With three starters returning from a team that captured the 2023 Liberty League championship, St. Lawrence University has been selected as the preseason favorite in men’s basketball in a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Saints received 78 points and seven first-place votes. With an average of just two starters per team returning throughout the league and with no team having more than three starters back, there will be many first-time starters and new faces that will look to make an impact. Following St. Lawrence, RPI (68 points) was picked second, Hobart (66) was third and Ithaca (62) was fourth with each receiving a first-place vote. Clarkson and Skidmore tied for fifth (40 points) followed by Union (36), Vassar (27), RIT (24) and Bard (9).
The top six teams qualify for the Liberty League championship. The format includes two first-round games on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The top two seeds receive byes and will host semifinal games on Friday, Feb. 23, and the top remaining seed will host the championship game on Sunday, Feb. 25. The Liberty League champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
St. Lawrence (19-8, 13-5 Liberty League) was picked sixth in the preseason poll last year, but used a strong finish, winning eight of the final nine regular-season games, to finish second in the league standings. The Saints earned overtime wins over both Hobart and RPI in the Liberty League tournament to capture their first championship since 2010. A key to St. Lawrence’s success last season was a balanced offense combined with a stifling defense. The Saints had just one double-digit scorer in All-Liberty League first-team selection Trent Adamson (13.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg), but had four scorers average between 8.1 and 9.5 points. Three of those return. Senior guard Trey Syroka, the Most Outstanding Player of the Liberty League tournament, is the catalyst for the Saints. Syroka, a second team all-league pick, averaged 9.5 points while ranking second in the league in assists (4.2) and first in steals (2.7) by a wide margin. Brothers Aidan Macauley and Gavin Macauley, both juniors, averaged 9.3 and 9.0 points respectively, nearly doubling their offensive output from their rookie seasons and will look to make another jump this year after. Senior guard Carter Storey (4.3 ppg, 31 3-pointers) was the top player off the bench last season and will contend for a spot in the starting lineup.
RPI (19-9, 11-7 Liberty League) advanced to the league championship game last year after knocking off regular-season champion Ithaca in the semifinals. The Engineers graduated three seniors, including three-time Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-league selection Dom Black. Graduate student forward Jonny Angbazo, a second team all-league selection, is RPI’s top returning scorer (12.3 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg) and also led the Engineers in blocked shots (23) Senior forward Avery Eugster (10.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) was also a double-digit scorer and one of the team’s most accurate 3-point shooters (34.9 percent). Sophomore guard Dylan Matchett (3.4 ppg) was one of the team’s top backcourt reserves as a rookie and may take on a greater role this season. RPI also welcomes six newcomers to the mix who will battle for playing time.
Hobart (17-10, 12-6 Liberty League) returns two starters from last season’s team that fell to St. Lawrence in overtime in the Liberty League tournament semifinals. The Statesmen graduated their top two scorers in Liberty League Player of the Year Jackson Meshanic (21.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg) and Patrick Walker (11.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Meshanic led the league in scoring while ranking second in rebounding. He also connected on 48.9 percent of his 3-point attempts (44-for-90). While Meshanic has departed, his younger brothers, juniors Carter Meshanic (9.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, team-leading 56.5 FG percentage) and Hunter Meshanic (4.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) expect to take on greater roles this season. Guards Aidan Rogers (7.8 ppg), a returning starter, and Patrick Healy (4.5 ppg) are the top returning 3-point threats for the Statesmen.
Ithaca (18-8, 14-4 Liberty League) captured the 2022-23 Liberty League regular-season title. The Bombers were an experienced team last season as they returned the bulk of their scoring and rebounding from the previous year. But Ithaca enters the 2023-24 season having graduated four starters from last year’s squad, led by graduate student and first team all-league selection Luka Radovich (18.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Second team all-league junior guard Logan Wendell (14.5 ppg, team-leading 51 3-pointers) is the Bombers’ top returning scorer. Ithaca also has a number of key reserves returning from last season. Senior guards Triston Wennersten (7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Andrew Geschickter (4.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.0 apg) and Noah Downing (3.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.1 apg) also saw extensive action off the bench and will challenge for starting roles this season. Five first-year players will also have an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
Clarkson (9-16, 6-12 Liberty League) is one of the league’s more experienced teams with three returning starters. The Golden Knights are looking to continue their ascent up the league standings after finishing seventh last season. Like other teams, Clarkson is looking to replace its top scorer from a year ago in all-league honorable mention selection Blake Gearhart (15.1 ppg, 3.4 apg). Graduate student guard Ryan Miles-Ferguson (15.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is the league’s top returning scorer after ranking sixth overall last season. Junior forward Jack Dalgety (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) led Clarkson in rebounding while junior guard Matteo Sinon (6.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg) provided a spark off the bench. Junior forward Finn Cork made great strides last season. After appearing in 11 games and 3.9 minutes as a rookie, Cork appeared in all 25 games while averaging 17 minutes, 5.6 points and 5.0 rebounds, good for 15th in the league.
Skidmore (13-13, 11-7 Liberty League) lost its top four scorers from a year ago, including three All-Liberty League performers – seniors Tautvydas Kupstas (20.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Greg Skoric (12.5 ppg, league-leading 10.5 rpg) and Riley Greene (11.8 ppg, league-league 6.5 apg). Junior forward Alexei Downie is the Thoroughbreds’ top returning scorer having averaged 5.2 points along with 4.4 rebounds in a supporting role. Expect for junior guard Jake Walsh (3.0 ppg, 14 3-pointers) and sophomore forward Joey Skoric (2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) to join Downie in taking on greater lead roles this season. Skidmore also welcomes eight first-year players into the mix as the team looks to battle for a league tournament spot.
Union (6-19, 5-13 Liberty League) was bitten by injury and a bit of misfortune last year. Of the Garnet Chargers’ 19 losses, 13 were by 10 points or less, while six of those were by five points or less. While Union graduated its top two scorers in Mike Manley (14.4 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Brian Noone (14.4, 5.3 rpg), the team returns sophomore forward Aren Cummings (10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg), who earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors despite having his season cut short due to injury. Senior forward Edward Baptiste (9.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) also returns as a starter along the front line. Senior guards Luke McGarrity (4.3 ppg) and Connor Cepiel (1.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg) both saw regular action off the bench and will look to contribute as experienced players. Union also welcomes seven newcomers who will challenge for key roles.
Vassar (13-13, 9-9 Liberty League) will be one of the league’s younger teams this season. Last year’s team consisted of 10 seniors, many of whom helped the Brewers secure their first Liberty League title in 2022 and return to the postseason again last year. The team’s top six scorers, who accounted for 84 percent of the offense have graduated, but a group of younger players will have an opportunity to step into leading roles this season. Senior forward Case Parsons (4.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg) stepped into a starting role last year and will help to anchor the front line. Junior guard Luke Adams (5.2 ppg, 23 3-pointers) was one of the top players off the bench last season and will contend for a starting spot in the backcourt. Senior forward Logan Scott (1.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) was one of just four Vassar players to appear in all 26 games last season and will be counted on for a greater contribution this season. Expect eight first-year players to push for immediate playing time.
RIT (9-16, 5-13 Liberty League) graduated its top scorer and rebounder in all-league honorable mention pick Kevin Ryan (15.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), but the Tigers return three starters as they look to ascend the league standings under 40th-year head coach Bob McVean. RIT featured a balanced offense behind Ryan with six players averaging between 5.8 and 9.4 points per game. Senior guard Matt Caggiano (9.4 ppg, 2.3 apg) is the team’s top returning scorer as he provided a spark off the bench. Junior guard Brock Bowen (7.4 ppg, team-leading 39 3-pointers) and senior guard Mark Osime (6.4 ppg, 43.1 percent from 3-point range) return as starters while junior guard Chase Dickens (5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg) was one of the top reserves and will contend for a starting role as well. Senior guard Keegan Ocorr ranked fourth in the league in both assists (3.6 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
Bard (7-18, 4-14 Liberty League) begins the season with a new head coach as Dave Sloan takes over after having most recently served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Carnegie Mellon. Sloan has three players back with starting experience. The Raptors graduated their top scorer in Tyler Bruns (12.7 ppg) from a unit with a balanced offense. Top returning scorer, senior guard Elliott Harris (10.0 ppg, 50 3-pointers) was one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, connecting on 39.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Senior guard Azriel Almodovar (6.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.1 apg) was the team’s co-leader in assists and was the only Raptor to start all 25 games. Senior guard Kevin Le returns after missing last season due to injury, but was a starter in his two previous seasons.
2023-24 LIBERTY LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. St. Lawrence, 78 (7)
2. RPI, 68 (1)
3. Hobart, 66 (1)
4. Ithaca, 62 (1)
5t. Clarkson, 40
5t. Skidmore, 40
7. Union, 36
8. Vassar, 27
9. RIT, 24
10. Bard, 9
(First-place votes are in parentheses)