Owls and Salem Selected Preseason Favorites in MASCAC Coaches Poll

Westfield, Mass.— Salem State and Westfield State were selected to win the 2021- 22 MASCAC Men's Basketball Championship as voted on by the seven coaches from around the league. The 2020-21 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Westfield State had three first place votes also for 32 points. The reigning MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion Owls finished with a 10-2 mark in conference action in 2019-20. Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, Mass.), the 2019-20 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, is back on the hardwood. In his first year with the Owls, he averaged 6.8 points, 7.3 rebounds while registering a 60.9 field goal percentage, the best in the league.

The Vikings received three first place votes for 32 points. They finished the 2019-20 season with four wins in league play. Returning for the Vikings is Jaden Castillo who during the 2019-20 season averaged 10.7 points with 103 rebounds, 73 assists and 23 steals.

Worcester State sits in the third slot with 24 points and the final first place vote. The Lancers were 10-2 during the conference clip in 2019-20 to earn a share of the MASCAC Regular Season crown. During the 2019-20 season, Chris Cardoso averaged 20 points and 8.6 rebounds per game along with 47 assists and 44 steals to earn a spot on the All-Conference team.

Landing in fourth with 21 points is Fitchburg State. The Falcons had three wins in league play in 2019-20. Dominik Williams is back for team. He netted 12.5 points per game while shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc. He also had 18 assists, 11 steals and eight blocks.

Up next in fifth is Bridgewater State with 19 points. The Bears were 7-5 at the end of the MASCAC schedule. Alex Pettway returns for the Bears after averaging 8.2 points per game plus 66 assists and 12 steals.

Rounding out the 2021-22 preseason poll are MCLA and Framingham State in sixth and seventh with 13 and six points, respectively. The Trailblazers were 7-5 in conference action in 2019- 20. Noah Yearsley returns for the team after averaging 15.4 points while shooting 37.2 percent from the three point line plus collected 40 assists, 24 steals and 21 blocks. The Rams will look to their new head coach Donald Morris Jr. to guide returners Keith Hollman and Trevor Manyak.

Westfield State will begin the 2021-22 regular season campaign on Saturday as the Owls face Sarah Lawrence College at the Colonial Classic in Danbury, Connecticut at 7:00 P.M.

2021-22 MASCAC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll:

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Salem State (3) 32 points

          Westfield State (3) 32 points

      3. Worcester State (1) 24 points

      4. Fitchburg State 21 points

      5. Bridgewater State 19 points

      6. MCLA 13 points

      7. Framingham State 6 points

(Press release courtesy of the MASCAC)