Newtown, Pa. (Men's Basketball) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026-27 men's basketball season, and defending conference champion Stevens is the unanimous choice to repeat.
Stevens claimed all eight possible first-place votes and totaled 64 points to top the preseason poll. The Ducks enter the season looking to defend the MAC Freedom title they won last February with a 68-59 victory over Misericordia, the fourth conference championship in program history.
Misericordia was picked second with 51 points, followed by DeSales in third with 49 points. Arcadia rounds out the top four at 48 points, just one behind DeSales, with Lebanon Valley fifth at 35.
The full preseason order: Stevens (64 points, 8 first-place votes), Misericordia (51), DeSales (49), Arcadia (48), Lebanon Valley (35), King's and FDU-Florham (tied, 26 each), Delaware Valley (13) and Marywood (12).
Arcadia finished 2025-26 atop the standings as the No. 1 seed at 11-3 in conference play (18-7 entering the postseason), with Stevens taking the No. 2 seed at 10-4 (18-9 before the NCAA Tournament) and Misericordia the No. 4 seed at 8-6 (16-9 entering the postseason). DeSales also reached the semifinals to complete the four-team field.
2026-27 MAC Freedom Season Preview
Stevens enters the season as the clear favorite, and the reason is simple: the Ducks bring back their core. Guard Tommy Scholl, a First Team All-MAC Freedom selection and the MAC Freedom Tournament MVP, returns for his senior season after scoring a team-high 19 points in the championship game. He is joined by senior forward Harmehar Chhabra, also a First Team selection, who notched a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Stevens' NCAA first-round game, as well as Second Team guard Kyle Maddison and Anthony Loscalzo, both seniors this season. Stevens went on to face Christopher Newport in the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament, falling 75-62 in the first round.
Misericordia and DeSales sit right behind. Misericordia brings back Second Team guard Jack Gallagher, a senior this season, though the Cougars will need to replace Second Team forward Matt Prociak, who has graduated. DeSales returns with Honorable Mention guard Luke Keppel, a junior this year.
Arcadia is picked fourth after earning the No. 1 seed a year ago. The Knights return First Team guard Jamison Lynam, a junior this season, but will have to replace graduate student guard Nahseer Johnson, a First Team selection. Lebanon Valley is picked fifth and returns 2025-26 MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year Giovanni Sejuste, a Second Team guard who will be a sophomore.
Further down the poll, King's and FDU-Florham are tied for sixth. King's returns Honorable Mention junior-turned-senior Ben Rodner-Tims, while FDU-Florham brings back Second Team forward Chris Smith, a senior this season. Delaware Valley and Marywood round out the poll, with the Aggies looking to rebound after losing Second Team guard Antonio Redding to graduation.
2025-26 MAC Freedom Championship Notes
Stevens entered the 2026 MAC Freedom Tournament as the No. 2 seed and won the championship on Saturday, February 28, at home in Hoboken with a 68-59 win over No. 4 seed Misericordia. Scholl was named Tournament MVP, scoring 19 points to go with eight rebounds. Chhabra added 15 points and seven rebounds, Loscalzo chipped in 10 points and Evan Gutowski added 8 off the bench. The win gave Stevens the fourth MAC Freedom title in program history and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
2026-27 Season Schedule
- Season opener: November 6, 2026
- Conference play begins: December 2, 2026
- Postseason format: The top five teams in the MAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament
- Play-In Game (No. 4 vs. No. 5): February 22, 2027
- Semifinals: February 24, 2027
- Championship: February 27, 2027