by Matt Koll
It’s that time. All of the leaves have just about fallen from the trees. The air has an extra crisp to it. Snow has already fallen in several places along the east coast. What does all of that mean?
Time to head to the hardwood and play some basketball.
The Presidents Athletic Conference is readying for yet another hoops season and the preseason coaches’ poll rankings are here to consume. Let’s take a deeper look at what the PAC has to offer this season.
#1 Westminster (8 first place votes)
Hard to argue with this choice as the top team in the conference heading into the season. The Titans are the defending PAC champions after going 11-1 in the COVID shortened season in the spring and defeating Grove City in the PAC Championship Game. Not only that, the Titans return four seniors who all averaged at least 10 minutes per game last season. Two of those seniors, Daniel Ritter and Tyler James, averaged double digit points per game and Ritter’s 14.8 ppg average was second only to Isaac Stamatiades, who averaged a double double per game.
However, that won’t affect how they prepare for this season.
“We will work just as hard as we did last year as far as approaching this season,” said head coach Kevin Siroki. “We know that we will have a target on our backs this year and are prepared for the challenges each team will give us, especially PAC conference teams. We know that each team will give us their best game and that will make us a better team in the long run.”
Sophomore Reese Leone will look to take on a bigger role this year and he’s off to hot start, averaging 16 points while logging the most minutes per game (36.5). Soroki acknowledges that Stamatiades’ absence from the team will be felt this year, along with Austin O’Hara who is out for the season after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.
Still, the Titans should have the experience and the talent to make a run at back-to-back PAC titles.
#2 Geneva
As far as the preseason coaches ranking goes, Geneva is an interesting case. While they garnered enough points to be ranked second in the conference, they didn’t receive a single first place vote, while Grove City and Chatham behind them each received one.
“It’s a poll that really can be skewed at times,” said Geneva head coach Jeff Santarsiero. “I felt that we would be up there with what we had coming back. As far as the number one votes, I was a little surprised (we didn’t get one), but we can use that as motivation.”
First place votes or not, the Golden Tornadoes have a stud on their hands with junior Lyle Tipton. Through four early games this season, Tipton is averaging 27 points per game, which is the best mark in the conference by six points.
“Lyle Tipton is one of the best in the league. He is a tough stop for anyone,” said Santarsiero. “Could be up for player of the year again. I think if we advanced to the final last year he had a real chance. He is motivated to win first and the awards will take care of themselves.”
What’s better than one Tipton? How ‘bout two. Freshman Trevor Tipton will also get in on the act this year for Geneva. Junior Ryan Rachic looks to provide some scoring as well. Based on early results this season, the Golden Tornadoes will just need to sure up that defense and they’ll be in the mix at the end of the season.
#3 Grove City (1 first place vote)
The Wolverines rode last season momentum all the way to the PAC Championship Game last year against Westminster before falling just short of the title, 73-62. Grove City will use their usual balanced approach under head coach Steve Lamie, now in his 24th season, to compete.
They’ll have a couple of senior guards leading the way with Ben Rose and Isaac Thrasher. Junior Elijah White is also a mainstay on the floor for the Wolverines. They’ll rely on a stingy defense, already ranked third in the conference this season, and the ability to rebound possibly better than any other team in the PAC to keep games close and give themselves an edge.
#4 Chatham (1 first place vote)
The Chatham hoops program just keeps getting better and better every season. The Cougars are undefeated in non-conference play (4-0) to start the year and even have a conference win against Thiel under their belt (79-62).
Senior Ben Pollock scored 25 points and collected 10 rebounds in that win, something the Cougars hope is a regular occurrence for the 6’10” forward. Another senior, Malik Potter, scored 22 points is off to a torrid start to the year averaging over 20 points per game.
It’s only five games in and only one conference game, but Chatham leads the PAC in free throw and field goal percentage, which could be instrumental toward a season in which they could find unprecedented success. There will be plenty of offensive firepower to make Chatham a dark horse team to win it all this year.
#5 Washington & Jefferson
These Presidents are young, but man are they filling up the basket in this non-conference season. W&J scored 102 points in a blowout win over Pitt-Greensburg, then scored 103 against Penn State-Altoona and Kenyon.
How much of that will translate to PAC play is yet to be determined, but we know the Presidents have some scorers. Junior Kyran Mitchell is averaging 20 points per game right now and he was really the only well-known commodity heading into the season.
But what could really make W&J a fun and interesting team to watch is the sophomores who are stepping into big roles this season. JR Mazza and Michael Bigley are both getting 30 minutes per game right now and averaged just over 17 points per game. Meanwhile, another sophomore in Nick Gearhart is averaging just over 14 points in his 25 minutes per game.
This team is young but talented, and if they can learn how to play and win together…look out.
#6 Thiel
The Tomcats bring size and athleticism to yet another one of Tim Loomis’ teams. The man who personifies that is senior Ahmad Tejumola. He leads the conference before PAC play really begins in rebounding, averaging 13 per game.
Sophomore Marlon Ellerbee will be called upon to pace them in scoring while Thiel will rely on their offensive rebounding ability to keep possessions alive and cash in on second chance opportunities.
#7 Waynesburg
The Yellow Jackets already have a pretty impressive conference win on the season, they beat Saint Vincent 74-48. Senior Matt Popeck dropped the hammer with 36 points and nine rebounds, while surpassing the 1,000-point plateau in his career. He’ll be the catalyst of this team, averaging over 20 points per game in the early goings.
Graduate student Nijon Kirkman will also be relied upon for scoring, while the Yellow Jacket defense has been solid to begin the season, ranking second in the conference. They’ll need that to continue into conference play if they want to make any noise this season.
#8 Saint Vincent
It’ll be a youth movement this year for the Bearcats. The roster is literally filled with freshman and sophomores only.
Sophomore Anthony Dillard has led them in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game along with almost 10 rebounds per game, while freshman Dominic Jennings has gotten 28 minutes per game and has averaged almost 13 points per game. It’ll be a season of growth, maturity and experience for young Saint Vincent.
#9 Franciscan
If you like offense, check out some of the Barons games this season. They’ll be at it again with an up-tempo offense complimented by the willingness and ability to shoot three’s that can leave you in the dust if you can’t keep up. Senior Justin Mack is averaging 20 points per game while shooting an impressive 50% from 3-point land so far. He scored 19 in a surprise win over Grove City earlier this season.
Don’t look past grad student Sean Hickey either, as he’ll get in on the scoring too this season. The problem is that the Barons can get swept up in the track meets they create. They ranked toward the bottom of the conference in total defense last season and are right back there again this season.
#10 Bethany
It’s a year of transition for the Bison, as they welcome new head coach Mike Worrell. Junior guard Asa Klimchock and senior guard Derek White Jr. will try to prove Bethany is better than it’s last-place projection to begin the season.
