redshirt-junior Micah Till. Till was a monster on the glass while grabbing 12 rebounds per game. He claimed All-American honors while The Rock paced the PSAC in rebounds with 46.5. SRU coach Kevin Reynolds is 12 wins shy of 200 for his career. The Rock finished last season with a 21-9 record, including a 12-3 mark at home.
Gannon was selected third and returns only one starter. The Golden Knights held teams to 65.9 points per game, marking the second-best in the PSAC. Coach John Reilly’s squad went 14-1 at home last year.
Mercyhurst was selected fourth and claimed a first-place votes and returns a pair of starters. The Lakers defense was tough last season while allowing only 65.5 points per game, which was best in the league. Mercyhurst will rely on senior Patrick Smith, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds.
California was picked fifth and will be under the direction of Danny Sancomb. Sancomb joins the Vulcans after 11 seasons at Wheeling Jesuit. Cal returns one starter in Cordell Smith. Smith averaged 11.3 points per game last season. Cal is 16 wins shy of 900 as an institution.
Pitt-Johnstown was tabbed sixth and returns junior Josh Wise. Wise averaged 15 points per game. The Mountain Cats finished third in the PSAC in shooting percentage (48.0).
Edinboro was picked seventh and will be under the direction of sixth-year coach Pat Cleary. Cleary was named the West Coach of the Year while the Fighting Scots posted an 18-11 record. EU finished second in the league in free-throw percentage and three-point percentage.
Seton Hill claimed eighth and will be under first-year coach Kendrick Saunders. The Griffins return four starters, including senior Trevor Blondin. Blondin scored 20.8 points per game while junior Nathan Davis turned in 14 points per contest.
Clarion rounded out the poll and returns a pair of starters. Sophomore Mason Mraz averaged11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.
The 2018-19 regular season commences Friday, November 9th. PSAC play begins Saturday, December 1.
PSAC Men’s Basketball East Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1) West Chester (6)
2) East Stroudsburg (1)
3) Shippensburg (1)
4) Kutztown
5) Millersville
6) Bloomsburg
T-7) Lock Haven
T-7) Mansfield
PSAC Men’s Basketball West Preseason Poll
1) IUP (8)
2) Slippery Rock
3) Gannon
4) Mercyhurst (1)
5) California
6) Pitt-Johnstown
7) Edinboro
8) Seton Hill