PITMAN—After winning its second straight NJAC championship in 2014-15 prior to advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Stockton University has been selected as the favorite to win the 2015-16 New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. The Ospreys will be seeking their ninth NJAC championship since 1986-87.
Stockton received 5-of-the-10 first-place votes cast by the league coaches. The 2014-15 Ospreys won the NJAC regular season championship with a 14-4 record en route to a 23-6 mark overall. The Ospreys then claimed the NJAC Tournament title with wins over Rutgers-Newark and William Paterson, before claiming an NCAA Tournament first round victory over Endicott. Led by the all-time winningest collegiate baseball coach in the State of New Jersey, Gerry Matthews has produced an overall record of 582-236 under his leadership. Stockton returns one all-conference player from its 2014-15 NJAC championship squad in senior guard Armin Cane.
Rutgers University-Newark, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2014-15 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 19-10 overall record, was selected to place second and received five first-place votes. The 2014-15 Scarlet Raiders finished fourth in the NJAC regular season race with an 11-7 mark in conference play. Led by 15th-year head coach Joe Loughran, Rutgers-Newark has produced an overall record of 224-161 under his leadership. The Scarlet Raiders return one all-conference player from its 2014-15 squad in senior forward Jordan McDaniel.
William Paterson University, under the leadership of 21st-year head coach Jose Rebimbas, was selected to place third. The 2014-15 Pioneers earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and recorded a first round victory over Cobleskill State. Rebimbas has guided WPU to an overall record of 396-175 in his 20 seasons, including a record of 21-8 in 2014-15. William Paterson returns two all-conference players from a 2014-15 squad which finished as the runner-up in both the NJAC regular season and NJAC Tournament, including senior forward Terik Bridgeman and the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior forward Bright Mensah.
New Jersey City University, which posted a 13-14 overall record in 2014-15, was selected to place fourth. The 2014-15 Gothic Knights finished sixth in the NJAC regular season with a 9-9 mark in league play. Ninth-year head coach Marc Brown has guided NJCU to an overall record of 115-98 during his tenure in Jersey City.
Rowan University, which posted a 16-10 overall record in 2014-15, was selected to place fifth. Now in his 20th season at the helm of the Rowan program, Joe Cassidy has guided the Profs to an overall record of 327-171. Rowan returns one all-conference player from a 2014-15 squad which finished fifth in the NJAC regular season with a 10-8 mark in league play in senior guard Kris O’Connor.
The coaches’ dark horse selection, Ramapo College was selected to finish sixth. Eighteenth-year head coach Chuck McBreen has guided the Roadrunners to an overall record of 301-159 during his tenure in Mahwah, including a mark of 13-12 in 2014-15. Ramapo returns two all-conference players from the 2014-15 season, including senior guard Frank Nock and the 2014-15 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Thomas Bonacum.
Montclair State University, which will be led by new first-year head coach Marlon Sears, was selected to finish seventh. Sears inherits a Red Hawks squad which finished 8-17 overall in 2014-15.
The College of New Jersey, which will be led by new first-year head coach Matt Goldsmith, was selected to place eighth. Goldsmith inherits a Lions squad which finished third in the 2014-15 NJAC regular season with an 11-7 mark in league play en route to a 15-11 record overall.
Kean University, which posted a 6-19 overall record in 2014-15, was selected to place ninth. Ninth-year head coach Rob Kurzinsky has guided the Cougars to 84 victories during his tenure. Kean returns one all-conference player from the 2014-15 season in senior guard Tommy Soulias.
Rutgers University-Camden, led by sixth-year head coach Jason Curbison, was selected to finish 10th. Curbison guided the 2014-15 Scarlet Raptors to an overall record of 14-12, giving him 37 victories at Rutgers-Camden and 43 wins for his collegiate coaching career.
The 59th season of NJAC men’s basketball will tip-off on Friday, November 13 with four league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin just eight days later when Montclair State hosts TCNJ in the first league contest of the year on Saturday, November 21.
The top six finishers in the conference standings will qualify for the 2015-16 NJAC Championship Tournament. First round tournament games will take place on Saturday, February 20, 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 first round byes.
The NJAC Tournament Semifinals will be hosted by the top two seeds on Wednesday, February 24. The two semifinal winners will advance to the 2015-16 NJAC Championship Game on Saturday, 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.
2015-16 NJAC Men's Basketball
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Stockton (5)
2. Rutgers-Newark (5)
3. William Paterson
4. New Jersey City
5. Rowan
6. Ramapo (dark horse)
7. Montclair State
8. The College of New Jersey
9. Kean
10. Rutgers-Camden
First Place Votes In Parentheses