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Bridgewater, NJ -- The votes have been tabulated, which means the dawn of a new men’s basketball season is upon us. And while the calendar has flipped and new faces will be hitting the hardwood, the team everyone is chasing remains the same
 
For the second time in as many years, LIU is swarming at the top of the NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll in 2026-27. The Sharks, who landed the big catch in 2025-26 after chomping at the bit the previous eight years, are in prime position for an NEC repeat after reeling in seven first-place votes from the league’s head coaches.
 
The remaining two top tallies were pocketed by Mercyhurst following a 2025-26 campaign that saw the Lakers make a splash in their postseason debut by making a run to the championship game.
 
The third spot in the NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll was shared by Central Connecticut and Le Moyne.
 
Wagner, a semifinalist in last year’s playoffs, finished fifth in the projected order-of-finish while FDU and Stonehill, which fell just short of the program’s first-ever title game bid last season, were deadlocked for the sixth spot in the poll.
 
The Knights and Skyhawks were followed by Chicago State (eighth) and New Haven (ninth).
 
Each program will once again play a 16-game double round-robin schedule that begins on Saturday, Jan. 2.
 
All nine NEC institutions are eligible to compete in the NEC Tournament, which will be held on March 3, 6 and 9 at campus sites.
 
If a reclassifying institution wins the NEC Tournament championship, the tournament runner-up will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the NEC's automatic qualifier under current policy. If Mercyhurst and New Haven both reach the NEC championship game, the NEC will stage an “NCAA Qualifying Game” between the two non-advancing semifinalists to determine which team earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Historically speaking, the Sharks will be navigating some nearly unchartered waters when it comes to the hunt for a second straight championship. Just one other program in conference annals has had its projection as the preseason favorite come to fruition in consecutive seasons, and that was LIU, which turned the trick at the tail end of its unprecedented three-peat in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
 
It should also be noted that an NEC repeat has not gone down since LIU’s aforementioned title spree, and it has only occurred five other times in the 45-year history of the tournament.
 
Explosive guard play, three All-NEC standouts and a relentless defensive identity powered LIU to its first 20-win campaign in nearly a decade last winter. Although that trio has since graduated, the Sharks have reloaded with a new wave of talent ready to take center stage for fifth-year head coach Rod Strickland.
 
The 2025-26 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year, former NBA All-Star point guard and New York City native has brought in 13 newcomers, many of them seasoned veterans, to give the Sharks a wealth of experience heading into the new season. Leading the charge are three veteran transfers who earned spots on the Preseason All-NEC Team: senior guard Vasean Allette (Scarborough, Ontario/United Scholastic Academy (ODU/TCU/UTSA)), redshirt sophomore guard Daquan Davis (Baltimore, MD/Overtime Elite Academy (Florida State/Providence)), junior forward Jahki Howard (Kingwood, TX/Overtime Elite Academy (Auburn/Utah)).
 
Allette brings a proven knack for scoring and playmaking after averaging 13.7 points and 3.4 dimes in 51 games at Old Dominion and TCU. The speedy Davis, who adds valuable backcourt experience, netted 8.8 points in 31 games at Florida State before an injury cut his 2025-26 season short at Providence, while the explosive Howard brings an above-the-rim presence to LIU after appearing in 27 games across stops at Auburn and Utah.
 
On the heels of a historic 2025-26 campaign, guard Jake Lemelman (Newton, MA/The MacDuffie School) and swingman Tennessee Rainwater (Davenport, WA/Davenport (Le Moyne)) give the Lakers a formidable one-two punch as they look to take the next step and turn last year’s breakthrough season into a banner-raising campaign.
 
Lemelman begins his third season in the Lake City as the NEC’s top returning scorer after averaging 13.4 points per game a year ago. A dangerous perimeter marksman, he also drained 61 three-pointers to establish himself as one of the circuit’s premier long-range threats. Rainwater, a versatile 6-7 senior who arrived in Erie by way of Le Moyne, turned the corner midway through his inaugural NEC campaign in Syracuse after he put up 12.4 points a night over his final 15 contests. Head coach Gary Manchel, who enters his 24th season as Mercyhurst’s head man, has bolstered the roster with the addition of four true freshmen and two DI transfers in senior guard Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills (Northern Illinois/SFU/Quinnipiac)), who won a ring back in 2025 playing for SFU, and graduate guard Marcus Jackson (Amsterdam, NY/Albany Academy (Siena)), a Siena transfer.
 
The 2026-27 season brings plenty of intrigue for the New Britain faithful as sixth-year head coach Patrick Sellers and CCSU welcome back a trio of guards in junior James Jones (New Britain, CT/East Catholic (Worcester Academy)), classmate Roddy Jones (North Babylon, NY/St. John the Baptist (Cheshire Academy)) and sophomore Ashton Reynolds (Brooklyn, NY/Transit Tech (Williston Northampton)). All three showed flashes a year ago, with the latter two ballers combining for six NEC Rookie of the Week awards. Added to the mix for the Blue Devils is a name that is a familiar one on the NEC hoops circuit. Victor Payne, Jr. (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell (Saint Francis U)), who joins the roster after spending two years at Saint Francis U, looks to follow in the footsteps of his father, Victor Payne, Sr. Donning the Blue and White from 1996-2000, Payne, Sr. made history in his final season in New Britain after helping lead the program to its first-ever NEC Tournament title and Big Dance appearance. Coming off a three-year stretch that has produced a sparkling 39-9 conference record and two NEC regular season titles, the Blue Devils have a solid foundation in place as they set their sights on the program’s first tournament crown since 2006-07.
 
The 2026-27 iteration of Le Moyne boasts a revamped roster that returns three players while welcoming nine DI transfers. The Dolphins look to build on a promising 2025-26 campaign that saw them more than double their league win total from the year prior with 10 conference victories. Even that record was deceiving for seventh-year head coach Nate Champion, as six of the Dolphins’ defeats were decided by 10 points or fewer, including a pair of nail-biting one-point setbacks. With a wealth of fresh talent, including a pair of potential breakout stars in Sacramento State transfer guard Jayden Teat (Sacramento, CA/Capital Christian (Utah/Sacramento State)) and UT Martin transfer guard Damien King (Anderson, IN/Anderson (UT Martin)), Le Moyne will look to keep the momentum going and take its now Big Dance-eligible squad to uncharted territory this season.
 
It’s a revamped look for one of the league’s charter members. With the interim tag removed from his title, Wagner head coach Dwan McMillan hit the portal hard during the offseason to attract experienced DI ballers from the likes of Cornell, Delaware State, Fairfield, Fordham, High Point, New Orleans, Oral Roberts, Sacred Heart and Siena to Grymes Hill. Among the newcomers is senior guard Cam Estevez (Harlem, NY/Canterbury (Rhode Island/Fairfield)), a 6-4 sharpshooter who has connected on 38 percent of his three-point attempts over three seasons at Rhode Island and Fairfield. After making a magical run through the NEC Tournament and hoisting the trophy as the No. 6 seed in 2024, the Green and White was on a path to turning the Cinderella trick again last season but came just short of knocking off top-seeded and eventual league champion LIU in the semifinals.
 
After finishing 8-10 in NEC play last year, including six defeats decided by single digits, FDU looks to turn up the heat in 2026-27 under head coach Jack Castleberry. There’s plenty of momentum to build on as the fourth-year head coach brings back a key building block in 6-8 guard David Jevtic (Belgrade Serbia/KK Kolubara Lazarevac 2003), the reigning NEC Rookie of the Year, along with fellow backcourt contributor Raysean Johnson (Montgomery, NY/Canterbury School). With 10 new faces in the fold and a reputation for a high-powered — and dangerous — perimeter attack under Castleberry, FDU has the pieces to make some noise this winter.
 
Stonehill is bringing a fresh wave of talent and sky-high ambitions to Easton in 2026-27 as 14th-year head coach Chris Kraus rolls out a squad that features 12 newcomers. Last season, the Skyhawks delivered the program’s first-ever postseason victory — a quarterfinal road win at Le Moyne — and now they have their sights set on an even bigger prize: the program’s first-ever NEC crown. A transfer-heavy group features six DI additions, including a familiar face in sophomore guard Eli Greenberg (Centerville, OH/Centerville (Le Moyne)), who joins the Skyhawks and brings NEC experience after playing in 31 games as a rookie at Le Moyne a year ago.
 
Head coach Landon Bussie laid a solid foundation in his first season with the Cougars and by season’s end, Chicago State was hitting its stride. The Windy City squad rattled off four wins in a five-game stretch spanning late January and early February before proving it could go toe-to-toe with the league’s best, pushing eventual LIU to the brink in an intense quarterfinal contest in Brooklyn. Sophomore guard Malek Robinson (Baton Rouge, LA/Liberty Magnet) immediately made his presence felt on defense, wreaking havoc by producing a league-leading 1.8 steals per game. Now poised for an even bigger role in 2026-27, the Louisiana native will have reinforcements in the fold. Among them is redshirt sophomore guard Mike Price (Chicago, IL/SCA Academy/Cal State Bakersville)), a Chicago native who emerged as one of Cal State Bakersfield’s top three-point shooters last season, as well as two-way guard Armari Carraway (Fresno, CA/San Joaquin Memorial (Charleston Southern)), a senior who averaged 6.7 points a night in 24 games and 14 starts for Charleston Southern.
 
New Haven built a promising foundation in their maiden NEC voyage in 2025-26, and under longtime head coach Ted Hotaling, the Chargers have their sights set higher as they enter their first season of NEC postseason eligibility. After freshmen filled more than half of the team’s 21-man roster a season ago, all 11 of those first-years return from a squad that went .500 for a fifth place showing. Forward Teshaun Steele (Worcester, MA/Darrow School) made his mark in his collegiate debut as an NEC All-Rookie Team honoree while veteran guard Kheni Briggs (Kennapolis, NC/The Burlington School (UAlbany)) brings explosive scoring potential after erupting for 29 points on 5-of-7 shooting from deep at Saint Francis in January.
   
NEC Preseason Coaches Poll History (last 38 years)          
          
Year        Preseason Favorite                       NEC Tournament Champion
            (actual regular season finish)           (preseason selection)
 
2025-26     LIU (1st)                                LIU (1st)
2024-25     CCSU (1st)/Wagner (7th)                  Saint Francis (8th)
2023-24     Sacred Heart (3rd)                       Wagner (5th)
2022-23     Merrimack (1st)                          Merrimack (1st)
2021-22     Wagner (1st)                             Bryant (2nd)
2020-21     FDU (8th)                                Mount St. Mary's (tied 3rd)
2019-20     LIU (tie 5th)                            Robert Morris (5th)
2018-19     Saint Francis (1st)                      FDU (2nd)
2017-18     Saint Francis (tie 2nd)                  LIU (6th)
2016-17     FDU (tie 5th)                            Mount St. Mary's (4th)
2015-16     Mount St. Mary's (5th)                   FDU (9th)
2014-15     St. Francis Brooklyn (1st)               Robert Morris (3rd)
2013-14     Wagner (2nd)                             Mount St. Mary's (6th)
2012-13     LIU (3rd)                                LIU (1st)
2011-12     LIU (1st)                                LIU (1st)
2010-11     Quinnipiac (2nd)                         LIU (3rd)
2009-10     Mount St. Mary's (3rd)                   Robert Morris (tie 3rd)
2008-09     Mount St. Mary's (tie 2nd)               Robert Morris (3rd)
2007-08     Sacred Heart (3rd)                       Mount St. Mary's (4th) 
2006-07     Monmouth (tie 8th)                       CCSU (tie 4th)
2005-06     FDU (1st)                                Monmouth (2nd)
2004-05     Monmouth (1st)                           FDU (2nd)
2003-04     Quinnipiac (10th)                        Monmouth (3rd)
2002-03     CCSU (3rd)                               Wagner (2nd)
2001-02     Monmouth (4th)                           CCSU (4th)
2000-01     CCSU (tie 5th)                           Monmouth (3rd)
1999-00     Mount St. Mary's (tie 7th)               CCSU (3rd)
1998-99     Mount St. Mary's (tie 5th)               Mount St. Mary's (1st)
1997-98     LIU (1st)                                FDU (2nd)
1996-97     Monmouth (3rd)                           LIU (4th)
1995-96     Monmouth/Rider (tie 2nd/4th)             Monmouth (tie 1st)
1994-95     Rider (1st)                              Mount St. Mary's (3rd)
1993-94     FDU (tie 5th)                            Rider (3rd)
1992-93     Wagner (2nd)                             Rider (3rd)
1991-92     Monmouth (tie 2nd)                       Robert Morris (2nd)
1990-91     Monmouth (4th)                           Saint Francis (3rd)
1989-90     FDU (6th)                                Robert Morris (3rd)
1988-89     Monmouth (3rd)                           Robert Morris (5th)
1987-88     *Marist (tie 1st)                        FDU (2nd)

* Marist was ineligible for the NEC Tournament in 1987-88

About The NEC
Now in its 46th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 17 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.