PAC Men’s Basketball: Saint Vincent Voted Preseason Favorite

It is time to build long-lasting regular season memories on the hardwood. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference announced on Thursday, Nov. 5th the outcome of its 2015-16 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The league’s head coaches selected the Saint Vincent College Bearcats to make history and collect their fourth consecutive PAC Championship Tournament crown.

The Green and Gold claimed all 10 of the first-place votes to lead this season’s preseason survey. SVC concluded the 2014-15 campaign with 22-7 mark overall and 14-2 in the PAC. D.P. Harris, who enters his 13th season as head coach of Saint Vincent’s, and the Bearcats have made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

“We always have the same goals: win 20 games, we accomplished that, win the PAC, we accomplished that goal, and certainly make the NCAA tournament and advance,” Harris said on the team’s website. “We need to hit the next step and advance in the NCAA Tournament.”

Harris continued, “To win four straight, if it happens, that’s great.It would be great for the school, it would be good for the program, but each one is independent of the other.”

Thomas More College was second in the voting with 78 points, and Thiel College was next in third with 67 points. Geneva College landed in fourth with 63 points, and Bethany College rounded out the top five in fifth place with 62 points.

The rankings continued with Waynesburg University in the sixth slot with 59 points, Westminster College in seventh with 46 points, Grove City College in eighth with 35 points, and Washington & Jefferson College in ninth with 21 points. Chatham University, which is sponsoring men’s basketball for the first time this season, concluded the poll in 10th with 19 points.

Thiel, Westminster, Grove City, Geneva, Bethany, Waynesburg, and W&J get their seasons underway the weekend of Nov. 13-15 in non-conference action.

2015-16 PAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

1} Saint Vincent College Bearcats (22-7 overall last season / 14-2 in PAC)
2} Thomas More College Saints (17-10 / 11-5)
3) Thiel College Tomcats (13-13 / 9-7)
4} Geneva College Golden Tornadoes (10-16 / 7-9)
5) Bethany College Bison (18-11 / 11-5)
6) Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets (18-11 / 12-4)
7) Westminster College Titans (7-20 / 3-13)
8) Grove City College Wolverines (9-17 / 4-12)
9) Washington & Jefferson College Presidents (2-24 / 1-15)
10) Chatham University Cougars (First-year sponsoring men’s basketball)

More from Pittsburgh Sports

• Pittsburgh Penguins: A Look Back at 2019
• Penguins Will Continue to Persevere Despite Injuries
• In the Midst of Coaching Drama, be Thankful in Pittsburgh
• Big Week for Robert Morris University Colonials Athletics
• Steelers’ Second Half Schedule May Provide Path to the Playoffs

PAC Men’s Basketball Players To Watch In 2015-2016:

Bethany

Antonio Rudolph – Junior – Guard – 6-2 – From New Castle, Pennsylvania

Chatham

Isaiah Brown – Freshman – Guard – 5-11 – From Scott, Arkansas
Logan Hunter – Sophomore – Forward – 6-4 – From Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Alex Schoppen – Freshman – Guard – 6-3 – From Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

Geneva

Ethan Adamcyzk – Senior – Guard/Forward – 6-4 – From Uniontown, Ohio
Jimmy Leichliter – Sophomore – Guard/Forward – 6-7 – From Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Chaese Vaudrin – Junior – Guard – 6-3 – From Uniontown, Ohio

Grove City

Isaiah Reeves – Senior – Guard – 6-1 – From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saint Vincent

Jaylon Bell – Senior – Guard – 5-11 – From Ocoee, Florida
JC Howard – Senior – Guard – 6-2 – From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pat Jones – Senior – Guard – 6-3 – From Frostburg, Maryland

Thiel

Khari Bess – Senior – Guard – 6-1 – From Waldorf, Maryland
Clandell Cetoute – Sophomore – Forward – 6-8 – From Wellington, Florida
Luke Kochka – Senior – Forward – 6-5 – From Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Thomas More

Daniel Williams – Sophomore – Guard – 5-10 – Louisville, Kentucky

Washington and Jefferson

Brian Lindquist – Sophomore – Forward – 6-5 – From Narvon, Pennsylvania

Next: Experience And Graduate Transfers Are Key To Pitt

Waynesburg

B.J. Durham – Senior – Guard – 5-10 – From West Friendship, Maryland
Nate Labishak – Senior – Forward – 6-5 – From Munhall, Pennsylvania
D.J. Ritchie – Senior – Forward – 6-5 – From Oakland, Maryland

Westminster

Brandon Domenick – Sophomore – Guard – 5-10 – From New Castle, Pennsylvania
Deontay Scott – Sophomore – Forward – 6-4 – From Youngstown, Ohio
Charlie Wallander – Senior – Forward – 6-4 – From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania