Men’s Basketball Picked Ninth in MAC Freedom Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Newtown, Pa.- The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) unveiled the 2026-27 Men's Basketball MAC Freedom Coaches' Preseason Poll on Wednesday morning as the Marywood University men's basketball team was picked ninth.

Stevens was selected as the preseason favorite in the MAC Freedom, earning all eight first-place votes for a total of 64 points. The reigning champion topped the poll ahead of Misericordia which finished second with 51 points after placing as the conference runner-up a year ago.

DeSales was picked third with 49 points, narrowly edging Arcadia, which earned 48 points to finish fourth. Lebanon Valley rounded out the top five with 35 points.

King's and FDU-Florham tied for sixth with 26 points apiece. Delaware Valley was selected eighth with 13 points, and Marywood rounded out the poll in ninth with 12 points.

Marywood finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 13-13 overall record and went 6-8 in conference play, clinching another spot in the conference playoffs. They now embark on their first season as members of the MAC Freedom.

Jon Showers enters his fifth season at the helm of the Pacers. The team returns a talented young core led by junior guard Joe Macciocco, who averaged 12.7 points and 3.1 assists per game last season.

Marywood opens the 2026-27 season at the University of Scranton's Hilton Scranton Invitational where the Pacers will take on defending national champion Mary Washington on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. before facing Widener University on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. The Pacers begin MAC Freedom play on Wednesday, Dec. 2, hosting DeSales at 6 p.m.

The full preseason order: Stevens (64 points, 8 first-place votes), Misericordia (51), DeSales (49), Arcadia (48), Lebanon Valley (35), King's and FDU-Florham (tied, 26 each), Delaware Valley (13) and Marywood (12).

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Players Mentioned

#2 Joe Macciocco: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#2 Joe Macciocco
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

Marywood University Pacers

Players Mentioned

#2 Joe Macciocco

Players Mentioned

#2 Joe Macciocco