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MBBPSACPRE24

Shepherd Men’s Basketball Picked Fourth in PSAC East Poll

10/24/2024 7:25:00 PM

Courtesy of Bryan Kast, PSAC Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Shepherd University has been picked to finish fourth in the 2024-25 PSAC East Men's Basketball Preseason Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday. East Stroudsburg is the favorite in the East, while California (Pa.) has been picked to win the West.

The complete PSAC Preseason Polls for the Eastern and Western Divisions are shown below with capsules on each team.
 
Eastern Division (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
1. East Stroudsburg (7)
2. West Chester (1)
3. Millersville
4. Shepherd
5. Lock Haven (1)
6. Kutztown
7. Shippensburg
8. Mansfield
9. Bloomsburg

PSAC EASTERN DIVISION
#1 East Stroudsburg (25-5 overall, 18-4 PSAC in 2023-24)
• East Stroudsburg is coming off a 25-5 overall and 18-4 PSAC play season in which they secured a PSAC East regular-season co-championship and narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid.
• The Warriors ranked in the top 10 nationally in fastbreak points (6th, 17.9), free throws made per game (5th, 18.8), scoring margin (4th, 15.9), scoring offense (7th, 90.7), steals per game (5th, 10.7), 3-point field goal percentage defense (7th, 29.6), turnovers forced per game (5th, 19.7) and winning percentage (10th, 83.3) a season ago.
• ESU is led by three-time All-PSAC East selection and 2023-24 all-region honoree Lakeem McAliley, who enters his final season ranked eighth in career scoring and steals, seventh in field goals made and field goal percentage and 22nd in rebounds among Warriors in program history.
• ESU opens the season at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday, Nov. 9 against Elizabeth City State, and opens PSAC East action on the road against defending conference champion Gannon on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m.
 
#2 West Chester (19-11 overall, 15-7 PSAC in 2023-24)
• West Chester finished the 2023-24 season with a record of 19-11 overall and a mark of 15-7 in conference play. West Chester qualified for the PSAC Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals for the 12th year in a row.
• West Chester ended last season ranked 11th in Division II in rebounding margin (+7.6) and offensive rebounds per game (13.7/g). West Chester led the PSAC in both rebounding margin and rebounds per game (40.3/g).
• West Chester returns three of its five starters from a year ago and nearly 1,400 (1,398) of its 2,448 points scored in 2023-24.
• The Golden Rams open the season on Friday, November 8 in West Virginia at the MEC/PSAC Challenge as they take on West Liberty on Friday night at 5 p.m. and Wheeling on Saturday at 3 p.m.
• West Chester will play its home opener on November 16 vs Wilmington beginning at 4 p.m. and will open PSAC play at Slippery Rock on Friday, November 22 at 5 p.m.
 
#3 Millersville (24-7 overall, 18-4 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Millersville has reached the NCAA Tournament and won or shared the PSAC East title in two of the last seasons, going 50-16 in conference play over the last three seasons. Last season, the Marauders set a program record for conference wins with 18.
• Millersville returns only three players from the 2023-24 roster, and one of those players redshirted (Tobi Ogunbare.) The lone returners with experience are All-PSAC East Second Team pick Drew Stover and 31-game starter Jahme Ested. Stover led the PSAC in both field goal percentage and blocked shots in 2023-24 and Ested was sixth in assist/turnover ratio.
• Stover isn't the only returning All-PSAC East honoree on the roster, however. Saraj Ali, the 2023 PSAC East Freshman of the Year and 2023-24 All-PSAC East Second Team selection, transferred to Millersville from Mansfield. Ali averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 60.4% from the field.
• Eight of Millersville's newcomers are transfers. Alec Topper was a 1,000-point scorer and three-time All-ODAC First Team for Bridgewater College. Montell Cooper was a two-time All-Atlantic East selection at Marymount. Dante Weise, a point guard from Saint Rose, led all Division II freshmen in assists with 5.9 per game last season.
 
#4 Shepherd (13-15 overall, 10-12 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Shepherd lost a pair of All-PSAC East performers in Daniel McClain-Corley (First Team) and Phillip Jordan (Second Team).
• Towson transfers Chase Paar (6-10) and Cole Paar (6-9) join the team this season.
• Aidan Hughley (6-6) and Brody Davis (6-5) return for the Rams after missing last season.
• The Rams open the 2024-25 campaign at the Conference Challenge against Winston-Salem State on Nov. 8.
 
#5 Lock Haven (21-8 overall, 18-4 PSAC in 2023-24)
• In 2023-24, the Bald Eagles won a share of the PSAC Eastern Division Regular Season Championship after securing a 20-7 overall record and 18-4 conference mark. The East title was the first for the program, while the 18 conference wins is a program best and the 20 overall victories were the most since the 1989-90 season.
• The historic season led head Coach Mike Nestor to his second PSAC East Coach of the Year honor, after earning his first following the 2013-14 season.
• The Bald Eagles won their first PSAC Championship quarterfinal game since 1990 by downing fourth-seeded West Chester in a dominant 100-76 performance.
• Justice Shoats was tabbed PSAC East Player of the Year, while also being named to the All-PSAC East First Team as a guard. Collin Jones was named to the Second Team as a forward.
• Lock Haven opens the 2024-25 season on Friday, Nov. 8 when it travels to Bowie, Md. To compete in the Bowie State Tip-Off Classic. The Haven opens the weekend on Friday night when it takes on Fayetteville State at 5 p.m.
• The PSAC schedule begins for Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 22 when the Bald Eagles travel to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown at 5 p.m. for a PSAC East-West crossover game.
 
#6 Kutztown (4-24 overall, 3-19 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Kutztown finished the 2023-24 season with a 4-24 overall record and a 3-19 mark in the PSAC.
• Three different freshmen last season ranked in the top-10 overall in the PSAC in different statistical categories, including Jaiden McGhee (.473 field goal %), Yahmir Satterfield (.390 3-pt field goal %) and Juju Pagan (.797 free-throw %).
• Senior point guard Jalen Bryant missed all but six games last season due to injury; He was an All-PSAC East Second Teamer as a sophomore.
• Kutztown will open its season at the PSAC/CIAA Challenge at East Stroudsburg on Nov. 9-10.
 
#7 Shippensburg (8-20 overall, 4-18 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Shippensburg posted an 8-20 record and a 4-18 mark in the PSAC Eastern Division during the 2023-24 season.
• The Raiders return the 2023-24 PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year in guard Markus Frank. Frank averaged a team-high 17.7 points per game last season, and his 495 points represented a SU freshman record. Frank reached double figures in scoring in 22 of 28 outings last season.
• Chris Fite returns for his 12th year (11th season) as the head coach of the Raiders. Fite guided SU to 19 or more wins in seven straight seasons from 2015-16 to 2022-23.
• Junior guards Trey Martin (6.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG) and Timmy Conner (6.1 PPG, 34.4% 3PT FG) combined to average 12.9 points off the Raider bench last season.
 
#8 Mansfield (8-20 overall, 6-16 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Mansfield is coming off an 8-20 season with a 6-16 PSAC record to reach their first PSAC postseason since 2013, earning the sixth seed.
• Mansfield finished fourth in the PSAC in steals with 230 and seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 75.5.
• Mansfield opens the 2024-25 season at the Ron Wilson Classic hosted by Millersville. On Saturday, November 9 the team plays Point Park University to open the year.
• The PSAC schedule opens when the Mounties travel to Clarion on Friday, November 22.
 
#9 Bloomsburg (5-23 overall, 3-19 PSAC in 2023-24)
• Bloomsburg is coming off a 5-23 season with a win 3-19 record in PSAC contests.
• Key returners include Matt Bengel (12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 SPG) and Louie Wild (12.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.8 APG)
• The Huskies open their season at the Joe Retton Classic in Fairmont, West Virginia, against Fairmont State on Friday, November 8.
• Bloomsburg begins its conference schedule on Friday, November 22, in Erie against defending PSAC Champion Gannon University.

PSAC WESTERN DIVISION
Western Division (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
 
1. California (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. Gannon
4. IUP
5. Seton Hill
6. Pitt-Johnstown
7. Clarion
8. Edinboro

#1 California (28-5 overall, 19-3 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • California tied for the second-most wins in school history last season while posting a 28-5 overall record. The Vulcans established a program record with 19 wins in conference play before advancing to the finals of the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2008.
  • The Vulcans boasted four 1,000-point scorers last year, however, only forward Keith Palek III returns for the 2024-25 campaign. Palek missed two months last season due to injury after averaging over 18 points per game as a sophomore while being an All-PSAC West First-Team selection.
  • Junior Bryson Lucas returns after being voted the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year in his first season as a starter. He finished among the top five in the league in both total blocks and total steals while finishing with nearly 200 total rebounds.
  • The Vulcans appeared in the NCAA Tournament last year for the second time in three seasons. Additionally, Cal was ranked in the NABC Top 25 Coaches' Poll for the first time in over 15 years and reached as high as No. 8 after entering the year unranked.

#2 Slippery Rock (16-14 overall, 13-9 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • Slippery Rock, which returns four starters and 12 letterwinners from last season, is led by returning All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division guards Maceo Austin and Jomo Goings. The duo shined for SRU a year ago with Austin going for 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor. A 47.1 percent shooter overall, and 38.8 percent from distance, Goings had a breakout year with per game averages of 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals.
  • SRU is the only team in the PSAC, and one of just three in the Atlantic Region, to return multiple all-conference honorees from a season ago.
  • The Rock has depth on the wing. In addition to Austin and Goings, SRU brings back long-range marksman Ike Herster (14.3 ppg / 57 made 3-pointers), the ultra-athletic Sheick Samoura (8.1 ppg, 1.2 bpg) and veteran Bobby Clifford (87 games played). In addition to the plethora of shooting guard / small forward returners, Grady added another 3-point specialist to the mix this offseason in the form of Day Waters from Millersville. As a sophomore, Waters ranked third in the PSAC in 3-point shooting percentage (.421) en route to averaging 12.9 ppg.
  • A year ago, The Rock earned their sixth consecutive winning season and seventh straight postseason berth. SRU led the PSAC, and was eighth in the nation, in blocks per game (5.1), in addition to ranking second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.421), second in rebounds per game (39.23), third in rebounding margin (2.1) and fifth in free throw percentage (.742).
 
#3 Gannon (32-3 overall, 20-2 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • For the second straight year, Gannon has a new coach. After sitting at the right hand of Jordan Fee during Gannon's monumental run last year, assistant coach Easton Bazzoli takes over as head coach. Bazzoli takes over a team that set a school record for wins while finishing at 32-3 and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009. The previous year Gannon was 3-23, with the 2023-24 Golden Knights making the largest turnaround in NCAA history across all divisions. However, just three players return as four players used up their eligibility and several others entered the transfer portal. Gannon finished third in the NABC Division II Top 25.
  • Sophomores Mike Montano and Ernest Shelton played key roles a year ago despite averaging less than 16 minutes per game each and never starting a game. Montano, a 6-foot-7 point forward, led the Golden Knights in rebounding at 6.6 rpg. while averaging 8.0 ppg. He had a team-high 34 blocks. Shelton, a 6-foot-5 guard, was a threat to fire up a 3-pointer anywhere past halfcourt. Despite playing just 12.7 minutes per game he made 58-of-142 3-pointers while averaging 7.9 ppg. He ranked fifth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.8 percent.
  • Gannon fans have January 15, 2025 marked on their calendar. That's when the Golden Knights are expected to return to the Highmark Events Center. They have been playing at Cathedral Prep's Hagerty Family Events Center since hosting West Chester on December 19, 2023. Extensive renovations are expected to be completed with Gannon hosting Western Division power Slippery Rock in the return to its homecourt.
  • Gannon led Division II in scoring in 2023-24, averaging 100.4 ppg. Bazzoli expects to play a similar pressing, fast-paced style in 2024-25 with a host of newcomers on board. Bazzoli brought in a pair of graduate transfers, along with four other transfers and four freshmen. A former assistant at Union (Tenn.), he is most familiar with two former Union players: Jason DeBuck, a 6-foot-one guard, is one of the graduate transfers, while 6-foot-6 guard Layne Sarver is a junior. The other graduate transfer is Isiah Warfield, a 6-foot-5 guard who played at Howard last year and Liberty before that. Tasman Goodrick, a 6-foot-9, sophomore adds much-needed size up front after previously playing at Cal Baptist. Bruce Carpenter, a 6-foot-2 guard, transferred from Division I Houston Baptist while junior Victor Desmond previously played at Des Moines Area CC. He is 6-foot-7 swingman.
 
#4 IUP (17-13 overall, 13-9 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • The IUP Men's Basketball team is coming off a 17-13 season that saw them go 13-9 in PSAC conference play. After beating fifth seed Mercyhurst at home to advance to the PSAC quarterfinals, the team fell to one seed Gannon, 94-89, who would eventually reach the NCAA Elite Eight.
  • IUP ranked third in the PSAC in scoring defense, only allowing an average of 69.4 points to be scored per game. The Crimson Hawks were raining threes from the outside, averaging 25.7 three-point attempts per game -- which was ranked second in the PSAC.
  • The Crimson Hawks open the 2024-25 season on the road in Charleston, WV on Friday, November 8 where they face Glenville State. IUP holds a 4-1 record all-time against the Pioneers.
  • PSAC conference play for the Hawks begins on Friday, November 22 at home in the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex when they welcome the Shippensburg Raiders.
 
#5 Seton Hill (16-13 overall, 11-11 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • The Griffins are looking to take the next step after consecutive 16-13 seasons with 11-11 records in the West.  SHU has made the PSAC Tournament the past two seasons.
  • Seton Hill returns four of their top six scorers from last season including PSAC West Rookie of the Year Kedrick Curtis and All-PSAC West selection Ryan Meis.
  • SHU opens the season at Frostburg State, where they will play Salem and Frostburg State in the Atlantic Region Challenge.
  • PSAC West play begins on January 3rd when the Griffins travel to Slippery Rock.
 
#6 Pitt-Johnstown (6-22 overall, 4-18 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • After rebuilding a year ago, 36th-year Head Coach Bob Rukavina brought in nine new players, including three transfers (Sean Dillon-Seton Hill, Adam Bilinsky-Mercyhurst, Baden Forup-Capital (OH) University).
  • All five starters return from last year (Ryan Smith, Elijah Sechler, Will Kromka, Nick Watts, and Vinnie Cugini).
  • Six returning players averaged 10 or more minutes per game last season.
  • Pitt-Johnstown returns three double-digit scorers from 2023-24 (Senior guard Ryan Smith-13.7 ppg., sophomore Vinnie Cugini-11.1 ppg., and red-shirt sophomore forward Nick Watts-10.1 ppg.)
 
#7 Clarion (8-20 overall, 6-16 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • Clarion is coming off an 8-20 season, including a 6-16 mark in conference play, in 2023-24. That represented a five-game improvement in both categories from the previous season.
  • Last year Clarion ranked third in the PSAC and second in the PSAC West in blocked shots, averaging 3.64 per game.
  • The Golden Eagles play an exhibition at Syracuse on Saturday, October 26 before opening their season 13 days later against Bowie State. The home opener is set for Wednesday, November 13 against Roberts Wesleyan.
  • Conference action kicks off on Friday, November 22 against Mansfield, which is part of a five-game homestand for the Golden Eagles.
 
#8 Edinboro (7-21 overall, 6-16 PSAC in 2023-24)
  • The Scots bring back a mix of experience and new faces to the 2024-25 season led by second-year head coach Justin Jennings.
  • Daunte Wilcott is the top returning scorer, averaging 9.1 points per game to go with 5.2 rebounds after starting all 28 games last season. The Scots return four other players who saw time last season and added eight transfers and three freshmen to the mix.
  • Edinboro opens up at the Fairmont State Invitational on Nov. 8-9. The home opener is slated for Nov. 13 against D'Youville while PSAC play begins Nov. 22 vs. Kutztown.
                                                    
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