Posted: Nov 04, 2021
Salem State and Westfield State Selected as Preseason Favorites to Win 2021-22 MASCAC Men’s Basketball Championship
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.
Expectations are high for the 2021-22 Vikings as 2019 MASCAC POY Sean Bryan returns from injury. Bryan will lead a revamped Vikings' roster with 13 new faces. Alongside returners Chris Macdonald, Jaden Castillo and Patrick Bugler, Salem State will look for immediate impact from several transfers including Jarret and Conner Byrne, who will provide length and versatility upfront. Josiah Green and Javier Osorio, two crafty guards who transferred from DII schools, will add scoring and depth in the backcourt. Deven Okowuga, a high-flying athlete, who, can score at all three levels, will be looked upon to provide scoring, with the ability to guard multiple positions. Andrew Fraioli another transfer will bring inside/out ability to score, while providing depth up front.
Head coach Chris Harvey's focus for this year's team is to, "Become One." "During the early part of the season this group has to stay connected, and continue to grow in trusting each other and holding each other accountable. The competition in practice has been good to great at times, so we will see how long we can keep that day one mentality."
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, 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
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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, 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.
The MASCAC men's basketball teams return to the hardwood over the next few weeks with their opening non-conference contests with the conference schedule starting in January. Follow all the games at mascac.com
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 - 24 points
4. Fitchburg State - 21 points
5. Bridgewater State - 19 points
6. MCLA - 13 points
7. Framingham State - 6 points
(MASCAC Sports Information Release)