With three starters returning from a team that won the 2024-25 Liberty League regular-season title, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been selected as the preseason favorite in men’s basketball in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Engineers received 73 points and four first-place votes. Reflecting the balance of the league, the top four teams all received first-place votes and were separated by just seven points. Vassar (70 points, two first-place votes) was picked second, followed by defending tournament champion Ithaca (67, 2), Union (66, 2), St. Lawrence (45), Hobart (43), Skidmore (29), Clarkson (24), RIT (24) and Bard (9)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI (21-6, 14-4 Liberty League) captured the Liberty League regular-season title and advanced to the championship game of the league tournament before falling just short against Ithaca in the final. The Engineers return three starters – their top three scorers - from last year’s team as they seek their first league tournament title since 2009. RPI relied on a balanced scoring attack last season as its top three scorers averaged between 10.1 and 11.6 points per game. Senior guard Dylan Matchett, an All-Liberty League second-team selection, averaged 11.0 points and 5.2 rebounds while also collecting 50 assists and 40 steals. Junior forward Andrew Deppe, a third-team all-league pick, led RPI in scoring (11.6 ppg) and also contributed 70 assists, second on the team. Junior guard P.J. Scalisi, the team’s third double-digit scorer (10.1 ppg), connected on a team-best 42 3-pointers.
Vassar College
Vassar (16-10, 12-6 Liberty League) will be one of the top challengers for the league title after returning all five starters and its top three scorers from last season. Junior guard Shea Fitzgerald, the 2025-26 Liberty League Player of the Year, led the league in scoring (19.7 ppg) and free throw percentage (88.0%) while ranking third in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2%). Fitzgerald also distributed the ball efficiently, leading the Brewers and ranking eighth in the league in assists (3.0 apg). Fellow junior guard Avery Lee was also an all-league first-team selection after finishing sixth in the league in scoring (15.5 ppg). Senior forward Nathan Denham also returns to the starting lineup after finishing third on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg), first in rebounding (6.5 rpg), and first in both steals (50) and blocked shots (25).
Ithaca College
Ithaca (19-10, 13-5 Liberty League) captured the 2024-25 Liberty League tournament title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Bombers have a new leader on the bench with the addition of Mike McSloy. McSloy, a former Vassar assistant, was most recently the head coach at Drew University, where he guided the Rangers to a 24-4 record last season, including a perfect 18-0 record in the Landmark Conference. McSloy will have three returning starters and a large number of returnees as he looks to leave his imprint on the Ithaca program. First team all-league selection and the league’s third-leading scorer, Logan Wendell (17.9 ppg, 80 assists), has graduated. Junior guard Evan Cabral, an all-league second-team pick, is back to lead the Bombers. Cabral (13.0 ppg, 2.7 apg) ranked second on the team and 11th in the league in both scoring and assists while also ranking second in steals (61). Junior guard Jaylon O’Neal (10.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and sophomore forward Chris Leysath (7.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) join Cabral as returning starters. Leysath was selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year while leading the team in both field goal percentage (49.4%) and blocked shots (15).
Union College
Union (16-11, 11-7 Liberty League) emerged as one of the most improved teams in the league last season, increasing their win total by six from the previous year to finish with 16 victories in 2024-25. The Garnet Chargers return all five starters as they look to capture their first league title since 2018. Junior guard Tanner Tedesco, a first-team All-Liberty League selection, is one of the top backcourt players in the league. Tedesco led the conference with 175 assists (6.5 apg) and ranked ninth in scoring (13.5 ppg). Junior forward Jack Plesser, an All-League second-team selection, is the league’s second-leading returning scorer, behind only Vassar’s Shea Fitzgerald. Plesser averaged 17.3 ppg, ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.9 rpg), and shot 49.2% from the field—the second-highest mark in the league. Junior guard Matthew Garside (13.5 ppg, 41.1% 3-point shooting) and senior forward Christian Dufort (10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) also contributed as double-digit scorers for the Garnet Chargers.
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence (16-10, 9-9 Liberty League) returns two senior starters in all-league performers Adam Dudzinski and Dan Anderson. Dudzinski (14.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg), who earned second-team All-Liberty League accolades last season, was one of only two players to rank in the top ten in the league in both scoring and rebounding. An effective player both inside and outside, Dudzinski ranked second on the team with 44 3-pointers. Anderson (11.0 ppg, 50 assists, 40 steals), a third-team all-league selection last year in his first season with the program, joined the Saints after spending two seasons as a Division I lacrosse player at the University of Denver. He made an immediate impact, with a team-leading 49 3-pointers. Senior forward Chris Downs Jr. (4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and junior forward Colton Suriano (1.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) will see expanded roles this season. The Saints also welcome seven first-year players who will compete for playing time.
Hobart College
Hobart (16-10, 10-8 Liberty League) will have a vastly different-looking starting lineup this season, with just one starter back from a year ago. That lone returning starter, junior guard Alex Moesch (12.2 ppg, 51 3-pointers) earned All-Liberty League third team honors while leading the Statesmen in both scoring and 3-pointers made. Sophomore guard Monty Nedd (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 41 steals) was one of the league’s top rookies while coming off the bench last season and may be poised for a breakout year. Junior forward Dorian Paki (5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), also one of the team’s top reserves along with senior guard Gabriel Bergeron (3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), who may jump into the starting lineup. Hobart also has four newcomers looking to make an impact.
Skidmore College
Skidmore (6-19, 2-16 Liberty League) will be looking to contend for a Liberty League tournament spot with four starters returning from a year ago. The Thoroughbreds return six of their top seven scorers, including their top four. Junior guard Aidan Roy (13.0 ppg, 3.6 apg) led Skidmore in both scoring and assists, ranking 10th and third, respectively, in the league in those two categories. Senior forward-center Joey Skoric (10.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg) is an impactful post player looking to end his career on a high note. Junior guards Charlie Fantom (10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Hakim Daphnis (9.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) had 44 3-pointers apiece last season and provide the Thoroughbreds with threats from beyond the arc.
Clarkson University
Clarkson (12-13, 8-10 Liberty League) narrowly missed qualifying for the Liberty League tournament last season and will be looking to finish among the top six this year. The Golden Knights return their top two scorers in juniors Braeden Burns (16.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Steve DeRegis (11.6 ppg, 66 3-pointers). Burns, a second-team all-league selection, was one of only two players in the league to rank in the top ten in both scoring (fifth) and rebounding (tenth). DeRegis ranked second in the league in both 3-pointers per game (2.6) and 3-point field goal percentage (37.7%). Clarkson will need to replace the league’s top rebounder in Finn Cork, who pulled down 9.3 boards per game. Six first-year players, led by Nate Abernathy and Liam Mali, will also look to make an impact.
Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT (7-18, 3-15 Liberty League) will look to make a climb under second-year head coach Dominic Parker. With two starters returning, the Tigers will look to build around graduate student forward Josiah Turner (12.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg), who led RIT in both scoring and rebounding last season. Junior guard Zac Ditzel (6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) was one of the team’s top reserves last season while also starting seven games. Ditzel was strong from beyond the arc, connecting on 46.3% of his attempts (19-for-41). Fellow juniors Brody Brown (3.7 ppg) and Nolan Smith (3.2 ppg) also gained starting experience with 15 and 17 starts, respectively. Sophomore transfer Mushin Muhammad and first-year players Jason Gibbs and Xavier Nelson lead a large group of newcomers.
Bard College
Bard (13-12, 8-10 Liberty League) graduated five starters – its top five scorers – from a team that went 13-12, narrowly missing the Liberty League tournament. The Raptors compiled back-to-back winning seasons, including a league tournament berth in 2024. Lazaros Panagiotounis, the league’s second-leading scorer (18.0 ppg) and a first-team all-league selection, graduated after scoring 985 career points. This year’s team is young, with no seniors and just two juniors. A trio of sophomores – Max Frei (4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Jalen Umstead (3.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg), and Lucas Tovar (2.8 ppg, 37 assists) were regular contributors off the bench last season and will be expected to take on greater roles this year. A large group of seven newcomers, led by Dimitris Zampoukas, Sam Gibbs, will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
The 2025-26 Division III men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 7, with four Liberty League teams in action. Union, Clarkson, and RPI open their seasons on the road, while Hobart hosts its home opener. The league’s lone November matchup features St. Lawrence taking on local rival Clarkson, and full conference play begins the weekend of December 6–7, highlighted by five games on Friday and five more on Saturday.
The top six teams qualify for the Liberty League championship. The format includes two first-round games on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The top two seeds receive byes and will host semifinal games on Friday, Feb. 27, and the top remaining seed will host the championship game on Sunday, Mar. 1. The Liberty League champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
2025-26 Liberty League MBB Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points
- 1. RPI, 73 (4)
- 2. Vassar, 70 (2)
- 3. Ithaca, 67 (2)
- 4. Union, 66 (2)
- 5. St. Lawrence, 45
- 6. Hobart, 43
- 7. Skidmore, 29
- 8. Clarkson, 24
- 8. RIT, 24
- 10. Bard, 9
(First-place votes are in parentheses)