SJC selected to repeat in 2025-26 MBB Preseason Coaches Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's (Maine) looks to repeat on their quest to the top of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) as the Monks were nearly unanimously picked as the 2025-26 preseason favorites as conducted by the league's 13 head coaches. SJC was the top seed in last year's tournament and earned the league's automatic qualifying bid to match-up with nationally-ranked Redlands in the NCAA tournament. The Monks were voted to reclaim the top spot after receiving 168 points, including 12 first-place votes and they head into this season as receiving votes in the D3Hoops.com Preseason Poll.
Following behind them is #25 nationally ranked University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), who earned 149 points as the Blue Jays will be surely in the championship mix this upcoming season. USJ finished third in the conference last season and look to reclaim the league's automatic qualifier to head back into the NCAA tournament.
Albertus Magnus comes in third with 143 points and one first-place vote. The Falcons look to also be a perrenial contender in this year's season as Albertus is also no stranger to showing to the title games.
Runner-up Lasell University comes into this season projected to finish fourth, receiving 137 points as the Lasers look to avenge their championship loss from last season as another contender.
Rounding out the top five is Norwich, who earned 105 points and will look to also be in the mix.
Coming in at six was Rivier (101) followed by Mitchell (76) and Regis (71) to round out the top eight.
New England College comes in at No. 9 with 66 points while Colby-Sawyer (61), Elms (61), Dean (30) and Mitchell (17) fill in the final spots.
Tip off for the 2025-26 Men’s basketball season is on Friday, Nov. 7 as teams open with non-conference action. Conference play gets underway on Saturday, Jan. 10. Teams will complete a 12-game single round robin conference season with the top-8 teams at the end of the regular season earning berths into the 2025-26 GNAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Following the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams will play in the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 26 with the tournament culminating in the GNAC Championship game on Saturday, February 28. The winner of the championship game will be named 2025-26 GNAC Men’s Basketball Champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.
2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Results
| 1) | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 168 (12) |
| 2) | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 149 |
| 3) | Albertus Magnus | 143 (1) |
| 4) | Lasell | 137 |
| 5) | Norwich | 105 |
| 6) | Rivier | 101 |
| 7) | Mitchell | 76 |
| 8) | Regis | 71 |
| 9) | Emmanuel | 68 |
| 10) | Dean | 62 |
| 11) | Elms | 57 |
| 12) | Colby-Sawyer | 29 |
| 13) | New England College | 17 |
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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