ANNVILLE, Pa. (Men’s Basketball) – The DeSales Bulldogs were selected as the favorite in the 2019-20 conference preseason poll conducted among the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) men’s basketball coaches. The Bulldogs collected first-place votes from all seven opposing coaches.
Eastern received 38 points to rank second, and Stevens collected 35 points to rank third. Wilkes (30 points) and Misericordia (25 points) rounded out the top-five of the poll.
The rest of the poll in respective order includes Delaware Valley (23 points), King’s (13 points) and FDU-Florham (11 points).
A season ago, DeSales finished the regular-season with a 12-2 conference record to capture the regular-season crown and top-seed in the conference championship. The Bulldogs went on to defeat second-seeded Wilkes, 78-66, to capture the conference title. It was DeSales’ fourth title and first since the 2013-14 season.
The 2019 MAC Freedom Championship seeds were: No. 1 DeSales, No. 2 Wilkes, No. 3 Eastern and No. 4 Delaware Valley.
Stevens finished last season with a 16-10 overall record and a 9-7 record in Empire 8 play. The Ducks fell in the semifinal round of the Empire 8 Tournament.
DeSales earned the conference’s automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Bulldogs fell to future MAC Commonwealth member, York (Pa.), in the opening round by a score of 83-59.
Misericordia and Wilkes extended their postseason play in the ECAC Division III Championship. The Cougars fell to Marymount in the first round, while the Colonels defeated Brooklyn before falling to Rutgers-Newark in the quarterfinal round.
The 2019-20 season is set to begin on Friday, Nov. 8. The 2019 MAC Freedom Men’s Basketball Championship is set for Feb. 26-29.
The 2019-20 MAC Freedom Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll and 2018-19 final standings can be viewed below.
| 2019-20 MAC Freedom Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
(1st Place Votes) |
|
| 1 |
DeSales |
49 |
(7) |
|
|
| 2 |
Eastern |
38 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
Stevens |
35 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
Wilkes |
30 |
|
|
|
| 5 |
Misericordia |
25 |
|
|
|
| 6 |
Delaware Valley |
23 |
|
|
|
| 7 |
King's |
13 |
|
|
|
| 8 |
FDU-Florham |
11 |
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| 2018-19 MAC Freedom Men's Basketball Final Standings |
|
| Finish |
Team |
Conf. |
Overall |
|
|
| 1 |
DeSales (1) |
12-2 |
21-7 |
|
|
| t2 |
Wilkes (2) |
9-5 |
19-10 |
|
|
| t2 |
Eastern (3) |
9-5 |
15-11 |
|
|
| 4 |
Delaware Valley (4) |
8-6 |
12-14 |
|
|
| 5 |
Misericordia |
7-7 |
14-12 |
|
|
| 6 |
Manhattanville |
5-9 |
11-14 |
|
|
| 7 |
FDU-Florham |
4-10 |
7-18 |
|
|
| 8 |
King's |
2-12 |
4-21 |
|
|
| (#) - Conference Tournament Seed |
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