October 21, 2004

TCNJ SELECTED AS MEN'S BASKETBALL FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

LIONS SEEKING FOURTH NJAC TITLE AND FIRST SINCE 1997-98

With all five starters returning from a team which finished the 2003-04 season with an 18-9 overall record, The College of New Jersey has been selected as the preseason men's basketball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions, who last captured an NJAC men's basketball championship in 1997-98, are seeking their fourth league title since the inception of the conference championship back in 1957-58.

TCNJ was selected to finish first on seven-of-the-nine ballots from the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of 12th-year head coach John Castaldo, the Lions have posted an overall record of 154-117. TCNJ tallied a 7-6 conference regular season record in 2003-04 but advanced to the NJAC Tournament semifinals with a 72-64 first round victory over Richard Stockton. The Lions eventually fell on the road to tournament runner-up Rowan in the semifinal round, 84-74. TCNJ returns two all-conference performers from last season in senior guard Derick Grant and junior forward Scott Findlay. 

Ramapo College was selected to finish second in the poll and received two first place votes among the nine ballots cast. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Chuck McBreen, the Roadrunners have registered a 106-55 overall record. Ramapo posted a 23-6 record in 2003-04 and captured the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Championship with a 69-66 victory over New York University in the title game. The Roadrunners return the 2003-04 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in senior guard Amin Wright.  

Kean University, under the direction of 10th-year head coach Bruce Hamburger, placed third in the poll. The Cougars return two all-conference players from a 2003-04 squad that finished 17-8 including senior guard Tan Kesler and junior forward Armet Coles.  

William Paterson University was selected to finish fourth in the poll. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Jose Rebimbas, the Pioneers have recorded an overall mark of 185-86. William Paterson advanced to the semifinals of the 2003-04 NJAC Tournament before falling to eventual conference champion NJCU, 85-72. 

The conference runner-up in 2003-04, Rowan University was tapped to place fifth. The Profs have recorded a mark of 164-51 during the tenure of eighth-year head coach Joe Cassidy.

Richard Stockton College was the coaches' pick for sixth place. Osprey head coach Gerry Matthews, in his 19th season, currently is the longest tenured men's basketball coach in the conference with a career record of 349-138. The Ospreys return all-conference senior forward Brian Hiltner from a squad which finished 16-12 last season.

Montclair State University was picked to place seventh. The Red Hawks, under the director of seventh-year head coach Ted Fiore, return all-conference junior guard Gian Paul Gonzalez. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Rutgers-Newark was tapped for eighth place. Led by fourth-year head coach Joe Loughran, the Scarlet Raiders return the 2003-04 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Jermont Horton.

Under the direction of second-year head coach Bill Culbertson, Rutgers-Camden was selected to place ninth in the poll of the league's head coaches.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2004-05 NJAC Tournament. First round tournament games will take place at campus sites on February 21, with the first and second-seeded teams receiving first round byes. The semifinals of the tournament will take place at campus sites on February 23, and the two semifinal winners will advance to the championship game of the 2004-05 NJAC Tournament on February 25 at the home court of the highest remaining seed. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.