NEW YORK | The Skyline Conference's 12 head men's basketball coaches cast their votes in the 2022-23 edition of the preseason coaches poll, selecting Farmingdale State above the rest.
The Rams and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy find themselves voted to finish atop the South and North Divisions, respectively, with FSC headlining the full poll with 120 points, including 10 first-place votes. The Mariners follow in second with 99 points overall and one first-place vote, while last year's runner up, Manhattanville is projected to finish third (94 points) in the full poll and second behind USMMA in the North Division. The Valiants also received one first-place vote.
Last year's champion, Yeshiva (88), which captured its second-consecutive conference championship and third conference title in the last four full seasons of play, is tabbed to finish second in the South Division to Farmingdale State and fourth overall amongst the 12 teams.
The Rams fell in the semifinals last winter to Manhattanville, but return standouts Nick Hurowitz and Jevon Santos, among others, along with a notable recruiting class in search of their first championship since the 2018-19 season. In that semifinal loss to the Valiants, FSC's last time on the hardwood, Hurowitz finished with a double-double on 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Santos recorded 14 points and six assists.
Like FSC, USMMA is also projected to take a step forward in 2022-23, especially with YU graduating several key players from the championship team. The Mariners fell in the quarterfinal last winter. They welcome back Isaac Vencel, who registered a team-best 21 points in that playoff loss, and Josh Kauffman, who finished with 16 and a team-high eight rebounds against the Dolphins.
Matan Zucker anchors YU with the departure of Ryan Turell, who was recently drafted by the NBA's G League. Zucker, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament last season, led the third-seeded and 20th-ranked Maccabees to a 74-40 triumph over the fourth-seeded Valiants in the final round of the 2022 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Championship.
The Valiants made their first conference finals appearance in 13 years and first in the Skyline since hoisting the championship hardware in 2007. The conference coaches have picked them to finish second behind USMMA in the North.
Sarah Lawrence and St. Joseph's-Long Island are projected third in the North and South Divisions, respectively, joining fellow playoff contenders Mount Saint Vincent, Mount Saint Mary and Old Westbury in the hunt for the top eight playoff spots.
The 2023 Skyline Conference Championship commences in late February. Quarterfinals will take place on Feb. 21, with the semifinals on Feb. 23 and the finals on Feb 25. The league champion receives automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.
2022-23 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Farmingdale State (10 first-place votes), 120 pts.
2. Merchant Marine (1), 99
3. Manhattanville (1), 94
4. Yeshiva, 88
5. St. Joseph's-Long Island, 82
6. Mount Saint Vincent, 72
7. Old Westbury, 60
8. Sarah Lawrence, 54
9. Mount Saint Mary, 43
10. Purchase, 38
11. Maritime, 27
12. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 15
Rank by Division
North Division
1. USMMA
2. Manhattanville
3. Sarah Lawrence
4. Mount Saint Mary
5. Purchase
6. Maritime
South Division
1. Farmingdale State
2. Yeshiva
3. St. Joseph's-Long Island
4. Mount Saint Vincent
5. Old Westbury
6. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn