NEW YORK | Fresh off capturing the 2024-25 Skyline Conference tournament crown, Yeshiva University has been chosen as the team to beat in the 2025-26 Skyline Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. 

The Maccabees earned 118 points and eight first-place votes, posted one of the league’s top offenses a year ago, and will look to regain championship form under head coach Elliot Steinmetz, whose program has been among the Skyline’s most consistent in recent years.

Farmingdale State was tapped second in the poll, with 111 points and four first-place votes, as the Rams look to bounce back after falling short in last year’s postseason. Sarah Lawrence, which made a historic run to the 2024-25 semifinals, earned 101 points to claim the No. 3 spot, while Maritime (91 points) and Purchase (76 points) rounded out the top five. 

Merchant Marine (60 points) and St. Joseph’s-Long Island (58) were separated by just two points for sixth and seventh, followed closely by Mount Saint Vincent (57), Manhattanville University (45), Old Westbury (34), St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn (23), and Mount Saint Mary (18).

The 2025-26 Men’s Basketball season opens up on Friday, November 7. The Skyline Conference Championship tournament will begin with first-round play on Tuesday, February 24, followed by semifinals on Thursday, February 26. The championship final is slated for Saturday, February 28, hosted by the highest remaining seed, with the winner earning the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.

2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll (Full Poll)
Rank, School, Pts., (First-Place Votes)
1. Yeshiva, 118 (8)
2. Farmingdale State, 111 (4)
3. Sarah Lawrence, 101
4. Maritime, 91
5. Purchase, 76
6. Merchant Marine, 60
7. St. Joseph's-Long Island, 58
8. Mount Saint Vincent, 57
9. Manhattanville, 45
10. Old Westbury, 34
11. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 23
12. Mount Saint Mary, 18

2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll (Gold Division)
Rank, School, Pts., (First-Place Votes)
1. Yeshiva, 25 (5)
2. Sarah Lawrence, 21 (1)
3. Purchase, 16
4. Mount Saint Vincent, 12
5. Manhattanville, 10
6. Mount Saint Mary, 6

2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll (Black Division)
Rank, School, Pts., (First-Place Votes)
1. Farmingdale State, 24 (4)
2. Maritime, 20 (2)
3. Merchant Marine, 16
4. St. Joseph's-Long Island, 15
5. Old Westbury, 9
6. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 6