LANCASTER, Pa. – Marymount is the clear favorite in the Atlantic East Men’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, with 36 total points and six first place votes.
 
The Saints were the 2022-23 Atlantic East Champions and look to repeat this honor this season. Marymount will be led by 2023 First Team All Conference players Wyatt Hockenberry and Marcus Stubbs. Marymount returns all five starters from last season who finished with a conference record of 10-2 and were 17-11 overall. 
 
Landing second with one first place nod is Neumann finishing with 29 total points. The Knights fell in the Championship a year ago and will look to avenge that loss this season. Neumann was successful in conference play last season with a 9-3 record in the Atlantic East. The Knights are led by two time Player of the Year Jalen Vaughns, as they will look to build on their winning trend this year. Neumann will compete without Defensive Player of the Year Tony James and second team All Conference member Ryan Starr who graduated in 2023. 

Not far behind taking third in the poll is Gwynedd Mercy with 28 points. The Griffins will be led by 2023 Rookie of the Year DJ Johnson and First Team All Conference honoree Manny Clark. The Griffins return a full starting lineup as they look to continue to compete this season. 
 
Finishing fourth in the polls is Immaculata with 20 points. The Mighty Macs lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic East tournament a season ago. They return four starters from the 22-23 lineup as they hope to continue to build on last season’s success.  

Cabrini and Marywood tied for fifth in the polls with 14 points. Cabrini looks to head coach Ryan Van Zelst in his first year leading the Cavaliers. Marywood returns four to the starting lineup, but will be without Second Team All Conference member Jason Holman. 

Closing out the polls is Centenary with six overall points. They will have a void to fill as they are without First Team All Conference Member Billy Veras. 
 
Against non-conference opponents, Centenary, Cabrini, Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marymount, and Marywood all open on Wednesday, November 8th. Neumann opens their season on Thursday November 9th against Franklin and Marshall.

Conference play will commence on Wednesday, January 3rd with Cabrini traveling to Centenary, Neumann playing at Gwynedd Mercy, and Marymount hosting Immaculata. 
 
The 2023-24 Atlantic East Tournament is set to begin with the first round contests on Monday, February 19th, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, February 21st, and the title contest on Saturday, February 24th.

Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Marymount - 36 (6)
2. Neumann - 29 (1) 
3. Gwynedd Mercy - 28 
4. Immaculata - 20 
T5. Cabrini - 14
T5. Marywood - 14
7. Centenary - 6 

ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising seven institutions in a three-state area - Cabrini, Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary University in New Jersey, and Marymount University in Virginia. 
 
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