After advancing to the 2002-03 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, Ramapo College has been selected as the 2003-04 preseason favorite to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship in a poll of the league's 10 head coaches. The Roadrunners, who posted a 26-4 record and a mark of 17-1 in the NJAC last season, are seeking their first ever NJAC Championship. Ramapo advanced to the 2002-03 NJAC title game before falling to Montclair State, 86-84 in double overtime.

For the 2003-04 season, the 10 conference men's and women's basketball teams have been split into two divisions (Blue and Gold). Teams will play a 13-game conference schedule featuring two games against opponents within their division, and one contest against opponents in the opposite division.

The Roadrunners, who return the 2002-03 NJAC Player of the Year in senior guard Charles Ransom, were a unanimous choice to capture the top spot in the Gold Division. Reining NJAC Coach of the Year Chuck McBreen also returns all-conference players in senior forward Jared Milligan and senior guard Jay DeGroat.

Montclair State, which captured the 2002-03 NJAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, was picked to finish first in the conference's Blue Division. The Red Hawks, who garnered four votes for the overall conference championship, return last season's Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Antwan Dozier.

Rowan, which advanced to the 2002-03 NJAC Tournament semifinals, was picked to finish second in the Gold Division. The Profs return all-conference players in senior guards Tylee Thomas and Earle Agee. Richard Stockton was tapped for third place in the Gold Division, while Kean and Rutgers-Newark were selected fourth and fifth respectively.

William Paterson, a 2002-03 NJAC Tournament semifinalist, was picked second in the Blue Division. The Pioneers return first-team all conference senior forward Khayri Battle. The College of New Jersey was selected for third place, while also being tapped as the coaches' dark horse selection. New Jersey City and Rutgers-Camden were picked fourth and fifth respectively in the Blue Division.

Along with the new conference divisional alignment, the league's post-season tournament has been expanded as well. The top three teams in each division will qualify for the 2003-04 NJAC Tournament with the first place teams in each division receiving a first round bye. The men's tournament will kickoff on February 24 with the second-place team in the Blue Division hosting the third-place team in the Gold Division. The other first round game will feature the third-place team in the Blue Division traveling to face the second-place team in the Gold Division.

The tournament semifinals will take place on February 26 as the first-place finisher in the Gold Division will host the winner of the third-place Gold/second-place Blue game. In the other semifinal, the first-place finisher in the Blue Division will host the winner of the third-place Blue/second-place Gold game.

The two semifinal winners will meet at the site of the highest remaining seed in  the 2003-04 NJAC Championship game on February 28. The Tournament winner receives the league's automatic bid to the 2003-04 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.