It may be summer but college basketball programs never truly hit an 'offseason.' There's almost always some kind of action for each of the 24 D2 basketball conferences, and something to discuss, including a 2015-16 review, BennettRank and how each program performed versus the pre-season polls. There have been coaching changes key losses. There are players to watch for once the season gets underway.
We complete our look at the Atlantic Region with a look at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
2015-2016 PSAC Standings | BennettRank (BR) Recap
|
COLLEGE |
PRESEASON BR |
POLL |
OVERALL RECORD |
CONF. RECORD |
FINISH |
FINAL BR |
|
EAST DIVISION |
||||||
|
171 |
2 |
23-7 |
18-4 |
1 |
81 |
|
|
179 |
2 |
23-7 |
17-5 |
2 |
73 |
|
|
89 |
1 |
21-7 |
16-6 |
3 |
47 |
|
|
240 |
5 |
20-9 |
15-7 |
4 |
137 |
|
|
268 |
7 |
17-10 |
15-7 |
5 |
185 |
|
|
276 |
4 |
12-15 |
8-14 |
6 |
285 |
|
|
247 |
8 |
6-21 |
4-18 |
7 |
307 |
|
|
226 |
6 |
4-22 |
4-18 |
8 |
309 |
|
|
290 |
9 |
2-24 |
1-21 |
9 |
312 |
|
|
WEST DIVISION |
||||||
|
26 |
2 |
21-8 |
17-5 |
1 |
56 |
|
|
115 |
1 |
22-9 |
15-7 |
2 |
36 |
|
|
145 |
3 |
15-11 |
14-8 |
3 |
173 |
|
|
206 |
8 |
18-11 |
13-9 |
4 |
124 |
|
|
259 |
9 |
13-14 |
11-11 |
5 |
187 |
|
|
250 |
7 |
14-16 |
10-12 |
6 |
178 |
|
|
126 |
5 |
15-13 |
10-12 |
7 |
186 |
|
|
80 |
4 |
7-19 |
6-16 |
8 |
258 |
|
|
183 |
6 |
7-21 |
4-18 |
9 |
278 |
|
NCAA Tournament Recap
ATLANTIC REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS (First Round)
Mercyhurst 66, Wheeling Jesuit 65
Kutztown 76, West Chester 63
ATLANTIC REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (Second Round)
Kutztown 79, Mercyhurst 73
ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Third Round)
West Liberty 85, Kutztown 64
Coaching Changes
California (Pa.): After leading his Concord team to the Mountain East Conference tournament championship, Kirk McBride takes the reins at Cal U, replacing long-time head coach Bill Brown. Brown, who retired at the end of this past season, won 365 games in his 20 years at Cal U and 490 wins over his 30 year coaching career, which included stops at D3 Kenyon and D1 Sacramento State.
“I am certain that Coach McBride will be a role model for our student-athletes, working just as hard as they do to make our men's basketball program a success. He understands the high hopes we have for all our Vulcan athletic teams, but he also knows that ultimately our goal is to prepare every Cal U student, including our student-athletes, for a purposeful life and a meaningful career.” – Cal U President Geraldine Jones
Millersville: Former Delaware Valley head coach Casey Stitzel is the new head coach at Millersville after eight seasons running the D3 program. Stitzel, whose father was a two-sport star at Millersville, replaces Fred Thompson, who was fired at the end of last season after 18 seasons and a 272-233 record.
“Casey has a clear plan for restoring the rich history and tradition of the program and getting it back to a championship level. I'm confident that Casey will do this by recruiting the right type of students that fit academically at Millersville while also being able to compete athletically at the highest level.” — Millersville AD Miles Gallagher
All-Conference Selections*
Key Losses
Jamal Nwaniemeka, G, East Stroudsburg: 12.4 ppg (First Team, East)
Matt Wiseley, F., West Chester: 11.9 ppg (First Team, East)
Cornelius Brown, C, Slippery Rock: 15.9 ppg (First Team, West)
Brandon Norfleet, G, IUP: 22.8 ppg (First Team, West)
Kameron Taylor, G, Seton Hill: 20.8 ppg (First Team, West)
Henri Wade-Chatman, G, Edinboro: 20.3 ppg (First Team, West)
Avery Brown, G, West Chester: 10.6 ppg (Second Team, East)
Will Brown, G, East Stroudsburg: 11.6 ppg (Second Team, East)
Thomas Moore, G, Mansfield: 15.4 ppg (Second Team, East)
Rob Agurs, F, Clarion: 14.7 ppg (Second Team, West)
Kayode Ajenifuja, F, Mercyhurst: 13.5 ppg (Second Team, West)
Damon Jones, G, Mercyhurst: 14.7 ppg (Second Team, West)
Tommy Scales, C, Edinboro: 12.0 ppg (Second Team, West)
Nate Snodgrass, G, Pitt-Johnstown: 14.2 ppg (Second Team, West)
Daddy Ugbede, F, IUP: 11.9 ppg (Second Team, West)
Key Returnees
Josh Johnson, Sr. F, Kutztown: 14.4 ppg (First Team, East)
Rasheed Moore, Sr. F, East Stroudsburg: 13.1 ppg (First Team, East)
Christian Mortellite, Jr. G/F, Bloomsburg: 19.0 ppg (First Team, East)
Dustin Sleva, Jr. F, Shippensburg: 15.8 ppg (First Team, East)
A.J. Leahey, Sr. F, Pitt-Johnstown: 17.5 ppg (First Team, West)
Jaymon Mason, Jr. G, Edinboro: 20.8 ppg (First Team, West)
Ryan Connolly, Sr. F, Kutztown: 12.2 ppg (Second Team, East)
Malik Jackson, Soph. G, West Chester: 15.7 ppg (Second Team, East)
Anthony Lee, Soph. G, Kutztown: 13.0 ppg (Second Team, East)
Abe Massaley, Sr. G, Shippensburg: 13.6 ppg (Second Team, East)
* – The PSAC selects a first- and second-team for both the East and West divisions.
Circle the Dates
PSAC West – Jan. 9, IUP at Mercyhurst: If there’s one team in the PSAC West that’s given the Crimson Hawks fits over the years, it’s the defending PSAC champion Mercyhurst Lakers. IUP travels to Erie for the first of two potential divisional showdowns.
PSAC East – Feb. 25, Kutztown at West Chester: If last year was any indication, this regular season finale featuring two of last season’s outstanding freshmen in Kutztown’s Anthony Lee and West Chester’s Malik Jackson could decide the PSAC Eastern Division champions.
