Rider University has been selected as the favorites to win the MAAC men's basketball title in 2023-24, per the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released Tuesday morning. The Poll and Preseason All-MAAC honors have are voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.
Rider earned 117 points and received eight first-place votes. The Broncs finished ahead of defending MAAC Champion, Iona, who received 108 points and a pair of first-place votes. Canisius, voted third, received one first place vote.
Two-time MAAC Coach of the Year, Kevin Baggett, enters his 12th season at Rider, looking to finally capture that elusive title.
Rider last won a MAAC regular season championship in 2018, and the Broncs have not appeared in the conference championship game since 2008.
This year, they have a very skilled and versatile roster led by redshirt senior Mervin James who was voted as the 2023-24 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. James averaged 12.9 points and 6.8 rebounds last year and is the only returning player in the MAAC to have ranked top-15 in scoring and top-five in rebounds a year ago. He is the only unanimous player selected to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team this season.
Joining James on the Preseason All-MAAC First Team are his teammate Allen Powell, Osborn Shema of Iona, Mount St. Mary’s Dakota Leffew, and Matt Balanc from Quinnipiac.
Below is the full poll and preseason honors list:
| 2023-24 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll | ||
| 1 | Rider | 117 (8) |
| 2 | Iona | 108 (2) |
| 3 | Canisius | 89 (1) |
| 4 | Siena | 77 |
| 5 | Quinnipiac | 71 |
| 6 | Fairfield | 70 |
| 7 | Mount St. Mary’s | 59 |
| 8 | Marist | 48 |
| 9 | Niagara | 43 |
| 10 | Saint Peter’s | 30 |
| 11 | Manhattan | 14 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Mervin James – Rider |
| Preseason All-MAAC First Team | |||
| Player | Position | Year | Institution |
| Osborn Shema | Forward | Gr. | Iona |
| Dakota Leffew | Guard | Sr. | Mount St. Mary’s |
| Matt Balanc | Guard | Gr. | Quinnipiac |
| Mervin James* | Forward | R-Sr. | Rider |
| Allen Powell | Guard | R-Sr. | Rider |
| Preseason All-MAAC Second Team | |||
| Player | Position | Year | Institution |
| Tahj Staveskie | Guard | So. | Canisius |
| Caleb Fields | Guard | Gr. | Fairfield |
| Isaiah Brickner | Guard | So. | Marist |
| Paul Otieno | Forward | Sr. | Quinnipiac |
| Michael Eley | Guard | So. | Siena |
| Preseason All-MAAC Third Team | |||
| Player | Position | Year | Institution |
| Xzavier Long | Forward | Jr. | Canisius |
| Alexis Yetna | Forward | Gr. | Fairfield |
| Joel Brown | Guard | Gr. | Iona |
| Idan Tretout | Guard | Gr. | Iona |
| Corey Washington | Forward | So. | Saint Peter’s |
*Denotes unanimous selection
College basketball season is right around the corner and Jersey Sporting News will provide updates throughout.
- Rutgers Women's Basketball Officially Adds 'Rare Talent' Kiyomi McMiller - April 18, 2024
- Jersey Native Sets ACC Freshman Scoring Record - February 29, 2024
- Rutgers Spring Sports Off To Fast Start - February 12, 2024
