PITMAN—After advancing to the semifinal round of the 2013-14 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 20-9 overall record, Rutgers-Newark has been selected as the favorite to win the 2014-15 New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. The Scarlet Raiders will be seeking their first NJAC championship in program history.

Rutgers-Newark received a league-high seven first-place votes from the coaches. The 2013-14 Scarlet Raiders posted a 14-4 conference record, good for a third place finish in the NJAC regular season race. Led by 14th-year head coach Joe Loughran, Rutgers-Newark has recorded an overall record of 205-151 during his tenure. The Scarlet Raiders return a pair of all-conference players from its 2013-14 ECAC Tournament squad, including senior guard John Snow and senior forward Christian Garcia.

William Paterson University, which finished 21-6 overall in 2013-14, was selected to place second and received two first-place votes. The 2013-14 Pioneers finished as the league runner-up in the NJAC regular season with a 14-4 mark in conference play. Led by 20th-year head coach Jose Rebimbas, the Pioneers have produced an overall record of 375-167 during his tenure. WPU returns one all-conference player from its 2013-14 NJAC runner-up squad in senior guard Sandy Burgos.

Richard Stockton College, which captured the 2013-14 NJAC Championship before advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, was selected to place third and received one first -place vote. Led by the 2013-14 NJAC Coach of the Year in Gerry Matthews, the Ospreys finished 25-5 overall last season, giving Matthews a career collegiate coaching record of 559-230 in 28 seasons in Galloway. Stockton returns one all-conference player from a squad which also won NJAC regular season championship with a league-best 15-3 record in conference play, in senior forward Josh Blamon.

New Jersey City University, which earned a berth in the 2013-14 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 14-13 overall record, was selected to place fourth. Led by eighth-year head coach Marc Brown, the Gothic Knights have produced an overall record of 102-84 under his leadership.  

Ramapo College, which finished 9-16 overall in 2013-14, was selected to place fifth. Now in his 17th season at the helm of the Roadrunners, Chuck McBreen has guided Ramapo to an overall mark of 298-147. The Roadrunners return a pair of all-conference players from their 2013-14 squad, including junior forward Frank Nock and the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore guard George Sapp.

The College of New Jersey, which finished 8-17 overall in 2013-14, was selected to place sixth. Seventh-year head coach Kelly Williams has guided the Lions to 49 victories during his tenure in Ewing. TCNJ returns one all-conference performer from its 2013-14 squad in junior forward Bobby Brackett.

The coaches’ dark horse selection for the second consecutive season, Rutgers University-Camden was selected to place seventh. Fifth-year head coach Jason Curbison guided the 2013-14 Scarlet Raptors to an overall record of 4-21, giving him 23 wins at Rutgers-Camden and 29 career collegiate coaching victories overall. The Scarlet Raptors return one all-conference player from their 2013-14 squad in senior forward Teon Russell. 

Rowan University, led by 19th-year head coach Joe Cassidy, was selected to place eighth. Cassidy has guided the Profs to an overall record of 311-161, including a mark of 12-13 in 2013-14. 

Montclair State University, which will be led by first-year interim head coach Daren Rowe, was selected to place ninth. Rowe inherits a Red Hawks squad which finished 11-14 overall in 2013-14.

Kean University, which advanced to the championship game of the 2013-14 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 16-14 overall record, was selected to place 10th. Eighth-year head coach Rob Kurzinsky has guided the Cougars to 78 victories during his tenure in Union. 

The 58th season of NJAC men’s basketball will tip-off on Saturday, November 15 with all 10 league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin just seven days later with the first conference contests scheduled for Saturday, November 22. 

The top six finishers in the conference standings will qualify for the 2014-15 NJAC Championship Tournament. First round tournament games will take place on Saturday, February 21, with the third-seeded team hosting the sixth-seeded team, and the fourth-seeded team hosting the fifth-seeded team. The top two seeds will each receive a first round bye.

The NJAC Tournament Semifinals will be hosted by the top two seeds on Tuesday, February 24. The two semifinal winners will advance to the 2014-15 NJAC Championship Game on Friday, February 27, to be contested at the site of the highest remaining seed.

The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2014-15 NJAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Rutgers-Newark (7)

2. William Paterson (2)

3. Richard Stockton (1)

4. New Jersey City

5. Ramapo

6. The College of New Jersey

7. Rutgers-Camden (dark horse)

8. Rowan

9. Montclair State

10.Kean

First Place Votes In Parentheses