NEW YORK | The Skyline Conference's 12 head men's basketball coaches cast their votes in the 2023-24 edition of the preseason coaches poll, selecting Farmingdale State – the league’s defending champion – for the second straight year.
The Rams are an unanimous pick in the full poll, registering 11 first-place votes and 121 points. They also received full support in the newly renamed “Black Division.” FSC returns stars Corey Powell and Nick Hurowitz (above) to add to its incoming recruiting class.
Behind a 16-point, two-block effort from Powell, the Rams took home their sixth Skyline Conference Championship last winter, defeating visiting second-seeded Manhattanville College by a 71-65 score. Nick Hurowitz registered a double-double for the victors in the league final with 15 points and a game-best 10 rebounds. FSC has won three of the last six Skyline titles.
FSC head coach Brendan Twomey will be looking for his first title in the newly renamed divisions as the conference has shuffled teams from the former “North” and “South” divisions.
The Black Division now consists of FSC; Old Westbury; St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn; St. Joseph’s-Long Island; U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Maritime, while the Gold Division is comprised of Mount Saint Mary; Manhattanville; Purchase; Yeshiva; Sarah Lawrence and Mount Saint Vincent.
Yeshiva (104 pts.) was selected second in the full poll and second in the Gold Division behind last season’s runner-up Manhattanville, who ties U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for third in the full poll (96) but takes home the other first-place vote. In the Gold Division, the Valiants received three first-place votes. Yeshiva is projected second and Mount Saint Vincent third, with the Macs collecting two first-place votes in conference and the Dolphins receiving the last vote.
In the Black Division, head coach Rob Pryor’s U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Mariners received the other first-place vote and are projected to finish second behind the Rams. The Mariners are led by Skyline All-Conference First-Team selection Bryce Bristow.
Last year’s player of the year, Tommy Lotito (below), is back for Manhattanville, anchoring the Valiants. It was a career-best season for Lotito on the hardwood in 2022-23, averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Staten Island native led the Valiants to a second-consecutive Skyline Conference Championship finals appearance and the team's third 20-win season in program history. Lotito led the Valiants in points, assists, steals, free throws and minutes as his presence was paramount to Manhattanville's success all year long.
Zevi Samet will do the same for Yeshiva. Last season’s rookie of the year scored 21.7 points per game during the regular season to lead the Skyline. He drained 4.04 3-pointers per contest, ranking him No. 1 in NCAA Division III.
St. Joseph's-Long Island and Mount Saint Vincent are projected third in the Black and Gold divisions, respectively, joining fellow playoff contenders Maritime and Mount Saint Mary in the hunt for the top eight playoff spots.
The 2024 Skyline Conference Championship commences in late February. Quarterfinals will take place on Feb. 20, with the semifinals on Feb. 22 and the finals on Feb 24. The league champion receives automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.
2023-24 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Farmingdale State (11 first-place votes), 121 pts.
2. Yeshiva, 104
3t. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Manhattanville (1), 96
5. St. Joseph’s-Long Island, 85
6. Maritime, 63
7. Mount Saint Vincent, 60
8. Mount Saint Mary, 58
9. Purchase, 37
10. Sarah Lawrence, 36
11. Old Westbury, 23
12. St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn, 13
Rank by Division
Black Division
1. Farmingdale State (5 first-place votes)
2. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1)
3. St. Joseph’s-Long Island
4. Maritime
5. Old Westbury
6. St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn
Gold Division
1. Manhattanville (3 first-place votes)
2. Yeshiva (2)
3. Mount Saint Vincent (1)
4. Mount Saint Mary
5. Sarah Lawrence
6. Purchase