With three starters returning from a team that captured the 2024 Liberty League championship, Hobart College has been selected as the preseason favorite in men’s basketball in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Statesmen received 77 points and six first-place votes, edging St. Lawrence University, which received 76 points and four first-place votes. The 2023-24 season was one of the most competitive in league history with nine teams in contention for the Liberty League tournament entering the final weekend of regular-season play. With every team returning at least three starters from last season, the upcoming campaign promises to be just as competitive. Following Hobart and St. Lawrence in the poll, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI, 64) was picked third followed by Union College (50), Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT, 46), Bard College (38), Ithaca College (38), Vassar College (26), Clarkson University, (18) and Skidmore College (17).
The top six teams qualify for the 2024-25 Liberty League championship. The format includes two first-round games on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The top two seeds receive byes and will host semifinal games on Friday, February 28. The higher-seeded team will host the championship game on Sunday, March 2. The Liberty League champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
Hobart College
Hobart (22-6, 13-5 Liberty League) returns its top three scorers and four of its top five from last season’s team that captured the Liberty League championship with a 63-55 win over St. Lawrence in the final. The team’s top three scorers all earned All-Liberty League honors. Senior guard Pat Healy (12.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), one of five double-digit scorers for the Statesmen, earned first-team recognition. Senior guard/forward Carter Meshanic (11.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 23 blocks) was a second-team selection while senior point guard Aidan Rogers (12.0 ppg, 3.3 apg) was an honorable mention pick. Sophomore guard Alex Moesch (10.6 ppg, 45.5% 3-pt FG) and senior forward Hunter Meshanic (3.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg), the team’s top players off the bench last season, will also be key contributors.
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence (18-8, 13-5 Liberty League) returns its entire starting lineup from a team that finished tied for first in the league regular-season standings and lost a close game on the road against Hobart in the Liberty League championship game. The Saints had the same starting five in all but two games last season. In his first season with St. Lawrence, junior forward Adam Dudzinski earned All-Liberty League first-team honors, averaging a team-leading 15.3 points along with 6.3 rebounds while shooting a league-leading 53.5 percent from 3-point range (61-for-114). Graduate student point guard Trey Syroka has been the catalyst for the Saints. An All-Liberty League second-team selection and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, Syroka averaged 8.7 ppg while ranking first in the league in steals (56) and second in assists (112). Twin brothers, seniors Aidan Macauley (9.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Gavin Macauley (8.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) have improved consistently each season and should be poised for strong campaigns. Senior 6-10 forward Andrew Cowan (8.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, league-leading 56 blocks) gives the Saints a strong presence in the middle.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI (16-11, 12-6 Liberty League) finished third in the league last season, falling on the road to St. Lawrence in the conference semifinals. The Engineers graduated Liberty League Player of the Year Jonny Angbazo (14.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.9 apg), but return four starters as they look to challenge for the league title. Graduate student forward Avery Eugster (12.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg), an all-league second-team selection, is the team’s top returning scorer. Junior guards Dylan Matchett (10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and PJ Scalisi (6.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) were part of a starting unit that ranked second in the league in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 58.4 points per game. As a rookie last season, sophomore forward Andrew Deppe (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was one of three RPI players to start all 27 games.
Union (14-11, 9-9 Liberty League) returns three starters from last season’s team that finished in a three-way tie for fourth. The Garnet Chargers’ roster includes no seniors. Union’s balanced offense had seven players averaged between 7.0 and 10.6 points per game with three first-year players playing key roles. Sophomore guard Tanner Tedesco, the Liberty League Rookie of the Year last season, led the Garnet Chargers in both scoring (10.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg) while playing a team-leading 30 minutes per game. Fellow sophomore Jack Plesser also enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, contributing 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Matthew Garside (8.8 ppg, 21 steals) and junior forward Christian Dufort (9.0 ppg, team-leading 6.2 rpg) were the team’s top contributors off the bench.
Union College
Union (14-11, 9-9 Liberty League) returns three starters from last season’s team that finished in a three-way tie for fourth. The Garnet Chargers’ roster includes no seniors. Union’s balanced offense had seven players averaged between 7.0 and 10.6 points per game with three first-year players playing key roles. Sophomore guard Tanner Tedesco, the Liberty League Rookie of the Year last season, led the Garnet Chargers in both scoring (10.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg) while playing a team-leading 30 minutes per game. Fellow sophomore Jack Plesser also enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, contributing 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Matthew Garside (8.8 ppg, 21 steals) and junior forward Christian Dufort (9.0 ppg, team-leading 6.2 rpg) were the team’s top contributors off the bench.
Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT (14-13, 9-9 Liberty League), part of a three-way tie for fourth last season, returns three starters and welcomes a new head coach in Dominic Parker. Parker, who comes to RIT after serving as an assistant at Division III championship quarterfinalist Christopher Newport, replaces long-time head coach Bob McVean who retired after 40 seasons leading the program. The Tigers are an experienced team with four graduate students and four seniors. The top six scorers return led by graduate student guard Matt Caggiano who led the team in both scoring (12.3 ppg) and assists (2.8 apg). Senior guards Brock Bowen (11.4 ppg, 41.1% 3-pt FG) and Chase Dickens (11.5 ppg, team-leading 36 steals) both earned All-Liberty League honorable mention honors last season. Senior forward Josiah Turner (9.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg) ranked sixth in the league in rebounding.
Bard College
Bard (14-12, 9-9 Liberty League) was the third team to finish in the three-way tie for fourth. The Raptors qualified for the league tournament in head coach Dave Sloan’s first season with the program and will look to continue the rise with four returning starters. Four of the team’s top five scorers return, led by graduate student guard Lazaros Panagioutounis (13.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) who earned All-Liberty League second-team honors last season. Fellow graduate student Rowan Heinze ranked second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounding (5.8 rpg), and assists (2.3 apg) while graduate student Azriel Almodovar was the team leader in both rebounding (6.2 rpg) and assists (2.8 apg).
Ithaca College
Ithaca (12-13, 7-11 Liberty League) just missed the Liberty League tournament last season after winning the regular-season title in 2022-23. The Bombers look to return to postseason play as they welcome back four starters from last year’s team. Ithaca returns its leading scorer in senior guard Logan Wendell, an All-Liberty League first-team selection who finished second in the league in scoring (18.4 ppg) while also ranking third in assists (3.9 apg). Sophomore guard Evan Cabral earned a starting spot as a rookie, contributing 8.5 points while logging the third-most minutes on the team. Senior guard Aidan Holmes (7.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and junior guard Cole Wissink (5.0 ppg) also return as starters.
Vassar College
Vassar (10-15, 8-10 Liberty League) was in contention for a spot in the league tournament on the final weekend of the regular season before falling just short with nine first-year players on the roster. The Brewers welcome back three starters – their top three scorers – from last season. Sophomore guard Shea Fitzgerald, an All-Liberty League honorable mention pick, was an impact player as a rookie, leading Vassar while ranking sixth in the league in scoring (14.6 ppg). Fellow sophomore guard Avery Lee was also a double-digit scorer (10.4 ppg) in his first year. Senior guard Luke Adams (8.5 ppg, team-leading 62 assists) is one of the team’s most experienced players, providing leadership in the backcourt.
Clarkson University
Clarkson (14-11, 8-10 Liberty League) was the league’s highest-scoring team last season, averaging 78.6 points per game. With four starters returning, the Golden Knights will look to contend for a tournament berth after falling just short last season. Four of the team’s losses in league play came in either overtime or were decided by four points or less. Clarkson will need to replace the league’s leading scorer in graduate student Ryan Miles-Ferguson (21.4 ppg), an All-Liberty League first-team selection. The Golden Knights should have plenty of offense returning. Sophomore forward Braeden Burns ranked second on the team and fourth in the league in scoring (15.0 ppg) while ranking second on the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg) as a first-year player. Senior guard Matteo Sinon (9.9 ppg), senior forward Jack Dalgety (10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and senior forward Finn Cork (8.6 ppg, team-leading 7.2 rpg) provide Clarkson with a strong nucleus with which to push for a league tournament berth.
Skidmore College
Skidmore (4-20, 2-16 Liberty League), a perennial league title challenger, was one of the youngest teams in the Liberty League last season. Injuries also derailed several key players, resulting in a challenging season for the youthful Thoroughbreds. Sophomore Charlie Fantom got off to a strong start, averaging 15.6 points per game through the first seven career games before his season was cut short by injury for which he received a medical redshirt. Fellow sophomore Aidan Roy (11.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, team-leading 58 assists) was the top scorer among regular starters. Junior forward Joey Skoric (7.4 ppg, league-leading 7.9 rpg, 52 blocked shots) gives the team a solid inside presence. Senior guard/forward Alexei Downie looks to rebound after being limited to five games last season.
The 20254-25 Division III Men's Basketball campaign kicks off on Friday, November 8. Six league teams open the season with five on the road (Bard, Clarkson, RPI, Skidmore, Vassar) and RIT at home. There is a pair of conference games in November (Nov. 16th, Clarkson at St. Lawrence; Nov. 19 Hobart at RPI) before league play gets into full swing December 6 and 7.
2024-25 Liberty League MBB Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points
- 1. Hobart, 77 (6)
- 2. St. Lawrence, 76 (4)
- 3. RPI, 64
- 4. Union, 50
- 5. RIT, 46
- 6. Bard, 38
- 6. Ithaca, 38
- 8. Vassar 26
- 9. Clarkson, 18
- 10. Skidmore, 17
(First-place votes are in parentheses)
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