Ramapo College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005-06 New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s ten head coaches. The defending NJAC Champion Roadrunners will be seeking their second conference crown in school history. 

Ramapo finished the 2004-05 season with a 24-5 overall record and a league-best 13-3 conference mark en route to the NJAC Championship. The Roadrunners also advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament after earning the league's automatic qualification.

Ramapo received nine-of-the-ten first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Chuck McBreen, the Roadrunners have posted an overall record of 130-60. Ramapo returns two all-conference players in junior center Rashawn Wilson and senior forward Todd Lowber.

With its return to the New Jersey Athletic Conference in 2005-06, New Jersey City University was selected to finish second. Playing an independent schedule in 2004-05, the Gothic Knights posted an overall record of 18-10 while earning an NCAA Tournament berth out of Pool B. The all-time winningest coach in NJAC history, Charles Brown has posted an overall record of 444-199 in his 23 seasons at NJCU. The Gothic Knights return senior forward Mark Washington, who earned NJAC all-conference honors during the 2003-04 season. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Rutgers University-Newark was tapped to place third. The Scarlet Raiders posted an overall record of 18-11 last season en route to berths in both the NJAC and ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournaments. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Joe Loughran, Newark has posted an overall record of 47-57. The Scarlet Raiders return one all-conference player in junior forward Jermont Horton.  

After advancing to the NJAC Championship Game last season, Richard Stockton College was selected to place fourth. Led by 20th-year head coach Gerry Matthews, the Ospreys have posted a record of 368-159 during his tenure. Stockton, which received the only other first place vote in the poll, finished the 2004-05 season with an overall record of 19-11 while earning appearances in both the NJAC and ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament Championship Games. The Ospreys return one all-conference player in junior guard Kris Polk.

William Paterson University, which finished 15-10 overall in 2004-05, was tapped to place fifth. Under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jose Rebimbas, the Pioneers have posted an overall mark of 200-96.  

After finishing with an overall record of 13-12 last season, Montclair State University was selected to place sixth. The Red Hawks return one all-conference player in senior forward Gian Paul Gonzalez. Led by seventh-year head coach Ted Fiore, the Red Hawks have posted an overall mark of 102-57 during his tenure.

The 2004-05 ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament Champions, Kean University was tapped to place seventh. The Cougars, who return a pair of all-conference senior forwards in Armet Coles and BJ Hamby, finished last season with an overall record of 17-11. Kean is led by 11th-year head coach Bruce Hamburger, who has compiled an overall mark of 125-122 during his tenure.

Rowan University, which advanced to the NJAC Tournament semifinals last season, was selected to place eighth. Led by ninth-year head coach Joe Cassidy, the Profs have produced an overall mark of 180-62 under his leadership. After finishing the 2004-05 season with an overall record of 16-11, Rowan returns the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Matt Byrnes.

Led by 13th-year head coach John Castaldo, The College of New Jersey was selected to place ninth. Under his guidance, the Lions have posted an overall mark of 171-126, including a 17-9 record in 2004-05. TCNJ returns one all-conference player from a team that advanced to the NJAC Tournament semifinals last season in senior forward Scott Findlay.  

Rutgers University-Camden finished 10th in the poll. The Scarlet Raptors are led by third-year head coach Bill Culbertson.  

NJAC league play will get underway on Tuesday, November 22 with all 10 teams in action.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2005-06 NJAC Championship Tournament, with all games played at the sight of the highest seed. The NJAC Tournament first round will take place on Tuesday, February 21 with the first and second-seeded teams receiving byes. The league semifinals will be held on Thursday, February 23, and the 2005-06 NJAC Championship Game will take place on Saturday, February 25. 

The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.