The PSAC has been one of the top basketball conferences in the ranks of Division II. This season looks to be no different. Here’s a brief look into how the teams stack up this season.
Preseason Poll
1. IUP (7)
2. Gannon (1)
3. Slippery Rock (1)
4. California
5. Pitt-Johnstown
6. Mercyhurst
7. Seton Hill
8. Edinboro
9. Clarion
Preseason All-PSAC West Team
| Adam Blazek | Gannon | Erie/Cathedral Prep |
| Bryan Theriot | Edinboro | Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark |
| Mathis Keita | IUP | Thionville, France/Gonzaga |
| Tabari Perry | Slippery Rock | Cambridge, Md./Cecil College |
| Mike Kromka | Clarion | Monroeville/Gateway |
| Marcel Souberbielle | IUP | Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School |
IUP returns as the top team to beat this season. In addition to being at the top of the PSAC West preseason poll, they’re ranked 14th in the NABC Poll. They return key big man Marcel Souberbielle and guard Mathis Keita. Keita averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season while Souberbielle averaged 10.8 and 4,5 rebounds per game. The Hawks will be replacing Anthony Wells and Scooter Renkin, who bother averaged double-digit points last season. PSAC freshman of the year Brandon Norfleet has transferred in from Cheyney this season and adds depth to the team. The Hawks also have two Division I transfers in Jeremy Jeffers and Daniel Vigus.
Gannon returns three key starters this season in Adam Blazek, Jabs Newby and C.J. Oldham. Blazek averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season while the other two combined for 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Knights will have to replace Oscar Macias (10.6 ppg), Darrell Blanton (15.6 ppg) and Robert Wilson (12.0 ppg). The Knights will bring in senior transfer Rich Austin from Lake Erie College. The senior forward averaged 5.9 points per game last season. Gannon also brings in five new freshmen.
Slippery Rock returns only one starter in Tabari Perry. Perry averaged 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season for the Rock, which made it to the NCAA tournament. Also returning is senior point guard Sa’Quan Davis. Davis averaged 5.8 points per game off the bench for The Rock last season after transferring in. The Rock will turn to their bench players from last season and nine newcomers in the 2013-14 season. Eight of those newcomers came via transfer.
Cal U will have to replace four of their five starters but will return PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Jake Jacubec. Jacubec averaged 6.9 points per game last season.
Pitt-Johnstown, which is new to the PSAC this season, will lose Nick Novak this season. They do return Bill Luther and Andrew Cressler for the 2013-14 season. Both averaged over 10 points per game last season.
Mercyhurst will have to replace Lucas Leao in 2013 but will turn to Jonathan Ouegnin. Ouegnin averaged 7.7 points per game last season.
Seton Hill also joins the PSAC this season. The Griffins return their leading scorers in Malachi Leonard and Max Kenyi. Leonard averaged 13.0 points per game last season while Kenyi added 12.6.
Edinboro welcomes in new coach Pat Cleary for his first season as head coach after being an assistant. The Fighting Scots lose Isaiah Prince and Jay Fletcher but will turn to Bryan Theriot to carry the load. He averaged 18.1 and 8.9 rebounds per game last season and is touted as one of the best big men in the country.
Clarion will look to Mike Kromka once again this season. Kromka led the Golden Eagles in scoring and rebounding a year ago and will look to do it again this season. He scored 12.5 points and grabbed 8.5 boards per game in the 2012-13 season.
Photo Credit: IUP Athletics
