USJ selected to repeat in 2024-25 MBB Preseason Coaches Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) looks to go back to the tournament for the fifth year in a row as the defending Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions look to go back-to-back in the postseason tournament. The Blue Jays received 214 points, including seven first-place votes, in this year’s voting which was conducted by the league’s 15 men’s basketball head coaches last week. They come in this year receiving votes nationally on the D3hoops 2024-25 Men’s Basketball Top 25 Preseason Poll.
USJ went undefeated in conference play last year at 14-0 (25-5 overall), earning the top seed and picking up wins in the quarterfinals over Rivier and besting Norwich in the semifinals before claiming a 78-59 victory in the title game over Saint Joseph’s (Maine).
Last year’s runner-up Saint Joseph’s (Maine) looks to claim their first GNAC title since 2009 as the Monks follow closely behind with 206 points (four first-place votes). Rounding out the top three is 2023 GNAC champion Albertus Magnus, who received 205 points and three first-place votes. The Falcons look to collect their tenth conference trophy this upcoming season.
Lasell comes into this season projected to finish fourth, receiving 173 points. Rounding out the top five is Rivier, who earned 147 points.
Rounding out the top eight in order was Emmanuel (142), Norwich (126), and Regis (125).
Johnson & Wales comes in at No. 9 with 118 points and a first-place vote while Mitchell (80), Dean (73), and Colby-Sawyer (67) fill in the 10-12 spots.
Finalizing the top three spots in this year’s preseason poll in order were Anna Maria (64), Elms (31), and New England College (29).
Tip off for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season is on Friday, Nov. 8 as teams open with non-conference action. Conference play gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 7. Teams will complete a 14-game single round robin conference season with the top-10 teams at the end of the regular season earning berths into the 2025 GNAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with a Play-In Round featuring the bottom four tournament seeds on Monday, Feb. 24 with those winners advancing to the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Following the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams will play in the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 27 with the tournament culminating in the GNAC Championship game on Saturday, March 1. The winner of the championship game will be named 2024-25 GNAC Men’s Basketball Champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.
2024-25 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Results
| 1. | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 214 (7 first-place votes) |
| 2. | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 206 (4) |
| 3. | Albertus Magnus | 205 (3) |
| 4. | Lasell | 173 |
| 5. | Rivier | 147 |
| 6. | Emmanuel | 142 |
| 7. | Norwich | 126 |
| 8. | Regis | 125 |
| 9. | Johnson & Wales | 118 (1) |
| 10. | Mitchell | 80 |
| 11. | Dean | 73 |
| 12. | Colby-Sawyer | 67 |
| 13. | Anna Maria | 64 |
| 14. | Elms | 31 |
| 15. | New England College | 29 |
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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